The Best Admiral John Smith Quotes

President: [During a Cabinet meeting] gentlemen, ladies, please take your seats. For those of you who haven't had a chance to finish your briefing packets, please keep reading. As we've all just learned, this day is not over: our national security is still being threatened and we are here to consider our options. Mr. Woods?
Tim: Your briefing materials include FBI intelligence about a "cash" of biological weapons on Starkwood's main compound in Northern Virginia
Tim: [after pointing to a monitor as part of his presentation] this is a recent satellite view of the compound: over three square miles, 259 structures. The weapons could be hidden anywhere on the facility
Admiral: What kind of bio weapons are we talking about?
Tim: [Gesturing to him] this is Ben Landry from the CDC, his here to answer any questions you "may" have in regards to the pathogen, Ben?
Ben: I've just received a preliminary report from our agents in the field: they've identified the pathogen as a prion variant indigenous to the East Congo, it's a form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: attacks the brain, the nervous system, causes dementia, physical deterioration, and ultimately death. The standard CJD kills within several months but this strain kills more quickly
Admiral: How long?
Ben: A day, maybe two: there's no treatment for this disease, there's no cure. If spread over a populated area, the result would be catastrophic
President: But it goes without saying, we cannot allow a private military force, these killers, to posses weapons of mass destruction. We need to find these weapons, and arrest those bastards at Starkwood who's responsible for bringing them here
General: Madam President, given the size of the compound, it would take a "considerable" force to locate these weapons, not to mention the fact that there are fifteen hundred highly trained mercenaries on that base. God forbid they decide to resist: we could have a small war on our own backyard
Admiral: I share those concerns madam President. We also have to consider the possibility that Starkwood might use these biological weapons against our own forces
President: What about an airstrike?
Admiral: A facility that large would require multiple bombing runs: we'd be looking at massive casualties of the Starkwood base with no guarantee of destruction of the bio weapons. For all we know, they've been buried underground or in fortified facilities. There's a risk of hitting these weapons with insufficient force and release the bio agent into the atmosphere
Attorney: We can't just ignore the law here, all these "scenarios" would be in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. I mean we can't deploy military personnel in law enforcement capacity, not without Congressional approval
President: What I'm hearing, there are no "good" options. I don't accept that. Until we find a way to contain this threat, we are risking another attack on this country and that is an option I won't consider

President: [Through teleconference] good evening gentlemen
Tim: Madam President, Brian Hastings over at CTU has brought us up to speed and we're ready to review some "specifics" with you
President: Good, I'm listening
Tim: If you would refer to your monitor: it's a diagram of Midtown Manhattan. According to CTU, the stolen nuclear rods have a maximum explosive yield of three hundred pounds: that's enough radiological material to contaminate approximately one square mile. If the device were detonated in a more density populated area of Manhattan, we could be looking at casualties in the tens of thousands. Doctor Landry?
Ben: Most of the deaths would be from severe radiation poisoning: the remainder of the victims would "expire" from radiation induced illness, primarily leukemia and other cancers
Admiral: We also have to consider the infected area would be rendered uninhabitable for approximately forty years
Rob: [Sitting next to Taylor] obviously a citywide evacuation is out of the question?
Tim: That's right, there are millions of people on this island with a few points of egress: it would take days to get them out, not to mention that going public with this information would cause mass panic
President: [Nods] I agree we need to keep this threat from the public for now, focus on our efforts this attack never happens
Tim: CTU still believes the nuclear rods are outside the city, so their fortifying radiation detection efforts at the bridges and tunnels. We are also "hardening" high value targets, such as the financial district, landmarks, and subways
Rob: We can't ignore the the UN may also be a target. Given the danger I think we should evacuate the entire building, we can resume the conference from a safe location
President: [after thinking it over, concluding the briefing] alright, inform the delegates of the situation, thank you gentlemen

