Michael Hayden Quotes

We are keeping New Jersey one step, several steps, ahead of terrorism.

When these attacks occur, as they likely will, we will wonder what more we could have done to stop them.

The counterterrorism strategy known as CONTEST aimed to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from terrorism, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence.

The Commission's findings underscore that the nation is still vulnerable to attack and that we must move more quickly to make us safer. We must take the Commission's work and use it to make certain that such horrific attacks never occur again.

And we ask the American people to play an important part of our layered defense. We ask for cooperation, patience and a commitment to vigilance in the face of a determined enemy.

Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct.

American nation will not wait to be attacked again. We will defend our freedom and we will take the fight to the enemy.

America has survived and grown stronger through September 11th and subsequent wars with Afghanistan and Iraq and those who seek to do us harm. We have faced - and met - tremendous challenges ramping up a public health and safety system to protect Americans from future threats.

Since September 11, the U.S. has significantly improved its security to prevent another attack.

I have no problem with the security... It's something that must be done for the times in which we live. Safety first.

I believe the war on terror is the vital discussion of this decade and of our generation, probably. To win the war on terror, you need a good offense and a good defense. On defense, I regret to say, basically, this administration has not come close to doing what is necessary.

At the end of the day, the goals are simple: safety and security.

The real protection of life and property, always and everywhere.

We have no more fundamental obligation in government than to ensure the safety of our citizens.

The safety of the people is the first and foremost responsibility of government… We are not as prepared as we should be with our public safety network…. The margin for error is exceedingly and uniquely low.

Why has an administration that talks so much about terrorism and homeland security demonstrated so little competence when it comes to securing the homeland?

The administration asserts that two thirds or three quarters of al-Qaeda’s managers have been captured or killed, and that al-Qaeda must therefore be on the ropes. Why spend vast sums defending against it?

We are not safe. We are safer than we were, but we are not as safe as we could be.

The safety of the American people has got to be our number one priority. That is our most important problem.

National security involves education for our children as well as silos for our missiles.

If terrorists attacked New York, Washington, or San Francisco with a weapon of mass destruction, the next day we will all be asking what steps we might have taken to prevent it. So the question is, “Why do we not take those steps now?”

I can do whatever is necessary to protect the United States.

Anything can be justified by security.

We are much safer in the United States, but not yet safe.

Your biggest threat is bin Laden!