Wesley Clark in National Public Radio

On Environment: Environment is a legacy to our children

Q: Your thoughts on renewable energy.

A: There are two big legacies we leave to our children: Constitutional government, and the environment itself. Every day we wait the problems accumulate and get worse. We should work right now on clean air, clean water, and climate change. We need to support upgrades to air pollution controls, for example -- a lot of measures have been rolled back by the Administration.

Source: The Connection with Dick Gordon, National Public Radio Sep 8, 2003

On Foreign Policy: Use UN to gain credibility in Iraq

We should use the UN for what it is good for. It offers credibility. It will not offer troops or money. We pay 25% of the UN budget but we’re not going to get the UN to contribute the other 75%. But we can use the UN in Iraq to help spread the blame around -- let them hate some French and some others, instead of just hating us. The UN offers credibility because there’s not one Iraqi who votes in the US. But they do have a delegate to the UN. Source: The Connection with Dick Gordon, National Public Radio Sep 8, 2003

On Foreign Policy: Contribute to democratization in Muslim world

Q: I’m a Muslim and I’d like to hear your opinion on US relations with Muslim countries.

A: We expect the US to be judged by who we are and what we do. Muslims live here, so who we are is not the problem, it’s what we have done. We need to focus on the peaceful transformation of governments. It’s not so much about terrorist states, but about our allies in the region, who are only now starting to democratize. We can contribute to democratization and modernization in Pakistan and other countries.

Source: The Connection with Dick Gordon, National Public Radio Sep 8, 2003

On Free Trade: I believe in fair trade, not free trade

Q: Would you roll back NAFTA?

A: I believe in fair trade, not free trade. We need labor and environmental standards. Free trade is not free in terms of its benefits to the economy. It is, in the long term. But you need a support structure in place for the individual people affected by the transformation.

Source: The Connection with Dick Gordon, National Public Radio Sep 8, 2003

On Principles & Values: Neither party has a monopoly on strong leadership

Q: Is the country more comfortable in times of crisis with a Republican president?

A: I think that’s a Republican party mantra. The Democratic party has been the more internationalist party. We led US engagement abroad. But neither party has a monopoly on strong leadership. It’s time to put the ghost of Viet Nam behind us and be part of the world. We’re at a turning point and I don’t want to see a clash of civilizations. We need to create allies instead of creating enemies.

Source: The Connection with Dick Gordon, National Public Radio Sep 8, 2003

On Principles & Values: Leadership based on experience & fighting for little people

Q: How would you differentiate your leadership from the other 9 candidates?

A: All the other candidates are fine people. My leadership background is: 1) I’ve got experience. 2) I make tough decisions. 3) I fight not only for the big people but for the little people. We looked after families, school systems, and everything for our troops. I’ve got a good combination of skills in foreign policy as well as in the issues that affect everyday lives. But it’s up to the American people to judge.

Source: The Connection with Dick Gordon, National Public Radio Sep 8, 2003

On War & Peace: Avoid Bush’s unilateralism and work with our allies

The Bush Administration has moved to a unilateralist strategy. This administration has made serious missteps in handling Iraq. The president is more than just the president of the US -- he’s the leader of the free world. What plays here at home doesn’t always play so well abroad. We need to work with our allies -- that’s the way to make sure all Americans are safer. Source: The Connection with Dick Gordon, National Public Radio Sep 8, 2003

On War & Peace: Exit strategy in Iraq won’t work if we invade its neighbors

Q: In Iraq, what would your exit strategy be?

A: First, we have to turn it over to the Iraqis. Get some police, and some Iraqi administration. Make it so it’s not a hotbed for al Qaeda. But that doesn’t work well with the overall Bush strategy in the region which includes going into Iran, Syria, and so on. You can’t have an exit strategy with that.

Source: The Connection with Dick Gordon, National Public Radio Sep 8, 2003

The above quotations are from National Public Radio political coverage. Click here for other excerpts from National Public Radio political coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Wesley Clark. Click here for a profile of Wesley Clark.
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Page last updated: May 03, 2022