Clark Blog

Video (transcript) - (note: video is nearly an hour long) Clark gives an address followed by a short question and answer session. After introductory remarks about the conference, he mentions Hurricane Katrina and recognizes the rescue workers and first responders in New Orleans. His theme will be what America can do to prevent future terrorist attacks. First, he lists what has gone right, such as no terrorist attacks on the American homeland since 9/11, the economy and society are continuing to be strong, many plots foiled, Afghanistan is no longer a base for al-Qa'ida, Department of Homeland Security is doing work.

However, he says it is not over and it's not even clear who's winning. Number of terrorist attacks has increased, attacks in London and Saudi Arabia, Madrid was struck and other places as well. Al-Qa'ida is still around, leaders are still on the loose, still able to strike, Afghanistan-Pakistan border area is still a support for them, Taliban are resurgent, U.S. diplomacy is failing in Central Asia with the U.S. being asked to leave some countries, nuclear proliferation continues except for Libya, U.S. policies no longer reflect the idea of the rule of law, terrorist recruiting is increasing and in part because of Iraq which is a "feedlot" and training area for terrorists, America has lost much of its legitimacy in the eyes of the world because they see our actions as an encroachment and see us as imposing solutions by force rather than working with others, Iraq drowns out good things U.S. did for Muslims like in Bosnia and Kosovo, policies in Iraq becoming increasingly difficult to justify even to the American people and they have the right to expect more than the American leadership has delivered. We need to change the course, not stay the course.

Clark offers five-point plan.

1) Correct our overreliance on the armed forces; we're not going to win by killing people and this won't work because killing people makes more enemies; military force is only part of the solution and should not be the only solution; this is not like WWII; we need to get away from seeing it as a war that we need to send troops.

2) Winning will be ideological, by reaching peoples' hearts and minds, understanding what their grievances are and their thought process in order to change it. We need to undercut the appeal of violent ideologies; he uses the example of clerics in Yemen who are using Islam to "reprogram" terrorists as an example of what can and should be done; we need to encourage Muslims who can and will do this. This is the start of winning and we should be giving much more effort to encouraging it. Also, we need to remove the provocations and grievances to cut down recruiting, for instance by working for peace in Israel and Palestine, between Russia and Chechnya, and other conflicts. Al-Qa'ida wants power in the Middle East, so we need to work with governments in that area. Also, the torture needs to stop and someone at the top needs to be held accountable for starting the armed forces down this road. Also, no more "extraordinary renditions". These policies are wrong, undercut our legitimacy with our allies, and they aren't even productive.

3) Deal realistically with Iraq. Leadership is not making believeable claims any more and is risking making the same mistake as Nixon in Vietnam. A strategy is needed, work by the political leadership not just the armed forces. U.S. policies have exacerbated splits between Sunnis and Shi'a that are just causing more problems. Iraq's neighbors are part of the problem and need to be dealt with and brought in as part of the solution. Forming a "contact group", dialogue, finding common issues, no one wants regional war, American leadership needs to be a force for regional cooperation not regional conflict and confrontation. Failure of agreement on constitution is ominous and doesn't bode well for the future. We need to change the course and resolve the problems that caused the constitution to fail. Control of borders necessary. Need to implement a winning strategy or bring them home.

4) Need a new global framework for how we think about our security. U.S. cannot go it alone. Need to rebuild legal and political and diplomatic framework so that we can pursue solutions in these areas with our allies and only use force as a "last, last, last resort".

5) Need to redo homeland security. View from abroad of America struggling to respond to Katrina, was frightening. Our friends and allies are asking "what's wrong". Need more focus on first responders, training, borders, civil defense organization needed, need to ask people to sacrifice and give of their own volunteer efforts, National Guard contains first responders and are now abroad so this is a problem for security at home, don't take shortcuts, don't take away American rights and freedoms, that isn't the way to win.

We are still a great country with great institutions, values, and people and we need to get back to this. We have what we need, we just need to change our course back to what really makes us great.

Question and answer session.

1) What about training of senior leaders not just first responders? Clark agrees that training is important, especially in dealing with system breakdowns and failure; if you can't face it in training, you won't be able to face it in reality. Training has not been sufficient in this regard, not realistic. Also needs to be funded.

2) Isn't it already too late in Iraq? Clark says that if there was immediate withdrawal, this would be a disaster. It would be a fighting withdrawal, a bloody retreat, insurgents and al-Qa'ida will claim victory, Iraqis who worked with us will be in danger and have no protection, political process will come apart and private militias will start work to get what they can, leading to civil war and potentially regional war. Although these things are already starting, they will get much worse, we can still change the course because it is not yet too late, and make it better before we leave.

3) How can the American people become engaged in the process of change and implementing these recommendations? Clark says that people get it but people of knowledge and political leaders need to articulate a new course. There's no silver bullet but it will require a lot of work. This is a pivotal moment and people need to stand up and speak out before it's too late.

4) How to convince president and Congress before it's too late and what is the contingency plan? Clark says that there will be no single event that will change the minds in the Bush Administration, but many people working together can spread influence. Resolve needs to be balanced by wisdom. People with wisdom should communicate their views and share that wisdom. There are people within the government and Administration know the truth and should speak up and make a statement or get out.

5) Is Clark biased for Muslims and against Orthodox Christians in the Balkans? Clark says that he would talk with such a person and set out the facts as he knows them. Serbia should take the lead with generosity in the Balkans.

6) We go to democracy with the citizens we have, not the citizens we wish we had - how can we encourage the values of democracy around the world and in America? Clark says that America needs to live and act by its principles and that is the most important thing.

7) DoD and Intelligence have been reviewed, but State Department not, would a commission and review of diplomatic institutions help? Clark says that such a review is not a bad idea, but the commissions in the past never got to the fundamentals and this probably wouldn't either. How do policymakers take the products of their institution and use them? This is where the problem has been occuring. Example of Pentagon officials deciding to go after Iraq soon after 9/11 (as mentioned in Downing Street Memo). How does the system fit together? Start at the top with the policymakers use the agencies of government. That is more likely to lead to try reform than an institutional review. Otherwise, the problems won't be fixed.

8) What was the fault in the Gulf with Hurricane Katrina? Clark says first we need to "unpack" what happened because it is not fully understood yet. His initial impression is that local and state governments thought that resources would be coming that didn't arrive, people expected plans to be understood and rehearsed but the plans were not there. Local authorities should be credited with taking charge and doing what they can and the federal government with trying to help. Quotes James Lee Witt*, need a seamless team at the point of response to integrate all resources. There are no magic fixes; it will take a lot of work and good will and understanding from all parties, as well as extensive training. Leadership is needed to pull the country together instead of tearing it apart or setting people against each other. Responsibility starts at the top, "the buck stops here".

*Clark is a senior vicechair in Witt's consulting firm and they are good friends; Witt has been hired by Louisiana governor Blanco to assist her in the crisis.