Bill Richardson

nearli six year_ago __PUNCT__ __NUM__ al_qaeda qaeda_terrorist commit the largest mass_murder in our countri histori __PUNCT__

now __PUNCT__ more than __NUM___dai later __PUNCT__ those who organ __NUM__ hide along the pakistan/afghanistan border __PUNCT__

our intellig_agenc tell us that al_qaeda todai is more diffus and danger than ever __PUNCT__

al qaeda is not the onli terrorist_group __PUNCT__

but it is uniqu __PUNCT__ it ha declar_war on america __PUNCT__ it ha attack us on our soil __PUNCT__ and it continu to plan anoth spectacular domest attack like __NUM__ or wors __PUNCT__

the leader of al_qaeda sai thei wish to kill___NUM__ __NUM___million_american __PUNCT__ includ___NUM__ __NUM___million million_children __PUNCT__

in their mad __PUNCT__ thei claim that such a slaughter of innoc would __PUNCT__ balanc the scale of justic __PUNCT__ for crime that thei alleg we have commit against muslim __PUNCT__

we would be mad not to take them at their word __PUNCT__

so i want to focu my comment todai on what we need to do to defeat al_qaeda __PUNCT__

that is not to ignor other group __PUNCT__

inde much of what we do to destroi al qaeda will help defeat other terrorist __PUNCT__

rather __PUNCT__ it is to recogn what thi administr seem never to have understood __PUNCT__ the uniqu danger pose to our countri by al qaeda and it sympath __PUNCT__

al qaeda first attack america in __NUM__ in east africa __PUNCT__

month befor that attack __PUNCT__ presid_clinton sent me to afghanistan to press the taliban to hand over osama_bin_laden __PUNCT__

thei refus __PUNCT__

so we impos tough un sanction on them __PUNCT__

when the bush_administr came into offic thei seem not to understand how seriou the threat we face wa __PUNCT__

thei ignor dire warn from the cia and other terrorist expert __PUNCT__

the __DATE__ presidenti daili brief read __PUNCT__ bin_laden determin to strike in us __PUNCT__

the presid fail to understand what thi meant __PUNCT__

after __DATE__ __PUNCT__ he seem final to get it __PUNCT__

i support the liber of afghanistan __PUNCT__

i had seen with my own ey the taliban repress of women __PUNCT__ their paranoid intoler of all dissent and all divers __PUNCT__

i knew thei were unlik to respond to reason __PUNCT__

if onli the presid had kept hi ey on the ball and finish the job when he had the chanc __PUNCT__

al_qaeda wa on the rope in __NUM__ corner in the badland between afghanistan and pakistan __PUNCT__

if our troop had been given the resourc thei need __PUNCT__ we could have finish them off __PUNCT__

but the presid chose instead to divert our resourc from that necessari war to a war of choic __PUNCT__

we know that there wa no al qaeda in iraq befor __NUM__ and no iraqi connect to __NUM__ __PUNCT__

extens studi by the __NUM__ commiss and other ha confirm that __PUNCT__

even the presid admit it __PUNCT__

and we know now that iraq had no wmd __PUNCT__

iraq divert critic intellig and militari resourc from the fight against al qaeda __PUNCT__

we let up the pressur and al qaeda recov __PUNCT__ and struck back __PUNCT__

sinc __NUM__ al qaeda and it affili have carri out attack in algier __PUNCT__ casablanca __PUNCT__ madrid __PUNCT__ london __PUNCT__ istanbul __PUNCT__ riyadh __PUNCT__ tel_aviv __PUNCT__ jeddah __PUNCT__ karachi __PUNCT__ sharm al shaykh __PUNCT__ taba __PUNCT__ mombassa __PUNCT__ kuwait __PUNCT__ mumbai __PUNCT__ new delhi __PUNCT__ dacca __PUNCT__ bali and elsewher __PUNCT__

in iraq __PUNCT__ the presid reject the sage advic of those who argu that we need a care_plan for what to do after we reach baghdad __PUNCT__