Vice: [after entering the conference room] please be seated. As many of you are aware, the terrorists that attacked us this morning, Abu Fayed with the help of Dmitri Gredenko launched an aerial drone we believe is armed with another nuclear weapon. Efforts are ongoing to locate but those efforts failed: we are looking at a second nuclear attack on our country in less ten hours and I am determined not to let this attack happen without a military response on our part
Ethan: A military response directed on whom Mr. Vice President? We were under the impression that these terrorists were "essentially" stateless
Vice: Secretary Kanin, that is the "fiction" they hide behind but everyone in this room knows that element with Abu Fayed's country train and fund terrorist organizations like his: it's time to hold them accountable. The Ambassador's just been informed if the nuclear weapon on that drone detonates, we will retaliate with our own nuclear strike. Now this will be a "warning shot", not a full scale attack, the Joint Chiefs have been instructed to identify an unpopulated area where there will be "limited" civilian causalities, Admiral?
Admiral: The closest match we have to that "scenario" is a territory near their northern border: we "believe" they should result in less than two thousand deaths. Long term damage, radioactive fallout however could double that number depending on ground conditions
Vice: I can accept that
Karen: Mr. Vice President, I'm sure your aware that our intelligence suggests that their government can't control Fayed either: they are doing the best that they can
Vice: And I'm saying they need to figure out a way to do better. "Something" tells me once this bomb hits, they will
Karen: If this bomb hits, the opposite will hold true, the moderates will be driven from power, the terrorists will be strengthened there and in the region and I don't hear anyone talking about the Chinese or Russian response to this. We could start another world war
Vice: If I thought there was a high likelihood of that, I wouldn't be suggesting this
Karen: Mr. Vice President, the "stakes" are too high for this decision to be based on your "personal judgment." It is my opinion this course of action would be dangerous and reckless
Vice: Consider your concern "registered" Karen but the debate is over. America must start to stand up for herself. The attacks on this country must stop and as acting Command in Chief, that is the best way to make that happen

President: [Beginning a briefing] good morning everyone, please take your seats. I realize we're all in dire need of sleep but it is vital to bring you all "up to speed" on the events of the past few hours and a greater crisis we face "on the horizon." Less than thirty minutes ago, the FBI managed to recover the last canister of the bio weapon but I'm afraid the danger is far from over. Before his death, Jonas Hodges told us that there were other "parties" involved with him in the creation of this bio weapon, a highly secret and very powerful group of private military firms: collaborating to undermine the government of this country
Admiral: Excuse me madam President, but which military firms are we talking about?
President: We don't know Admiral, Hodges gave us no names or idea of which companies are involved but whoever they are, they represent a very real ongoing threat. Now we don't have much "actionable" intelligence at this point. However, the FBI has apprehended former CTU operative Tony Almeida, he is a "key" figure in this plot: someone we "hope" will be able to help uncover who these people are

Admiral: [During a briefing] the USS Victory has been "detached" to carrier group alpha which currently has control of the region: the Victory will reach launch position in forty minutes
Vice: So in less than an hour, we will have made our point to the enemy?
Admiral: Yes Mr. Vice President, the V-6-11 short range tactical warhead has a blast yield of three hundred kilotons. The "message" will be loud and clear
Vice: Very good Admiral: exemplary. Tom, give us the damage and causality estimates you got from COMM PLAN?
Vice: [after he doesn't respond] Tom?
Tom: I'm sorry sir
Vice: Is there a problem?
Tom: No, this "projection" of course is based on theoretical models generated at our nuclear facility in Alamogordo, COMM PLAN estimates a high range of general damage by zone as well as by casualty numbers based on various climate models

