mr. brennan for that comprehensive policy to yemen. you mentioned that helping yemen move to a transition that is democratic and responsive and more just -- how does that jibe with what of the united states most important partners in the transition which a saudi arabia? what is the involvement of saudi arabia politically and economically? will saudi arabia allow the flourishing of a more vibrant and democratic yemen with the kind of institutions you cite? >> saudi arabia has done more for yemen and any other country in the world in terms of financial support. it shares an important border with yemen. there were one of the key drivers and supports the agreement that called for this political transition to take place. embedded in that agreement, this political transition. whenever i go out to yemen, i will invariably go to saudi arabia. what they want to do is make sure they are working together. i have found only support coming out of saudi arabia. the one yemen to continue along this path. yemen has a history of having a vibrant civil

john brennan, defended the use of joan attacks in yemen, saying that al qaeda affiliated militants in the country remain a threat to the united states. remarks at the council of foreign relations, mr. john brennan also did not rule out u.s. involvement in syria, and called on congress to pass a cybersecurity bill. mr. brennan was with the cia for 25 years. >> i am margaret warner and i think most of you are aware of the floor rules, please turn off your cell phones and pagers, which i am doing so myself. i ask that you not even put it on vibrate because that could interfere with the system. this meeting is on the record. it is my pleasure today to introduce today's guest, john brennan. he is assistant to the president for homeland security. and counterterrorism. and a deputy national security adviser. he is the chief advisor to the president of counterterrorism strategy, as well as policy and implementation. and he also coordinates all the homeland security related activities throughout the executive branch. preparing for and responding with cyberthreats of terror attacks. he will open today with remarks about u.s. politics in the yemen and you now have a conversation for 15 minut

mr. brennan for that comprehensive policy to yemen. you mentioned that helping yemen move to a transition that is democratic and responsive and more just -- how does that jibe with what of the united states most important partners in the transition which a saudi arabia? ago would have been unimaginable. that yemen did not devolve into an all-out civil war iswhat is i arabia politically and economically? will saudi arabia allow the flourishing of a more vibrant and democratic yemen? with the kind of institutions you cite? >> saudi arabia has done more for yemen and any other country in the world in terms of financial support. it shares an important border with yemen. there were one of the key drivers and supports the agreement that called for this political transition to take place. embedded in that agreement, this political transition. whenever i go out to yemen, i will invariably go to saudi arabia. what they want to do is make sure they are working together. i have found only support coming out of saudi arabia. of having a vibrant ci

mr. jon brennan. [applause] >> thank you very much, margaret , and thank you, for being here today.it certainly is a pleasure to see so many familiar faces, both from inside and outside of government who i hope are here because of their deeply rooted interest in yemen and the u.s.- yemeni relations. on this subject of yemen, it is often through the prism of the terrorist suburb. and for good reason. al qaeda in the arabian peninsula or aqap is that most active affiliate. leaders who murdered your many citizens, kidnap and kill abrams, harbert american and terrorist attacks on the united states and attempted repeated attacks against u.s. likewise discussion of the many an american counter-terrorism efforts tend to focus on exclusively on the use of one counter-terrorism tool in particular, targeted sites. at the white house it is always taking a broader view, both of the challenges and u.s. policy. them number of experts wrote an open letter to president obama arguing that there is a section of the united states whose singular focus to the exclusion of the broader political and econo

mr. brennan ? [applause] >> thank you very much, margaret. thank you everyone for being here today. it certainly a pleasure to see so many familiar faces both from inside and outside of government who i hope are here because of their abiding and deeply rooted interest in yemen and u.s. yemeni relations. when the subject of yemen comes up, it is often through the prism of the terrorist threat emanating from its borders and for good reason. the peninsula is al qaeda's most active affiliate. it has assassinated yemeni leaders. targeted american interests. killed aid workers. attempted repeated attacks against u.s. aviation. likewise, discussion of yemeni and american counterterrorism efforts tend to focus on the use of one counterterrorism tool in particular. targeted strikes. at the white house, we have always take an broader view. both of yemen's challenges and u.s. policy. two months ago however a number of experts wrote an open letter to president obama arguing there is a per stheapings the united states is -- per stheapings the united states is focused on yemen's political, econom

mr. brennan? >> -- [applause] >> thank you very much. thank you everyone for being here today. it is a pleasure to see so many familiar faces from inside and outside of the government who i hope are here because they are abiding and deeply rooted in yemen and u.s.-yemen relations. when the subject of yemen comes up, it is often to the tune of the terrorist threat emanating from within its borders. for good reason. al qaeda -- aqap is its biggest affiliate. they have kidnapped and killed workers, targeted american interest, and terrorist attacks in the u.s. -- they have attempted to attack u.s. aviation. likewise, discussion of american counter-terrorism efforts tend to focus only exclusively on the use of one counter-terrorism tool in particular, targeted strikes. at the white house, we have always taken a broader view. yemen's challenges and u.s. policy -- two months ago, experts wrote an open letter to president obama arguing that there is a perception that the u.s. is singly focused on aqap. among their recommendation is that u.s. officials publicly convey that the u.s. is m