“I don't think you can solve what's going on in Iraq unless you can deal effectively with the region and you can't deal effectively with the region if you start with the premise that you can't talk to people who disagree with you.” PeopleIfsThinkingDealsIraqSolveRegionsDisagreePremises Author:Wesley Clark
“One of the principles that we operate on in this country is that leaders are held accountable. The simple truth is that we went into Iraq on the basis of some intuition, some fear, and some exaggerated rhetoric and some very, very scanty evidence.” CountrySimpleLeaderPrinciplesTruth IsEvidenceBasesIraqIntuitionRhetoricExaggeratedSimple Truths Author:Wesley Clark
“We're going to take out seven countries in 5 years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and, finishing off, Iran.” YearsCountrySevenStartingIraqIranSyriaFinishingLibyaLebanonSudanSomalia Author:Wesley Clark
“I think there are some mass destruction capabilities that are still inside Iraq. I think there's some weapons that have been shipped over the border to Syria. But I don't think we're going to find that their capabilities provided the imminent threat that many feared in this country. So I think it's going to be a tough search, but I think there's stuff there.” ThinkingHas BeensStillsCountryStuffWeaponsMassToughDestructionThreatIraqBordersCapabilitySyriaMass Destruction Author:Wesley Clark
“I think there's no question that, even though we may not have the evidence as Richard (Perle) says, that there have been such contacts (between Iraq and al Qaeda). It' s normal. It's natural. These are a lot of bad actors in the same region together. They are going to bump into each other. They are going to exchange information. They're going to feel each other out and see whether there are opportunities to cooperate. That's inevitable in this region, and I think it's clear that regardless of whether or not such evidence is produced of these connections that Saddam Hussein is a threat.” ThinkingFeelsMayHas BeensTogetherActorsOpportunityNaturalClearInformationNormalEvidenceConnectionsThreatIraqContactInevitableRegionsAlsSaddamHusseinBumpsAl Qaeda Author:Wesley Clark
“Certainly there’s a connection between Iraq and Al Qaeda. It doesn’t surprise me at all that they would be talking to Al Qaeda, that there would be some Al Qaeda there or that Saddam Hussein might even be, you know, discussing gee, I wonder since I don’t have any scuds and since the Americans are coming at me, I wonder if I could take advantage of Al Qaeda? How would I do it? Is it worth the risk? What could they do for me?” IfsKnowsMightWould BeTalkingWonderRiskAdvantageConnectionsSurpriseIraqIf I CouldAlsBe YouSaddamHusseinAl QaedaDiscussingSurprise Me Author:Wesley Clark
“The campaign in Iraq illustrates the continuing progress of military technology and tactics, but if there is a single overriding lesson it must be this: American military power, especially when buttressed by Britain's, is virtually unchallengeable today. Take us on? Don't try! And that's not hubris, it's just plain fact.” IfsTryingFactsTodayTechnologyProgressMilitaryLessonsIraqCampaignsBritainContinuingTacticsHubrisMilitary PowerAmerican Military Author:Wesley Clark
