(APPLAUSE)
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE 146TH LANDON LECTURE ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
THE LANDON LECTURES WERE STARTED IN 1966 BY THE LATE GOVENOR ALF LANDON
AND THE LATE K-STATE PRESIDENT JAMES MCCAIN.
THE GOAL OF THE LANDON LECTURES
IS TO BRING THE MOST PROMINENT
PUBLIC FIGURES TO KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
TO DISCUSS THE MOST
PRESSING ISSUES OF THE DAY.
WE'RE VERY PLEASED TODAY TO
WELCOME SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD RUMSFELD
TO THE LANDON PODIUM TO JOIN 145
PREDECESSORS IN BRINGING HIS THOUGHTS AND
OPINIONS ON IMPORTANT PUBLIC ISSUES.
SECRETARY RUMSFELD, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR COMING TO K-STATE TODAY
TO GIVE A LANDON LECTURE. LET'S GIVE
HIM ANOTHER BIG HAND.
(APPLAUSE)
BEFORE INTRODUCING MEMBERS OF THE
PLATFORM PARTY, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
SOME VERY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
IN THE AUDIENCE. AND LET ME START
WITH JOYCE RUMSFELD.
JOYCE THANK YOU SO MUCH (APPLAUSE)
JOYCE RUMSFELD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THEN A VERY DEAR FRIEND
OF OUR FAMILY AND K-STATE
NO OTHER THAN MARY JO MEYERS.
MARY JO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE)
AND THEN WE HAVE A CONGRESSMAN
HERE WHO WINS BY 75/25 80/20
HE'S UNBEATABLE. HE'S INVINCIBLE.
CONGRESSMAN JERRY MORAN. (APPLAUSE)
WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE KANSAS BOARD OF REGENTS,
AND K-STATE GRADUATE. HE'S FROM HERE IN MANHATTAN
NELSON GALLE. NELSON THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE. (APPLAUSE)
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER REGENT FROM WICHITA
KANSAS, A K-STATE GRADUATE
REGENT JIM GRIER. (APPLAUSE)
AND THEN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE ARE HONORED AND PLEASED TO HAVE
LIEUTENANT GENERAL, DAVID PATRAEUS,
COMMANDER OF THE COMBINED ARMED CENTER
OF FORT LEVENWORTH. THERE HE IS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE)
THEN I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU
THE MAJOR GENERAL, THE COMMANDER OF THE
FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION OF FORT RILEY
MAJOR GENERAL CARTER HAM. CARTER.
(APPLAUSE)
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME
INTRODUCE TO YOU SOME GREAT AMERICANS
HOW ABOUT THESE GUYS UP HERE
IN THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION.
THANK YOU. AMERICA THANKS YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
IN TERMS OF THE PLATFORM PARTY
ON MY LEFT, MR. ROGER ADAMS
HE'S THE RARE BOOKS LIBRARIAN
AND PRESIDENT OF OUR SUPERB KANSAS STATE
FACULTY SENATE. THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE)
THEN NEXT TO HIM, A RISING STAR
AT K-STATE IN AMERICAN POLITICS
A SENIOR IN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
MANAGEMENT, THE PRESIDENT OF OUR
K-STATE STUDENT BODY. LUCAS MADDY.
LUCAS. (APPLAUSE)
ON MY RIGHT, EDWARD SEATON, CHAIRMAN OF
THE LANDON PATRONS AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
AND PUBLISHER OF THE MANHATTAN MERCURY. (APPLAUSE)
NEXT TO HIM A PERSON WHO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB
IN HELPING US BRING IN DISTINGUISHED
AMERICANS AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
FOR THE LANDON LECTURE SERIES,
DR. CHARLES REAGAN, ASSOCIATE TO THE PRESIDENT
AND CHAIR OF LANDON LECTURE SERIES.
CHUCK REAGAN. (APPLAUSE)
WELL LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY JOB HERE
TODAY IS TO INTRODUCE GENERAL RICHARD MEYERS
WHO WILL INTRODUCE THE SECRETARY
OF DEFENSE, DONALD RUMSFELD.
WELL GENERAL MEYERS, AS YOU KNOW,
IS AN OUTSTANDING GRADUATE OF THE
ARMY ROTC PROGRAM HERE AT K-STATE. AIRFORCE.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
RISING THROUGH THE RANKS
TO FOUR-STAR GENERAL AND TO BE CHAIRMAN
OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.
IN THAT CAPACITY HE SERVED
AS THE PRINCIPLE MILITARY ADVISOR
TO THE PRESIDENT, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE,
AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNSEL.
GENERAL MEYERS SERVED TWO TERMS
AS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS
AND ONE TERM AS THE VICE CHAIRMAN.
GENERAL MEYERS IS A COMMAND PILOT
WITH MORE THAN 4,000 HOURS
IN A WIDE VARIETY OF FIGHTERS
INCLUDING 600 COMBAT HOURS IN THE F-4 PHANTOM.
I AM VERY PLEASED THAT GENERAL MEYERS
NOW HOLDS THE TITLE OF FOUNDATION PROFESSOR
OF MILITARY HISTORY AND LEADERSHIP
AT KANSAS STATE. NOW ISN'T THAT
A GREAT THING FOR K-STATE? (APPLAUSE)
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A GREAT AMERICAN,
A GREAT MEMBER OF THE AIRFORCE
AND THE AMERICAN MILITARY
GENERAL MEYERS WILL NOW
INTRODUCE THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR GENERAL MEYERS.
(APPLAUSE)
WELL THANK YOU PRESIDENT WEFALD.
IT'S A REAL HONOR TO BE HERE
AND IT'S AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
MOST OF YOUR KNOW THE BASICS OF HIS BIOGRAPHY.
NAVAL AVIATOR, WE SOMETIMES QUIBBLE
OVER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NAVAL AVIATION
AND AIRFORCE AVIATION.
YOU KNOW HE WAS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS
SEVERAL JOBS IN THE WHITEHOUSE TO
INCLUDE THE WHITEHOUSE CHIEF-OF-STAFF,
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, IN TWO DIFFERENT
CENTURIES. HE DOESN'T LIKE IT PUT THAT
WAY, BUT THOSE ARE THE FACTS.
VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER OF PHARMACEUTICALS.
AND THOSE ARE THE BASICS. AND I'LL GO
INTO A BIT MORE DETAIL HERE IN JUST A MINUTE
BUT FIRST LET ME ADD SOMETHING ABOUT
JOYCE RUMSFELD. JOYCE HAS BEEN HIS ROCK
THROUGH WHAT I CONSIDER, IN MY VIEW,
THE MOST CHALLENGING YEARS FOR OUR
DEMOCRACY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE
SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.
THE ROCK AT HIS SIDE
HAS BEEN JOYCE RUMSFELD.
SHE HAS A BALANCE
THAT KEEPS HER PERPSECTIVE PRETTY CLEAR
NO MATTER WHAT THE TIDES OF PRAISE
OR CRITICISM MIGHT BE.
THAT'S A VERY USEFUL THING TO HAVE
IN WASHINGTON D.C. BY THE WAY,
WHEN YOU HAVE HIGH PUBLIC OFFICE.
AND SHE HAS A SUAVE DE VIVE,
YES YOU DO JOY, THAT QUICKLY CAPTURES
THOSE AROUND HER, AND HELPS THEM
ENJOY LIFE THE WAY THAT SHE
ENJOYS LIFE. MARY JO AND I ARE DEEPLY
HONORED THAT YOU WOULD BE ACCOMPANYING
THE SECRETARY HERE TO KANSAS STATE
UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU JOYCE.
(APPLAUSE)
I KNOW AN INTRODUCTION IS NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE A LECTURE BUT I GOT THE PODIUM
AND I DON'T SEE A HOOK. LET ME TALK
ABOUT TWO THINGS ABOUT SECRETARY RUMSFELD
THAT I THINK THE PUNDITS GET VERY, VERY WRONG.
ONE IS THE ENORMOUS TASK OF TRYING
TO DRAG THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OUT OF THE
COLD WAR INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
THIS TAKES ENORMOUS PHYSICAL ENERGY.
