Our men and women in uniform deserve the best intelligence

“Our men and women in uniform deserve the best intelligence possible to help them protect America.” — Chris Cannon

In these solemn and reverent words, Chris Cannon speaks not merely of soldiers and spies, but of the sacred bond between knowledge and courage, between those who fight and those who foresee. His statement honors the men and women who wear the uniform of their nation — those who stand as guardians between peace and peril. Yet it also serves as a timeless reminder: that bravery, though noble, must be guided by wisdom. For valor without understanding is like a sword swung in darkness — strong, but blind. To protect a nation, heart and mind must labor as one.

The origin of this quote lies in the early years of the 21st century, when the United States found itself in the long shadow of war and uncertainty. In the wake of September 11, 2001, and amid the conflicts that followed in Iraq and Afghanistan, the role of intelligence — the art of uncovering truth amid deception — became more vital than ever. Cannon, then a member of the U.S. Congress, saw with clarity that those who risk their lives on the front lines depend utterly on those who gather, analyze, and share information. His words were not about politics, but about responsibility — the sacred duty of a nation to provide its defenders with every tool and every insight to safeguard both their mission and their lives.

This truth is as old as warfare itself. Even in the ancient world, great leaders understood that victory is not won by strength alone. Consider the story of Themistocles, the Athenian general who saved Greece from the might of Persia at the Battle of Salamis. Before the clash of fleets, Themistocles relied not merely on the courage of his sailors, but on the intelligence he gathered — he deceived the enemy through strategy, knowing when and where to strike. It was knowledge, not numbers, that turned the tide of history. So too must modern warriors, from land to sea to sky, depend on the unseen soldiers — the analysts, the cryptographers, the agents — who transform fragments of information into the vision that guides victory.

Cannon’s words carry a deeper meaning still. To say that soldiers “deserve the best intelligence” is to affirm their worth and dignity. It is to recognize that those who bear the burdens of service — who march through desert and storm, who live with discipline and danger — must not be sent into the unknown blind. Every soldier, sailor, airman, and guardian represents the living strength of the nation; their lives are not tools, but treasures. To equip them with wisdom, with clear purpose and accurate knowledge, is to honor their sacrifice. To deny them this is to betray both them and the ideals they defend.

In this way, Cannon’s statement becomes a moral compass not only for governments, but for all who lead others — whether in battle, in business, or in life. Those who guide must inform; those who command must enlighten. The leader who expects courage must also provide clarity. For what good is bravery if it is misdirected? What worth is loyalty if it is wasted on folly? Intelligence, in its truest sense, is not the possession of secrets, but the illumination of truth, the power to see beyond confusion, to discern the path that protects and preserves what is sacred.

The lesson, then, is clear and enduring: knowledge is a form of protection, and wisdom is the shield of all who serve. In our own lives, we, too, must seek the best “intelligence” — not from spies or satellites, but from reflection, learning, and counsel. Before we act, we must strive to understand. Before we speak, we must listen. Before we lead, we must see. For whether in war or peace, ignorance leads to harm, but understanding leads to victory.

So let us remember and honor what Chris Cannon has said. To those who stand watch while others sleep — the warriors, the peacekeepers, the quiet sentinels of freedom — we owe not only gratitude, but guidance. Let us build a world where courage is matched by knowledge, and where every person who defends the light of civilization does so with the best intelligence possible — the strength of truth. And in our own struggles, let us live by this same principle: to fight not blindly, but wisely; to dream not idly, but with purpose; and to protect all that is good with both the heart of a soldier and the mind of a sage.