---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The terrorists that we are up against…"
description: "\"The terrorists that we are up against today do not rely upon cell phones and SAT phones and emails. They rely on couriers. You cannot intercept what a ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/oliver-north-9452_cell-phone_the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-to_2013337.jpg"
---

#  The terrorists that we are up against today do not rely…

![“The terrorists that we are up against today do not rely upon cell phones and SAT phones and emails. They rely on couriers. You cannot intercept what a courier is telling somebody” quote by Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/oliver-north-9452_cell-phone_the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-to_2013337.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/oliver-north-9452_cell-phone_the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-to_2013337.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/oliver-north-9452_cell-phone_the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-to_2013337.jpg)

> “The terrorists that we are up against today do not rely upon cell phones and SAT phones and emails. They rely on couriers. You cannot intercept what a courier is telling somebody”

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

## About This Quote

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

Modern terrorism uses low‑tech human couriers rather than digital communications, making interception difficult.

**In simple terms:** Terrorists use couriers, not phones.

Key Takeaway

Focus on human intelligence networks.

Themes

security terrorism communication

Mood

cautious strategic

Type

analytical policy

When to use this quote

- law enforcement
- border security
- counter‑terrorism operations

Key Concepts

Human networks low‑tech methods

Questions to Reflect On

- How can agencies adapt to low‑tech threats?
- What technologies aid courier detection?

A Different Perspective

Couriers can be harder to track but still vulnerable to surveillance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cell phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/) [Cell phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phones/) [Cells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cells/) [Couriers Intercept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couriers-intercept-3608332/) [Email](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/email/) [Intercept Courier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intercept-courier-3608331/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Rely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rely/) [Rely Couriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rely-couriers-3608333/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorists/) [Terrorists Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorists-today-3608330/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/)

## Related quotes

> [Who defines terrorists? Today's terrorist is tomorrow's friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/who-defines-terrorists-today-s-terrorist-is-tomorrow-s-friend/)

[Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/)

> [Equipped with cell phones, beepers, and handheld computers, the 'conspicuously industrious' blur the line between home and office by working anytime, anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-ann-davis/equipped-with-cell-phones-beepers-and-handheld-computers-the/)

[Jo Ann Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-ann-davis/)

> [I hate television. I hate the internet. I hate cell phones. I hate cameras. I hate everything that destroys creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-hate-television-i-hate-the-internet-i-hate-cell-phones-i-hate/)

[Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/)

> [“I had a real revelation. We were all in robes, and they made some Turkish coffee for us. The professor explained how the coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/i-had-a-real-revelation-we-were-all-in-robes-and-they-made-some/)

[Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/)

> [Cell phones, alas, have pretty much ruined train travel, which I used to love. I could read or even sketch notes for what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/cell-phones-alas-have-pretty-much-ruined-train-travel-which-i-used-to/)

[Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/)

> [Email, instant messaging, and cell phones give us fabulous communication ability, but because we live and work in our own little worlds, that communication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/email-instant-messaging-and-cell-phones-give-us-fabulous/)

[Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/)

> [I sort of gave up on this whole human adventure a long time ago, divorced myself from it emotionally. It gives me an artistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-sort-of-gave-up-on-this-whole-human-adventure-a-long-time-ago/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [I think there's been a gigantic shift in the way we talk to each other, and the way that we communicate with each other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-swanberg/i-think-there-s-been-a-gigantic-shift-in-the-way-we-talk-to-each/)

[Joe Swanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-swanberg/)

> [As the OLPC laptop was getting ready to go into mass production in 2007, many executives approached me wanting the screen that I invented,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-jepsen/as-the-olpc-laptop-was-getting-ready-to-go-into-mass-production-in/)

[Mary Lou Jepsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-jepsen/)

> [But I'm acutely aware that the possibility of fraud is even more prevalent in today's world because of the Internet and cell phones and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armistead-maupin/but-i-m-acutely-aware-that-the-possibility-of-fraud-is-even-more/)

[Armistead Maupin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armistead-maupin/)

> [Cell phones are so convenient that they're an inconvenience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/cell-phones-are-so-convenient-that-they-re-an-inconvenience/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [I remember one point seeing I had like 60-some different cell phones. I know I only use one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-kosar/i-remember-one-point-seeing-i-had-like-60-some-different-cell-phones/)

[Bernie Kosar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-kosar/)

> [“To me, at least in retrospect, the really interesting question is why dullness proves to be such a powerful impediment to attention. Why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/to-me-at-least-in-retrospect-the-really-interesting-question-is-why/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [“Kindle Paperwhite 3G models use the same technology as cell phones, so they are dependent on cellular coverage areas. By default, a 3G device…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amazon/kindle-paperwhite-3g-models-use-the-same-technology-as-cell-phones-so/)