IT TAKES ENORMOUS INTELLECTUAL EFFORT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, AS YOU WELL UNDERSTAND
IS A HUGE BUREAUCRACY RESISTANT
TO CHANGE BY THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED
BUT THE SECRETARY HAD THE ENERGY,
THE PERSEVERANCE AND THE VISION,
AND HE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE
SENIOR MILITARY, THE JOINT CHIEFS-OF-STAFF AND
THE SENIOR MILITARY LEADERS, TO
TRY TO CHANGE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT IN HIS TENURE,
AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS UNDERGONE
MORE PROFOUND CHANGE IN THE LAST SIX YEARS
THAN IN ANY TIME IN ITS HISTORY
SINCE THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947.
AND I THINK HISTORY WILL RECORD THAT.
A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES:
OUR FORCED POSTURE AROUND THE WORLD
DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THAT HADN'T CHANGED
BASICALLY SINCE WORLD WAR II
BUT NOW IT'S CHANGED.
OUR POSTURE IN KOREA DRAMATICALLY
CHANGED FROM WHAT IT WAS SIX YEARS AGO
ANOTHER POSTURE THAT HADN'T CHANGED
FOR FIFTY YEARS.
NATO HAS BEEN REINVIGORATED
WHICH TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT
A LOT OF INTELLECTUAL EFFORT,
A LOT OF ENERGY, OF COURSE
THE SECRETARY BROUGHT TO THAT.
SO I THINK AS YOU SIT THERE AND YOU
THINK, ARE WE BETTER PREPARED TODAY,
TO MEET THE UNCERTAINTIES OF TOMORROW,
IN MY VIEW, YOU CAN SAY YES.
AND A LARGE PART OF THAT IS THE HARD
WORK, THE PERSEVERANCE OF SECRETARY RUMSFELD.
THE SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT IS THE SECRETARY'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE SENIOR MILITARY AND HERE
AGAIN I THINK THE PUNDITS GET IT
ABSOLUTELY WRONG, AND I DON'T
KNOW WHY THEY DO.
BUT BITS OF INFORMATION PUT TOGETHER
WITHOUT CONTEXT, USUALLY DOESN'T
BRING MUCH MEANING, AND WE'VE
HAD A LOT OF THAT LATELY.
I'LL MAKE A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS HERE
THAT I THINK ARE STATEMENTS OF FACT.
I HAVE WORKED WITH SEVERAL SECRETARIES
OF DEFENSE. I HAVE NEVER WORKED
WITH ONE THAT HAS SPENT MORE TIME
WITH THE SENIOR MILITARY LEADERSHIP THAN
THIS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. IN FACT
HE USED TO QUIP THAT HE SPENT MORE
TIME WITH ME THAN HE DID WITH HIS
WIFE JOYCE DURING THE WAKING HOURS.
I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ANOTHER FACT.
THE PRESIDENT YESTERDAY TALKED ABOUT
THE SECRETARY'S LOYALTY TO HIM.
ANOTHER THING THAT'S NOT UNDERSTOOD
OR TALKED ABOUT, IS THE SECRETARY'S
LOYALTY DOWN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
WHICH HE IS SQUARELY IN.
I REMEMBER AS GENERAL FRANKS LEFT
THE OFFICE TO GO TO THE MIDDLE EAST
TO BEGIN COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ
IT WAS ONE OF THE MORE POIGNANT MOMENTS
IT'S GENERAL FRANKS, SECRETARY RUMSFELD,
AND MYSELF, AS I RECALL, THE ONLY THREE
IN THE OFFICE, MAYBE THE MILITARY ASSISTANT
WAS THERE AS WELL, AND SECRETARY SAYS,
WELL, WE'VE DONE ALL THE PLANNING,
WE'VE BEEN PLANNING FOR OVER A YEAR,
THE PRESIDENT HAS GIVEN US HIS DECISION
AND WIN, LOSE, OR DRAW, WE'RE ALL
IN THIS TOGETHER AND WE'LL STAND TOGETHER
AS WE TAKE ON THIS ADVERSARY.
HE HAS HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO
DEFLECT THE ARROWS COMING HIS WAY, TO THE MILITARY.
MANY OPPORTUNITIES. HE'S NEVER TAKEN
ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
TO GO BACK AND READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
ABU GHRAIB AND PEOPLE WANTING
TO PLACE BLAME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
EASY FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
TO DEFLECT IT. TO A DEPARTMENT, TO
INDIVIDUALS, HE NEVER DID THAT.
HE SUCKED UP ALL THOSE ARROWS AND
CONTINUED TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT
IN THE WAY THAT HE KNEW WAS RIGHT.
SO IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE A VERY
DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT.
A MAN WHO HAS THE GREATEST OF INTEGRITY
AND WHO HAS, I BELIEVE, LED THE DEPARTMENT
FROM THE COLD WAR, SHOOK OFF ALL THOSE
OLD VESTIGES, AND BROUGHT US INTO
THE 21ST CENTURY. A TOUGH MAN.
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
SECRETARY DON RUMSFELD.
(APPLAUSE)
GOOD MORNING. GENERAL DICK MYERS. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT VERY WARM WELCOME.
LATER TODAY, WE WILL BE ATTENDING A DEDICATION OF A
BUILDING HERE AT KANSAS STATE IN GENERAL MYERS' HONOR
A WELL-DESERVED TRIBUTE TO ONE OF THIS UNIVERSITY'S MOST DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI.
DICK AND MARY JO WERE COLLEGE SWEETHEARTS,
AND WERE MARRIED ON THIS CAMPUS.
MY WIFE, JOYCE, AND I GO BACK EVEN FARTHER.
WE MET IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HAVE BEEN MARRIED SOME 52 YEARS. (APPLAUSE)
SOMEONE ASKED HER, "HOW COULD YOU HAVE STAYED
MARRIED TO THAT GUY FOR 52 YEARS?"
SHE PROMPTLY REPLIED, "HE TRAVELS A LOT."
(LAUGHTER) I THOUGHT SHE WAS KIDDING!
WELL, DICK MYERS HAS TRAVELED A GOOD BIT HIMSELF,
BUT I'M SURE MARY JO WOULD NEVER SAY THAT.
OVER THE YEARS, DICK AND MARY JO MYERS HAVE BEEN
THROUGH COUNTLESS MOVES, THEY'VE TRAVELED
TO PLACES ACROSS THE GLOBE IN SERVICE
TO OUR COUNTRY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU
THAT THEIR HEARTS HAVE ALWAYS BELONGED TO KANSAS.
AND I THINK EVERYONE HERE WILL AGREE THAT THEY
HAVE DONE KANSAS PROUD.
INDEED THEY HAVE DONE OUR NATION PROUD.
(APPLAUSE)
PRESIDENT WEFALD, MR. REAGAN, AND MR. SEATON,
I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION TO BE HERE TODAY.
I HOPE YOU ALL APPRECIATE HOW SKILLFULLY
I HAVE MANAGED THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THIS EVENT.
I WANTED TO PUT THE LANDON LECTURE ON THE
MAP. SO I DID MY BEST! (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
I'M GLAD I COULD HELP OUT.
(LAUGHTER)
IT WAS NANCY KASSEBAUM, ALF LANDON'S DAUGHTER,
WHO FIRST TALKED ABOUT ME COMING TO DO THIS LECTURE
AND IT WAS IN JAPAN WHEN HER HUSBAND, HOWARD BAKER,
WAS THE AMBASSADOR AND I SAID I'D REALLY LIKE TO DO IT AND I'M GLAD I COULD BE HERE.
I WANTED TO PUT THE LANDON LECTURE ON THE
MAP. SO I DID MY BEST! (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
MR. ADAMS, MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY,
LUCAS, PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT BODY. IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED?
HOW DID YOU DO IT?
IT WAS EASY, HUH?
WELL, CONGRADULATIONS TO YOU.
CONGRESSMAN MORAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE NATION.
WE ARE ALSO HONORED TO HAVE A SPECIAL VETERAN WITH US.
BORN HERE IN MANHATTAN, A HERO IN THE
BATTLE OF NORMANDY, CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
RECIPIENT, WALTER EHLERS. WHERE IS WALTER?
