How to Win the War on Terror (Richard Clarke)

Newhouse News ^ | 11/23/2004 | Richard Clarke

[Incorrigible]

How to Win the War on Terror

BY RICHARD A. CLARKE
 

Editor's note: Richard A. Clarke, former head of counterterrorism at the National Security Council, is the author of "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror."

Now that the presidential campaign is behind us, it's time for the nation's political leaders to recognize what many experts in the counterterrorism field have been saying for a long time: America needs to change course in the war on terror.

International jihadist groups have conducted twice as many attacks since Sept. 11, 2001 as they did in the three years prior to that date. Jihadist membership has increased over the past three years, and leaders who have been killed or captured have been replaced. Anti-Americanism throughout the Muslim world has been exacerbated by the war in Iraq, which also created a sanctuary for jihadists.

It seems clear the United States has failed to eliminate or even seriously weaken the violent Islamist threat. This is the greatest challenge facing our generation, and the Sept. 11 commission provided an excellent road map for confronting it. Building on the commission's recommendations, a task force that I assembled and chaired for the Century Foundation has developed a blueprint for action to defeat the jihadists.

Its main elements:

Clarify the threat: To be effective, we must have consensus about the nature of the problem facing us. That threat is not terrorism, or even all terrorist organizations, but rather the jihadist terrorists who seek to hijack Islam and use violence to replace existing governments with nondemocratic theocracies.

Engage in the battle of ideas: In addition to countering the jihadist terrorists with law enforcement, intelligence and military measures, we must erode support for them in the Islamic world. Nations other than the United States (including both Islamic and non-Islamic countries) and nongovernmental organizations must take the lead in actively appealing to Muslims to denounce intolerance and terrorist violence conducted in the name of Islam. These efforts must stress our common values and overcome misunderstandings and terrorist propaganda.

Provide assistance to Islamic nations: Although jihadist terrorists are often not poor or uneducated, they use the underprivileged populations in some Islamic nations as one base for their support and as a lever for undermining national stability. The United States, the European Union, wealthy Arab states and the international financial institutions must greatly expand their financial and programmatic support for development efforts in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Jordan, Morocco and other economically challenged Islamic nations. These efforts must support human rights efforts and strengthen educational systems and economic opportunities, especially for women.

Tailor strategies for key countries: The United States must have detailed and integrated policies for enhancing stability and democratic forces in key Islamic nations, including Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iraq. As part of this effort, the United States must develop its own reliable sources of information about domestic political, social and security trends in these nations.

Defuse sources of Islamic hatred for the United States: The jihadist terrorists oppose the United States not for what it believes or does, but because they see America as a barrier to their creation of theocratic nation-states or caliphates. Many supporters of the jihadists, however, are persuaded to oppose the United States and support the terrorists because of specific U.S. actions and policies, especially America's support for Israel and occupation of Iraq. The United States should not alter its support of Israel, but it should seek to revive the Israel-Palestinian peace process. The United States should not precipitously withdraw from Iraq before indigenous security forces are in place but should cease U.S. military operations against urban areas, transfer rebuilding activities to Iraqi entities, abandon the concept of permanent U.S. military bases in the country, and reduce U.S. goals in Iraq so that a withdrawal can be achieved at an early date.

Improve U.S. intelligence and law enforcement organization: The United States should modify personnel policies in intelligence and law enforcement agencies (notably the CIA and FBI) to provide for more non-career-track positions. This would allow for an infusion of expertise in a wide range of areas. In addition, the domestic intelligence activities of the FBI should be performed by a distinctly separate new organization within the bureau.

Eliminate terror financing: The White House should designate a special assistant to the president for combating terrorist financing at the National Security Council, with the specific mandate to lead U.S. efforts on terrorist financing issues. Congress should pass and the president should sign legislation requiring the executive branch to submit to Congress on an annual basis a written certification detailing the steps that foreign nations have taken to cooperate with American and international efforts to combat terrorist financing.

Improve U.S. military organization: The U.S. military's special operations forces for counterterrorism activities should be greatly expanded and should be supported by a military organization that maintains a covert presence in other nations to support U.S. military action against terrorists. The military must enhance its capabilities and modify its policies to support small-unit special forces operations, including covert operations, against terrorists.

Prevent nuclear terrorism: Although the probability of nuclear terrorism may not be high, the consequences of failure to prevent it would be catastrophic. The president should appoint a senior official to direct all U.S. nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear counterterrorism efforts. Such efforts should include new initiatives to provide international guarantees of nuclear energy supplies in exchange for agreement to terminate enrichment activities.

The war against the jihadists will not be easy or free of casualties. But, unless we learn from our mistakes and chart a new course, the struggle will be much longer, more costly and more painful than necessary.

Nov. 23, 2004

(Richard A. Clarke wrote this article for The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. He can be contacted at news@newhouse.com.)

Not for commercial use.  For educational and discussion purposes only.

[Incorrigible]

I agree with some of his suggestions but just like under the Clinton administration (which he criticized then), terrorism is not a law enforcement problem no matter how much you want it to be.  Also, there is no appeasing the jihadist masses with money.  That was tried to.

