General Wesley Clark on Fox News
April 2, 2006
Transcription by Melange

Brian Wilson: This past week Democrats launched an attack against the GOP and their current security policies but with word of retaliation if the US were to carry out airstrikes on Iranian nuke targets, do Democrats have the firepower? General Wesley Clark joins me now from Little Rock, Arkansas for a look at the Democratic Security Plan. General, we're going to get to that in just a moment but there's been some pictures released out of Iran in the last few minutes that show what they describe as an underwater missile which travels at an estimated speed of 222 miles per hour. The pictures kind of look like it backs that up, best we can tell. Is this something the military officials in this country should be really concerned about?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK Well I think this is part of the ongoing war of words and images between Iran and the United States. And, this is their way of trying to show us they've got some retaliatory means. It's their way of threatening us if we try to do something against their nuclear programs with the threat of shutting down shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Brian Wilson: Well how much would a naval attack against Iran play into our plans if we were to go into Iran?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK Well, we would be using Naval assets, there's no doubt about it. I mean, we'd use aircraft carriers, probably tomahawk missiles, probably B-2's as well, lots of other assets. We'd use everything; we'd bring it all to bear. But, as far as the Iranian missile that's been shown over there, you know, if they've got such a thing and the question is 'is it operational?' If it's operational, where's it based? And how effectively does it target and so forth. Weapons like this don't win wars. Weapons like this are psychological. What we have is the capability to take the fight inside Iran. There is a military option and they must be aware of that.

Brian Wilson: Alright, now, you were very much in display this week as the Democrats unveiled their national security plan and you say the number one thing that we need to do is…this is pretty obvious…capture Osama bin Laden. Well, don't you think that they're trying

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK Well, you know from the beginning, Osama bin Laden was a…was…known to be a difficult target and the administration never really went into Afghanistan in 2001 with a plan to get Osama bin Laden. He's being more or less contained and every…all the intelligence and all the people I've talked with believe he's somewhere along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It's a tough area to penetrate but no, I don't believe we've got a full-court press against Osama bin Laden right now. We've been distracted by the war in Iraq. What Democrats have said is 'we'll put the emphasis where it needs to be on the problem of international terrorism. We'll double the size of the special forces. We'll work with our friends and allies in the region, including Musharraf, and we'll get a better grip on this. There's a whole terrorist-based infrastructure taking form in Baluchistan and so if we don't deal with this and the realities, our support of Hamid Karzai, our work with NATO on the ground in Afghanistan - this is all limited because it won't stand the test of time if we don't deal with the source of the problem in western Pakistan.

Brian Wilson: Alright, some have said that this national security platform that was unveiled this week is kind of lacking in details. It's pretty broad brush. What say you?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK Well, it's an agenda and remember, it's the government that has the responsibility to produce the details and strategy. They've got the budget analysts and so forth. What we're outlining is a different way of looking at the national security problem. We want to assure the American people that we can keep America safe and we know what the right priorities are and we outlined those. This is the time of decision in Iraq. We would muster all of our leverage to get a political agreement that would de-legitimate the insurgency, bring the Sunnis into the government and modify the constitution so it meets the needs of all Iraqis. We'd redouble the efforts against terrorists and Osama bin Laden. We'd strengthen our National Guard, not cut it and we'd work to reinforce the United States armed forces, giving them the equipment and the troop strength they need and creating a G.I. Bill of Rights for our service members, their families and veterans.

Brian Wilson: General, I'm sorry we're running out of time. Thank you very much, good to have you here.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK Thanks Brian, good to be with you.