--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the urgent aftermath of Sept. 11…" description: "\"In the urgent aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, with more attacks thought to be imminent, analysts wanted to use 'contact chaining' techniques to build what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/barton-gellman-3126_aftermath_in-the-urgent-aftermath-of-sept-11-2001_813495.jpg" --- # In the urgent aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, with more… ![“In the urgent aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, with more attacks thought to be imminent, analysts wanted to use 'contact chaining' techniques to build what the NSA describes as network graphs of people who represented potential threats.” quote by Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/barton-gellman-3126_aftermath_in-the-urgent-aftermath-of-sept-11-2001_813495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/barton-gellman-3126_aftermath_in-the-urgent-aftermath-of-sept-11-2001_813495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/barton-gellman-3126_aftermath_in-the-urgent-aftermath-of-sept-11-2001_813495.jpg) > “In the urgent aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, with more attacks thought to be imminent, analysts wanted to use 'contact chaining' techniques to build what the NSA describes as network graphs of people who represented potential threats.” [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Analysts used network‑mapping to anticipate threats after 9/11, linking communications to identify potential risks. **In simple terms:** Mapping communications to find possible threats. Key Takeaway Use data responsibly to protect safety. Themes security surveillance risk assessment Mood cautious analytical Type explanatory informative When to use this quote - counter‑terrorism planning - law enforcement - policy making Key Concepts network analysis privacy concerns Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance security with civil liberties? - What safeguards are needed for such techniques? A Different Perspective Potential for privacy infringement and misuse of data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aftermath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aftermath/) [Imminent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imminent/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sept/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Threats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threats/) ## Related quotes > [The September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon prompted a fundamental shift in the American government's approach to Islamic terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-waldman/the-september-11-2001-attacks-on-the-world-trade-center-and-the/) [Amy Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-waldman/) > [I was visiting my mother in Florida when the September 11, 2001 attacks happened. I was working on The Tale of Despereaux at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/i-was-visiting-my-mother-in-florida-when-the-september-11-2001/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [While it may be true that the UAE has been an ally since the September 11, 2001, attacks, the American people know it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-gordon/while-it-may-be-true-that-the-uae-has-been-an-ally-since-the/) [Bart Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-gordon/) > [On average, since 9/11, the FBI reckons that just over 100,000 terrorism leads each year have come over the transom. Analysts and agents designate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-average-since-9-11-the-fbi-reckons-that-just-over-100-000/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [The causes and severity of NSA infractions vary widely. 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Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [Mohammed al-Qahtani was not alleged to be a leader of the Sept. 11 plot. He was not trained as a pilot. If he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/mohammed-al-qahtani-was-not-alleged-to-be-a-leader-of-the-sept-11/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [Less than a year after the Sept. 11 attacks, al-Qaida attacks were continuing: the firebombing of a synagogue in Tunisia in April, a bomb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/less-than-a-year-after-the-sept-11-attacks-al-qaida-attacks-were/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [When they told me there would be a statue erected at Wrigley Field, I was happy with that. I know there will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-williams/when-they-told-me-there-would-be-a-statue-erected-at-wrigley-field-i/) [Billy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-williams/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) ## More by Barton Gellman > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [For political and bureaucratic reasons, governments at all levels are telling far less to the public than to insiders about how to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/for-political-and-bureaucratic-reasons-governments-at-all-levels-are/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [Searches of al Qaeda sites in Afghanistan, undertaken since American-backed forces took control there, are not known to have turned up a significant cache…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/searches-of-al-qaeda-sites-in-afghanistan-undertaken-since-american/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [I don't think Cheney started off in 2000 with a burning desire to become vice-president. 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