(APPLAUSE)
GENERAL PETRAEUS, GENERAL HAM THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR SUPERB
SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY; A SPECIAL GREETING TO THE MEN AND WOMEN HERE FROM
FORT ROLEY AND FORT LEVENWORTH,
AND THE KANSAS STATE ARMY AND AIR FORCE ROTC CADETS.
VOLUNTEERS, ALL. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE,
AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO START ON A PERSONAL NOTE.
IN MY TIME AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, I HAVE COME AWAY
TRUELY INSPIRED BY THE PROFESSIONALISM,
THE DEDICATION, AND THE DIGNITY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
AND THE FOLKS AT THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE WHO WORK EVERYDAY TO KEEP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAFE.
WHEN I WAS IN AFGHANISTAN NOT LONG AGO,
A YOUNG SOLDIER TOLD ME,
"I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ALLOWED
TO DO SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT."
AND YOU KNOW, I FEEL THE SAME WAY.
I AM SO HONORED TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE PART OF SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT
SO VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY
AND TO THE CAUSE OF HUMAN FREEDOM.
IT HAS BEEN THE HIGHEST HONOR OF MY LIFE
TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND TO WORK
SO CLOSELY WITH OUR OUTSTANDING TROOPS.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO TAKE PART IN THIS
LECTURE SERIES NAMED FOR A GOVERNOR,
A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE,
A STATESMAN OF GREAT CIVILITY, BUT PERHAPS WHAT
HE WAS MOST PROUD OF WAS THAT HE WAS
A KANSAN. AND HE SAID SO FREQUENTLY.
IT'S SAID THAT THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF THE
LOWER 48 STATES IS RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS.
THAT IS FITTING - BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
THIS PART OF THE WORLD HAS GIVEN OUR NATION SOME OF THE
GREAT LEADERS OF THE LAST CENTURY.
ALONG WITH GOVERNOR LANDON WAS GENERAL EISENHOWER FROM ABILENE;
AND SENATOR BOB DOLE FROM RUSSELL.
HARRY TRUMAN NEXT DOOR IN MISSOURI.
ONE OF RONALD REAGAN'S BIOGRAPHERS SAID THAT
HE NEVER UNDERSTOOD PRESIDENT REAGAN UNTIL HE WENT TO ILLINOIS,
AND EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND
WHERE PRESIDENT REAGAN HAS GROWN UP.
THESE INDIVIDUALS EMBODIED THE VALUES INSTILLED
IN THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THIS PART OF THE GREAT PLAINS AND MIDWEST.
HERE FOLKS TEND TO HAVE A GOOD PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THINGS,
ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG,
THEY'VE GROWN UP WITH AN APPRECIATION FOR THE SPLENDOR
AND DECENCY OF AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WE MEET TODAY AT A TIME OF PERIL FOR
OUR NATION AND FOR THE PRINCIPLES THAT IT REPRESENTS.
IN A SENSE, THIS IS NOT NEW.
IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AT DIFFERENT TIMES, AND FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES,
OUR NATION AND OUR VALUES HAVE BEEN
THREATENED SINCE OUR VERY BEGINNINGS.
BUT TODAY, IN THE FIRST WAR OF THE 21ST CENTURY,
WE FACE AN ENEMY THAT, IN MANY WAYS, IS UNLIKE ANY OUR COUNTRY
HAS EVER FACED. WE ARE ENGAGED IN A NEW
AND UNFAMILIAR WAR THAT IS, EVEN TODAY,
NOT YET FULLY UNDERSTOOD. IT'S A STRUGGLE THAT WILL REGUIRE
ALL OF US - OUR COUNTRY, OUR GOVERNMENT, OUR MILITARY
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE - TO THINK AND ACT DIFFERENTLY
THAN WE HAD IN OTHER CONFLICTS.
I WANT TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT
THIS CHALLENGE BEFORE RESPONDING TO SOME QUESTIONS.
I'M TOLD THAT KANSAS STATE HAS A COLD WAR STUDIES
PROGRAM THAT EXAMINES THE HISTORY OF THAT
"LONG, TWILIGHT STRUGGLE." WELL, LIKE THE COLD WAR,
THIS ERA FINDS AMERICA AND OUR ALLIES
IN A STRUGGLR AGAINST AN "IDEOLOGY OF GLOBAL REACH."
AND LIKE THE COLD WAR, THIS ERA REQUIRES US
TO ADAPT AND ADJEST OUR STRATEGIES, OUR WAY
OF THINKING AND OUR INSTITUTIONS.
IN FACT, 40 YEARS AGO, GOVERNOR LANDON SPOKE
HERE ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF THAT ERA
AND THE NEED TO FACE WHAT HE CALLED
THE "NEW REALITIES OF INTERNATIONAL LIFE."
WHEN HE SPOKE, IN 1966, THERE WAS MOST CERTAINLY NO
ASSURANCE THAT AMERICA WOULD PREVAIL AGAINST THE SOVIET UNION.
THAT YEAR THE NUMBER OF U.S. TROOPS IN VIETNAM
DOUBLED TO MORE THAN 300,000
IN AN INCREASINGLY DIVISIVE CONFLICT.
NO LESS THAN SEVEN VIOLENT COUPS OCCURRED AROUND THE WORLD THAT YEAR.
THERE WAS DOUBT AND DIVISION, EVEN AMONG OUR ALLIES. EVEN WITHIN OUR
OWN COUNTRY. FRANCE PULLED OUT OF THE NATO DEFENSE STRUCTURE
AND INVITED NATO HEADQUARTERS OUT OF FRANCE.
WHEN I WAS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO,
I HAD TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON TO TESTIFY TO A U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE
AGAINST AN AMENDMENT - A SENATE AMENDMENT - THAT PUPOSED TO WITHDRAW
ALL OF OUR FORCES FROM WESTERN EUROPE. EURO-COMMUNISM - THE SO-CALLED
"GOOD" COMMUNISM - WAS VERY MUCH IN VOGUE.
MANY OF THE SO-CALLED ELITES IN OUR COUNTRY
ARGUED THAT AMERICA WAS THE PROBLEM.
NOT THE SOVIET UNION. THAT THE ARMS RACE WAS A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED AND MARCHED
NOT AGAINST THE SOVIET UNION
BUT AGAINST THE UNITED STATES AND OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES.
WE TEND TO FORGET THAT. ALMOST UNTIL THE DAY OF ITS DEMISE,
MANY ARGUES THAT COMMUNISM WAS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE
PRESIDENT REAGAN USED TO TELL THE STORY
OF A YOUNG SOVIET WHO FINALLY SAVED UP
ENOUGH MONEY FOR A CAR.
A SOVIET CLERK STAMPED THE MAN'S PAPERS
AND TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD GET HIS CAR
IN 10 YEARS. THE YOUNG MAN ASKED,
"WILL IT COME IN THE MORNING OR AFTERNOON?"
THE CLERK, ASTONISHED, RESPONDED:
"WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE?"
THE YOUNG MAN REPLIED,
"BECAUSE THE PLUMBER IS COMING IN THE MORNING." (LAUGHTER)
THE GREAT LESSON OF THE COLD WAR IS THAT
TOTALITARIANISM - TO RULE BY FEAR AND TERROR
IN WHATEVER GUISE IT TAKES, ULTIMATELY DOES NOT WORK.
AND WHEN PEOPLE FINALLY REALIZE THAT TRUTH,
THOSE SYSTEMS
TEND TO COLLAPSE.
TODAY MARKS THE 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE BREACH OF THE BERLIN WALL
THE MOST VISIBLE SYMBOL OF THE END OF
AN ERA AND A BANKRUPT IDEOLOGY.
WHEN THOUSANDS OF BERLINERS CLIMBED OVER THAT
WALL TO REUNITE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
THAT THEY HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM FOR DECADES.THEY WENT IN ONE DIRECTION,
TO THE WEST, AND THE FREE WORLD VIVIDLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT WAS
IT HAD BEEN FIGHTING FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.
THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN
THE COLD WAR AND THE STRUGGLE
WE FACE TODAY, BUT THIS LONG WAR
REPRESENTS AND PRESENTS UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES FOR US
WHOLLY UNLIKE ANY THE UNITED STATES HAS EVER FACED.
THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT
MURDEROUS COMMUNIST REGIMES IMPRISONED,
STARVED AND SOMETIMES MASSACRED
THEIR OWN CITIZENS.
BUT THEY WERE NATION-STATES.
THEY HAD CAPITALS.
THEY HAD LAWS AND FIVE-YEAR PLANS.
THEY HAD DIPLOMATS TO SIGN AGREEMENTS, EVEN IF THEY BROKE THEM.
UNLIKE THE COLD WAR, OUR ENEMY TODAY HAS
NO STATE, TERRITORIES OR CITIZENS TO PROTECT.
THEY MURDER INNOCENT MUSLIM CIVILIANS BY THE THOUSANDS -
MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ALIKE.
THE ENEMY CONNOT BE DETERRED THROUGH
RATIONAL SELF-INTEREST.
TODAY'S THREATS COME LESS FROM NATION-STATES
BUT RATHER FROM ENEMIES THAT OPERATE IN THE SHADOWS,
THAT STRIKE THROUGH
ASYMMETRIC AND IRREGULAR MEANS.
ON 9/11, WE SAW THE DEADLY EFFECTS
OF THIS TYPE OF WARFARE.
ARMED WITH FIVE-DOLLAR BOX-CUTTERS,
19 HIJACKERS KILLED 3,000 AMERICANS
AND INFLICTED HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, INSURGENTS FASHION
DEADLY IEDS AND ROADSIDE BOMBS USING PROPANE TANKS
AND GARAGE DOOR OPENERS. NATIONS LIKE
IRAN AND SYRIA SEEK TO UNDERMINE U.S. AND ALLIED INTERESTS
BY MOVING WEAPONS
AND MONEY TO TERRORISTS AND INSURGENTS
IN THE FUTURE, THERE COULD BE ATTACKS ON COMPUTER NETWORKS,
ON WATER SUPPLIES,
ON COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS.
OUR MILITARY WAS ORGANIZED, TRAINED, AND
EQUIPPED, LARGELY FOR CONVENSIONAL WARFARE.
NOT ASYMMETRIC OR IRREGULAR WARFARE.
IN FACT, FOR MUCH OF THE PAST CENTURY
THE U.S. ARMED FORCES OPERATED ESSENTIALLY AS SEPARATE,
EVEN COMPETING BRANCHES OF SERVICE.
IN 1986, CONGRESS PASSED LEGISLATION TO RESTRUCTURE
THE MILITARY INTO A MORE JOINT FORCE.
SINCE THEN, OUR MILITARY HAS BEEN
LEARNING TO FIGHT AS A SINGLE, COORDINATED ARMED FORCE.
THIS REFORM OF THE MILITARY HAS BEEN
ONE OF THE SINGULAR MOST IMPRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS
BUT TO WIN IN THIS GLOBAL STRUGGLE
AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM, ALL ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER
ALL AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT
AS WELL AS A BROAD COALITION OF NATIONS WILL HAVE TO
BE BROUGHT TO BEAR MORE EFFECTIVELY.
TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE,
WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO HAVE
THE DEFENSE AND STATE DEPARTMENTS,
CIA AND HOMELAND SECURITY, TREASURY AND JUSTICE,
AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE, EACH WAGING
THEIR OWN CAMPAIGNS, WITH THEIR OWN RULES AND RESTRICTIONS,
EACH OVERSEEN BY SEPARATE CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEES.
DEFENSE, DIPLOMACY AND DEVELOPMENT DO NOT
FIT NEATLY INTO SEPERATE COMPARTMENTS TODAY.
SUCCESS REQUIRES THAT SEVURITY,
GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
PROGRESS TOGETHER. OUR MILITARY
CANNOT LOSE A BATTLE IN AFGHANISTAN OR IRAQ
BUT OUR MILITARY CANNOT WIN ALL ALONE.
THEY NEED THE HELP OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
THEY NEED THE HELP OF A BROAD COALITION
AND THAT IS A VASTLY MORE COMPLEX TASK.
IN AFGHANISTAN, FOR EXAMPLE, PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS
DRAW ON RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE
FROM A RANGE OF SPECIALTIES.
THESE TEAMS HAVE ACHIEVED A GOOD DEAL,
BUT THEIR SUCCESS HAS BEEN LIMITED
BECAUSE THEIR ACTIVITES TOO OFTEN ARE THOUGHT
TO REMAIN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
OUR MILITARY CANNOT LOSE, AS I SAY,
BUT TO WIN WILL REQUIRE MUCH MORE THAN MILITARY FORCE ALONE.
GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT, AS I SAY,
MUST PROCEED AT PACE.
SECOND, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS
STRUGGLE AGAINST EXTREMISM CONNOT AND WILL NOT
BE WON BY ANY SINGLE COUNTRY,
EVEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IT WILL BE WON BY THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF MUSLIMS - IRAQIS, AFGHANS, EGYPTIANS,
INDONESIANS, AS WELL AS EUROPEAN AND
AMERICAN MUSLIMS - WHO WILL BE ULTIMATELY BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR WINNING THE STRUGGLE
AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMEISTS.
THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED FOR
INCREASES IN FUNDING AND AUTHORITY
TO HELP TO BUILD THE CAPACITY AND CAPABILITIES OF
PARTNER NATIONS. THIS WILL BE A DIFFICULT SHIFT FOR OUR COUNTRY.
CHANGE IS HARD, AND IT IS NOT EASY FOR
AMERICANS TO TEACH AND ASSIST WHILE OTHERS ACT.
OURS IS A NATION AND A MILITARY WITH A HANDS-ON,
CAN-DO SPIRIT. BUT TODAY'S WAR AGAINST A GLOBAL ENEMY
REQUIRES FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT WE ENABLE OUR
FRIENDS AND ALLIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE MUSLIM WORLD,
TO CONFRONT AND DEFEAT THE EXTREMISTS WITHIN
THEIR OWN BORDERS AND ON THEIR OWN AIRWAVES.
THE SHIFT TOWARDS BUILDING OUR PARTNER'S
CAPABILITIES REQUIRES, FOR EXAMPLE
SOME OF THE BEST MILITARY PERSONEL
BECOME TRAINERS AND ADVISORS
AND EMBEDDED WITH FOREIGN SECURITY
SO THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR CAPACITIES
AND THEIR CAPABILITIES. AND, AS WAS INDICATED,
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE FOLKS HERE TODAY
WHO ARE CURRENTLY TRAINING
AT FORT RILEY AS PART OF MILITARY TRANSITION TEAMS.
THESE TEAMS WILL BE UNDERTAKING A CRITICAL TASK,
WHEN THEY DEPLOY TO TRAIN, STAND UP, AND MENTOR
AFGHAN, IRAQI SECURITY FORCES AND THOSE
OF OTHER NATIONS. THERE IS PERHAPS NO MORE IMPORTANT MISSION.
SO FOLKS, I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE,
ALL YOU ARE DOING, AND ALL YOU WILL DO. THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
IN THE PAST, U.S. EFFORTS TO TRAIN FOREIGN
SECURITY FORCES HAVE BEEN BURDENED BY OUTDATED RESTRICTIONS.
IN AFGHANISTAN, FOR INSTANCE, BUILDING UP THE AFGHAN
ARMY WAS HARMFULLY DELAYED
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SUCH CATEGORY
IN THE U.S. FEDERAL BUDGET AT THE TIME.
AND WE LACKED THE AUTHORITY AND
RESOURCES TO DO SO FOR A PERIOD.
OTHER PAINFUL DELAYS IN TRAINING THE AFGHAN
AND IRAQI POLICE FORCES WERE A RESULT OF
THE FACT THAT IT WAS THE RESPONSABILITY OF OTHERS
AND NOT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
AND WE WERE PROHIBITED FROM PARTICIPATING
IN THE TRAINING OF POLICE IN THE EARLY PERIOD.
FURTHER, THE REALITIES ON THE GROUND
IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.
DO NOT CORRESPOND TO THE U.S. YEARLY
BUDGETRY PROCESS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
WE LIVE IN A FAST MOVING WORLD.
AND IT TAKES, IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,
A YEAR TO DEVELOP A BUDGET.
IT TAKES A YEAR FOR THE CONGRESS TO PASS IT.
