Thomas J. Ridge

We will never take politics out of how we govern in this country.

Ultimately, at the end of the day, in this monstrous organization called the Federal Government, the political appointees take their direction from the chain of command, and we all know where that begins and ends.

If we cannot, as a Government, whether it is the FBI or any other agency, trust a fellow American in a critical position to provide law enforcement and security to a community with the kind of information, then who can we trust?

There are political games... it is unworthy of the institution to play politics with critical appointments.

That is a Congressional responsibility, not yours of the Executive branch.

The notion--the very notion of trying to shut the Federal Government down because there is a disagreement of Obamacare was an absolute disconnect, from my point of view.

That permanency, I think, cannot be overestimated, because I just can't imagine someone in an acting capacity getting the kind of respect and commitment that someone who is there permanently would get from the rank-and-file.

I think there are probably only three people in the entire universe that know how difficult his task will truly be, and that is the three previous Secretaries of Homeland Security.

Today our Nation finds itself in a threat environment that has never been more complex.

I think that is a huge challenge going forward, and I am very hopeful that under the leadership of Chairman McCaul and Congressman Thompson you can convince the leadership here and when you do so over in the Senate to bring that focus.

I said to Mr. Johnson, I believe he has a close personal relationship with the President, 'That is leverage. Use it.'

I think we have to be very careful not to just categorize and suggest that this is the only one we have to be worried about. There are broader issues that have to be discussed.

I think it's a big mistake. You have literally hundreds and hundreds of armed police officers roaming every major airport in America.

As horrible as the tragedy was, the resiliency and the response mechanism is built in because of preparation and training is something to be lauded.

The commitment is that strong, then I think the Republican and Democrat leaders in both chambers have to sit down before the next Congress and say, 'Enough is enough.'

More is not necessarily better.

Quit arguing about a fail-safe border security platform; you will never make an absolutely secure border.

Are you ready to take on the fight to do what is best for the country, not what is best for the politicians?

Some in Congress appear to have calculated that there are no political consequences to an inefficient and costly system, but great political consequences to a successful terrorist attack.

We must view security as an on-going process, not an endpoint.

The onus is on us then--to understand that there's more to do--and that luck is not a strategy.

America was, is, and always will be an undeniably resilient Nation.

Thank you for the time and attention you are giving to the vital issue of disability employment in America.

For a community that so frequently struggles to have its voice heard, these hearings are a very important opportunity.

The programs supported by the international affairs budget are as essential to our national security as defense programs.