John O. Brennan Quotes

A collection of quotes by John O. Brennan.

John O. Brennan served as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2013 to 2017. Born on September 22, 1955, in North Bergen, New Jersey, Brennan began his career with the agency in 1980 and held various key positions before becoming the director. He played a crucial role in the development and implementation of U.S. counterterrorism policies. Prior to his work at the CIA, Brennan served as the Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism under President Barack Obama. He is known for his expertise in intelligence and national security matters.

As a former career intelligence professional, I have a profo

As a former career intelligence professional, I have a profound appreciation for the value of intelligence. Intelligence disrupts terrorist plots and thwarts attacks. Intelligence saves lives.

John O. Brennan


We are in this business, whether it be intelligence or the g

We are in this business, whether it be intelligence or the government, to protect freedom, democracy and liberty, not to violate that.

John O. Brennan

Intelligence

Why should a great and powerful nation like the United State

Why should a great and powerful nation like the United States allow its relationship with more than a billion Muslims around the world to be defined by the narrow hatred and nihilistic actions of an exceptionally small minority of Muslims?

John O. Brennan

Relationship

While the intelligence profession oftentimes demands secrecy

While the intelligence profession oftentimes demands secrecy, it is critically important that there be a full and open discourse on intelligence matters with the appropriate elected representatives of the American people.

John O. Brennan

Intelligence

I do not - I never believed it's better to kill a terrorist

I do not - I never believed it's better to kill a terrorist than to detain him. We want to detain as many terrorists as possible so we can elicit the intelligence from them in the appropriate manner so that we can disrupt follow-on terrorist attacks.

John O. Brennan

Intelligence

I will not, nor will I ever, publicly divulge sensitive inte

I will not, nor will I ever, publicly divulge sensitive intelligence sources and methods. For when that happens, our national security is endangered and lives can be lost.

John O. Brennan

Intelligence

Poverty does not cause violence and terrorism. Lack of educa

Poverty does not cause violence and terrorism. Lack of education does not cause terrorism.

John O. Brennan

Education

The actions that we take on the counterterrorism front, agai

The actions that we take on the counterterrorism front, again, are to take actions against individuals where we believe that the intelligence base is so strong and the nature of the threat is so grave and serious, as well as imminent, that we have no recourse except to take this action that may involve a lethal strike.

John O. Brennan

Intelligence

Where terrorists offer injustice, disorder and destruction,

Where terrorists offer injustice, disorder and destruction, the United States and its allies stand for freedom, fairness, equality, hope, and opportunity.

John O. Brennan

Equality