---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the area were on or near the U.S…"
description: "\"If the area were on or near the U.S. continental shelf, such data could well provide an enemy with strategically invaluable insights into undersea acce..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/frank-gaffney-22333_access_if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-cont_770325.png"
---

#  If the area were on or near the U.S. continental shelf…

![“If the area were on or near the U.S. continental shelf, such data could well provide an enemy with strategically invaluable insights into undersea access routes that could be used to attack some of the millions of Americans who live on or near our coasts.” quote by Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/frank-gaffney-22333_access_if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-cont_770325.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/frank-gaffney-22333_access_if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-cont_770325.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/frank-gaffney-22333_access_if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-cont_770325.png)

> “If the area were on or near the U.S. continental shelf, such data could well provide an enemy with strategically invaluable insights into undersea access routes that could be used to attack some of the millions of Americans who live on or near our coasts.”

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He warns that data from the continental shelf could reveal U.S. coastal vulnerabilities to adversaries.

**In simple terms:** Data could expose U.S. coastal security weaknesses.

Key Takeaway

Secure and limit sensitive geographic data.

Themes

national security geopolitics data privacy

Mood

concerned analytical

Type

strategic policy

When to use this quote

- military planning
- coastal infrastructure protection
- policy making
- academic research

Key Concepts

strategic intelligence maritime security information warfare

Questions to Reflect On

- What safeguards exist for such data?
- How can we balance openness and security?

A Different Perspective

The threat may be overstated without concrete evidence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Area](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/area/) [Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack/) [Attack Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack-millions-5955366/) [Continental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continental/) [Continental Shelf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continental-shelf-3552019/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy Strategically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-strategically-516072/) [Insights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insights/) [Insights Undersea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insights-undersea-5955364/) [Invaluable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invaluable/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Near](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/near/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Provide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provide/) [Routes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/routes/) [Shelf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shelf/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Strategically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategically/) [Undersea Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undersea-access-5955365/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

## Related quotes

> [Despise the enemy strategically, but take him seriously tactically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/despise-the-enemy-strategically-but-take-him-seriously-tactically/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“But the past continues to gather around like floodwater. A too easy formulation, but what past do I have in mind? The nation’s, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/but-the-past-continues-to-gather-around-like-floodwater-a-too-easy/)

[Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/)

> [“You couldn’t control the direction of your family any more than you could stop the continental shelf from breaking apart. All you could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/you-couldn-t-control-the-direction-of-your-family-any-more-than-you/)

[Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/)

> [If I were a strategically minded person, I think I would have a far different career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/if-i-were-a-strategically-minded-person-i-think-i-would-have-a-far/)

[Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/)

> [We can achieve big, momentous things for our state, our children and our future. But we can only do so if we pull together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/we-can-achieve-big-momentous-things-for-our-state-our-children-and/)

[Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/)

> [“I learned what business issues and hot-button topics would earn an initial meeting with prospects and dedicated blocks of time to proactively call my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-weinberg/i-learned-what-business-issues-and-hot-button-topics-would-earn-an/)

[Mike Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-weinberg/)

> [If I hold up a red square for 30 seconds and take it away, you will see a perfect green square. It's how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-irwin/if-i-hold-up-a-red-square-for-30-seconds-and-take-it-away-you-will/)

[Robert Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-irwin/)

> [“he thought emotionally, not strategically.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/he-thought-emotionally-not-strategically/)

[Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/)

> [Meeting the challenges of the future requires a state that can think and act strategically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcdonnell/meeting-the-challenges-of-the-future-requires-a-state-that-can-think/)

[John McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcdonnell/)

> [When it comes to fully understanding how to strategically move all the pieces on the marketing and distribution chess board on a worldwide basis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-pascal/when-it-comes-to-fully-understanding-how-to-strategically-move-all/)

[Amy Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-pascal/)

> [Women must think strategically about creating ongoing pressure for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/women-must-think-strategically-about-creating-ongoing-pressure-for/)

[Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/)

> [I work strategically with my management team to make all decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karlie-kloss/i-work-strategically-with-my-management-team-to-make-all-decisions/)

[Karlie Kloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karlie-kloss/)

> [Men are shameless in selling their story. Women are often reserved. So we do need to encourage women to know their story and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-shipley/men-are-shameless-in-selling-their-story-women-are-often-reserved-so/)

[Jenny Shipley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-shipley/)

> [The way to success is strategically along the way of least expectation and tactically along the line of least resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-way-to-success-is-strategically-along-the-way-of-least/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [I am not in favour of the takeover of excellent and strategically important British companies by struggling foreign firms whose actions are fuelled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/i-am-not-in-favour-of-the-takeover-of-excellent-and-strategically/)

[David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/)

