--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As the Ranking Democrat on the House…" description: "\"As the Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, I have been briefed since 2003 on a highly classified NSA foreign collection program that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-harman-26497_al-qaeda_as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-int_391897.jpg" --- # As the Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence… ![“As the Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, I have been briefed since 2003 on a highly classified NSA foreign collection program that targeted Al Qaeda. I believe the program is essential to US national security and that its disclosure has damaged critical intelligence capabilities.” quote by Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-harman-26497_al-qaeda_as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-int_391897.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-harman-26497_al-qaeda_as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-int_391897.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-harman-26497_al-qaeda_as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-int_391897.jpg) > “As the Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, I have been briefed since 2003 on a highly classified NSA foreign collection program that targeted Al Qaeda. I believe the program is essential to US national security and that its disclosure has damaged critical intelligence capabilities.” [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) ## 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 argues that a secret NSA program targeting Al Qaeda is vital for national security, and exposing it harms intelligence effectiveness. **In simple terms:** A secret surveillance program is crucial for safety, and revealing it weakens security. Key Takeaway Protect essential intelligence, limit public disclosure. Themes national security surveillance transparency politics Mood concerned defensive Type political policy. When to use this quote - policy debate - media reporting - legislative oversight - public awareness Key Concepts counterterrorism classified information government oversight Questions to Reflect On - Should security outweigh transparency? - How to balance oversight with secrecy? A Different Perspective Revealing secrets can jeopardize sources and methods, reducing effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Disclosure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disclosure/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) ## Related quotes > [From my experience as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, if a congressperson is identified as a potential target by a foreign intelligence service,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/from-my-experience-as-chairman-of-the-house-intelligence-committee-if/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [The House Intelligence Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee are investigating everything having to do with Russia, and I expect we will find there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronna-mcdaniel/the-house-intelligence-committee-and-the-senate-intelligence/) [Ronna McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronna-mcdaniel/) > [It is clear that Michael Cohen was not truthful with the House Intelligence Committee, which is all the more reason that we never should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/it-is-clear-that-michael-cohen-was-not-truthful-with-the-house/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I have made our nation's response to cyberwarfare a primary focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/as-a-member-of-the-house-intelligence-committee-i-have-made-our/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [I'm honored to sit on the House Intelligence Committee and am proud to chair the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-stefanik/i-m-honored-to-sit-on-the-house-intelligence-committee-and-am-proud/) [Elise Stefanik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-stefanik/) > [I served 10 years on the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, and I had the distinct privilege of meeting with real U.S. spies throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/i-served-10-years-on-the-u-s-house-intelligence-committee-and-i-had/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [As a member and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee during the 2000s, I met with civilian and military officials in Kurdistan, Libya, Jordan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/as-a-member-and-chairman-of-the-house-intelligence-committee-during/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., whose youthful dreams of being a successful Hollywood screenwriter never materialized, is proving to the world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/house-intelligence-committee-chairman-adam-schiff-d-calif-whose/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [Although the House Intelligence Committee report claims to be the definitive statement of the House of Representatives on matters of Benghazi and intelligence, interviews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-hayes/although-the-house-intelligence-committee-report-claims-to-be-the/) [Stephen F. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-hayes/) > [An issue that really concerned me when I was on the House Intelligence Committee was the quality of analysis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/an-issue-that-really-concerned-me-when-i-was-on-the-house/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [So, you know, I think that Democrats are being more successful in Congress and I'm really going to be proud of the role I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/so-you-know-i-think-that-democrats-are-being-more-successful-in/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [ I don't think political reform is likely to succeed. \[Senators Tom\] Udall and \[Ron\] Wyden, on the intelligence committee, have been sounding the alarm,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-don-t-think-political-reform-is-likely-to-succeed-senators-tom/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [One side thinks the president'€™s request for war-making powers is too brazen and even reckless. The other side thinks it is too spineless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baker/one-side-thinks-the-president-s-request-for-war-making-powers-is-too/) [Peter Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baker/) > [Trump's alliance with Russia's Vladimir Putin, in defiance of America's own intelligence community, the Department of Justice, and the bipartisan report of the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/trump-s-alliance-with-russia-s-vladimir-putin-in-defiance-of-america/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [The Intelligence Committee will also examine present counterintelligence programs for the Department of Energy, the National Laboratories, and the Department of Defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-intelligence-committee-will-also-examine-present/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jane Harman > [The point is to solve problems, not point fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/the-point-is-to-solve-problems-not-point-fingers/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [In a post-9/11 world, diversity has become even more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/in-a-post-9-11-world-diversity-has-become-even-more-important/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [We can no longer expect an Intelligence Community that is mostly male and mostly white to be able to monitor and infiltrate suspicious organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/we-can-no-longer-expect-an-intelligence-community-that-is-mostly-male/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [Democrats and Republicans love Israel and all of us care about the existential threat to Israel from Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/democrats-and-republicans-love-israel-and-all-of-us-care-about-the/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [I think I am aggressive, I think I am critical when it's necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/i-think-i-am-aggressive-i-think-i-am-critical-when-it-s-necessary/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [At the same time as we clearly condemn actions of violence by groups in Palestinian against Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/at-the-same-time-as-we-clearly-condemn-actions-of-violence-by-groups/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [If the withdrawal from Gaza goes badly, obviously, that will set us back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/if-the-withdrawal-from-gaza-goes-badly-obviously-that-will-set-us-back/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [The Committee's review of a series of intelligence shortcomings, to include intelligence prior to 9/11 and the pre-war intelligence on Iraq, clearly reveal how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/the-committee-s-review-of-a-series-of-intelligence-shortcomings-to/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [Many women have been successful at breaking the glass ceiling only to find a layer of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/many-women-have-been-successful-at-breaking-the-glass-ceiling-only-to/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [When you put your mind to it, you usually find that there is a way to achieve what you want after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/when-you-put-your-mind-to-it-you-usually-find-that-there-is-a-way-to/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [In 1969, when I graduated from Harvard Law School, women and minorities made up a tiny fraction of the first year associates accepted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/in-1969-when-i-graduated-from-harvard-law-school-women-and-minorities/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [I think Democrats in Congress love Israel. Our relationship with Israel depends on a strong bipartisan relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/i-think-democrats-in-congress-love-israel-our-relationship-with/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [So, you know, I think that Democrats are being more successful in Congress and I'm really going to be proud of the role I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/so-you-know-i-think-that-democrats-are-being-more-successful-in/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [The Clinton foundation has done a lot of good in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/the-clinton-foundation-has-done-a-lot-of-good-in-the-world/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [We need spies that look like their targets, CIA officers who speak the dialects terrorists use, and FBI agents who can speak to Muslim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/we-need-spies-that-look-like-their-targets-cia-officers-who-speak-the/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) [Explore all 21 Jane Harman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) ## More Al qaeda quotes > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [“I do not go to church. I don’t go to Christian church or Jew church or any other church. I don’t go to church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/i-do-not-go-to-church-i-don-t-go-to-christian-church-or-jew-church-or/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [ This war \[in Syria\] is going to support Al-Qaeda and the same people that killed Americans in the 11th of September. The second thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/this-war-in-syria-is-going-to-support-al-qaeda-and-the-same-people/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The people who illegally cross into the country are from countries that have very close ties to al Qaeda, whether it's Yemen or Afghanistan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/the-people-who-illegally-cross-into-the-country-are-from-countries/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [The White House was signaling that the threat posed by Saddam Hussein was of such urgency that it had priority over the crushing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/the-white-house-was-signaling-that-the-threat-posed-by-saddam-hussein/) [Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/) > [I was on the front lines in the Cold War, and I was on the front lines in the fight against Al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-was-on-the-front-lines-in-the-cold-war-and-i-was-on-the-front-lines/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [If you don't understand what al Qaeda was trying to do on 9/11, if you don't have a sense of who Osama bin Laden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/if-you-don-t-understand-what-al-qaeda-was-trying-to-do-on-9-11-if-you/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/some-have-argued-that-the-president-is-required-to-get-permission/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Iraq, for the first time, gives al Qaeda and its allies contiguous safe-haven territory to train and launch attacks into the Levant. First into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scheuer/iraq-for-the-first-time-gives-al-qaeda-and-its-allies-contiguous-safe/) [Michael Scheuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scheuer/) > [The idea the president of the United States was warned that Al-Qaeda was going to attack the United States and did nothing about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-idea-the-president-of-the-united-states-was-warned-that-al-qaeda/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [There's more evil in the charts than an Al-Qaeda suggestion box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/there-s-more-evil-in-the-charts-than-an-al-qaeda-suggestion-box/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Muslim leaders around the globe have to continue working with us to decisively and unequivocally reject the hateful ideology that groups like ISIL and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/muslim-leaders-around-the-globe-have-to-continue-working-with-us-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Mistreatment of al Qaeda members and their friends and hangers-on is something I number among my moral concerns. But it's number 1,000,000,001.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/mistreatment-of-al-qaeda-members-and-their-friends-and-hangers-on-is/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [(The United States) is the same as al-Qaeda, under a different color flag, calling on the name a different God to sanction and approve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-wright/the-united-states-is-the-same-as-al-qaeda-under-a-different-color/) [Jeremiah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-wright/) Browse all 360 Al qaeda quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As the Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, I have been briefed since 2003 on a highly classified NSA foreign collection program that targeted Al Qaeda. I believe the program is essential to US national security and that its disclosure has damaged critical intelligence capabilities.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Harman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-intelligence-committee-i-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Al qaeda" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-intelligence-committee-i-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-harman-26497_al-qaeda_as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-int_391897.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-harman-26497_al-qaeda_as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-int_391897.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-harman-26497_al-qaeda_as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-int_391897.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As the Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, I have been briefed since 2003 on a highly…” — Jane Harman", "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": "Jane Harman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As the Ranking Democrat on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-intelligence-committee-i-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-intelligence-committee-i-have/#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 } } ] } ```