Note: The following text is a quote:
THE BRIEFING ROOM
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 20, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO CIA EMPLOYEES
CIA Headquarters
Langley, Virginia
3:41 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) Well, thank you for the extraordinary welcome. And thanks, for those of you who prepared from the CIA gift shop (laughter) the t-shirts, the caps, the water bottles. (Laughter.) Michelle and the girls will appreciate that very much. (Laughter.)
It is a great honor to be here with the men and women of the CIA. Ive been eager to come out here to Langley for some time so I can deliver a simple message to you in person on behalf of the American people: Thank you. Thank you for all the work that you do to protect the American people and the freedom that we all cherish.
The CIA is fundamental to Americas national security. And I want you to know that thats why I nominated such an outstanding public servant and close friend, Leon Panetta, to lead the agency. He is one of our nations finest public servants, he has my complete confidence, and he is a strong voice in my national security team, as well as a strong advocate for the men and women of the CIA.
I also benefit from the counsel of several agency veterans chief among them, Steve Kappes, whos stayed on to serve as Leons Deputy, and hes done outstanding work. (Applause.) I have to add just as an aside, by the way, I just met with a smaller group of about 50 so we could have a dialogue, and all of you look really young. (Laughter.) And so to have a graybeard literally and figuratively (laughter) like Steve Kappes here I think is absolutely critical.
I also want you to know that we have one of your own, John Brennan, who is doing a terrific job as my advisor for counterterrorism and homeland security. And we are very grateful for the work that he does and the insights that he brings from his long years of service here at the CIA.
And Id be remiss if I didnt mention the extraordinary former CIA officer and Director of Central Intelligence, Bob Gates, who is also part of our Cabinet and every once in a while gives me a few tips. (Applause.)
Let me share with you just a few thoughts about the situation in which we find ourselves. First, I want to underscore the importance of the CIA. When the CIA was founded, you were focused on one overarching threat: the Soviet Union. And for decades, the CIA carried out a critically important mission. With the end of the Cold War, some wondered how important the CIA would be to our future. Now we know.
Here in the 21st century, weve learned that the CIA is more important than ever, for, as Leon mentioned, we face a wide range of unconventional challenges: stateless terrorist networks like al Qaeda, the spread of catastrophic weapons, cyber threats, failed states, rogue regimes, persistent conflict, and now we have to add to our list piracy.
The CIA is unique in the capabilities of collection, analysis and operation that you bring to bear. So you are an indispensable tool, the tip of the spear, in Americas intelligence mission and our national security. It is because of you that I can make good decisions. You prove that the key to good intelligence is not simply technology its the quality of the men and women who have signed up to serve.
Youre on the front lines against unconventional challenges. You help us understand the world as it is. You support the work of our troops and our diplomats and law enforcement officers. You disrupt terrorist plots and youre critical to our efforts to destroy terrorist networks. You serve capably, courageously, and from here in Virginia to dangerous outposts around the globe, you make enormous sacrifices on our behalf. So you should be proud of what you do.
Second, you need to know that youve got my full support. For decades, the American people have counted on you to protect them. I know that Ive come to personally count on your services; I rely on your reporting and your analysis, which finds its way onto my desk every single day.
And I know youve got a tough job. I know theres no margin for error. And I know there are endless demands for intelligence and there is an urgent necessity to collect and analyze information, and to work seamlessly with other agencies to act on it. And what makes it tougher is when you succeed - as you so often do that success usually has to stay secret. So you dont get credit when things go good, but you sure get some blame when things dont. Now (laughter) I got a Amen corner out here. (Laughter.)
Now, in that context I know that the last few days have been difficult. As I made clear in releasing the OLC memos as a consequence of a court case that was pending and to which it was very difficult for us to mount an effective legal defense I acted primarily because of the exceptional circumstances that surrounded these memos; particularly the fact that so much of the information was public, had been publicly acknowledged, the covert nature of the information had been compromised.
I have fought to protect the integrity of classified information in the past, and I will do so in the future. And there is nothing more important than protecting the identities of CIA officers. So I need everybody to be clear: We will protect your identities and your security as you vigorously pursue your missions. I will be as vigorous in protecting you as you are vigorous in protecting the American people.
Now, I have put an end to the interrogation techniques described in those OLC memos, and I want to be very clear and very blunt. Ive done so for a simple reason: because I believe that our nation is stronger and more secure when we deploy the full measure of both our power and the power of our values - including the rule of law. I know I can count on you to do exactly that.
