information. that is the factual reason you take away someone's clearance almost all of the time. so now we have 15 former officials, seven former directors of central intelligence including bob gates who also served as defense secretary. he's a critical voice in all of this. he's the ultimate quiet man. he doesn't go out and talk a lot in public. when he talks, when he signs on to a letter like this, it gets noticed. let go back and take a look at what some of this letter from these 15 people says and it says, quote, we all agree that the president's action regarding john brennan and the threats of similar action against other former officials have nothing to do with who should and who should not hold security clearances and everything to do with an attempt to stifle free speech. you don't have to agree with what john brennan says and, again, not all of us do, to agree with his right to say it. we have never before seen the approval or removal of security