Frank Gaffney Quotes

Powerful Frank Gaffney for Daily Growth

About Frank Gaffney

Frank J. Gaffney Jr., born on March 17, 1953, is an influential American attorney, conservative political commentator, and founder of the Center for Security Policy (CSP). Known for his hawkish views on national security, Islam, and technology policy, Gaffney has been a key figure in shaping U.S. foreign and domestic policies. Born in Washington D.C., Gaffney graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Government and later earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School. After starting his career at the Justice Department, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under President Ronald Reagan. In 1989, Gaffney co-founded the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he directed its Middle East Program before leaving in 2006 to establish the Center for Security Policy. The CSP is known for its investigations into alleged Islamic penetration of the U.S. government, advocacy for a hardline stance against Iran, and skepticism about global warming. Gaffney's major works include "War Footing: Indefatigable Terrorism and How to Fight It" (2004), which argues for an aggressive response to terrorism, and "The Fog of War: The Pentagon's Secret Campaign to Subvert the Constitution" (2013). Gaffney has been a frequent guest on Fox News, where he discusses national security issues. Gaffney's controversial views have led to accusations of Islamophobia and conspiracy theorizing. Despite this, his influence in conservative political circles remains significant, making him a key figure in U.S. national security debates.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Shariah is not just a set of laws; it's a comprehensive and total system of governance."

The quote emphasizes that Shariah, Islamic law, extends beyond legal prescriptions to encompass a complete system for governing all aspects of life in society. In this context, Frank Gaffney highlights the extensive nature of Shariah's influence on political, economic, social, and cultural practices within an Islamic state. This interpretation serves as a reminder that understanding Shariah requires considering its overarching principles and not just isolated rules or laws.


"We have to recognize that we are in a war with Islamofascists who are sworn to destroy us."

The quote indicates a perspective that views the conflict between Western societies and certain extremist Islamic groups as an ongoing war. It suggests that these "Islamofascists" (a term coined by Frank Gaffney, referring to radical Islamic fundamentalists who seek to destroy Western democracies) are committed to this destructive agenda. This quote emphasizes the need for recognition of this conflict, and implies a response aimed at countering such threats to Western values and security. However, it's crucial to remember that not all Muslims support or align with these radical ideologies; the vast majority of Muslims around the world are peace-loving citizens.


"The Muslim Brotherhood has been designated by the United Arab Emirates as a terrorist organization, yet it continues to operate freely here in America."

This quote highlights concerns about the presence and activities of the Muslim Brotherhood within the United States, despite the fact that they have been officially labeled as a terrorist organization by another country (the United Arab Emirates). The statement suggests a potential disconnect between foreign designations of terrorist organizations and their operations in domestic contexts. It implies that there are debates about whether the Muslim Brotherhood poses a threat to U.S. security or adheres to ideologies that could lead to terrorism, as they operate freely within American borders. The quote underscores the ongoing debate around national security, religious freedom, and the role of foreign designations in shaping domestic policies regarding organizations with complex histories and beliefs.


"Islam is not a religion of peace; it's a religion and a political ideology that mandates warfare against us until we submit to its rule."

This quote implies that Frank Gaffney views Islam as both a religious and a political system, where the latter aspect, according to him, advocates for war or conflict until non-Muslim societies (specifically the speaker's society) submit to Islamic rule. It is important to note that this perspective is not universally accepted, as many scholars argue that the peaceful aspects of Islam are central and dominant in its teachings. This quote should be considered with an understanding of the historical, political, and social context from which it originates.


"The threat from radical Islam is the most serious national security challenge facing our nation today."

This quote by Frank Gaffney highlights his view that the ideology of radical Islam poses a significant and pressing danger to the United States' national security. He believes that this threat, arising from extremist interpretations of Islamic beliefs, is the most urgent challenge that the nation must address in its strategic considerations. This perspective underscores the importance of understanding the complexities and potential risks associated with religious ideologies that can inspire terrorism, conflict, or destabilizing activities within and beyond the borders of the United States.


To his lasting credit, President Reagan never wavered. He recognized the strategic importance of staying the course, both in terms of denying Moscow the military hegemony it sought in Western Europe and of restoring the will, cohesiveness, and security of the NATO alliance, so badly frayed during the turbulent 1970s.

- Frank Gaffney

Badly, Reagan, Strategic, Alliance

History demonstrates that previous military drawdowns invited aggression by our enemies. After World War I, America drew down forces until the U.S. Army had fewer than 100,000 men in uniform. That weakness invited Nazi aggression in Europe and the imperial Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor.

- Frank Gaffney

World War I, Harbor, Fewer, Japanese

After America won the Cold War, some believed we had come to the 'end of history,' and budget-cutters celebrated the so-called 'peace dividend.' As a result, we ignored the toxic mixture of militant Islam and terror that ultimately led to 9/11.

