The men and women of the CIA are a national treasure.

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.

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.

I will not, nor will I ever, publicly divulge sensitive intelligence sources and methods. For when that happens, our national security is endangered and lives can be lost.

Jihad is holy struggle, a legitimate tenet of Islam meaning to purify oneself or one's community.

Unfortunately, in war, there are casualties, including among the civilian population.

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