I Have A Reputation For Speaking My

The Misunderstandings - Or, What Really Bothers Me Are The Intentional Misrepresentations Of The Facts, Which Take Place On A Fairly Regular Basis. To Think That We, People Who Are Involved In Counterterrorism, Do Not Care About Civilian Casualties Or Deaths Or Injuries, Is Just Totally, Totally Wrong.

By The Time President Obama Took Office, Guantánamo Was Viewed Internationally As A Symbol Of A Counterterrorism Approach That Flouted Our Laws And Strayed From Our Values, Undercutting The Perceived Legitimacy - And Therefore The Effectiveness - Of Our Efforts.

Al-qa'ida Does Not Follow A Traditional Command Structure, Wear Uniforms, Carry Its Arms Openly, Or Mass Its Troops At The Borders Of The Nations It Attacks. Nonetheless, It Possesses The Demonstrated Capability To Strike With Little Notice And Cause Significant Civilian Or Military Casualties.

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.

The Preservation Of Our National Security And The Laws That Define Us As The United States Of America Demand That We Understand The Intersection Of The Two - Indeed, How They Reinforce One Another.