mr __PUNCT__ bush did not have a plan __PUNCT__

but al_qaeda did __PUNCT__

after the us invas __PUNCT__ it sent fighter to iraq with the goal of provok a civil_war __PUNCT__

it carri out hundr of attack on shia shrine __PUNCT__ leader and innoc to provok the sectarian bloodbath we face_todai __PUNCT__

it wa an evil plan __PUNCT__ but a predict on __PUNCT__

but __PUNCT__ lost in hi delus of an easi peac __PUNCT__ presid_bush did not figur out what wa happen until it wa too late __PUNCT__

iraq wa now in a civil_war __PUNCT__ and there wa noth we could do to stop it __PUNCT__

so the result todai is an al_qaeda which is more diffus and more deadli than ever __PUNCT__

it ha a stronghold in south_asia and a boom franchis in iraq __PUNCT__

it is rais so much monei in iraq that it cannot spend it all there __PUNCT__ and it us it to fund other oper around the world __PUNCT__

and sooner or later al_qaeda will attack america at home again __PUNCT__

we have alreadi foil plot to do so __PUNCT__

we know that thei take their time __PUNCT__ and slowli and method plan and then execut spectacular attack __PUNCT__

we know thei have tri to acquir nuclear_weapon __PUNCT__

our fbi director sai he stai up at night worri about an al_qaeda nuclear attack on america __PUNCT__

we need to address thi threat with the focu it deserv __PUNCT__

we need a grand_strategi for defeat al_qaeda __PUNCT__

the past five year have demonstr that a primarili militari_strategi will not work __PUNCT__

inde __PUNCT__ the botch occup of iraq ha plai into the hand of the jihadist __PUNCT__ bolster their propaganda that the us want to kill muslim __PUNCT__ and that we want to control the muslim_world to exploit it resourc __PUNCT__

never ha america been as unpopular as it is todai __PUNCT__

in iraq __PUNCT__ and in mani other muslim_countri __PUNCT__ poll_show that our credibl ha plummet __PUNCT__

as a direct_result of the iraq occup __PUNCT__ larg_major of muslim now sai thei distrust america __PUNCT__

such sentiment facilit jihadist recruit and boost their popular_support __PUNCT__

a new grand_strategi against the qaeda movement must repair thi damag that the bush_polici have done to our intern reput __PUNCT__

in particular __PUNCT__ we need to reach out to muslim __PUNCT__ and demonstr __PUNCT__ by our action as well as our word __PUNCT__ that we respect muslim cultur and valu muslim life __PUNCT__

we need to earn back our alli __PUNCT__ confid in american leadership __PUNCT__ and diplomat resolv the conflict that fuel al_qaeda recruit in the muslim_world __PUNCT__

we must overcom those who call for the destruct of israel __PUNCT__ and achiev a just __PUNCT__ two __PUNCT__ state_solut which guarante israel secur __PUNCT__

intellig effort need to focu on the al_qaeda leadership __PUNCT__ and on break up cell befor thei act __PUNCT__

thi will requir more human intellig and more arab __PUNCT__ speak expert __PUNCT__ as well as better intellig coordin with our alli and arab friend __PUNCT__

the target of our militari_strategi need to be the al_qaeda leadership __PUNCT__

as long as these men ar activ __PUNCT__ thei symbol the success of resist to america __PUNCT__ and attract new recruit __PUNCT__

it is not good enough to have them __PUNCT__ hide in cave __PUNCT__

the death or captur of osama_bin ladin and hi associ in pakistan and afghanistan will not end the al_qaeda movement __PUNCT__ but it will deal it a seriou setback __PUNCT__

so how do we do it __PUNCT__ a critic first step is to enhanc our commit __PUNCT__ militari __PUNCT__ polit and econom __PUNCT__ to afghanistan __PUNCT__

to defeat the resurg taliban will requir a signific increas in nato_forc along the afghanistan __PUNCT__ pakistan border __PUNCT__ and that will requir american leadership __PUNCT__

