--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever counterterrorism professionals…" description: "\"Whenever counterterrorism professionals see punditry and media make grand pronunciations on terrorism that defy all demonstrable evidence, an unrepeata..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/malcolm-nance-13693_evidence_whenever-counterterrorism-professionals_2113139.jpg" --- # Whenever counterterrorism professionals see punditry and… ![“Whenever counterterrorism professionals see punditry and media make grand pronunciations on terrorism that defy all demonstrable evidence, an unrepeatable oath is usually muttered.” quote by Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/malcolm-nance-13693_evidence_whenever-counterterrorism-professionals_2113139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/malcolm-nance-13693_evidence_whenever-counterterrorism-professionals_2113139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/malcolm-nance-13693_evidence_whenever-counterterrorism-professionals_2113139.jpg) > “Whenever counterterrorism professionals see punditry and media make grand pronunciations on terrorism that defy all demonstrable evidence, an unrepeatable oath is usually muttered.” [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professionals often swear an oath when media pundits make baseless claims about terrorism. **In simple terms:** They promise truth against sensationalism. Key Takeaway Question sources before accepting narratives. Themes security media truth ethics Mood serious analytical Type explanatory cautionary When to use this quote - policy briefings - media analysis - public statements - academic lectures Key Concepts critical thinking information integrity Questions to Reflect On - How can we verify terrorism reporting? - What responsibilities do experts have to the public? A Different Perspective Oaths may be rhetorical, not enforceable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Counterterrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterterrorism/) [Counterterrorism Professionals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterterrorism-professionals-4275807/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) [Pronunciations Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pronunciations-terrorism-4275805/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Terrorism Defy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism-defy-4275804/) [Unrepeatable Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unrepeatable-oath-4275806/) ## Related quotes > [I used to have a little saying I used when people said, 'What are your priorities?' I'd give them a bit of government alphabet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/i-used-to-have-a-little-saying-i-used-when-people-said-what-are-your/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) > [The Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism will work on issues I am deeply passionate about given my combat experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/the-subcommittee-on-the-middle-east-north-africa-and-global/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [Counterterrorism analysts have known for years that al Qaeda prepares for attacks with elaborate 'targeting packages' of photographs and notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/counterterrorism-analysts-have-known-for-years-that-al-qaeda-prepares/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [The scientific community should work as hard as possible to address major issues that affect our everyday lives such as climate change, infectious diseases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-scientific-community-should-work-as-hard-as-possible-to-address/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [I think what we've learned is that the terrorist threat is serious, but it shifts. You cannot make a single person the sole focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bremer/i-think-what-we-ve-learned-is-that-the-terrorist-threat-is-serious/) [Paul Bremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bremer/) > [We've evolved a lot since 9/11 also, in terms of our law enforcement capabilities, our intelligence capabilities, military, counterterrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-evolved-a-lot-since-9-11-also-in-terms-of-our-law-enforcement/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world of counterterrorism is like that old jigsaw puzzle in the back of the closet: Its many missing pieces and extra parts jumbled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-l-haney/the-world-of-counterterrorism-is-like-that-old-jigsaw-puzzle-in-the/) [Eric L. Haney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-l-haney/) > [The inattention of the Bush administration to the threat from al Qaeda had results. Shortly before 9/11, Bush's attorney general, John Ashcroft, turned down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-inattention-of-the-bush-administration-to-the-threat-from-al/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [ICE does a lot of other things that people don't realize. They work on counterterrorism, cyber security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacky-rosen/ice-does-a-lot-of-other-things-that-people-don-t-realize-they-work-on/) [Jacky Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacky-rosen/) > [I know what the counterterrorism feels like because I was there. But I also operated within limits. And within the United States government, we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-know-what-the-counterterrorism-feels-like-because-i-was-there-but-i/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We certainly have the best special operations forces in the world and know how to do counterterrorism extremely well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/we-certainly-have-the-best-special-operations-forces-in-the-world-and/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [We have to defeat ISIS. That is my highest counterterrorism goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-have-to-defeat-isis-that-is-my-highest-counterterrorism-goal/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“counterterrorism efforts, through Richard Clarke and his interagency Counterterrorism Security Group (CSG). Spotlighting new concerns about unconventional attacks, these directives assigned tasks to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/counterterrorism-efforts-through-richard-clarke-and-his-interagency/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Counterterrorism isn't really about the nunchakus, the guns and gadgets. It's about psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/counterterrorism-isn-t-really-about-the-nunchakus-the-guns-and/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I do not believe that a counterterrorism strategy all by itself, without a sufficient level of counterinsurgency, will work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-do-not-believe-that-a-counterterrorism-strategy-all-by-itself/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) ## More by Malcolm Nance > [Russia's a small country. It's really poor. It has nothing other than oil and weapons sales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/russia-s-a-small-country-it-s-really-poor-it-has-nothing-other-than/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [The Republicans want an autocracy where the rights of minorities and others are not protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/the-republicans-want-an-autocracy-where-the-rights-of-minorities-and/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [I started my career in Naval Intelligence when I entered as a Russian language interpreter sent to DLI, the Defense Language Institute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/i-started-my-career-in-naval-intelligence-when-i-entered-as-a-russian/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [I have personally led, witnessed, and supervised waterboarding of hundreds of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/i-have-personally-led-witnessed-and-supervised-waterboarding-of/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [“However, despite the enormous digital territory and huge number of Internet users, only a few users of what is called the “Surface Web” are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/however-despite-the-enormous-digital-territory-and-huge-number-of/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [Working in the Middle East, daily I face the questions, disbelief, and accusations about how Americans could violate the human rights which they once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/working-in-the-middle-east-daily-i-face-the-questions-disbelief-and/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [Vladimir Putin is creating an axis of authoritarian regimes that he will lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/vladimir-putin-is-creating-an-axis-of-authoritarian-regimes-that-he/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [The 