[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 49 (Monday, December 15, 2008)]
[Page 1502]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Briefings at the National Counterterrorism Center in 
McLean, Virginia

December 8, 2008

    I have just spent a fascinating morning here at the NCTC. The NCTC 
is a place where our Government gathers threat assess--or threats and 
intelligence to better protect the American people.
    I want to thank both Mikes for taking a strong lead in doing our 
most important job, which is to motivate people to protect this country, 
and that's what takes place here.
    There's a lot of hard-working Americans who--this--by the way, this 
center is up 
24/7. And any time a piece of data comes in that portends any kind of 
threat, it's analyzed and, if need be, acted upon.
    So, most Americans don't know this facility exists. It came to be 
after the September the 11th attacks, when we all came around and asked 
the question: How better can we protect the country?
    And so I've come by to thank the--all the people who work here, 
and--because they deserve our thanks. They deserve a Government that 
understands that the biggest danger we face is from a terrorist attack, 
and that the best way to defend the country is to stay on the offense 
and keep the pressure on them constantly and, at the same time, spread 
freedom as the great alternative to the ideology of those--of the 
killers.
    This is a challenge that's going to face this country for a while. 
But it's a challenge that can be better met because of facilities like 
the NCTC and the fact that we've given the professionals the tools, such 
as listening to the terrorist phone calls, to better protect America.
    And so I want to thank you all for your leadership. Appreciate you 
having me. And again, I thank all the good folks who work here for their 
dedication.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 2:23 p.m. at the National Counterterrorism 
Center. In his remarks, he referred to Director of National Intelligence 
Mike McConnell; and Michael Leiter, Acting Director, National 
Counterterrorism Center.