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

## More by Oliver North

> [“Frenchie spoke: 'Captain, you should have seen my lieutenant. He was magnificent.' It wasn't the word magnificent that meant so much. It was what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/frenchie-spoke-captain-you-should-have-seen-my-lieutenant-he-was/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [History and war are cruel pedants. Those who know too little of the former are likely to have too much of the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/history-and-war-are-cruel-pedants-those-who-know-too-little-of-the/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [Heroes aren't athletes who set new sports records, or Hollywood actors who make 'daring' films or politicians who make bold promises. Heroes are people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/heroes-aren-t-athletes-who-set-new-sports-records-or-hollywood-actors/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [Bill Clinton is not my commander-in-chief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/bill-clinton-is-not-my-commander-in-chief/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [I came here to tell you the truth, the good, the bad and the ugly. Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-came-here-to-tell-you-the-truth-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-ugly/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [I thought using the Ayatollah's money to support the Nicaraguan resistance was a neat idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to-support-the-nicaraguan/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [And of course there is so much of World War II that is documented that we never have seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/and-of-course-there-is-so-much-of-world-war-ii-that-is-documented/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [If you could have imagined that someone is happy that Obama is president, it has to be Jimmy Carter because he is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/if-you-could-have-imagined-that-someone-is-happy-that-obama-is/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [“The objective was simple: capture or kill the brutal leader of a kidnapping ring with ties to the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/the-objective-was-simple-capture-or-kill-the-brutal-leader-of-a/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [In uniform, I had to make judgments about the best course of action in combat when the only choices were 'bad' or 'worse.' As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/in-uniform-i-had-to-make-judgments-about-the-best-course-of-action-in/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [“Heros aren't defined by the way they die but how they live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/heros-aren-t-defined-by-the-way-they-die-but-how-they-live/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [The Obama administration has turned a blind eye to radical Islam since before they came to office. If you look at everything that's transpired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/the-obama-administration-has-turned-a-blind-eye-to-radical-islam/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [I think as a rifle platoon and company commander your view is about 1,000 meters in front of you and you hope you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-think-as-a-rifle-platoon-and-company-commander-your-view-is-about-1/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [“we shall acquit ourselves with honor, that we may never bring shame upon our faith, our families, or our fellow men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/we-shall-acquit-ourselves-with-honor-that-we-may-never-bring-shame/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [“Whoever has the sword will have the earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/whoever-has-the-sword-will-have-the-earth/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

[Explore all 72 Oliver North quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

## More Cell phone quotes

> [“What you’re holding in your hands is a BookShots Flames story. It’s part of a revolution in reading. Hand-picked by James Patterson, BookShots Flames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ciotta/what-you-re-holding-in-your-hands-is-a-bookshots-flames-story-it-s/)

[Beth Ciotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ciotta/)

> [“Kindle Paperwhite 3G models use the same technology as cell phones, so they are dependent on cellular coverage areas. By default, a 3G device…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amazon/kindle-paperwhite-3g-models-use-the-same-technology-as-cell-phones-so/)

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

> [“I’m not sure how the ponies happened, though I have an inkling: “Can I get you anything?” I’ll say, getting up from a dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-m-not-sure-how-the-ponies-happened-though-i-have-an-inkling-can-i/)

[Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/)

> [I like everything with a heaping dose of feminitity, including my cell phone. I created this phone for the classic woman, who like me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimora-lee-simmons/i-like-everything-with-a-heaping-dose-of-feminitity-including-my-cell/)

[Kimora Lee Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimora-lee-simmons/)

> [“People were sitting together, talking and telling stories face-to-face again, instead of staring at a cell phone screens while texting or chatting with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-foster/people-were-sitting-together-talking-and-telling-stories-face-to-face/)

[Mike Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-foster/)

> [“To me, at least in retrospect, the really interesting question is why dullness proves to be such a powerful impediment to attention. Why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/to-me-at-least-in-retrospect-the-really-interesting-question-is-why/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/)

[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

> [Girls are like cell phones they love to be held and talked to but whewn you press the wrong buttons you will be disconnected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/girls-are-like-cell-phones-they-love-to-be-held-and-talked-to-but/)

[Superman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/superman/)

> [Sometimes life really sucks. Then I see your name pop up on my cell phone and I cant help but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-really-sucks-then-i-see-your-name-pop-up-on-my-cell/)

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

> [I remember one point seeing I had like 60-some different cell phones. I know I only use one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-kosar/i-remember-one-point-seeing-i-had-like-60-some-different-cell-phones/)

[Bernie Kosar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-kosar/)

> [Cell phones are so convenient that they're an inconvenience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/cell-phones-are-so-convenient-that-they-re-an-inconvenience/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“The history of the sexual vanguard in America was a long list of people who had been ridiculed, imprisoned, or subjected to violence. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-witt/the-history-of-the-sexual-vanguard-in-america-was-a-long-list-of/)

[Emily Witt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-witt/)

> [The increase in chemicals and the increase in technology, like wi-fi and cell phone use that's going through our bodies all of the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-jennings/the-increase-in-chemicals-and-the-increase-in-technology-like-wi-fi/)

[Mason Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-jennings/)

> [But I'm acutely aware that the possibility of fraud is even more prevalent in today's world because of the Internet and cell phones and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armistead-maupin/but-i-m-acutely-aware-that-the-possibility-of-fraud-is-even-more/)

[Armistead Maupin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armistead-maupin/)

> [“was my first indication that the policies of Mamaw’s “party of the working man”—the Democrats—weren’t all they were cracked up to be. Political scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/was-my-first-indication-that-the-policies-of-mamaw-s-party-of-the/)

[J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/)

[Browse all 982 Cell phone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The terrorists that we are up against today do not rely upon cell phones and SAT phones and emails. They rely on couriers. You cannot intercept what a courier is telling somebody",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Oliver North"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-today-do-not-rely-upon-cell/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cell phone"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-today-do-not-rely-upon-cell/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/oliver-north-9452_cell-phone_the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-to_2013337.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/oliver-north-9452_cell-phone_the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-to_2013337.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/oliver-north-9452_cell-phone_the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-to_2013337.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The terrorists that we are up against today do not rely upon cell phones and SAT phones and emails. They…” — Oliver North",
                "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": "Oliver North",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The terrorists that we are up...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-today-do-not-rely-upon-cell/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/the-terrorists-that-we-are-up-against-today-do-not-rely-upon-cell/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
