General Wes Clark and Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. on WLAC 1510: The Kevin Wall Show

September 8, 2006
transcript by Reg NYC

(Transcript below the break)

Kevin Wall: Bob Corker joined us, and in order to be fair and balanced, we bring you in-studio Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. And welcome, Congressman Ford.

Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.: Good morning and thank you for covering the race as you have covered it, with some substance and a, I think attention to detail that I think the voters deserve, not only here in greater middle Tennessee but all across our state. So, again thanks for having me on.

Kevin Wall: You never know what's going to happen on the Kevin Wall Show on News Radio 1510 WLAC. Joining us is a man that knows a lot about national security, about fighting wars, General Wesley Clark who joins us. And General, thank you very much, and I, I will ask you the question that Rick in Portland asked the Congressman. Can you negotiate with terrorists, with insurgents? Is there anything we can offer them that will get them to lay down their arms?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don't think you can negotiate with terrorists, and I don't- I've never heard anybody suggest negotiating with terrorists. These people like Osama Bin Laden and that crowd, we're not talking to them. Just like Congressman - and I hope Tennessee's next Senator - said, we're going to take these people, we're going to arrest them and bring them to justice, and it may mean that they're killed in the process of being taken captive. And so be it. But what's going on in Iraq is a little bit different.

First of all, understand that there weren't those Osama Bin Laden-type terrorists in Iraq before we went in there. Once we went in there, we opened up a, a, a mess, and then they came in to fight us. They're using Iraq as a training area. But there are a lot of people inside Iraq who are fighting for one reason or another. Just like Congressman Ford said, there's the sectarian militias in there fighting. These people could be technically, technically classified as insurgents, because they are actually fighting against the government, but unlike the terrorists, they do have a political aim. They either want us out. They don't want the other sect to have so much power. They don't want the other militia in the same sect to have as much power or whatever. These people have to be dealt with, not necessarily by killing them, but by getting them to lay down their arms. And I think there's a big difference between the two. Our military commanders will tell you, there's a difference between the two.

And so, it's not a hopeless case in Iraq. It's just a case that needs a President and a Congress with the gumption to create a strategic plan and follow through on it.

Kevin Wall: Again, General Wesley Clark joining us along with Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. The Kevin Wall Show on News Radio 1510 WLAC. General Wesley Clark joining us. And General, I know that you're supporting the candidacy of Harold Ford, Jr., and can I get, in about twenty seconds, the reason why?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He's a strong leader. I think he's a guy with a lot of great ideas, and I trust him to take care of our veterans, families, military families and our, and our servicemen and women in Iraq. I think he'll take care of them. I think he'll press for the kinds of policies that'll keep them safe and make them successful.

Kevin Wall: And in thirty seconds, Congressman Ford, you've promised to come back here if I can get Bob Corker to sit at that microphone at a time that's agreeable to both of you. You've agreed debate him here and take on all comers and take on calls and take on everybody.

Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.: I don't need thirty seconds. Yes.

(laughter)

Kevin Wall: You made it so easy. One quick question.

Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.: Let me-

Kevin Wall: Yeah.

Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.: I want to thank General Clark, not only for coming on today, but for- A lot of times you, you have people come in who support you, and you have to make up things about them and fabricate (chuckles) things about their record. This guy's a hero. He's got Four Stars on his shoulder. He has seen it, been through it and lived what he preaches. And General, not only do I thank you for your support, I thank you for your, your love for this country, your support for our troops and just believing in the greatness of America and what can be done when we get the right policies in place. And I, I promise you if the voters here in Tennessee see fit to send me to the Senate, I will live and try every day to live up to what you said and your words and your reasoning for supporting me. And I, I thank you again and bless you for all of your service and all that you do.

Kevin Wall: Hey General, thank you so much for joining us and again, thank you for your service to this country. It is greatly appreciated. Congressman Ford, thanks for joining us. We'll have you on again real soon, I hope.

Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.: We're going to beat the Jets this weekend too.

Kevin Wall: There you go! There you go! That's Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.