On September 8, 2007 General Wesley Clark delivered the keynote speech at the International Institute of Counter-Terrorism (ICT) 7th International Conference: An Annual Gathering of the Counter Terrorism Community

September 8-11, 2007
“Terrorism’s Global Impact”
Herzliya, Israel

Thank you for that kind introduction. What a pleasure to be with you here this evening. Every time I return here, I am overwhelmed by the physical beauty, and in awe of the spirit and the courage and the energy of the Israeli people.

My first visit was in 1976, as a member of a White House team working foreign assistance in the region. We met with your Prime Minister, Itzak Rabin, and sat around his dinner table until well after midnight discussing the region, and all that had transpired, 1948, 56, 67, 73- with him and some of his cabinet. Afterward, we walked the walls around Jerusalem, ending up at the Wailing Wall at 4 AM. Jerusalem was bathed in the orange glow of newly installed sodium vapor lights, and basking in peace. And to a young Army officer, this was just an emotional, really overpowering experience.

I've been back many times, and dealt with the issues of the region in many roles during my military service, from sharing training techniques with IDF officers visiting my command in the California desert to, in my last capacity, as Commander-in-Chief of the US European Command, and helping work Israel's security needs with Amnon Lipkin-Shahak and Shaul Mofaz and others.

And so it was with particular concern that I watched from afar as intense diplomacy in Maryland gave way to strife and open conflict - just as Shaul Mofaz had warned me it would when we conferred on my last visit in the spring of 2000 - and the terrible tragedy of suicide bombing after suicide bombing returned again, vicious attacks against innocent civilians, meant to terrorize and demoralize. And like every American, I took heart in Israel's courage, and pride in Israel's strength, and tried to understand and learn from Israel's experiences.

Today Israel has proved once again its mettle in a tempestuous region, but both continuing and new challenges are growing.

General Clark and Paul Aronsohn Address Veterans at American Legion Post 170

by Knightrider
August 1, 2006
New Rochelle, NJ
This account was edited for length, full report available here .

The world is a dangerous place

General Wesley Clark on Fox News Dayside

August 14, 2006
Transcript by Reg NYC

Juliet Huddy: Both Israel and Hezbullah are claiming victory, as you heard. We had the IDF Captain speaking just a little while ago. He said they dealt a crippling blow to Hezbullah. After more than a month of fighting, 34 days, many killed and wounded, homes and lives destroyed, so who really won? Was there a winner? We have analysis right now with the experts, Retired Army Major General Paul Vallely and former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, General Wesley Clark, both here, both Fox News military analysts. Thanks, gentlemen, for joining us today.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you.

Major General Paul Vallely: Thank you.

Juliet Huddy: General, since, General Clark, since you're in the studio here, we'll start with you. You were able to listen to the Captain, Captain Dallal. What did you think about some of the comments that he was making in terms of the claims that he was making, "dealt a crippling blow," "Dealt a devastating blow" to Hezbullah?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I hope it's true. There's no way of knowing right now. It, it, it certainly could've gone differently. I hope it's worked out okay in the end. We just don't know how many Hezbullah fighters were in there. We don't know what the fortifications were. We don't know what their logistics levels were. But what we do know is: The Israelis continued to meet stiff resistance until the end. So-

General Wesley Clark on Fox News Dayside

August 11, 2006
Transcript by Reg NYC

Shepard Smith: Joining us now is General Wesley Clark, Fox News contributor and live with us in New York. General Clark, the great amount of thinking here has been all along, when you go into an operation like this, you have to go in with overwhelming force. To this point, the Israelis have not. General Clark?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Shep, you're exactly right. The Israelis have not. They probably should've. At least from my military experience, if you're going to do something like this, you've got to do it all the way. So, they've got to have enough troops to punch through where Hezbullah is, up to the Litani River and then work, I would say, backward, Southward from the Litani River and come back on the Hezbullah positions. From the Hezbullah standpoint of view, the jig's up. They know that can't stand up to the overwhelming force of the Israeli power. They have, they have done, from their perspective, I think probably they would feel like they've done an amazing job so far. They may well try to melt away and get out away from the Israeli offensive believing that they can win the struggle.

When the cease-fire takes hold, they'll infiltrate back in. That's the strategic problem.

General Wesley Clark on Your World with Neil Cavuto

August 9, 2006
Transcript by Reg NYC

Neil Cavuto: Alright well, Israel has already made a change at the top of it's military command just as it seems poised now to broaden the ground war. Smart move or is it risky timing? Who better to ask than retired General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander? General, lots to talk to you about. First, on the ground offensive, what do you think?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I think Israel's getting ready to put the pedal to the metal, so to speak, and if the guy who was the Commander of the Northern Command didn't want to do that or didn't know how to do that or maybe he lost confidence, or maybe they got another mission for him, don't know. That's all internal business, but I know this, that you've got to have a Commander who believes in the strategy, and you got to back him. You got to give him the resources, and then you hold him accountable. If it doesn't work-

General Wes Clark on Heartland with John Kasich

August 5, 2006
Transcript by Melange
Transcript begins with inroduction of General Wesley Clark

John Kasich: We're going to turn now to the former Supreme Allied Commander, General Wesley Clark, former Deputy National Security Advisor Mara Rudman and joining us by phone due to satellite problems, Major General Paul Vallely. General Clark, you've been in the middle of some of the most vicious fighting, sectarian violence - Croats and Serbs, and you were there in Kosovo. How do you get a ceasefire to stick, General?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: A ceasefire is going to reflect the conditions on the ground. This ceasefire is going to stick when the Israelis are satisfied they've done as much as they can and need to and Hizbollah is satisfied it can't do anything more. Until that time, there's not going to be a ceasefire, but it's good to go through the process of putting together a resolution and getting all the pieces in place.

John Kasich: So General Clark, you're not optimistic then, what we're discussing…we've been discussing all afternoon, is really going to take root?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well not right away. I think the Israelis have specific military objectives they want to reach. They want to make sure that they have demonstrated that they can handle Hizbollah, that Hizbollah cannot in the future threaten Israel, nor can any other group do what Hizbollah's done in that…in any other area around Israel. Until that's done, the Israelis really are not going to quit. Hizbollah, on the other hand, is not going to quit because it feels like it's getting stronger, don't mind how many casualties it takes because it's building support in the Islamic world. So, both sides have an incentive to continue to fight.