“Obama does not need to worry as much as past Democratic presidents about being labeled soft on national security - not after giving the order that led to the assassination of Osama bin Laden. No, his biggest concern is being labeled tone deaf on joblessness and debt.” NeedsGivingDoePastOrderPresidentWorrySecurityConcernDemocraticDebtToneNational SecurityJoblessnessDeafBin LadenAssassinationOsama Bin Laden Author:Ron Fournier
“Seventeen years after the Cold War, how can it be in the Unites States' national security interest for the President of Russia to have only a few minutes to decide whether to fire his nuclear weapons or lose them in response to what could be a false warning?” YearsWarStatesPresidentInterestLosesFireMinutesSecurityPolicyColdWeaponsResponseNuclearRussiaWarningNuclear WeaponsCold WarNational SecuritySeventeenNuclear Bomb Author:Sam Nunn
“At 2:26 AM on 3 June 1980, Colonel William Odom of the Strategic Air Command alerted National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski that the US nuclear warning system had detected an imminent 220-missile nuclear attack on the US. Shortly thereafter, the automated system revised its projection from 220 missiles to an all-out attack of 2200 missiles. Just before Brzezinski was about to wake up President Carter to authorize a counterattack, he was told that the 'attack' was an illusion caused by 'a computer error in the system'.” PresidentAirSecurityComputerIllusionWake UpErrorsNuclearCommandWarningNational SecurityProjectionJuneStrategicMissilesCarterNuclear WarColonelsAdvisorsPresident Carter Author:Stansfield Turner
“We want to determine whether he understands the inherent limits that make an unelected Judiciary inferior to Congress or the President in making policy judgments. That, for example, a judge will never be in the best position to know what is in the national security interests of our country.” KnowsWantCountryPresidentInterestSecurityPolicyExamplePositionJudgingLimitsJudgmentCongressDetermineOur CountryInherentInferiorsNational SecurityJudiciary Author:Alberto Gonzales
“President's personal staff has a unique role. They're his intimate personal advisers, and the tradition and the precedent has been, even when I was national security adviser, that people in that position do not testify before the Congress. They talk to the Congress. They have meetings with the Congress.” PeopleHas BeensPresidentRolesSecurityPositionUniqueTraditionMeetingsCongressIntimateStaffNational SecurityPrecedentAdviser Author:Colin Powell
“My major focus is national security because that's really what the president runs.” RunningPresidentFocusSecurityMajorsNational Security Author:Rudy Giuliani
“But having made my decision as Commander-in-Chief based on what I am convinced is our national security interests, I will seek authorization for the use of force from the American people's representatives in Congress.” PeopleWorldLongMadeUseGovernmentMightForcePresidentInterestDecisionDemocracyViolenceSecurityMilitaryPolicyExampleEthicsConstitutionCongressHuman RightsConvincedChiefsForeign PolicyRootedRepresentativesNational SecurityCommandersCommander In ChiefUse Of Force Author:Barack Obama
“As the Democrats get revved up at their convention in Boston, President Bush is fighting back the only way he knows how: by going on vacation! Ah, it's nice to take a rest, replenish your supply of smirks. The vacation was expected, because Bush traditionally takes a month off every summer to relax and avoid reading National Security Warnings.” KnowsWayFightingReadingPresidentKnow HowNiceSecurityMonthsSummerDemocratExpectedRelaxWarningVacationConventionsNational SecurityBostonPresident BushSmirkFighting BackGoing On Vacation Author:Craig Kilborn
“National security, the government is in charge of that. And you better have a president that understands the threats we [the state] face and what we have to do about it and if you can't articulate that as a candidate, you cannot be commander-in-chief.” IfsStatesGovernmentFacesPresidentSecurityThreatChiefsCandidatesNational SecurityCommandersCommander In Chief Author:Marco Rubio
“Our democratic values also include - and our national security demands - open and transparent government. Some information obviously needs to be protected. And since his first days in office, President Obama has worked to strike the proper balance between the security the American people deserve and the openness our democratic society expects.” PeopleNeedsFirstsGovernmentValuesPresidentSecurityInformationBalanceDemandOfficeDeserveDemocraticStrikesOpennessPresident ObamaProtectedNational SecurityTransparentDemocratic SocietyDemocratic Values Author:John O. Brennan
“Remember, it is the president's constitutional duty to provide a strong national defense. Don't insert politics into national security. Listen to your ground commanders. They know better than anyone what our military's needs are. Have somebody strong at home who can provide you with needed support 'off the battle field.'” KnowsNeedsHomeRememberStrongPresidentSupportSecurityMilitaryFieldsDutyNeededBattleDefenseNational SecurityCommandersInsertNational Defense Author:Ryan Zinke
“What the Agency [CIA] does is ordered by the President and the NSC [National Security Council]. The Agency neither makes decisions on policy nor acts on its own account. It is an instrument of the President.” DoePresidentDecisionSecurityPolicyAccountsInstrumentsAgencyNational SecurityCouncilCiaSecurity Council Author:Philip Agee