--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know what the counterterrorism feels…" description: "\"I know what the counterterrorism feels like because I was there. But I also operated within limits. And within the United States government, we've deci..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/barack-obama-17_counterterrorism_i-know-what-the-counterterrorism-feels-l_172381.jpg" --- # I know what the counterterrorism feels like because I was… ![“I know what the counterterrorism feels like because I was there. But I also operated within limits. And within the United States government, we've decided long ago that there are limits on what we're going to do in the war against terrorism.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/barack-obama-17_counterterrorism_i-know-what-the-counterterrorism-feels-l_172381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/barack-obama-17_counterterrorism_i-know-what-the-counterterrorism-feels-l_172381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/barack-obama-17_counterterrorism_i-know-what-the-counterterrorism-feels-l_172381.jpg) > “I know what the counterterrorism feels like because I was there. But I also operated within limits. And within the United States government, we've decided long ago that there are limits on what we're going to do in the war against terrorism.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Counterterrorism actions are limited by policy decisions within the U.S. government, reflecting deliberate constraints on war tactics. **In simple terms:** There are set limits on counterterrorism actions. Key Takeaway Respect and understand policy limits. Themes security government policy ethics war terrorism Mood thoughtful balanced Type political strategic When to use this quote - policy debates - military planning - public accountability Key Concepts legal frameworks strategic restraint Questions to Reflect On - What are the ethical reasons for limits? - How can effectiveness be balanced with restraint? A Different Perspective Limits may hinder rapid response to threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [State government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-government/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [United states government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-government/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [We certainly have the best special operations forces in the world and know how to do counterterrorism extremely well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/we-certainly-have-the-best-special-operations-forces-in-the-world-and/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [Third, we will continue to draw on our substantial counterterrorism capabilities to prevent ISIL attacks. Working with our partners, we will redouble our efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/third-we-will-continue-to-draw-on-our-substantial-counterterrorism/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We've evolved a lot since 9/11 also, in terms of our law enforcement capabilities, our intelligence capabilities, military, counterterrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-evolved-a-lot-since-9-11-also-in-terms-of-our-law-enforcement/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I understand my limits. I'm not going to go out there just to fight for money and to put on a show for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-ortiz/i-understand-my-limits-i-m-not-going-to-go-out-there-just-to-fight/) [Tito Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-ortiz/) > [“Tonight is different. There are no limits. We are going to do what I want. You chose to come here. You will yake the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evie-hunter/tonight-is-different-there-are-no-limits-we-are-going-to-do-what-i-2/) Evie Hunter > [Try for past your capability, because you will never find your limits without going farther than them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-decamp/try-for-past-your-capability-because-you-will-never-find-your-limits/) [Aaron DeCamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-decamp/) > [You find your limits by going out and trying. We're just like anybody else in any other job. You just can't work 90 hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristian-bush/you-find-your-limits-by-going-out-and-trying-we-re-just-like-anybody/) [Kristian Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristian-bush/) > [The only way to define your limits is by going beyond them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/the-only-way-to-define-your-limits-is-by-going-beyond-them/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [I was always pushing the limits, going as far as I could. I would do all kinds of crazy things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-was-always-pushing-the-limits-going-as-far-as-i-could-i-would-do/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Since 1981, after our nations severed diplomatic relations, we've worked through a international tribunal to resolve various claims between our countries. The United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/since-1981-after-our-nations-severed-diplomatic-relations-we-ve/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I find it amusing that those who helped to authorize and engineer the biggest foreign policy disaster in our generation are now criticizing me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-find-it-amusing-that-those-who-helped-to-authorize-and-engineer-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We have to defeat ISIS. That is my highest counterterrorism goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-have-to-defeat-isis-that-is-my-highest-counterterrorism-goal/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“counterterrorism efforts, through Richard Clarke and his interagency Counterterrorism Security Group (CSG). Spotlighting new concerns about unconventional attacks, these directives assigned tasks to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/counterterrorism-efforts-through-richard-clarke-and-his-interagency/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Counterterrorism isn't really about the nunchakus, the guns and gadgets. It's about psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/counterterrorism-isn-t-really-about-the-nunchakus-the-guns-and/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I used to have a little saying I used when people said, 'What are your priorities?' I'd give them a bit of government alphabet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/i-used-to-have-a-little-saying-i-used-when-people-said-what-are-your/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Counterterrorism quotes > [I used to have a little saying I used when people said, 'What are your priorities?' I'd give them a bit of government alphabet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/i-used-to-have-a-little-saying-i-used-when-people-said-what-are-your/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) > [Counterterrorism isn't really about the nunchakus, the guns and gadgets. It's about psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/counterterrorism-isn-t-really-about-the-nunchakus-the-guns-and/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [“counterterrorism efforts, through Richard Clarke and his interagency Counterterrorism Security Group (CSG). Spotlighting new concerns about unconventional attacks, these directives assigned tasks to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/counterterrorism-efforts-through-richard-clarke-and-his-interagency/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have to defeat ISIS. That is my highest counterterrorism goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-have-to-defeat-isis-that-is-my-highest-counterterrorism-goal/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We certainly have the best special operations forces in the world and know how to do counterterrorism extremely well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/we-certainly-have-the-best-special-operations-forces-in-the-world-and/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [ICE does a lot of other things that people don't realize. They work on counterterrorism, cyber security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacky-rosen/ice-does-a-lot-of-other-things-that-people-don-t-realize-they-work-on/) [Jacky Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacky-rosen/) > [The inattention of the Bush administration to the threat from al Qaeda had results. Shortly before 9/11, Bush's attorney general, John Ashcroft, turned down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-inattention-of-the-bush-administration-to-the-threat-from-al/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The world of counterterrorism is like that old jigsaw puzzle in the back of the closet: Its many missing pieces and extra parts jumbled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-l-haney/the-world-of-counterterrorism-is-like-that-old-jigsaw-puzzle-in-the/) [Eric L. Haney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-l-haney/) > [We've evolved a lot since 9/11 also, in terms of our law enforcement capabilities, our intelligence capabilities, military, counterterrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-evolved-a-lot-since-9-11-also-in-terms-of-our-law-enforcement/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think what we've learned is that the terrorist threat is serious, but it shifts. You cannot make a single person the sole focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bremer/i-think-what-we-ve-learned-is-that-the-terrorist-threat-is-serious/) [Paul Bremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bremer/) > [The scientific community should work as hard as possible to address major issues that affect our everyday lives such as climate change, infectious diseases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-scientific-community-should-work-as-hard-as-possible-to-address/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [Counterterrorism analysts have known for years that al Qaeda prepares for attacks with elaborate 'targeting packages' of photographs and notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/counterterrorism-analysts-have-known-for-years-that-al-qaeda-prepares/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [The Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism will work on issues I am deeply passionate about given my combat experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/the-subcommittee-on-the-middle-east-north-africa-and-global/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I do not believe that a counterterrorism strategy all by itself, without a sufficient level of counterinsurgency, will work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-do-not-believe-that-a-counterterrorism-strategy-all-by-itself/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [As a CIA officer, I worked counterterrorism and counternarcotics cases, and I have an acute awareness about the threats facing our country, both foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/as-a-cia-officer-i-worked-counterterrorism-and-counternarcotics-cases/) [Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/) Browse all 48 Counterterrorism quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know what the counterterrorism feels like because I was there. 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