--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've gotten a long way on missile…" description: "\"We've gotten a long way on missile defense. We know how to do it. We know how to take down incoming warheads, but we need to do a lot more work in orde..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/dick-cheney-1810_defense_we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defen_1162473.jpg" --- # We've gotten a long way on missile defense. We know how to… ![“We've gotten a long way on missile defense. We know how to do it. We know how to take down incoming warheads, but we need to do a lot more work in order to be - to deploy a system that'll defend the United States against those kinds of limited strikes that might be possible by a nuclear armed…” quote by Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/dick-cheney-1810_defense_we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defen_1162473.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/dick-cheney-1810_defense_we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defen_1162473.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/dick-cheney-1810_defense_we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defen_1162473.jpg) > “We've gotten a long way on missile defense. We know how to do it. We know how to take down incoming warheads, but we need to do a lot more work in order to be - to deploy a system that'll defend the United States against those kinds of limited strikes that might be possible by a nuclear armed North Korea or Iran.” [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges progress in missile defense but stresses the need for further development to protect against limited nuclear strikes. **In simple terms:** Missile defense is improving but needs more work for limited nuclear threats. Key Takeaway Invest in advanced missile defense capabilities. Themes defense technology missile defense nuclear threats national security policy Mood strategic urgent analytical Type speech policy When to use this quote - military planning - international negotiations - defense budget meetings - strategic assessments Key Concepts strategic deterrence technological innovation budget allocation Questions to Reflect On - What tech can improve interception? - How to balance cost and security? A Different Perspective Budget constraints may limit deployment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korea/) [Missile defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missile-defense/) [North korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-korea/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [The missile defense component is a minor feature that nobody takes very seriously. Nobody really believes that the US is trying to protect itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-missile-defense-component-is-a-minor-feature-that-nobody-takes/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We propose to rebuild the key tools of missile defense starting with Navy cruisers that are the foundation of our missile defense capabilities in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-propose-to-rebuild-the-key-tools-of-missile-defense-starting-with/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We are using missile defense to protect our civilians, and they're using their civilians to protect their missiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/we-are-using-missile-defense-to-protect-our-civilians-and-they-re/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [ Now they \[NATO and the USA \] are sitting there, and we are talking about all these crises we would otherwise not have. You… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/now-they-nato-and-the-usa-are-sitting-there-and-we-are-talking-about/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [We urge President Bush to abstain from the National Missile Defense, just as we urge China, India and Pakistan to discontinue their nuclear arsenals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/we-urge-president-bush-to-abstain-from-the-national-missile-defense/) [Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/) > [We will build an Air Force of at least 1,200 fighter aircraft, which the Heritage Foundation again has shown to be needed to execute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-build-an-air-force-of-at-least-1-200-fighter-aircraft-which/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I think we need missile defense. But I want to make sure it works, that it's cost effective, that the technologies are operable, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-need-missile-defense-but-i-want-to-make-sure-it-works-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Russia doesn't want any arms race. Russia would not engage in the arms race. We have enough technological means to provide not very expensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergey-lavrov/russia-doesn-t-want-any-arms-race-russia-would-not-engage-in-the-arms/) [Sergey Lavrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergey-lavrov/) > [Russia is modernizing its nuclear systems. They're moving toward more effective tactical nuclear systems. They're moving toward delivery systems designed to evade anti-ballistic missile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/russia-is-modernizing-its-nuclear-systems-they-re-moving-toward-more/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Joy explodes throughout the book of Psalms like fireworks, and is the most potent anti-missile defense system there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-austin/joy-explodes-throughout-the-book-of-psalms-like-fireworks-and-is-the/) [Lynn Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-austin/) > [The small and bullying leader of Russia is now dictating terms to the United States, to the point where all the United States of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-small-and-bullying-leader-of-russia-is-now-dictating-terms-to-the/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [President Obama has thrown allies like Israel under the bus, even as he has relaxed sanctions on Castro's Cuba. He abandoned our friends in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-has-thrown-allies-like-israel-under-the-bus-even-as/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [ In 2009, US President \[Barack\] Obama said that the missile defense only serves as protection from Iranian nuclear missiles. But now there is