2003 war in Iraq may be considered the greatest error in American policy since the Civil War. Its ramifications are earth-shattering and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/the-2003-war-in-iraq-may-be-considered-the-greatest-error-in-american/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [Hamas and Hezbollah operate within geopolitical norms. They can be negotiated and reasoned with. ISIL is a different animal altogether - a religious cult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/hamas-and-hezbollah-operate-within-geopolitical-norms-they-can-be/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [To help students steel themselves for captivity, SERE used a variety of 'stress and duress' techniques. The military's encyclopedic knowledge of these techniques was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/to-help-students-steel-themselves-for-captivity-sere-used-a-variety/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [Yes, ISIL is a terror-based insurgent army that seeks to establish a Caliphate, but the group's actual end goal is far from political: ISIL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/yes-isil-is-a-terror-based-insurgent-army-that-seeks-to-establish-a/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [For an old spy and codebreaker like myself, nothing in the world happens by coincidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/for-an-old-spy-and-codebreaker-like-myself-nothing-in-the-world/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [Al Qaeda is a racially diverse organization that is well aware of its dependence on a labor pool dominated by Arab Muslim men. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/al-qaeda-is-a-racially-diverse-organization-that-is-well-aware-of-its/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [Vladimir Putin understood, from the Communist era when he was a KGB officer, that the Russian propaganda system of targeting Western media - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/vladimir-putin-understood-from-the-communist-era-when-he-was-a-kgb/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) > [For years before my Navy enlistment, I had studied the Soviet Union and the KGB's history of political intrigue in preparation for a career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/for-years-before-my-navy-enlistment-i-had-studied-the-soviet-union/) [Malcolm Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) [Explore all 49 Malcolm Nance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/) ## More Counterterrorism quotes > [I used to have a little saying I used when people said, 'What are your priorities?' I'd give them a bit of government alphabet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/i-used-to-have-a-little-saying-i-used-when-people-said-what-are-your/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) > [Counterterrorism isn't really about the nunchakus, the guns and gadgets. It's about psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/counterterrorism-isn-t-really-about-the-nunchakus-the-guns-and/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [“counterterrorism efforts, through Richard Clarke and his interagency Counterterrorism Security Group (CSG). Spotlighting new concerns about unconventional attacks, these directives assigned tasks to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/counterterrorism-efforts-through-richard-clarke-and-his-interagency/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have to defeat ISIS. That is my highest counterterrorism goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-have-to-defeat-isis-that-is-my-highest-counterterrorism-goal/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We certainly have the best special operations forces in the world and know how to do counterterrorism extremely well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/we-certainly-have-the-best-special-operations-forces-in-the-world-and/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [I know what the counterterrorism feels like because I was there. But I also operated within limits. And within the United States government, we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-know-what-the-counterterrorism-feels-like-because-i-was-there-but-i/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ICE does a lot of other things that people don't realize. They work on counterterrorism, cyber security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacky-rosen/ice-does-a-lot-of-other-things-that-people-don-t-realize-they-work-on/) [Jacky Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacky-rosen/) > [The inattention of the Bush administration to the threat from al Qaeda had results. Shortly before 9/11, Bush's attorney general, John Ashcroft, turned down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-inattention-of-the-bush-administration-to-the-threat-from-al/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The world of counterterrorism is like that old jigsaw puzzle in the back of the closet: Its many missing pieces and extra parts jumbled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-l-haney/the-world-of-counterterrorism-is-like-that-old-jigsaw-puzzle-in-the/) [Eric L. Haney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-l-haney/) > [We've evolved a lot since 9/11 also, in terms of our law enforcement capabilities, our intelligence capabilities, military, counterterrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-evolved-a-lot-since-9-11-also-in-terms-of-our-law-enforcement/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think what we've learned is that the terrorist threat is serious, but it shifts. You cannot make a single person the sole focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bremer/i-think-what-we-ve-learned-is-that-the-terrorist-threat-is-serious/) [Paul Bremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bremer/) > [The scientific community should work as hard as possible to address major issues that affect our everyday lives such as climate change, infectious diseases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-scientific-community-should-work-as-hard-as-possible-to-address/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [Counterterrorism analysts have known for years that al Qaeda prepares for attacks with elaborate 'targeting packages' of photographs and notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/counterterrorism-analysts-have-known-for-years-that-al-qaeda-prepares/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [The Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism will work on issues I am deeply passionate about given my combat experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/the-subcommittee-on-the-middle-east-north-africa-and-global/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I do not believe that a counterterrorism strategy all by itself, without a sufficient level of counterinsurgency, will work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-do-not-believe-that-a-counterterrorism-strategy-all-by-itself/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) [Browse all 48 Counterterrorism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterterrorism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whenever counterterrorism professionals see punditry and media make grand pronunciations on terrorism that defy all demonstrable evidence, an unrepeatable oath is usually muttered.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm Nance" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/whenever-counterterrorism-professionals-see-punditry-and-media-make/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Counterterrorism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/whenever-counterterrorism-professionals-see-punditry-and-media-make/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/malcolm-nance-13693_evidence_whenever-counterterrorism-professionals_2113139.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/malcolm-nance-13693_evidence_whenever-counterterrorism-professionals_2113139.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/malcolm-nance-13693_evidence_whenever-counterterrorism-professionals_2113139.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whenever counterterrorism professionals see punditry and media make grand pronunciations on terrorism that…” — Malcolm Nance", "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": "Malcolm Nance", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-nance/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whenever counterterrorism professionals see punditry and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/whenever-counterterrorism-professionals-see-punditry-and-media-make/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-nance/whenever-counterterrorism-professionals-see-punditry-and-media-make/#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 } } ] } ```