- Frank Gaffney

Cold, Some, Had, Militant

If the area were on or near the U.S. continental shelf, such data could well provide an enemy with strategically invaluable insights into undersea access routes that could be used to attack some of the millions of Americans who live on or near our coasts.

- Frank Gaffney

Some, Access, Continental, Routes

Unbeknownst to most American investors, significant portions of their public pension, mutual fund, life insurance and private portfolios are comprised of stocks of privately held companies that partner with state sponsors of terror.

- Frank Gaffney

Insurance, Private, Held, Pension

Too many countries that do not play by the free trade rules of the World Trade Organization - including, notably mercantilist China and monopolist Saudi Arabia - have been allowed in, to the detriment of both the WTO and the liberal trading environment it is supposed to sponsor.

- Frank Gaffney

Play, Trading, Detriment, WTO

Unfortunately, the cyber threat to 'the grid' is only one means of eviscerating the soft underbelly of American society. Another which has been getting increasing attention could be delivered via the kind of nuclear-armed ballistic missile that Iran and North Korea have been developing: a strategic electro-magnetic pulse attack.

- Frank Gaffney

Been, Another, Strategic, Cyber

Boone Pickens should be commended for his leadership on American energy security, and for bringing Ted Turner along on some sensible approaches to enhancing it.

- Frank Gaffney

American, Some, Enhancing, Turner

Having worked for him in the nuclear weapons policy business, I can tell you that President Reagan was committed to assuring the effectiveness of our nuclear deterrent.

- Frank Gaffney

Effectiveness, Committed, Assuring

The United Nations has long sought the ability to raise revenues in this manner as a means of reducing its reliance on American and other member nations' dues to sustain the UN's operations.

- Frank Gaffney

Other, Reliance, Means, Dues

But I really believe it is in America's interest as well as that of the free world more generally to stop Iran from getting its hands on nuclear weapons. This regime has threatened to wipe Israel off the map and bring about a world without America, and either of those is a really bad prospect.

- Frank Gaffney

Hands, Bad, Bring, Map

). Dozens of nations have agreed to join in monitoring and, if necessary, intercepting and boarding ships on the high seas in the event they are suspected of engaging in one or both of these threatening activities.

- Frank Gaffney

Necessary, Dozens, Suspected, Ships

Most Americans will be horrified that President Obama is compromising our deterrent to chemical and biological attacks on this country. Our allies will also be troubled by his aspiration to eliminate U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in Europe.

- Frank Gaffney

Country, Deterrent, Obama, Biological

The object of China's strategy is inexorably to supplant the United States as the world's premier economic power, and if necessary, to defeat us militarily.

- Frank Gaffney

Necessary, United States, Inexorably

Sharia is the impetus behind multinational diplomatic efforts to accommodate Sharia blasphemy prohibitions on expression that offends Muslims.

- Frank Gaffney

Behind, Diplomatic, Impetus, Multinational

Sharia has become an increasingly significant force in American capitalism, thanks to the embrace by Wall Street and the U.S. government of so-called Sharia-Compliant Finance. Indeed, this country's taxpayers now own the largest purveyor of sharia-compliant insurance products in the world: AIG.

- Frank Gaffney

Insurance, Increasingly, So-Called

Since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, conservatives have succeeded by adhering to a platform that rests firmly on three legs: smaller government, faith and family, and a strong national defense. These three legs do not merely represent a political coalition; they are three necessary components of a strong and secure America.

- Frank Gaffney

Strong, Firmly, Smaller, Adhering

One of the most important post-9/11 efforts made to counter terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction is President Bush's Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).

- Frank Gaffney

The Most Important, Made, Weapons

Ever since taking office, the Obama administration has sought to accommodate Islamist demands that freedom of expression be curbed, lest it offend Muslims and stoke violence. For example, in 2009, the administration co-sponsored a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution along those lines.

- Frank Gaffney

United Nations, Stoke, Offend

After all, from the Muslim Brotherhood's inception in Egypt in 1928, it has been a revolutionary organization committed to the imposition worldwide of a totalitarian, supremacist Islamic doctrine they call shariah.

- Frank Gaffney

Committed, Been, Muslim, Doctrine

I don't believe there is such a thing as a moderate Islamist party. The challenge with Islamists is that they seek to impose what they call Sharia on everybody, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

- Frank Gaffney

Everybody, Muslim, Islamists, Moderate

The most desirable aspects of the Law of the Sea Treaty pertain to navigational rights.

- Frank Gaffney

Law, Rights, Most, Treaty

It is one of the truisms of politics that a conservative is often enough a former liberal who has been 'mugged by reality.'

- Frank Gaffney

Politics, Conservative, Been, Former

The more we are consuming oil that either comes from places that are bent on our destruction or helping those who are... the more we are enabling those who are trying to kill us.

- Frank Gaffney

More, Enabling, Helping, Bent

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.