Posted on 12/03/2001 10:42:52 AM PST by Lucky2
Former President Clinton told a Hartford audience Sunday that, although the current war against terrorists in Afghanistan will surely succeed, the larger battle of this century will be to create a world in which "there are fewer terrorists and more partners."
In his 55-minute speech, Clinton portrayed the challenges of a "world without walls" that creates tremendous wealth and opportunities, but also global poverty; a world in which democracy is on the rise but in which terrorists have access to "modern weapons to pursue ancient hatreds."
Clinton spoke at a packed Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, on the same stage that was the site of the 1996 presidential debate between Clinton and Republican candidate Bob Dole. His speech Sunday was a fund-raiser for Hebrew Health Care, which operates the Hebrew Home and Hospital in West Hartford. The event is expected to raise more than $300,000 for the facility, a spokeswoman said.
Clinton's speech was serious, almost somber, more like a graduate seminar than political stemwinder. But as in his trademark speeches as president from 1993 until this past January, Clinton drew on dozens of disparate examples, statistics and references to back up his speech.
Clinton said the 21st century will answer the question of, "Which is more important: our differences, or our common humanity as children under God."
He praised the war on terrorism and suggested that the homeland security czar, Tom Ridge, needs more congressional authority to do his job well. He also said the U.S. must do a better job of selling its foreign policies, especially to the Muslim world, where much anger is focused on the U.S. and its support for Israel.
"Most of the Muslim people in the Mideast do not know that the last time we used military power it was to help Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo. They do not know that America advocated, Israel accepted, but the PLO rejected, the most generous offer to establish a Palestinian state," Clinton said. "They do not know that 500 Muslims died in the World Trade Center, something strictly forbidden by the Koran."
"And they do not know that when the FBI asked for 200 Arabic speakers to translate, there were 15,000 applications," Clinton said. "We have to get into this debate."
Clinton said the estimated $1 billion a month that the U.S. action in Afghanistan is costing "as cheap as a war gets." He said addressing the roots of the anger and resentment across the globe by increasing democracy and quality of life, will be cheaper in the long run.
He advocated additional measures to forgive debt to Third World nations, addressing barriers to free markets, and fighting AIDS, which Clinton estimated could affect 100 million people across the world in the next five years.
He said that a lack of education throughout the world is also a U.S. problem in an interconnected world.
"There are kids who don't know two times two, but believe America and the Jews have brought back the dinosaurs to consume Muslims," he said, referring to madrassahs in Pakistan, religious schools taught by radical clerics instead of educators.
Some of these students of these schools have gone to fight in Afghanistan.
Clinton said whatever the measures will cost, "It's cheaper than going to war."
"We have to win this fight against terrorism," he said, "and we have to fight it wherever we have to fight it and for as long as it takes. But in the end, we have to build a world free of terrorists. Finally, we just have to face the fact that we live in a world without walls, like it or not. And in such a world, the only acceptable future is to build a home for all our children."
Clinton was introduced by state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin B. Sullivan, D-West Hartford.
"Here, you and I are podium to podium, and I'm having a Bob Dole nightmare," Sullivan said to Clinton, referring to the 1996 debate.
Clinton said he and Dole are now good friends, and helping to raise scholarship money for the families of the Sept. 11 victims.
"I wish people could get along as well as we do now, before they get out of politics," Clinton said.
A spokeswoman from Hebrew Health Care declined to say how much Clinton's fee was, saying they were barred from revealing the amount by contract.
Clinton said he would like to go back to "full-time public service" after paying his bills. Clinton still owes a great deal in legal bills stemming from his time as president.
hasn't he had enough partners?
The road to true peace starts with a full confession and enduring the just punishment associated with the crimes. Then and only then can you have true peace. Until then, put some ice on it.
Well, Jeff Goldblum DID star in Jurassic Park.
And when the CIA wanted to interview terrorists to gain info on other terrorists, Clinton said no.
And when the Sudanese offered to turn over to us bin Laden, Clinton said no.
And when terrorists attacked us, Clinton did nothing.
Shut up, loser.
What? It's forbidden for Muslims to die or to be killed by fellow Muslims. Someone better inform the Taliban that they are forbidden to kill Muslims, I think their Korans are missing those pages.
And as far as the Slick entering Public Service. I would like him to serve the public by making license plates and taking big rocks and making them smaller.
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