## More by Frank Gaffney

> [The United Nations has long sought the ability to raise revenues in this manner as a means of reducing its reliance on American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/the-united-nations-has-long-sought-the-ability-to-raise-revenues-in/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [The object of China's strategy is inexorably to supplant the United States as the world's premier economic power, and if necessary, to defeat us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/the-object-of-china-s-strategy-is-inexorably-to-supplant-the-united/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [After America won the Cold War, some believed we had come to the 'end of history,' and budget-cutters celebrated the so-called 'peace dividend.' As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/after-america-won-the-cold-war-some-believed-we-had-come-to-the-end/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [One of the most important post-9/11 efforts made to counter terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction is President Bush's Proliferation Security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/one-of-the-most-important-post-9-11-efforts-made-to-counter-terrorism/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [To his lasting credit, President Reagan never wavered. He recognized the strategic importance of staying the course, both in terms of denying Moscow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/to-his-lasting-credit-president-reagan-never-wavered-he-recognized/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [Barack Obama has exhibited sympathy, if not for the terrorists, then certainly for the Islamic supremacists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/barack-obama-has-exhibited-sympathy-if-not-for-the-terrorists-then/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [The most desirable aspects of the Law of the Sea Treaty pertain to navigational rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/the-most-desirable-aspects-of-the-law-of-the-sea-treaty-pertain-to/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [Most Americans will be horrified that President Obama is compromising our deterrent to chemical and biological attacks on this country. Our allies will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/most-americans-will-be-horrified-that-president-obama-is-compromising/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [But I really believe it is in America's interest as well as that of the free world more generally to stop Iran from getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/but-i-really-believe-it-is-in-america-s-interest-as-well-as-that-of/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [Sharia has become an increasingly significant force in American capitalism, thanks to the embrace by Wall Street and the U.S. government of so-called Sharia-Compliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/sharia-has-become-an-increasingly-significant-force-in-american/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [Since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, conservatives have succeeded by adhering to a platform that rests firmly on three legs: smaller government, faith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/since-the-presidency-of-ronald-reagan-conservatives-have-succeeded-by/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [Dozens of nations have agreed to join in monitoring and, if necessary, intercepting and boarding ships on the high seas in the event they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/dozens-of-nations-have-agreed-to-join-in-monitoring-and-if-necessary/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [History demonstrates that previous military drawdowns invited aggression by our enemies. After World War I, America drew down forces until the U.S. Army had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/history-demonstrates-that-previous-military-drawdowns-invited/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [The more we are consuming oil that either comes from places that are bent on our destruction or helping those who are... the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/the-more-we-are-consuming-oil-that-either-comes-from-places-that-are/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

> [After all, from the Muslim Brotherhood's inception in Egypt in 1928, it has been a revolutionary organization committed to the imposition worldwide of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/after-all-from-the-muslim-brotherhood-s-inception-in-egypt-in-1928-it/)

[Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

[Explore all 27 Frank Gaffney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/)

## More Access quotes

> [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/you-can-disseminate-your-art-and-it-s-all-such-easy-access-now-the/)

[Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/)

> [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/)

[Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/)

> [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/)

[Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/)

> [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/)

[Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/)

> [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/)

[John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/)

> [Because the Internet's there, I have access to a lot of the legends, like Fela Kuti. I used to watch a lot of Fela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-krule/because-the-internet-s-there-i-have-access-to-a-lot-of-the-legends/)

[King Krule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-krule/)

> [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/)

[Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/)

> [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/)

[Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/)

> [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Now that I'm more middle class, I have access to consumer goods. I do enjoy feminine frippery, feminine doo-da, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/now-that-i-m-more-middle-class-i-have-access-to-consumer-goods-i-do/)

[Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/)

> [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/)

[Andrew Nikiforuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-nikiforuk/)

> [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-to-open-the-door-unto-jesus-and-admit-him-into-your/)

[Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/)

> [Broadband Internet access shouldn't depend on who you are or where you're from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/broadband-internet-access-shouldn-t-depend-on-who-you-are-or-where/)

[Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/)

[Browse all 2,178 Access quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If the area were on or near the U.S. continental shelf, such data could well provide an enemy with strategically invaluable insights into undersea access routes that could be used to attack some of the millions of Americans who live on or near our coasts.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Frank Gaffney"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-continental-shelf-such-data-could/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Access"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-continental-shelf-such-data-could/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/frank-gaffney-22333_access_if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-cont_770325.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/frank-gaffney-22333_access_if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-cont_770325.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/frank-gaffney-22333_access_if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-cont_770325.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If the area were on or near the U.S. continental shelf, such data could well provide an enemy with…” — Frank Gaffney",
                "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": "Frank Gaffney",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If the area were on or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-continental-shelf-such-data-could/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/if-the-area-were-on-or-near-the-u-s-continental-shelf-such-data-could/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