Tim: [Over the speakerphone] Agent Moss, the President's here go ahead
Larry: Madam President, we've been contacted by someone "inside" Starkwood: it's Tony Almeida
President: Almeida?
Larry: His been working with Jack Bauer to recover these weapons: he was taken "captive" but then released by someone on the "inside." His name's Greg Seaton, his part of Jonas Hodges' inner circle. Ma'am, he says his willing to tell us where the weapons are in exchange for immunity. I've already started mobilizing for a "targeted" raid: we can catch them by surprise, lock down these weapons but I'm going to need you to sign an immunity agreement for this man
President: How "confident" are you in Seaton's intel?
Larry: We believe its "genuine" ma'am
Tim: Madam President, we may not get a chance like this again
President: Admiral Smith?
Admiral: I concur but I would suggest we supplement the FBI with a Seal Squad: their ready to move on my order
Olivia: The Attorney General will "raise hell" about us involving the military in this operation
President: [to Olivia] We'll deal with him later
President: Agent Moss, you have my direct authorization to move on Starkwood. How soon can you be ready?
Larry: We've already drafted an Executive Pardon, and set it up by Web X, you'll be able to give us a signature and we're good to go

President: Where are we Admiral?
Admiral: The F-18's are loaded with bunker buster ordinates and will be in range in seven minutes
President: And what's the risk of the pathogen spreading to the surrounding areas?
Admiral: Minimal, we're white phosphorous charges which burns at five thousand degrees: more than enough to incinerate the pathogen
President: And that's been confirmed by the CDC?
Admiral: It has

Vice: [after entering the room] Admiral Smith, is the Victory ready to launch?
Admiral: Its seconds from optimal launch position Mr. Vice President
Vice: Good
Tom: [Walking over to him] Mr. Vice President?
Vice: Yes Tom?
Tom: I just spoke to Bill Buchanan at CTU: they've taken Gredenko into custody. Jack Bauer is questioning him now
Vice: Does Bill think there's a "chance" this could lead to something?
Tom: His "confident" that Bauer's the man for the interrogation and his hoping he'll get the answers he needs
Vice: [Amused, referring to Bill] I hope his "confidence" is justified
Admiral: [to Daniels] sir, the Victory's in position: their standing by
Vice: Proceed with the strike
Tom: [Stands up] Mr. Vice President, if I may, in light of the development at CTU, do we not want to delay this launch? And see what Bauer gets out of Gredenko?
Vice: I'm not going to delay our response based on what Gredenko may or may not reveal
Tom: But if Gredenko gives up the bombs, surely that is the desired result...
Vice: [Interrupts him] then we can consider this strike as retaliation for American lives already lost: a reminder to the world there are consequences when attacking our country

Tim: [while beginning a Cabinet meeting, reading from a briefing report] flight 131 out of Chicago, 240 passengers, 10 crew members: they collided with a small commuter jet carrying 21 people. There's also a high probability of casualties on the ground, the aircraft went down in a residential neighborhood near Edge Borough. We also just got an alert, Congressman Bragman and his wife may have been on board, we're still waiting for confirmation
Joe: How many planes are still in the air?
Tim: Over 13,00
Joe: Madam President, this is a catastrophic loss of American lives, it's only going to get worse, and we have to withdraw our forces before the next deadline
Tim: I'm forced to agree Madam President
President: [after they all sit down] go ahead Tim, I want to hear what you think
Tim: We're simply not prepared to "contend" with the scope of damage these people can inflict: the tragedy we just witnessed is nothing compared to what could happen if they begin targeting more "sensitive" installations. Power grids, nuclear facilities, and we're talking deaths in the hundreds of thousands
Joe: All in support of a policy that cannot possibly succeed without Matobo, he's the only man who can stabilize Sangala, without him, the entire operation is pointless
President: There's still a "chance" Prime Minister Matobo will be recovered and while that "chance" exists, I'm not giving in
President: [Looking at him] Admiral Smith, your strike force will remain position at full battle readiness
Admiral: Yes madam President
Joe: [Stands up] madam President, you are "guaranteeing" another attack on our country
President: We will not be blackmailed Joe and we will not be held hostage. This country does not negotiate with terrorists
Joe: Tell that to the families of the dead. Do you have any idea what the public reaction will be when the word gets out that these are acts of terrorism? Brought out by your reckless foreign policy, I can "guarantee" there will be call for your impeachment
Ethan: That's enough
Joe: [Raises his voice] I will not stand by and let this happen
President: Then turn in your resignation Joe, I'm not changing my mind: now sit down or leave