we urgent must redirect our militari effort awai from iraq __PUNCT__ where al_qaeda leadership is not locat __PUNCT__ and toward the afghanistan __PUNCT__ pakistan border __PUNCT__ where thei ar locat __PUNCT__

when our alli see that we have final gotten our prioriti straight __PUNCT__ that we have reviv our commit to go after the al qaeda leadership where it is __PUNCT__ onli then will thei provid enough troop and equip to overwhelm the enemi __PUNCT__

it is also critic that we engag muslim_countri in thi effort __PUNCT__ to the extent that the troop root out al_qaeda and the taliban ar muslim __PUNCT__ the jihadist cannot portrai the effort to defeat them as on of __PUNCT__ the west against islam __PUNCT__

the us therefor should encourag our muslim and arab partner __PUNCT__ especi egypt __PUNCT__ jordan __PUNCT__ tunisia __PUNCT__ algeria and morocco __PUNCT__ to offer troop to help stabil afghanistan __PUNCT__

nato should creat a contact group __PUNCT__ led by a senior nato diplomat __PUNCT__ to engag all of afghanistan neighbor on border stabil __PUNCT__ especi along the __NUM___mile long pakistan border __PUNCT__

thi group should includ iran and india __PUNCT__

we need a much bigger econom reconstruct program for afghanistan __PUNCT__

humanitarian and econom aid foster goodwil and bolster support for our effort __PUNCT__

noth is more effect against our enemi than the memori of american aid worker who save a child or rebuilt a villag after an earthquak or a tsunami __PUNCT__

save afghanistan will requir a multilater marshal_plan __PUNCT__ an effort on the scale of what rebuilt europ after the second world_war __PUNCT__

the us should lead a coalit to rebuild thi countri that ha been ravag by three decad of war __PUNCT__

russia __PUNCT__ japan __PUNCT__ europ __PUNCT__ india and other should contribut __PUNCT__

such a marshal_plan must includ a program to provid all afghan children with educ and free_lunch __PUNCT__

too mani children fall into the hand of islam school __PUNCT__ some of which teach violenc __PUNCT__ becaus it is their onli educ option __PUNCT__

the long __PUNCT__ term defeat of al_qaeda depend on teach hope __PUNCT__ rather than hate __PUNCT__ to the next gener __PUNCT__

these effort also must extend into pakistan __PUNCT__

the border region ar poverti __PUNCT__ stricken breed ground for jihad __PUNCT__

we need to read the riot act to dick_chenei pal __PUNCT__ presid musharraf __PUNCT__

we have provid him with __MONEY___billion __PUNCT__ in mostli militari_aid __PUNCT__

futur aid must be link to a real crackdown on terrorist __PUNCT__ includ arab __PUNCT__ afghan and kashmiri __PUNCT__

musharraf also doesn't seem to care much for democraci __PUNCT__

we need to insist that pakistan have free_elect thi year __PUNCT__

some have argu that democraci could bring radic_islamist to power __PUNCT__

that is nonsens __PUNCT__

poll_show that most pakistani favor the mainstream parti __PUNCT__

howev __PUNCT__ the narrow polit_base of the musharraf govern is a kei reason why the taliban and al_qaeda ar grow in influenc __PUNCT__

pakistan need a repres_govern and a free and vibrant civil_societi __PUNCT__ if it is to resist the siren call of the jihadist __PUNCT__

iraq is also a critic battlefield in the fight against jihad __PUNCT__ becaus it prevent us from fulli engag the core al_qaeda leadership in afghanistan and pakistan __PUNCT__

our enemi want us to remain bog down in iraq __PUNCT__

let me sai that again __PUNCT__ al qaeda benefit from our be trap in iraq __PUNCT__ and want us to stai there __PUNCT__

thei know that if we were not stuck in iraq __PUNCT__ we could go after them where thei ar __PUNCT__