AND THEN IT TAKES A YEAR TO IMPLEMENT THAT BUDGET.
THAT'S A THREE-YEAR CYCLE
THAT RESULTS IN A SITUATION WHERE
DURING EXECUTION, YOU'RE BASICALLY DEALING
WITH STALE FACTS, STALE ASSUMPTIONS,
ASSUMPTIONS THAT WERE FASHIONED,
TWO AND A HALF, THREE YEARS BEFORE.
WE DON'T HAVE, YET, THE
SPEED AND AGILITY THAT WE NEED.
THE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY DRAWING UPON
PROPOSALS TO REFORM EXISTING REGULATIONS AND AUTHORITIES.
SOME OF THESE REGULATIONS, AND RULES, AND LAWS,
DATE BACK TO THE 1960'S.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, HAMPER
U.S. ACTION.
THIRD, ANOTHER AREA OF GOVERNMENT THAT NEEDS
SUBSTANTIAL REFORM IS COMMUNICATIONS.
TODAY'S GLOBAL, 24-HOUR MEDIA PRESENTS
NEW CHALLENGES FOR A GOVERNMENT THAT OPERATES
ON A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE. AL-QAEDA'S SECOND
IN COMMAND, AL-ZAWAHIRI, HAS SAID:
"MORE THAN HALF OF THIS BATTLE IS TAKING
PLACE IN THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE 'MEDIA'."
THIS IS THE #2 AL-QAEDA LEADER. EXPLAINGING TO HIS PEOPLE,
THAT IT'S NOT SO MUCH ONLY ON THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY,
BUT IN THE MEDIA.
THE ENEMY WE FACE HAS SKILLFULLY ADAPTED TO
FIGHTING WARS IN TODAY'S MEDIA AGE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART,
OUR COUNTRY AND OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED
THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WILL BE NECESSARY. THE ENEMY IS FAST.
WITH HEADLINE-GRABBING ATTACKS, BY DOCTORING PHOTOGRAPHS,
LYING TO THE MEDIA, AND BEING TRAINED TO ALLEGE TORTURE,
IN THEIR TRAINING MANUALS,
THE ENEMY SUCCESSFULLY MANIPULATES THE FREE WORLD'S PRESS
A PRESS THAT THEY WOULD NEVER ALLOW TO BE FREE
AND THEY DO SO PURPOSEFULLY TO INTIMIDATE
AND BREAK THE WILL OF FREE PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE RUTHLESSNESS,
THE SKILLFULNESS OF THIS ENEMY.
IN 1961, DWIGHT EISENHOWER, SPOKE TO THE NATION
FOR THE LAST TIME AS PRESIDENT.
HE WARNED OF A LONG STRUGGLE AHEAD. HE SAID:
"WE FACE A HOSTILE IDEOLOGY - GLOBAL IN SCOPE
...RUTHLESS IN PURPOSE, AND INSIDIOUS IN METHOD...
TO MEET IT SUCCESSFULLY WE MUST CARRY
FORWARD STEADILY, SURELY, AND WITHOUT COMPLAINT THE
BURDENS OF A PROLONGED AND COMPLEX
STRUGGLE - WITH LIBERTY THE STAKE."
AS WE LOOK BACK ON THOSE CRITICAL YEARS DURING
THE COLD WAR, SO TOO OUR GRANDCHILDREN
WILL ONE DAY LOOK BACK ON THIS TIME AS A
DEFINING MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
HISTORY WILL JUDGE WHETHER THIS GENERATION DID ALL WE
COULD TO DEFEAT A VICIOUS EXTREMIST ENEMY
THAT THREATENS OUR SECURITY, OUR FREEDOM,
AND OUR VERY WAY OF LIFE.
OR, IF WE LEFT IT TO THE NEXT GENERATION TO
TRY TO FIGHT AN ENEMY STRENGTHENED BY OUR WEAKNESS,
AND EMBOOLDENED BY OUR LACK OF RESOLVE.
OVER MY LIFETIME, I HAVE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN TIMES OF GREAT CONSEQUENCE,
TIMES OF WAR AND TIMES OF PEACE.
I HAVE MET COUNTLESS AMERICANS FROM EVERY
CORNER OF OUR MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY,
AND I HAVE DEVELOPED AN ABIDING FAITH IN THE WISDOM AND GOOD JUDGMENT
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
OVER TIME, ON BIG ISSUES, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FIND THEIR WAY TO RIGHT DECISIONS.
I HAVE SEEN US TRIUMPH OVER DICTATORS
AND TYRANNIES OF MANY FORMS, AND I BELIEVE
THAT IF WE PERSERVERE TODAY
AND I AM CONVINCED WE WILL
AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES,
AND DEVELOP A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS NEW WAR WE FACE,
THE FIRST WAR OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
WE CAN OVERCOME THE INCREASINGLY
LETHAL THREATS THAT CHALLENGE OUR COUNTRY.
DESPITE ALL THE ENEMY TRIES TO DO
TO MAKE THE WORLD THINK OTHERWISE,
AMERICA IS NOT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD.
AMERICA IS A FORCE FOR GOOD.
WE ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
THE GREAT SWEEP OF HUMAN HISTORY IS FOR FREEDOM
AND LET THERE BE NO DOUBT, WE ARE FREEDOM'S SIDE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M TOLD THERE'S SOME MICROPHONES AROUND,
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO SOME QUESTIONS.
I'LL ANSWER THOSE I KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
AND THE DIFFICULT ONES I'LL HEAVE TO DICK MYERS.
WHERE ARE THE MICROPHONES LOCATED?
OH, THERE THEY ARE. THEY'VE GOT NUMBERS.
THERE'S ONE. THERE'S ONE UP THERE, THERE'S ONE UP THERE.
IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO POSE A QUESTION,
WHY DON'T YOU GO LINE UP NEAR THEM AND WE CAN THEN START.
FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
MY CONCERN WITH OUR GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR
IS THAT THERE ARE SO FEW PEOPLE FIGHTING IT.
BESIDES THE MILITARY AND THEIR
FAMILIES, THEY SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONES
I WONDER IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE SLOWER.
I'M HAVING TROUBLE FOLLOWING IN THE ECHO.
OKAY, MY CONCERN ABOUT THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR
IS THAT THERE ARE SO FEW PEOPLE FIGHTING IT.
BESIDES THE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES,
NOBODY ELSE SEEMS INVESTED IN THE WAR.
IN WWII, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WAS MAKING SACRIFICES; TRYING
TO CONSERVE AND RATIONING.
WHERE EVERYBODY WAS INVOLVED IN WINNING.
NOWADAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE AVERAGE AMERICAN
GETS UP, GOES TO WORK, COMES HOME,
WATCHES AMERICAN IDOL, AND GOES TO BED, NEVER CONTRIBUTING
TO THE WAR EFFORT.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY NOT CONTRIBUTING, BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON
ISN'T EVEN INCONVENIENCED BY THE WAR.
MY QUESTION IS: WHAT CAN BE DONE
TO GET MORE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
INVESTED IN WINNING THIS WAR?
THAT IS A...CRITICAL QUESTION.
AND ITS SOMETHING THAT TROUBLES ME
AND THAT I WORRY ABOUT JUST AS
YOU OBVIOUSLY WORRY ABOUT IT.
I GREW UP IN WWII, AND HAD A VICTORY GARDEN,
AND USED TO BUY THE WAR BONDS,
$18.75 AND IF YOU HELD THEM LONG ENOUGH
IT WAS $25.
WE, AS YOU SAY, COLLECTED SCRAP, AND
OLD RUBBER TO BE MADE INTO RETREAD TIRES.
IT WAS A PERIOD WHERE THE ENTIRE NATION WAS
MOBILIZED, AS IT HAD TO BE, TO DEAL WITH THAT.
AND IT WAS FOR A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME
AND WE PREVAILED. THE COLD WAR, UNLIKE WWII,
THE COUNTRY DID NOT MOBILIZE.
BUT WE DEMONSTRATED OVER 50 YEARS A PERSERVERANCE,
TO DEAL, AS PRESIDENT EISENHOWER SAID, WITH
A GLOBAL STRUGGLE. WE DID IT THROUGH SUCCESSIVE ADMINISTRATIONS
OF BOTH PARTIES, NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTRY
BUT IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAPITALS OF WESTERN EUROPE.
IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH TODAY IS MUCH MORE LIKE THE COLD WAR.
IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS LONG. IT'S NOT A BRIEF,
HIGH INTENSITY, CONVENTIONAL CONFLICT WHERE
THE GREAT ARMYS, MAVYS AND AIR FORCES COMPETE
AND ITS OVER AND YOU SIGN A TREATY ON THE U.S.S. MISSOURI.
AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS
RECOGNIZE THAT AND - I GUESS IT WAS MY UNCLE USED TO SAY:
"PERSUASION IS A TWO-EDGE SWORD
REASON AND EMOTION PLUNGE IT DEEP"
WE HAVE TO USE OUR REASON AS WE DID DURING THE COLD WAR
TO, AS A NATION, BE PERSUASIVE TO OUR FELLOW CITIZENS
TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE.
EVERY YEAR THAT GOES BY, THERE IS A GREATER
AND GREATER LIKELIHOOD THAT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
ARE GOING TO END UP IN MORE AND MORE HANDS.
YOU SEE WHAT IRAN'S DOING, YOU SEE WHAT NORTH KOREA'S DOING,
YOU SEE WHAT IRAN DID BY WAY OF
PROVIDING WEAPONS TO THE HISBALA
TO THE NON-STATE ENEMY AND YOU LOOK
DOWN THE ROAD AND OTHER COUNTRIES ARE GONNA SAY:
"WELL, IF IRAN AND NORTH KOREA ARE
DEVELOPING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, MAYBE WE NEED TO DO THAT."
AND THEN YOU SEE THESE WEAPONS IN
THE HANDS OF NON-STATE ENTITIIES
THAT DON'T HAVE REAL ESTATE TO DEFEND,
DON'T HAVE AN INDUSTRIAL BASE TO DEFEND,
DON'T HAVE A LEADERSHIP CLASS TO DEFEND,
NO ADDRESS WHERE YOU CAN GO AFTER THEM - IT'S A NETWORK.
THAT'S THE WORLD WE'RE MOVING INTO
AND WE SIMPLY HAVE TO BE SMART ENOUGH - WISE ENOUGH
TO MARRY REASON AND EMOTION TO
SEE THAT WE DO THE RIGHT THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE DID IT DURING THE COLD WAR AND I DON'T
HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE CAPABLE OF
IT DURING THIS LONG STRUGGLE,
IN THE FACE AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISTS.
I'LL GIVE SHORTER ANSWERS MAYBE - GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE LINED UP THERE.
SECRETARY RUMSFELD, THE MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT
GIVES YOU THE PERMISSION TO BE ABLE TO DESIGNATE
I'M SORRY, AGAIN, THERE'S A BIG ECHO AND I'M HAVING
A LITTLE TROUBLE FOLLOWING THE WORDS.
JUST GO A LITTLE SLOWER
AND I'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
SURE, THE MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT GIVES
MILITARY WHAT?
MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT.
COMMISSIONS? OH, YES.
I HEAR YOU.
GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO DESIGNATE
ANY AMERICAN AN ENEMY COMBANTANT
DO YOU THINK THAT IT IS AN INHERENT DANGER
FOR INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS TO BE ABLE
TO BE SUBJECT TO THE WHIM OF MEN
IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THEIR POLITICAL POSITION OR WHAT NOT?
OF COURSE NOT, AND THE LEGISTLATION
THAT WAS PASSED BY THE CONGRESS
AND SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT, DOESN'T PROVIDE THAT.
AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SAFEGAURDS AND CHECKS,
AND APPEAL PROCESSES IN THE
MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT.
YES.
SECRETARY RUMSFELD, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY.
I AM THE DAUGHTER OF A VETRAN,
I AM THE WIFE OF A VETRAN,
I AM THE MOTHER OF A VETRAN,
AND I AM THE PROUD MOTHER OF AN ACTIVE DUTY MARINE RIGHT NOW.
AND WE HAVE TWO THINGS WE'D LIKE TO KNOW FROM YOU.
THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE)
MY CHILDREN WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT
BIRD YOU FLEW WHEN YOU WERE A NAVY PIOLET.
-WHICH WHAT?
WHAT BIRD YOU FLEW.
THE LAST ONE I FLEW WAS AN S-2F, THERE
ARE NONE OF THEM AROUND, THEY ARE ALL IN MUSEUMS.
(LAUGHTER)
IT'S A LITTLE EMBARRASSING.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW YOUR ADVICE
FOR SOMEBODY LIKE MY DAUGHTER, WHO'S GONNA GRADUATE IN TWO YEARS,
ADVICE THAT YOU
WOULD GIVE A YOUNG PERSON.
ADVICE FOR A YOUNG PERSON.
STUDY HISTORY.
(APPLAUSE)
WE NEED CONTEXT.
WE'VE STAKED EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE GAMBLE,
WE STAKE EVERYTHING ON THE PEOPLE.
THAT THEY CAN - GIVEN SUFFICIENT
INFORMATION - WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
THEY NEED CONTEXT.
WE NEED CONTEXT.
HISTORY PROVIDES THAT CONTEXT.
AND IF THERE'S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE I COULD GIVE
IT WOULD BE TO FOCUS ON THAT,
AND THINK ABOUT IT AND UNDERSTAND IT.
IT WILL IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF ALL OF US
TO FUNCTION AS CITIZENS IN THIS GREAT REPUBLIC.
YES, SIR. CADET BRET BATEETIES AIR FORCE DETACHMENT 270
KANSAS STATE. WITH ALL THE TOUGH
JOBS THAT YOU HAVE FACED IN CRITICISM AND STRESS
HOW DO YOU FIND THE MOTIVATION TO CONTINUE TO PUSH ON?
MY GOODNESS. THOSE PERSONAL QUESTIONS ARE HARD.
I GUESS THE ANSWER IS THAT
I FEEL SO FORTUNATE.
TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
AND SERVE AT IMPORTANT TIMES IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
AND TO DO IT WITH PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
(APPLAUSE)
HOW ABOUT YOU?
HAVE YOU SEEN "BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN"? A LITTLE INSIDE JOKE.
MY REAL QUESTION IS THIS:
IF YOU WERE GOING TO GIVE YOURSELF
A LETTER GRADE FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE
AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WHAT GRADE WOULD THAT BE?
OH, I'D LET HISTORY WORRY ABOUT THAT.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
HELLO, MR. RUMSFELD. SINCE THIS IS
LANDON LECTURES ON PUBLIC ISSUES,
I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT
A VERY PERTINANT PUBLIC ISSUE.
THAT IS, MR. SECRETARY, JOURNALISTS ACROSS
THE NATION - CONSERVATIVE, LIBERAL, MODERATE
POLITICIANS
I'M SORRY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEAK A LITTLE SLOWER.
JOURNALISTS ACROSS THE NATION,
BOTH CONSERVATIVE AND LIBERAL AND MODERATE
POLITICIANS, FORMER HIGH ESHLAN MILITARY
COMMANDERS AND MANY OTHER AMERICANS
SAY AND BELIEVE THAT OUR POLICY IN IRAQ
IS, QUITE SIMPLY, BROKE.
IT'S NOT WORKING,
IT'S NOT DOING ITS JOB.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THE NEXT
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, WHO'S
BEEN NAMED AS MR. GATES,
CAN DO TO FIX THAT?
TO MAKE OUR EFFORTS IN IRAQ TRULEY SUCCESSFUL,
TRUELY A NATION-BUILDING OPPERATION THAT
CREATES A FREE, DEMOCRATIC AND PEACEFUL IRAQ?
WELL, CERTAINLY THAT'S THE HOPE AND PRAYER
OF EVERYONE INVOLVED:
THE TROOPS AND LEADERSHIP OF OUR COUNTRY.
I CERTAINLY CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE INCOMING SECRETARY OF DEFENSE,
I WILL SAY THIS: IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT
THE MAJOR COMBAT OPPORATIONS WERE AN ENORMOUS SUCCESS.