an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/in-2009-us-president-barack-obama-said-that-the-missile-defense-only/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The International Atomic Energy Agency is controlling this, the sanctions against Iran are lifted - but still the US are working on their missile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/the-international-atomic-energy-agency-is-controlling-this-the/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I will not speak to Vladimir Putin personally until we've rebuilt the 6th Fleet a little bit right under his nose; rebuilt the missile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-will-not-speak-to-vladimir-putin-personally-until-we-ve-rebuilt-the/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) ## More by Dick Cheney > [A little tough talk in the midst of a campaign or as part of a presidential debate cannot obscure a record of 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/a-little-tough-talk-in-the-midst-of-a-campaign-or-as-part-of-a/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual - America sees two John Kerrys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/senator-kerry-says-he-sees-two-americas-it-makes-the-whole-thing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I am a deficit hawk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-am-a-deficit-hawk/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [We know he's been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-know-he-s-been-absolutely-devoted-to-trying-to-acquire-nuclear/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think the decision that's been made with respect to allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-the-decision-that-s-been-made-with-respect-to-allowing-gays/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [ \[In response to the question "Do you think that you underestimated the insurgency's strength?"\] I think so. I guess if I look back on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/in-response-to-the-question-do-you-think-that-you-underestimated-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Let us rid ourselves of the fiction that low oil prices are somehow good for the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/let-us-rid-ourselves-of-the-fiction-that-low-oil-prices-are-somehow/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think we need to significantly reduce the regulatory burden on the private sector. The Obama administration is doing the opposite. They're loading on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-we-need-to-significantly-reduce-the-regulatory-burden-on-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm often asked why I left politics and went to Halliburton and I explain that I reached the point where I was mean-spirited, short-tempered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-often-asked-why-i-left-politics-and-went-to-halliburton-and-i/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I do find that the mainstream media oftentimes is what I would consider off base or has a bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-do-find-that-the-mainstream-media-oftentimes-is-what-i-would/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm one of those people who believes that part of the greatness of the United States is our private sector. It's what we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-believes-that-part-of-the-greatness-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I believe that we were not as effective in the second term dealing with this issue of nuclear none proliferation as we had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-believe-that-we-were-not-as-effective-in-the-second-term-dealing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Sarah Palin is an attractive candidate, but based on her background, she only was governor for what, two years. I don't think she passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/sarah-palin-is-an-attractive-candidate-but-based-on-her-background/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [My own belief is that the way we grow the economy, create jobs, create wealth is in the private sector. The government doesn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/my-own-belief-is-that-the-way-we-grow-the-economy-create-jobs-create/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [From our perspective, trying to deal with this continuing campaign of terror, if you will, the war on terror that we're engaged in, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/from-our-perspective-trying-to-deal-with-this-continuing-campaign-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) [Explore all 207 Dick Cheney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## More Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) Tasha Marie > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [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/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) Browse all 2,426 Defense quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We've gotten a long way on missile defense. We know how to do it. We know how to take down incoming warheads, but we need to do a lot more work in order to be - to deploy a system that'll defend the United States against those kinds of limited strikes that might be possible by a nuclear armed North Korea or Iran.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dick Cheney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defense-we-know-how-to-do-it-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defense-we-know-how-to-do-it-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/dick-cheney-1810_defense_we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defen_1162473.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/dick-cheney-1810_defense_we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defen_1162473.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/dick-cheney-1810_defense_we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defen_1162473.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We've gotten a long way on missile defense. We know how to do it. We know how to take down incoming…” — Dick Cheney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dick Cheney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We've gotten a long way on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defense-we-know-how-to-do-it-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-ve-gotten-a-long-way-on-missile-defense-we-know-how-to-do-it-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```