thei know that the shia and the kurd in iraq don't want them there __PUNCT__ and that mani sunni iraqi toler them onli becaus thei ar alli against us __PUNCT__

when we leav __PUNCT__ thei know the iraqi will drive them out of iraq __PUNCT__

we cannot defeat al qaeda until we get out of iraq __PUNCT__

an orderli __PUNCT__ phase and complet troop_withdraw could be complet rapidli __PUNCT__ and it is imper that it be complet __PUNCT__

the kei to an exit_strategi is to exit __PUNCT__

we don't need a south_korea __PUNCT__ like solut as the presid suggest __PUNCT__ an open __PUNCT__ end militari_base in iraq that will alien succeed_gener of iraqi and other muslim __PUNCT__

thi mondai sandi berger and bruce riedel wrote an op __PUNCT__ ed in the financi_time that endors thi posit __PUNCT__

thei wrote __PUNCT__ a clear u. __PUNCT__ commit to a complet __PUNCT__ irrevers withdraw from iraq mai now be the onli wai to develop a region concert of power that could work with iraqi to try to stabil the countri and cauter the conflict __PUNCT__

more and more ar agre with me __PUNCT__

we must remov all of our troop __PUNCT__

i hope congress will de __PUNCT__ author thi war and forc presid_bush to start bring them out thi year __PUNCT__

the sooner we ar out of iraq __PUNCT__ the sooner we can begin to win the real war against the real terrorist who attack thi countri on __NUM__ __PUNCT__

we cannot win the war against al_qaeda alon __PUNCT__

it is urgent that we rebuild our allianc __PUNCT__ so that we can onc again lead other nation __PUNCT__

trust is critic to get alli to work with us in the secret world of counter terror and in the open world of public diplomaci __PUNCT__

thi administr ha driven awai our alli with swagger and saber rattl __PUNCT__

i will rebuild our allianc by make common caus with partner who share our valu and interest __PUNCT__

we also need to win the war of idea with al qaeda __PUNCT__

simpli call for democraci is not enough __PUNCT__ becaus action speak louder than word __PUNCT__

and the action of the bush_administr have not match it rhetor __PUNCT__

militari tactic which have result in the death of thousand of civilian have fed the percept __PUNCT__ fan by the jihadist __PUNCT__ propaganda __PUNCT__ that we don't care about muslim life __PUNCT__

human right abus at abu_ghraib __PUNCT__ guantanamo and elsewher have sulli our reput __PUNCT__

when peopl see these imag __PUNCT__ thei associ america not with human right and freedom __PUNCT__ but rather with secret_prison and tortur __PUNCT__

america is better than the bush __PUNCT__ chenei administr __PUNCT__

if we want to win the war of idea __PUNCT__ we need to return to our proud tradit as a countri that respect human right __PUNCT__

i have spoken befor of the ideolog war that is go on in the islam_world world_todai between fanat like bin_laden and moder like jordan king abdullah and morocco king muhammad __PUNCT__ who have a progress view of islam __PUNCT__

we need to stand by these leader in their effort to defeat extrem __PUNCT__

as presid i will person engag in a new middl_east peac_process __PUNCT__ and i will make achiev a two __PUNCT__ state_solut my highest diplomat prioriti __PUNCT__

presid_clinton came veri close to a deal in __NUM__ and the bush_administr disengag for six year allow the situat to drift and degener __PUNCT__

to revers thi damag __PUNCT__ as presid i would appoint a full __PUNCT__ time high __PUNCT__ level envoi dedic to improv our relationship with the muslim_world __PUNCT__

thi person would be fluent in the cultur __PUNCT__ languag and custom of the arab street __PUNCT__ and serv as an attaché help to bridg the divid the bush_administr fail polici have help to creat __PUNCT__

the presid should also us our enhanc relationship with india in the wake of the nuclear_deal sign last year to encourag the nascent indo __PUNCT__ pakistani dialogu __PUNCT__

kashmir is kei to break the pakistani connect to terror __PUNCT__

i have been to islamabad and i have listen to pakistani leader plead with america to do someth about kashmir __PUNCT__

