--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bannon should never have had a permanent…" description: "\"Bannon should never have had a permanent seat on the NSC, as he is a political operative, and the NSC has traditionally been a place where American int..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/peter-bergen-1880_american_bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent_1256546.png" --- # Bannon should never have had a permanent seat on the NSC… ![“Bannon should never have had a permanent seat on the NSC, as he is a political operative, and the NSC has traditionally been a place where American interests are considered rather than narrow Republican or Democratic interests.” quote by Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/peter-bergen-1880_american_bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent_1256546.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/peter-bergen-1880_american_bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent_1256546.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/peter-bergen-1880_american_bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent_1256546.png) > “Bannon should never have had a permanent seat on the NSC, as he is a political operative, and the NSC has traditionally been a place where American interests are considered rather than narrow Republican or Democratic interests.” [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes appointing a political operative to the NSC, arguing it should prioritize national over partisan interests. **In simple terms:** NSC should stay nonpartisan and focus on national security. Key Takeaway Advocate for nonpartisan decision‑making. Themes politics national security governance institutional integrity Mood critical analytical Type political policy When to use this quote - policy debates - government appointments - security planning - political analysis Key Concepts nonpartisan policy strategic oversight Questions to Reflect On - Should expertise outweigh political affiliation in security roles? - How can institutions guard against partisan capture? A Different Perspective Political operatives may bring bias that hinders objective analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American Interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-interests-266670/) [Bannon Permanent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bannon-permanent-3980538/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Nsc Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nsc-political-3980539/) [Nsc Traditionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nsc-traditionally-3980540/) [Permanent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permanent/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Political Operative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-operative-3456374/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) ## Related quotes > [And I remember looking at Gray Davis and, you know, Gray is the consummate political operative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-curb/and-i-remember-looking-at-gray-davis-and-you-know-gray-is-the/) [Mike Curb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-curb/) > [There's a difference, though, between being a political appointee and putting a political operative in charge of a U.S. attorney's office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-marshall/there-s-a-difference-though-between-being-a-political-appointee-and/) [Josh Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-marshall/) > [I'm not a policy wonk, and I don't dream of being a political operative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-howard/i-m-not-a-policy-wonk-and-i-don-t-dream-of-being-a-political-operative/) [Clint Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-howard/) > [In another life, before taking the veil of journalistic purity, I practiced the black arts of a political operative, including 'debate prep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-greenfield/in-another-life-before-taking-the-veil-of-journalistic-purity-i/) [Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/) > [I think that there have been a number of situations in which you've seen this administration intervene in a meaningful way, that has substantially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-earnest/i-think-that-there-have-been-a-number-of-situations-in-which-you-ve/) [Josh Earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-earnest/) > [People want strength. They want American values. They want American interests. They want to be successful. And I'd say that's on both sides of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-volker/people-want-strength-they-want-american-values-they-want-american/) [Kurt Volker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-volker/) > [When any kind of military action is popular it's because either there's been a very clear, direct threat to us - 9/11 - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-any-kind-of-military-action-is-popular-it-s-because-either-there/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Israel's willingness to cooperate closely with the U.S. in protecting American interests in the region altered her image in the eyes of many officials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/israel-s-willingness-to-cooperate-closely-with-the-u-s-in-protecting/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [Other than being crazy enough to press a button, there is nothing that Putin can do militarily to fundamentally alter American interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/other-than-being-crazy-enough-to-press-a-button-there-is-nothing-that/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The West in its modern form since 1945 is a miracle, and that's in our American interests. It's its good that the West is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/the-west-in-its-modern-form-since-1945-is-a-miracle-and-that-s-in-our/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [There are instances in which American interests align with Russia and there are those where they don't. And so the question is, can we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/there-are-instances-in-which-american-interests-align-with-russia-and/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [American power should be used not just in the defense of American interests but for the promotion of American principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/american-power-should-be-used-not-just-in-the-defense-of-american/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Throughout the twentieth century and into the beginning of the twenty-first, the United States repeatedly used its military power, and that of its clandestine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/throughout-the-twentieth-century-and-into-the-beginning-of-the-twenty/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [I believe that if we think back to the period from F.D.R. through, let us say, Bush I, until the end of the Cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-believe-that-if-we-think-back-to-the-period-from-f-d-r-through-let/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [We have to return to a foreign policy of restraint, one that develops our capabilities and our potential in communities across America, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/we-have-to-return-to-a-foreign-policy-of-restraint-one-that-develops/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) ## More by Peter Bergen > [So Pakistan is a country that I'm very fond of and have spent a lot of time, but it is a country where conspiracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/so-pakistan-is-a-country-that-i-m-very-fond-of-and-have-spent-a-lot/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The deep problems that afflict the Middle East are not easy to fix, but they must be dealt with if we are not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-deep-problems-that-afflict-the-middle-east-are-not-easy-to-fix/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The dirty little secret of the intelligence world is that much of what you really need to know isn't exactly a secret anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-dirty-little-secret-of-the-intelligence-world-is-that-much-of/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Abedi appears to be one of the many thousands of Western Muslims who have embraced militant Islam, often as a way of trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/abedi-appears-to-be-one-of-the-many-thousands-of-western-muslims-who/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Trump has claimed he knows more about ISIS than America's leading generals. Clearly, this is also total nonsense; he doesn't seem to have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/trump-has-claimed-he-knows-more-about-isis-than-america-s-leading/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [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/) > [As early as 1993, members of bin Laden's group had been planning an attack on the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/as-early-as-1993-members-of-bin-laden-s-group-had-been-planning-an/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The reality is that Trump's focus on immigrants is to misconceive of the terrorist problem that exists in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-reality-is-that-trump-s-focus-on-immigrants-is-to-misconceive-of/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [ISIS despises the Russian government for its support of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, and so it's no surprise that ISIS began targeting Russia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/isis-despises-the-russian-government-for-its-support-of-the-syrian/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The Sunni militants that make up ISIS are not the underlying problem in Syria and Iraq, but rather they are a symptom of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-sunni-militants-that-make-up-isis-are-not-the-underlying-problem/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Keeping a relatively small, predominantly U.S. Special Forces presence in Afghanistan to continue to train the Afghan army past December 2016 is a wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/keeping-a-relatively-small-predominantly-u-s-special-forces-presence/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [One of the themes of 'The Longest War,' my book, which came out before the Arab spring happened, was how al-Qaida and bin Laden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/one-of-the-themes-of-the-longest-war-my-book-which-came-out-before/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Because 9/11 was carried out by 19 foreign-born Arab hijackers, many assume that all terrorists who attack the West are foreigners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/because-9-11-was-carried-out-by-19-foreign-born-arab-hijackers-many/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [I was the only outsider to visit the Abbottabad compound where bin Laden lived before the Pakistani military demolished it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/i-was-the-only-outsider-to-visit-the-abbottabad-compound-where-bin/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) [Explore all 201 Peter Bergen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bannon should never have had a permanent seat on the NSC, as he is a political operative, and the NSC has traditionally been a place where American interests are considered rather than narrow Republican or Democratic interests.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Bergen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent-seat-on-the-nsc-as-he-is-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent-seat-on-the-nsc-as-he-is-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/peter-bergen-1880_american_bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent_1256546.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/peter-bergen-1880_american_bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent_1256546.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/peter-bergen-1880_american_bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent_1256546.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Bannon should never have had a permanent seat on the NSC, as he is a political operative, and the NSC has…” — Peter Bergen", "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": "Peter Bergen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Bannon should never have had a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent-seat-on-the-nsc-as-he-is-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/bannon-should-never-have-had-a-permanent-seat-on-the-nsc-as-he-is-a/#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 } } ] } ```