--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The misunderstandings - or, what really…" description: "\"The misunderstandings - or, what really bothers me are the intentional misrepresentations of the facts, which take place on a fairly regular basis. To ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/john-o-brennan-10652_bases_the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bot_2255588.jpg" --- # The misunderstandings - or, what really bothers me are the… ![“The misunderstandings - or, what really bothers me are the intentional misrepresentations of the facts, which take place on a fairly regular basis. To think that we, people who are involved in counterterrorism, do not care about civilian casualties or deaths or injuries, is just totally, totally…” quote by John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/john-o-brennan-10652_bases_the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bot_2255588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/john-o-brennan-10652_bases_the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bot_2255588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/john-o-brennan-10652_bases_the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bot_2255588.jpg) > “The misunderstandings - or, what really bothers me are the intentional misrepresentations of the facts, which take place on a fairly regular basis. To think that we, people who are involved in counterterrorism, do not care about civilian casualties or deaths or injuries, is just totally, totally wrong.” [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Misrepresentation of facts in counterterrorism undermines accountability and public trust, especially regarding civilian harm. **In simple terms:** Truthful reporting is essential for ethical security work. Key Takeaway Demand accurate information. Themes ethics security accountability Mood serious concerned Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - media analysis - humanitarian assessments Key Concepts misinformation civilian impact Questions to Reflect On - How can we verify claims in conflict zones? - What mechanisms ensure civilian protection? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitical contexts can obscure clear truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Bother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bother/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Casualties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casualties/) [Civilian casualties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilian-casualties/) [Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Intentional Misrepresentations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentional-misrepresentations-5168901/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Involved Counterterrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved-counterterrorism-5168900/) [Misrepresentation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misrepresentation/) [Misrepresentations Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misrepresentations-facts-5168899/) [Misunderstanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstanding/) [Misunderstandings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstandings/) [Misunderstandings Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstandings-really-2582856/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [It's not just Bin Laden or just those that are involved in the counterterrorism effort. We've gotta cast the net broader than that. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/it-s-not-just-bin-laden-or-just-those-that-are-involved-in-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Since leaving the church, I've been working with law enforcement involved in counterterrorism and deradicalization. I hoped that illuminating Westboro's ideology - and especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/since-leaving-the-church-i-ve-been-working-with-law-enforcement/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [The one who understands you even after so much misunderstandings, is really the person who is truly in love with you...Â¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-who-understands-you-even-after-so-much-misunderstandings-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes I feel that every word spoken and every gesture made merely serve to exacerbate misunderstandings. Then what I would really like is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-i-feel-that-every-word-spoken-and-every-gesture-made-merely/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [As in any war, there have been dreadful mistakes and civilian casualties. The difference is when Israelis kill innocents they apologize; when Hezbollah kills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/as-in-any-war-there-have-been-dreadful-mistakes-and-civilian/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [The American people and the American military will never get used to civilian casualties. And we will - we will fight against that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/the-american-people-and-the-american-military-will-never-get-used-to/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [The IDF takes extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties, and is operating in accordance with international law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/the-idf-takes-extraordinary-measures-to-avoid-civilian-casualties-and/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [In America, we're getting too comfortable with our ability to take kinetic strikes around the world without having enough process to avoid consistently the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/in-america-we-re-getting-too-comfortable-with-our-ability-to-take/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Our reports about civilian casualties here, about the resistance of the Iraqi forces, are going back to the United States. It helps those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-arnett/our-reports-about-civilian-casualties-here-about-the-resistance-of/) [Peter Arnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-arnett/) > [We do everything humanly possible, consistent with military necessity, taking many chances to avoid civilian casualties, at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/we-do-everything-humanly-possible-consistent-with-military-necessity/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [“Civilian casualties?” I asked. “There always are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/civilian-casualties-i-asked-there-always-are/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [That the Islamic State is guilty of horrific atrocities is common knowledge. But most Americans seem unaware of the human toll of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/that-the-islamic-state-is-guilty-of-horrific-atrocities-is-common/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [The history of warfare has not yet enabled any army, any civilized army, the army of a democracy like