it is a caus which fuel resent of the west in their countri __PUNCT__ and push peopl to support terrorist __PUNCT__

the time for prevent diplomaci on the subcontin is now __PUNCT__ while pakistan and india ar talk to each other __PUNCT__

homeland_secur we also must address homeland secur much more strateg than we have __PUNCT__

a biolog or nuclear attack could be as horrif as hiroshima __PUNCT__ and terror expert agre that sooner or later such an attack is like __PUNCT__

we must do everyth we can to prevent thi __PUNCT__ and we must improv our abil to respond quickli if an attack occur __PUNCT__ to assist the victim __PUNCT__ and to recov __PUNCT__

a strong civil defens system is essenti not just to save_live after an attack __PUNCT__ but also to help prevent attack __PUNCT__

that is becaus __PUNCT__ to the extent that we can surviv and rebuild __PUNCT__ rather than panic __PUNCT__ the attack lose some of it militari valu to the terrorist __PUNCT__

thi is what expert call __PUNCT__ resili __PUNCT__

accordingli __PUNCT__ we must rememb that civil defens measur ar not just plai defens __PUNCT__

thei ar essenti compon of a grand_strategi to defeat al_qaeda __PUNCT__

state and local_govern have role to plai in homeland_secur __PUNCT__

in new mexico we have taken mani step to make our citizen more secur __PUNCT__

we pass a statewid mutual aid law so that commun can assist on anoth without bureaucrat red_tape __PUNCT__ and we made emerg manag and homeland_secur an independ __PUNCT__ cabinet __PUNCT__ level depart __PUNCT__

we also establish a robust border_secur program __PUNCT__ and establish a fund stream to help border commun polic more effect __PUNCT__

we pass a law provid job protect to volunt emerg respond __PUNCT__ and we increas supplement life insur for our nation_guard __PUNCT__

but protect_american american_citizen from terrorist_attack is fundament the respons of the feder_govern __PUNCT__

onli the feder govern can protect our border and our port __PUNCT__ fund cut __PUNCT__ edg technolog __PUNCT__ and undertak mani other function that need to be done at the nation and intern level __PUNCT__

while the bush_administr ha taken some measur to improv secur __PUNCT__ particularli of air_travel __PUNCT__ there ar mani thing which __PUNCT__ nearli six year after __NUM__ __PUNCT__ have not been done to protect the american_peopl __PUNCT__

by far __PUNCT__ the most urgent thing we must do __PUNCT__ and ar not do __PUNCT__ is to vastli improv the surg capac of our public_health health_system __PUNCT__ so that we can respond quickli and effect to a nuclear or biolog attack __PUNCT__

thi administr ha neglect to fund the modern of our abil to take care of american and to recov from an attack at home __PUNCT__

we must revers thi __PUNCT__

we should build mobil hospit that can be brought quickli wherev thei ar need __PUNCT__ and we should stockpil equip __PUNCT__ medicin and vaccin __PUNCT__ and equip standbi hospit __PUNCT__

the feder_govern need to provid fund so that everi commun ha an effect disast manag system __PUNCT__ as well as reliabl commun_system among all first respond and medic facil __PUNCT__

and we urgent must train more doctor __PUNCT__ paramed and __PUNCT__ especi __PUNCT__ nurs for disast and terror respons __PUNCT__

such personnel __PUNCT__ of cours __PUNCT__ can also help improv health_care deliveri everi dai to underserv popul __PUNCT__

the feder_govern can make thi happen with a medic gi_bill __PUNCT__ a scholarship program for nurs and other medic specialist __PUNCT__

a medic gi bill would provid full scholarship in exchang for a commit to serv in poor and rural_area __PUNCT__ and to particip in nation disast respons __PUNCT__

we need to be abl to produc larg_amount of vaccin for new diseas __PUNCT__ quickli __PUNCT__

