The risk of just one terrorist with just one nuclear weapon is a risk we simply cannot afford to take.

Al-Qa'ida is the antithesis of the peace, tolerance and humanity that is at the heart of Islam.

President Obama is determined that our foreign and national security policies not play into al-Qa'ida's strategy or its warped ideology. Al-Qa'ida seeks to terrorize us into retreating from the world stage. But President Obama has made it a priority to renew American leadership in the world, strengthening our alliances and deepening partnerships.

Terrorists are not 100 feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill.

I want to be very clear - whenever it is possible to capture a suspected terrorist, it is the unqualified preference of the Administration to take custody of that individual so we can obtain information that is vital to the safety and security of the American people.

A lot of things look good on an academic's blackboard in terms of the actions that need to be taken. It's almost like a football coach, when you draw the X's and O's: Every play that is chalked on that board goes for a touchdown. Well, there are a lot of yards to be made between the line of scrimmage and the touchdown.

The risk of just one terrorist with just one nuclear weapon is a risk we simply cannot afford to take.