---
title: "5 Counterterrorism Quotes By John O. Brennan"
description: "5 Counterterrorism quotes by John O. Brennan. Plus more from John O. Brennan and more Counterterrorism sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/john-o-brennan-10652_action_we-will-never-abdicate-the-security-of-t_1489414.jpg"
---

> [We will never abdicate the security of the United States to a foreign country or refrain from taking action when appropriate. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/we-will-never-abdicate-the-security-of-the-united-states-to-a-foreign/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/john-o-brennan-10652_action_we-will-never-abdicate-the-security-of-t_1489414.jpg)

> [Our counterterrorism tools do not exist in a vacuum. They are stronger and more sustainable when the American people understand and support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/our-counterterrorism-tools-do-not-exist-in-a-vacuum-they-are-stronger/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/john-o-brennan-10652_american_our-counterterrorism-tools-do-not-exist_1523008.jpg)

> [When we uphold the rule of law, our counterterrorism tools are more likely to withstand the scrutiny of our courts, our allies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/when-we-uphold-the-rule-of-law-our-counterterrorism-tools-are-more/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/john-o-brennan-10652_allies_when-we-uphold-the-rule-of-law-our-count_1588717.jpg)

> [When we uphold the rule of law, our counterterrorism tools are more likely to withstand the scrutiny of our courts, our allies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/when-we-uphold-the-rule-of-law-our-counterterrorism-tools-are-more-2/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/john-o-brennan-10652_allies_when-we-uphold-the-rule-of-law-our-count_1894354.jpg)

> [The actions that we take on the counterterrorism front, again, are to take actions against individuals where we believe that the intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-actions-that-we-take-on-the-counterterrorism-front-again-are-to/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/john-o-brennan-10652_action_the-actions-that-we-take-on-the-countert_2039666.jpg)

## More by John O. Brennan

> [You always, I think, debate with yourself about whether or not you made the right decision. And you have to then give the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/you-always-i-think-debate-with-yourself-about-whether-or-not-you-made/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [While the intelligence profession oftentimes demands secrecy, it is critically important that there be a full and open discourse on intelligence matters with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/while-the-intelligence-profession-oftentimes-demands-secrecy-it-is/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [The CIA has acknowledged that it has detained about 100 terrorists since 9/11, and about a third of them have been subjected to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-cia-has-acknowledged-that-it-has-detained-about-100-terrorists/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [Throughout my career, I had the great fortune to experience firsthand as well as to witness what it means to be a CIA officer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/throughout-my-career-i-had-the-great-fortune-to-experience-firsthand/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [Terrorism needs to be fought against and certainly delegitimized or attacked, but some of the underlying grievances that might in fact lead individuals astray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/terrorism-needs-to-be-fought-against-and-certainly-delegitimized-or/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [As we've seen, deploying large armies abroad won't always be our best offense. Countries typically don't want foreign soldiers in their cities and towns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/as-we-ve-seen-deploying-large-armies-abroad-won-t-always-be-our-best/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [I think we do have to take off the gloves in some areas, but within balance, and at the right time and the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/i-think-we-do-have-to-take-off-the-gloves-in-some-areas-but-within/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [U.S. computer networks and databases are under daily cyber attack by nation states, international crime organizations, subnational groups, and individual hackers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/u-s-computer-networks-and-databases-are-under-daily-cyber-attack-by/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [We are in this business, whether it be intelligence or the government, to protect freedom, democracy and liberty, not to violate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/we-are-in-this-business-whether-it-be-intelligence-or-the-government/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [I want to be very clear: whenever it is possible to capture a suspected terrorist, it is the unqualified preference of the administration to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/i-want-to-be-very-clear-whenever-it-is-possible-to-capture-a/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [As a matter of international law, the United States is in an armed conflict with al-Qaida, the Taliban, and associated forces, in response to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/as-a-matter-of-international-law-the-united-states-is-in-an-armed/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [The United States is the first nation to regularly conduct strikes using remotely piloted aircraft in an armed conflict. Other nations also possess this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-united-states-is-the-first-nation-to-regularly-conduct-strikes/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [The men and women of the CIA are a national treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-men-and-women-of-the-cia-are-a-national-treasure/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [We need to make sure that leaks of classified information, of national security secrets, needs to be rigorously pursued and prosecuted to the fullest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/we-need-to-make-sure-that-leaks-of-classified-information-of-national/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [Sometimes there are actions that we are forced to take, but there need to be boundaries beyond which we are going to recognize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/sometimes-there-are-actions-that-we-are-forced-to-take-but-there-need/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

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