flu vaccin ar still manufactur the same wai thei have been for decad __PUNCT__ us egg __PUNCT__ and must be made for specif strain of diseas __PUNCT__

the feder_govern can help with more fund for cell __PUNCT__ base vaccin manufactur and recombin dna vaccin __PUNCT__

we also need risk __PUNCT__ base fund for homeland_secur __PUNCT__ it is unpatriot for legisl to turn homeland secur dollar into pork __PUNCT__

we need to spend homeland secur fund where thei ar need __PUNCT__ in high __PUNCT__ risk urban_area like new york __PUNCT__ chicago __PUNCT__ and la __PUNCT__

we know al_qaeda ha sought nuclear_weapon __PUNCT__ and that if thei obtain them thei will us them with the same ruthless with which thei flew airplan fill with peopl into build fill with peopl __PUNCT__

i have spoken at length elsewher about how to prevent thi __PUNCT__ ultim prevent catastroph __PUNCT__

prevent a terrorist nuclear attack requir urgent action on mani front __PUNCT__ first and foremost __PUNCT__ we must keep nuclear materi out of the hand of terrorist __PUNCT__ both through counter __PUNCT__ prolifer __PUNCT__ and by secur all fission materi worldwid __PUNCT__

thi is a huge task __PUNCT__ but not an imposs on __PUNCT__

the unit_state must lead a comprehens global effort to secur all nuclear_weapon and all nuclear_fuel and spent_fuel __PUNCT__

thi is the onli wai to keep nuke out of the wrong hand __PUNCT__

good_thing alreadi have been done __PUNCT__ such as the nunn __PUNCT__ lugar program and doe materi protect __PUNCT__ control and account program __PUNCT__

but we must do more to secur nuclear_arsen __PUNCT__ abov all those of russia and pakistan __PUNCT__

now that we ar final talk to the north_korean __PUNCT__ we need to make sure that thei desist from traffick and that thei realli dismantl their nuke __PUNCT__

and we must not relent in lead intern effort to stop iran_nuclear enrich program __PUNCT__ with diplomaci combin tough sanction and posit incent __PUNCT__

and we need a global fuel __PUNCT__ bank arrang that insur that nuclear_fuel is enrich and spent __PUNCT__ fuel is dispos of in a limit number of highli __PUNCT__ secur site __PUNCT__

such a comprehens and global diplomat effort to secur the nuclear materi al_qaeda want must be a top_prioriti of the next presid __PUNCT__

as a former energi secretari __PUNCT__ i understand the urgenc of thi __PUNCT__

as a diplomat and former us ambassador to the un __PUNCT__ i believ we can do it __PUNCT__

we also need to prevent nuclear_weapon from get past our border __PUNCT__ not with wall __PUNCT__ but with vastli improv detect effort on the canadian and mexican_border __PUNCT__ at our sea and land port __PUNCT__ and on the high_sea __PUNCT__

thi will take major invest in technolog __PUNCT__ intellig gather and personnel __PUNCT__ includ nation_guard and border_secur __PUNCT__

but it is need to interdict nuclear_weapon or materi terrorist will try to smuggl into the countri __PUNCT__

america can and will defeat al_qaeda __PUNCT__

becaus at the end of the dai the vast_major of muslim do not share their twist vision of jihad __PUNCT__

and with the right american leadership __PUNCT__ the world will follow us as we put these peopl out of busi __PUNCT__

we need leadership that understand the natur of the enemi __PUNCT__ and focus on the real terrorist who attack us on __NUM__ __PUNCT__

leadership that recogn that we must lead by exampl __PUNCT__ that our deed must match our word __PUNCT__ and that we ar strongest __PUNCT__ and safest __PUNCT__ when we us all of our resourc __PUNCT__ militari __PUNCT__ econom __PUNCT__ diplomat __PUNCT__ humanitarian and polit __PUNCT__

with thi kind of leadership __PUNCT__ and with a comprehens global strategi __PUNCT__ we can and will defeat al_qaeda __PUNCT__

thank you __PUNCT__