There have been some conversations that Ive had with senior folks here at Langley in which I think people have expressed understandable anxiety and concern. So I want to make a point that I just made in the smaller group. I understand that its hard when you are asked to protect the American people against people who have no scruples and would willingly and gladly kill innocents. Al Qaeda is not constrained by a constitution. Many of our adversaries are not constrained by a belief in freedom of speech, or representation in court, or rule of law. Im sure that sometimes it seems as if that means were operating with one hand tied behind our back, or that those who would argue for a higher standard are naïve. I understand that. You know, I watch the cable shows once in a while. (Laughter.)
What makes the United States special, and what makes you special, is precisely the fact that we are willing to uphold our values and our ideals even when its hard, not just when its easy; even when we are afraid and under threat, not just when its expedient to do so. Thats what makes us different.
So, yes, youve got a harder job. And so do I. And thats okay, because thats why we can take such extraordinary pride in being Americans. And over the long term, that is why I believe we will defeat our enemies, because were on the better side of history.
So dont be discouraged by whats happened in the last few weeks. Dont be discouraged that we have to acknowledge potentially weve made some mistakes. Thats how we learn. But the fact that we are willing to acknowledge them and then move forward, that is precisely why I am proud to be President of the United States, and thats why you should be proud to be members of the CIA. (Applause.)
Third point third point: I want you to know how much the American people appreciate your service. Sometimes its hard to acknowledge sacrifices made by the people whose work or even identity must remain secret. And thats part of the enormous burden that you carry when you sign up. You make extraordinary sacrifices giving up parts of your life in service to your country. Many of you take long deployments overseas. You miss seeing your families. You miss weekend barbecues and the birthday parties, watching your children grow up. You cant even exchange in the simplest pleasure of talking about your job or complaining about your job openly. (Laughter.)
There are few signs of patriotism more powerful than offering to serve out of the limelight. And so many of you have signed up to serve after 9/11 thats partly why youre all so young fully aware of the dangers before you. You serve courageously, but your courage is only known to a few. You accomplish remarkable things, but the credit you receive is the private knowledge that youve done something to secure this country.
Thats a sacrifice thats carved into those marble walls. Those 89 stars stand as a testament to both the men and women of the CIA who gave their lives in service to their country, and to all who dedicate themselves to the mission of this Agency.
Now we must look forward to the future with confidence. All that youve achieved, I believe that the CIAs best days are still yet to come. And you will have my support and appreciation as you carry on this critical work. We live in dangerous times. I am going to need you more than ever, precisely because were seeing changes in our foreign policy and we want to send a new message to the world. That requires better intelligence, not less of it. That means that were going to have to operate smarter and more effectively than ever.
So Im going to be relying on you and the American people are going to rely on you. And I hope that you will continue to take extraordinary pride in the challenges that come with the job.
Thank you very much. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
END
3:48 P.M. EDT
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/20/What-Makes-the-United-States-Special/
THE BRIEFING ROOM THE BLOG
Monday, April 20th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
What Makes the United States Special
Last week the President released memos issued by the Office of Legal Counsel between 2002 and 2005 as part of an ongoing court case. The memos discussed techniques that were used in the interrogation of terrorism suspects during that period, techniques that President Obama has disavowed. Today the President visited CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia to speak to CIA employees directly. Telling them of his great faith in them, and the faith that the American people have in them, he went on to discuss precisely why he has decided to change interrogation policy for the United States:
Now, I have put an end to the interrogation techniques described in those OLC memos, and I want to be very clear and very blunt. Ive done so for a simple reason: because I believe that our nation is stronger and more secure when we deploy the full measure of both our power and the power of our values - including the rule of law. I know I can count on you to do exactly that.
There have been some conversations that Ive had with senior folks here at Langley in which I think people have expressed understandable anxiety and concern. So I want to make a point that I just made in the smaller group. I understand that its hard when you are asked to protect the American people against people who have no scruples and would willingly and gladly kill innocents. Al Qaeda is not constrained by a constitution. Many of our adversaries are not constrained by a belief in freedom of speech, or representation in court, or rule of law. Im sure that sometimes it seems as if that means were operating with one hand tied behind our back, or that those who would argue for a higher standard are naïve. I understand that. You know, I watch the cable shows once in a while. (Laughter.)
What makes the United States special, and what makes you special, is precisely the fact that we are willing to uphold our values and our ideals even when its hard, not just when its easy; even when we are afraid and under threat, not just when its expedient to do so. Thats what makes us different.
So, yes, youve got a harder job. And so do I. And thats okay, because thats why we can take such extraordinary pride in being Americans. And over the long term, that is why I believe we will defeat our enemies, because were on the better side of history.
So dont be discouraged by whats happened in the last few weeks. Dont be discouraged that we have to acknowledge potentially weve made some mistakes. Thats how we learn. But the fact that we are willing to acknowledge them and then move forward, that is precisely why I am proud to be President of the United States, and thats why you should be proud to be members of the CIA. (Applause.)