IT IS CLEAR THAT IN PHASE TWO OF THIS
IT HAS NOT BEEN GOING WELL ENOUGH OR FAST ENOUGH
ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE HAVE BEEN
VERY IMPRESSIVE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
THE COUNTRY HAS DRAFTED A CONSTITUTION,
IT HAS RATIFIED A CONSTITUTION,
THEY HAVE HELD AN ELECTION
AND ELECTED FREELY A GOVERNMENT.
12 MILLION IRAQIS WENT OUT TO VOTE. THAT IS IMPRESSIVE,
THEY HAVE A STAKE IN THE SUCCESS OF THAT SITUATION.
THE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN, THE HOSPITALS ARE OPEN.
THEY HAVE A STOCK MARKET, THEY HAVE A FREE PRESS.
NOW, YOU PUT ALL THAT ON A SCALE AGAINST
THE FACT THAT THERE'S VIOLENCE, INSECTARIAN VIOLENCE,
AND THERE IS, AND THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED
AND MUSLIMS ARE BEING KILLED BY VIOLENT, EXTREMIST MUSLIMS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THAT'S
WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE.
THE CAMANDERS, GENERAL CASEY AND GENERAL ABIZADE,
HAVE SHIFTED THEIR ACTIVITIES AND THEIR EFFORTS OVER THE PAST PERIOD.
AS THE CIRCUMSTANCES ON THE GROUND HAVE SHIFTED
AND IT HAS. THE ENEMY HAS A BRAIN.
THEY DO THINGS. THEY WATCH WHAT HAPPENS,
AND THEY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
IT IS A MUCH MORE COMPLEX SITUATION,
AND QUITE HONESTLY, OUR COUNTRY DOES NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE
ATTEMPTING TO IMPOSE CONTROL AND OUR WILL
OVER VICIOUS, VIOLENT EXTREMISTS
THAT DON'T HAVE ARMYS, DON'T HAVE NAVYS,
DON'T HAVE AIR FORCES,
AND OPPORATE IN THE SHADOWS.
IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE
AND I THINK THAT JUST AS THE COLD WAR
REQUIRED SOME PATIENCE AND SOME PERSERVERENCE
AND SOME RESOLVE, AND SOME CONTEXT,
SO TOO THIS EFFORT WILL.
AND I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT THE PRESIDENT,
WORKING WITH THE COMANDERS AND THE NEW SECRETARY
WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
AND THAT, IF WE HAVE THE PERSERVERANCE AND THE RESOLVE,
WE WILL END UP SEEING THE IRAQI PEOPLE, ULTIMATELY,
TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR COUNTRY, GOVERN THEIR COUNTRY
PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THEIR COUNTRY,
AND CERTAINLY THAT'S OUR HOPE AND OUR PRAYER.
GOOD MORNING, SECRETARY RUMSFELD.
THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE AND FOR SPEAKING TO US.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT AND DOCTOR (INAUDIBLE)
FOR BRINGING HIM HERE.
MY NAME IS WE WU, I'M A CHINESE LANGUAGE
INSTRUCTOR HERE ON CAMPUS.
WE JUST STARTED A CHINESE LANGUAGE PROGRAM LAST YEAR
AND SOME OF MY STUDENTS ARE HERE TODAY TO LISTEN TO YOUR SPEECH.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS AND I BELIEVE MY STUDENTS
ARE ALSO VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR YOUR ANSWER.
FIRST ONE: WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR
OPINION ABOUT CHINA AND U.S. - CHINA RELATIONS.
SINCE THE FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION
CHINA HAS BECOME MORE OBVIOUS IN THIS
IN THIS SO-CALLED COMMUNIST CAMP.
MAYBE A FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRY BECAUSE
CHINA DOES GO THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES
AS YOU TRAVEL TO CHINA YOU MAY SEE IT.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION
ABOUT CHINA AND U.S.-CHINA RELATIONSHIP.
SECOND QUESTION IS WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR
OPINION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING CHINESE LANGUAGE.
ABOUT THE WHAT?
IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING CHINESE LANGUAGE
FROM STRATEGIC POINT OF VIEW
IN THE LIGHT OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
SINCE THE FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION
CHINA HAS BECOME MORE OBVIOUS IN THIS
IN THIS SO-CALLED COMMUNIST CAMP.
MAYBE A FORMER COMMUNIST COUNTRY BECAUSE
CHINA DOES GO THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES
AS YOU TRAVEL TO CHINA YOU MAY SEE IT.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION
ABOUT CHINA AND U.S.-CHINA RELATIONSHIP.
SECOND QUESTION IS WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR
OPINION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING CHINESE LANGUAGE.
ABOUT THE WHAT?
IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING CHINESE LANGUAGE
FROM STRATEGIC POINT OF VIEW
IN THE LIGHT OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS WORKING TO SEE
THAT MORE LANGUAGES ARE TAUGHT TO THE PEOPLE THERE IN THE DEPARTMENT.
AND ALSO THAT A BROADER RANGE OF
LANGUAGES ARE TAUGHT.
WITH RESPECT TO CHINA, THE CHINESE PEOPLE
HAVE MADE A VERY GOOD DECISION
TO MOVE TOWARD A MORE OPEN ECONOMIC SYSTEM
AND TO ENGAGE THE WORLD.
AND THEY ARE DOING IT QUITE SUCCESSFULLY.
THEY HAVE A GOOD RATE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH,
THEY ARE INCREASINGLY - I THINK - RECOGNIZING
THAT THEY ARE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE
SUCCESS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM,
THEY HAVE A LOT THAT DEPENDS ON THAT.
THEY ALSO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS.
THEY HAVE SOME VERY SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.
THEY HAVE SOME DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS.
THEY HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH RIOTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS,
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM A YEAR.
NOW, THEY ARE A BIG COUNTRY.
SO, THEY ARE MANAGING THEIR AFFAIRS
IN A WAY THAT IS - I THINK- DESIGNED TO
CREATE A ENVIRONMENT THAT'S HOSPITABLE TO
ENTERPRISE AND TO INTERACTION WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE OLYMPICS, FOR EXAMPLE,
THEY WANT TO SEE THAT THEY DO THINGS IN THEIR COUNTRY
THAT MAKES PEOPLE COMFORTABLE WITH INVESTING
AND TRADING AND WORKING WITH THEIR COUNTRY.
I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS. I THINK,
ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT THEY FACE A BIT OF A DILEMA.
AND THE DILEMA IS: THEY STILL HAVE
AN UNFREE POLITICAL SYSTEM,
AND AN INCREASINGLY FREE ECONOMIC SYSTEM.
NOW, YOU CAN GO DOWN THAT ROAD ONLY SO FAR
AND AT SOME POINT, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A HIGHLY
SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC SYSTEM - FREE ECONOMIC SYSTEM,
ITS GOING TO AFFECT YOUR POLITICAL SYSTEM
IN SOME WAY.
IN THIS SENSE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN AWFUL
LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
MILLING AROUND IN YOUR COUNTRY,
WITH CELL PHONES, WITH COMPUTERS, DOING A LOT OF THINGS
THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO
MANAGE YOUR POLITICAL SYSTEM,
TO THE EXTENT YOU WANT TO HAVE
A CONTROLED POLITICAL SYSTEM.
SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW THOSE TENSIONS
WILL BE RESOLVED. NEEDLESS TO SAY,
LIKE EVERY PERSON IN THE FREE WORLD,
WE HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE RESOLVED
IN FAVOR OF FREE SYSTEMS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A REASONABLE PROSPECT FOR CHINA.
THEY ARE NOT THERE YET, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS
PEOPLE CAN SAY TO CRITICISE THEM,
BUT THEY ARE ON A PATH THAT SUGGESTS
THEY WANT TO SUSTAIN THAT GROWTH.
TO DO THAT I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO BEHAVE IN A WAY THAT IS ENTERING
THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN A CONTRUCTIVE WAY.
DO YOU TEACH SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
I TEACH CHINESE CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA.
BUT ALSO U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS.
OH, I THINK THEY STARTED OUT PRETTY BUMPY.
THEY CRASHED INTO OUR EP-3 AIRCRAFT AND HELD OUR PEOPLE HOSTAGE
FOR DAYS, MANY DAYS. AND IT WAS A MOST
UNFORTUNATE THING. THIS WAS IS 2001.
