George Pataki Quotes

As the third anniversary of the September 11th attacks draws near we must ensure our nation is prepared to handle the continued threat of violence and terrorism on our country.

Prior to September 11, we thought the world beyond our shores was one world of risk and the world in our continent was another world of risk.

Our country was hit on 9/11, 2001. Everybody in the world knows that. It hasn't been easy to deal with a different kind of enemy, but that is what we have, a different kind of enemy.

On September 11 2001, America felt its vulnerability even to threats that gather on the other side of the Earth. We resolved then, and we are resolved today, to confront every threat from any source that could bring sudden terror and suffering to America.

The willingness to condone some form of interrogational coercion, including outright torture in particular extreme circumstances is directly related … to the degree that one takes seriously the threat that terrorists pose to entire cities.

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

There was no silver bullet that could have prevented the 9/11 attacks.

If you ask me what I think about going to work every day, it's 9/11 and preventing another 9/11. There were too many people I knew.

There will be no going back to the era before September the 11th, 2001 - to false comfort in a dangerous world.

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

We will not contract out the security of the American people …. You can’t compromise the safety of the American people.

To the American people … nine years after 9/11, nine years of spending, and nine years of beefing up security you are still unsafe even in the holiest and most sacred of days to you, Christmas Day….

As for these extremists, here’s what those who would cowardly attack our civilians don’t get. The United States is never going to retreat from the world. We don't get terrorized. We’re going to keep standing up for our interests. We're going to keep standing up for the security of our citizens. We're going to keep standing up for human rights and dignity for people wherever they live. We’re going to keep working with our allies and our partners. We're going to keep offering a future of hope and progress -- in stark contrast to terrorists who only know how to kill and destroy and maim. And like generations before us, the United States of America is going to remain the greatest force for freedom that the world has ever known.

The lack of U. S. Capability to rapidly recognize, respond, and recover from a biological attack is the most significant failure identified in this report card. Especially troubling is the lack of priority given to the development of medical countermeasures … the vaccines and medicines that would be required to mitigate the consequences of an attack.

We employ only 1000 enforcement officers to protect over 9000 civilian Federal facilities—spread out all across the country..

Your biggest threat is bin Laden!

The search for national security is today a source for urban insecurity.

Many threats to the homeland begin overseas, and that's where we need to be.

Constant reference to a 'war on terror' did accomplish one major objective: It stimulated the emergence of a culture of fear.

Our national security is not a partisan issue.

Our first priority should be to protect the homeland. If we don't, a future generation might ask, 'Who lost America?'

Those are the two issues: Protecting the homeland and stopping the war and going after ISIS in a way that ends the terrorism.

Victory looks like no more September 11ths.

The bottom line is we are pursuing every single possible action to keep our country safe from terrorism.

My government accords top most priority to national security. Therefore, effective steps are being taken to tackle terrorism and naxalism.