Israel, to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/the-history-of-warfare-has-not-yet-enabled-any-army-any-civilized/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [By citing the UN Charter I indicate that the defensive party to the conflict should use only proportionate force, try to avoid civilian casualties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhikkhu-bodhi/by-citing-the-un-charter-i-indicate-that-the-defensive-party-to-the/) [Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhikkhu-bodhi/) > [The cost of an on-site inspection team would be minuscule compared to war, Saddam would have no choice except to comply, the results would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/the-cost-of-an-on-site-inspection-team-would-be-minuscule-compared-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## More by John O. Brennan > [You always, I think, debate with yourself about whether or not you made the right decision. And you have to then give the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/you-always-i-think-debate-with-yourself-about-whether-or-not-you-made/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [While the intelligence profession oftentimes demands secrecy, it is critically important that there be a full and open discourse on intelligence matters with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/while-the-intelligence-profession-oftentimes-demands-secrecy-it-is/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [The CIA has acknowledged that it has detained about 100 terrorists since 9/11, and about a third of them have been subjected to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-cia-has-acknowledged-that-it-has-detained-about-100-terrorists/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [Throughout my career, I had the great fortune to experience firsthand as well as to witness what it means to be a CIA officer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/throughout-my-career-i-had-the-great-fortune-to-experience-firsthand/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [Terrorism needs to be fought against and certainly delegitimized or attacked, but some of the underlying grievances that might in fact lead individuals astray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/terrorism-needs-to-be-fought-against-and-certainly-delegitimized-or/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [As we've seen, deploying large armies abroad won't always be our best offense. Countries typically don't want foreign soldiers in their cities and towns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/as-we-ve-seen-deploying-large-armies-abroad-won-t-always-be-our-best/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [I think we do have to take off the gloves in some areas, but within balance, and at the right time and the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/i-think-we-do-have-to-take-off-the-gloves-in-some-areas-but-within/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [U.S. computer networks and databases are under daily cyber attack by nation states, international crime organizations, subnational groups, and individual hackers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/u-s-computer-networks-and-databases-are-under-daily-cyber-attack-by/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [We are in this business, whether it be intelligence or the government, to protect freedom, democracy and liberty, not to violate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/we-are-in-this-business-whether-it-be-intelligence-or-the-government/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [I want to be very clear: whenever it is possible to capture a suspected terrorist, it is the unqualified preference of the administration to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/i-want-to-be-very-clear-whenever-it-is-possible-to-capture-a/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [As a matter of international law, the United States is in an armed conflict with al-Qaida, the Taliban, and associated forces, in response to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/as-a-matter-of-international-law-the-united-states-is-in-an-armed/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [The United States is the first nation to regularly conduct strikes using remotely piloted aircraft in an armed conflict. Other nations also possess this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-united-states-is-the-first-nation-to-regularly-conduct-strikes/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [The men and women of the CIA are a national treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-men-and-women-of-the-cia-are-a-national-treasure/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [We need to make sure that leaks of classified information, of national security secrets, needs to be rigorously pursued and prosecuted to the fullest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/we-need-to-make-sure-that-leaks-of-classified-information-of-national/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [Sometimes there are actions that we are forced to take, but there need to be boundaries beyond which we are going to recognize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/sometimes-there-are-actions-that-we-are-forced-to-take-but-there-need/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) [Explore all 64 John O. Brennan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) ## More Bases quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) [Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The misunderstandings - or, what really bothers me are the intentional misrepresentations of the facts, which take place on a fairly regular basis. To think that we, people who are involved in counterterrorism, do not care about civilian casualties or deaths or injuries, is just totally, totally wrong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John O. Brennan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bothers-me-are-the-intentional/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bases" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bothers-me-are-the-intentional/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/john-o-brennan-10652_bases_the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bot_2255588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/john-o-brennan-10652_bases_the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bot_2255588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ceb/john-o-brennan-10652_bases_the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bot_2255588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The misunderstandings - or, what really bothers me are the intentional misrepresentations of the facts…” — John O. Brennan", "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": "John O. Brennan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The misunderstandings - or, what really...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bothers-me-are-the-intentional/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/the-misunderstandings-or-what-really-bothers-me-are-the-intentional/#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 } } ] } ```