THEY BEHAVED VERY BADLY, AND I THINK THEY
BEHAVED BADLY BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A LEADERSHIP STRUGGLE.
AND THERE WAS TENSION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY,
THE PLA, AND THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP.
GEN XI MIN WAS, AS I RECALL, IN SOUTH AMERICA AT THE TIME.
AND IT WAS A BAD SCENE,
THEY HANDLED IT VERY BADLY.
SINCE THAT TIME IT'S BEEN ON A CLEAR UP-TICK.
WE'VE IMPROVED MILITARY TO MILITARY RELATIONS,
WE HAVE GREATER ECONOMIC INTERACTION WITH THEM,
AND THE POLITICAL ACTION HAS BEEN, GENERALLY,
MORE POSITIVE. SO, I THINK IT'S BEEN ON AN IMPROVING PATH.
THANK YOU.
I THINK WE HAVE TIME FOR TWO MORE QUESTIONS, ONE HERE AND THEN...
GOOD.
HELLO, MR. RUMSFELD, I'M CHRISTIAN SCHULZ
AND I'M STUDYING GEOGRAPHY RIGHT NOW,
IN HOPES OF TRASLATING MAPS FOR JAPAN AND KOREA
AND POSSIBLY TEACHING THERE.
MR. RUMSFELD, DO YOU SUPPOSE THAT BEFORE THE INVASION
OF IRAQ THAT SADDAM MIGHT HAVE MOVED
HIS W.M.D.'S OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND INTO THE HANDS
OF OTHER COUNTRIES AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS
FRIENDLY AND SYMPATHETIC TO HIS FORMER REGIEM?
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE
THAT I CANNOT SPEAK TO WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF CERTAINTY,
THERE ARE REPORTS FROM PEOPLE, IRAQIS,
THAT THAT HAPPENED, THAT THINGS WERE MOVED
OUT OF IRAQ JUST PRIOR TO THE MILITARY ACTION.
I CAN'T PROVE THAT IT HAPPENED, I CAN'T PROVE THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN.
I GUESS THAT SOMEDAY WE'LL KNOW.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE IRAQIS BURRIED A LOT OF THINGS.
THEY BURIED COMPLETE JET AIRCRAFT.
I CAN'T QUITE IMAGINE THAT.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY COST
AND HOW EASILY THEY'RE DAMAGED, TO BURY THEM IN THE GROUND
TAKES A CERTAIN MENTALITY. (LAUGHTER)
WHAT ELSE THEY MAY HAVE BURIED I DON'T KNOW.
THE DELPHER REPORT, HE WAS THE MAN
WHO HAD THE RESPONSABILITY OVER THERE.
HE CAME BACK AND HE WROTE A REPORT
AND SAID THAT THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
EFFORTS FOR IRAQ WERE BASICALLY ON HOLD.
THAT IS TO SAY THAT THEY HAD A CAPABILITY
TO RAPIDLY UPGRADE THEIR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
I THINK THAT'S CLOSE TO WHAT HE SAID.
THEY DID NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR PROGRAM UNDERWAY,
THEY HAD KEPT TOGETHER THEIR NUCLEAR CADRE,
ITHE PEOPLE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH IT.
AND I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING SINCE THE DELPHER REPORT
THAT CONTRADICTS THAT, SO WE WILL KNOW
MORE AT SOME POINT, AND THERE ARE LITERALLY MILLIONS
OF PAGES OF IRAQI DOCUMENTS THAT ARE BEING
RELEASED INTO THE INTERNET AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME
TRASLATE AND FIGURE IT ALL OUT.
AND YOU PROBABLY READ ABOUT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS RECENTLY
WHERE SOME INFORMATION WAS PUT ON THE INTERNET
WHICH EXPLAINS HOW TO MAKE SOME WEAPONS,
WHICH WAS CRITICISED, MY PERSONAL VIEW IS
THAT ITS A GOOD IDEA TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT,
DISTRIBUTE IT HOWEVER WE CAN,
AND TO DO IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
HERE'S THE LAST QUESTION, MAKE IT A PIP.
(LAUGHTER)
MR. SECRETARY, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
IN YOUR SPEECH YOU MENTIONED 9/11,
AND IT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED THAT 15 OF THE 19
HIJACKERS CAME FROM SAUDI ARABIA,
AND IT HAS BEEN REPORTED, AND WIDELY BELIEVED
THAT SOME OF THE INSURGENTS
FIGHTING IN IRAQ TODAY ARE FROM SAUDI ARABIA.
SAUDIA ARABIA WAS NOT ATTACKED.
WHY?
EXCUSE ME, YOU SAID SAUDI ARABIA WAS ATTACKED?
WAS NOT ATACKED BY YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT.
OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
DO YOU THINK THIS WAR ON TERROR COULE BE
SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT SAUDIA ARABIA THROWING THE LINE?
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
THE VIOLENT EXTREMEISTS DO NOT ALL COME FROM
ONE COUNTRY. THEY COME FROM A LOT OF COUNTRIES.
MANY MANY COUNTRIES. IF ONE LOOKS AT THE MIXTURE OF THE DETAINIES
THAT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, LONDON, MADRID,
AND VARIOUS PARTS AROUND THE WORLD, SUADI ARABIA,
THERE ARE 10, 15, 20 COUNTRIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED
WITH THEIR PEOPLE, CITIZENS, INVOLVED IN THESE
TERRORIST NETWORKS. IT WOULD BE, OF COURSE, MINDLESS TO
RUN AROUND, DECLARING WAR AGAINST ALL THE COUNTRIES
WHO HAPPEN TO HAVE CITIZENS WHO ARE VIOLENT EXTREMISTS.
SUADI ARABIA, EVER SINCE THEY WERE ATTACKED
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BY VIOLENT EXTREMISTS,
HAS BEEN OUT DOING A GREAT MANY THINGS TO
GO AFTER THE EXTREMISTS IN THEIR COUNTRY
TO PUT THEM IN JAIL, TO ARREST THEM, TO ATTEMPT
TO DEAL WITH THE SEED BED OF THAT PROBLEM.
THEY'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO DEAL WITH THOSE THAT
TEACH PEOPLE VIOLENCE AND EXTREMISM.
SO, IT IS A COMPLICATED THING.
WE HAVE ALLIES, GOOD FRIENDS AND ALLIES,
THAT HAVE VIOLENT EXTREMISTS THAT COME
OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY. AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT.
AND WE DON'T LIKE IT, BUT OUR TASK, AS I MENTIONED IN MY REMARKS,
IS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR CAPACITY
SO THAT THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
AND THEIR MILITARY DEVELOPS A BETTER CAPABILITY TO GO AFTER
THE EXTREMISTS THAT EXIST IN THEIR COUNTRY.
AND THE TRUTH IS WE CAN'T - IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGHT A WAR, AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT
WHEN YOU'RE NOT AT WAR WITH THE COUNTRIES WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE?
YOU CAN'T JUST PRETEND YOU'RE AT WAR WITH THEM.
YOU'RE NOT.
THEY'RE FRIENDS AND ALLIES AND THEY'RE TRYING
TO DO IT. THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO
IS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR CAPABILITY
SO THAT THEY CAN DO A BETTER JOB GOING AFTER THOSE EXTREMISTS
BEFORE THEY CAN ATTACK THEM OR OTHER FREE PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALSO AT RISK ARE
GOVERNMENTS LIKE THE SAUDI GOVERNMENTS,
LIKE THE MODERATE GOVERNMENTS IN THAT REGION,
THOSE ARE THE PRINCIPAL TARGETS OF AL QAEDA.
THAT IS THEIR FIRST GOAL, TO DESTABILIZE ALL OF THOSE COUNTRIES.
I'M GETTING THE HOOK.
I'VE ENJOYED BEING HERE, AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FOLKS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT VERY WARM WELCOME THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME.
MR. SECRETARY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING
AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU DID.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND JOYCE.
WE'LL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFULL THAT YOU CAME
TO K-STATE TO DELIVER A GREAT LANDON LECTURE.
LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER BIG HAND.
(APPLAUSE)
SO HOW ABOUT THIS, HUH?
(APPLAUSE)