[Diogenesis]

PARTIAL LIST OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IGNORED BY GORELICK, CLARKE and CLINTON

1993 Attempted Assassination of Pres. Bush Sr., April 14,1993
1993 First World Trade Center bombing, February 26th, 7 Killed, Hundreds injured, Billions
1995 Attack on US Diplomats in Pakistan, Mar 8,1995
1996 Khobar Towers attack
1998 U.S. Embassy Bombing in Peru, Jan 15, 1998
1998 U.S. Kenya Embassy blown up, 100's murdered
1998 U.S. Tanzania Embassy blown up, 100's murdered
1999 Plot to blow up Space Needle (thwarted)
2000 USS Cole attacked, many U.S. Navy sailors murdered

---

Consider: If Berger-Burglar, Gorelick, Clarke, Clinton and the ULTRACORRUPT Democrats had been completely HONEST
to the American public about the Islamic-crashed airplanes, like TWA800, etc. etc. etc. in the 90's
then Americans WOULD have been on alert on 911
and would have had the opportunity to prevent the 911 Atrocities.

[F16Fighter]

Sorry...

The name "Richard Clarke" only rings a bell under "whoring Kerry-propagandists."

[Numbers Guy]

but should cease U.S. military operations against urban areas

Yeah, let them have safe haven so they can terrorize the population, build weapons, and behead westerners. That's a great idea, DICK. [/sarcasm]

[prairiebreeze]

Shut up Dickie. Nobody believes you after you prostituted yourself to the 9-11 Circus of the Stars. Look up Jamie Gorelick and go howl at the moon.

[DoughtyOne]

Clarke is such damaged goods, I dismiss him. There are plenty of other places to hear reasoned thoughts on these subjects, and I'm not going to promote Clarke in any way shape or form.

[bitt]

PING TO TRAITOR!

[narby]

BY RICHARD A. CLARKE

Stopped right there. This bozo doesn't have the track record to talk about terrorism.

[Diogenesis]

On Aug. 22, 1996, just before the Democratic National Convention,
Ms. Gorelick oversaw a critical Justice Department meeting with the FBI.
mmediately after this meeting, as it happened,
all serious inquiry into the fate of TWA 800 came to an end.

Gorelick was instrumental in the corruption of TWA Flight 800 terrorism investigation
Did Clinton appointee corrupt Flight 800 probe?

---

THE OBSTRUCTION OF THE OKLAHOMA BOMBING GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION,
The Mysterious Jamie Gorelick Phone Call
By David Hoffman,Sun Sep 14 12:10:57 1997

---

MORE?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1117579/posts
GORELICK GATE - various FR links

---

---

GORELICK WORKED WITH RICHARD CLARKE!

FLASHBACKS:

---

"Mr. Clarke, Mr. Clarke, please this is urgent.
We can take out Osama, now. Please answer!!! We have him in our sight. We can avoid the 911 Atrocities!!!!"

Clarke: "Nope. Forgetaboutit. No big deal. They told Clinton, Gorelick and I
that they promise that they will only attack our computers and that the Bent One should go back to Monica."

[PajamaTruthMafia]

blah, blah, blah.

Take a hike Clarke. You had your chance and you FAILED!!!!

[Cicero]

This is nuts. Totally nuts. We're going to defeat terrorism by talking to them and buying them off?

Provide assistance to Islamic nations.

The Islamic nations have tons of money coming out of their ears already. And they are using it to open more madrassahs and spread hatred of the infidels--namely us.

[bitt]

(Richard A. Clarke wrote this article for The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. He can be contacted at news@newhouse.com.)

news@newhouse.com

write him!! tell him what you think of his audacity at opening his mouth up now - he is as bad/WORSE than Dan Rather. I shun him, I turn my back to him, if I were less of a lady, I would spit at him....

[Pylot]

I have a better idea, just keep killing them until they settle down or change their religion.

Clarke was and still is a grand standing ego looking for gratification.

[26lemoncharlie]

The first thing we do is get rid of scumbags like Clark, The Clintons, The Kerry's, Kennedy's ..... and the rest of the Traitors. Prevent them from being in charge of K-Mart Blue Light Specials

[DrDavid]

What about keeping terrorists and their spokesmen off the television?

[Torie]

should cease U.S. military operations against urban areas

What a freaking disingenous disinformation artist. How can anything be achieved except disaster if the perps are left in place?

[Diogenesis]

---

[demkicker]

What about keeping terrorists and their spokesmen off the television?

Now that's an idea! Never mind that Clarke has less credibility than Dan Rather, and that's the lowest blow a lime light hound can take!

[citizencon]

Richard Clarke: the self-described expert who knew everything, but didn't do anything.

[freedom4me]

Nice try, Dickie. Can you say "a day late and a dollar short?"

[eagle11]

Every one of Clarke's points have been or are being implemented under Bush. This sounds like Kerry campaigning on "doing the job the same, just a little bit better". I learned nothing from Clarke I didn't already know about.

[Uncle Miltie]

"Now that the presidential campaign is behind us, it's time"

Not that interfering in elections ever stopped you, Mr. Clark.

[SandRat]

Also, there is no appeasing the jihadist masses with money. That was tried to.

This is not the First War With Islamic Radicals and just like today, diplomats will always screw things up. Read on for a historical perspective.

from African History
The Tripolitan War, 1801 - 1805

Escalation, a new American President, and a failure to honour treaties, led to a declaration of war between the Barbary State of Tripolitania and the United States of America.

In 1783, the same year that the Treaty of Paris was signed, corsairs from the Barbary States began to attack American shipping in the Mediterranean.

Inundated by many other problems which required immediate attention - border wars with Indians, navel conflict with Revolutionary France - the US Congress capitulated to demands for tribute. Within the next fifteen years, treaties were ratified with each of the four Barbary states: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Tripolitania (one of three regions which were combined to form Libya).

By the time Thomas Jefferson was appointed president (1801) the situation had changed: a treaty had been signed ending naval war between the US and France, and the American ship George Washington, transporting the yearly tribute to Algiers, had been ordered to sail on to Constantinople to deliver the money directly to the Ottoman sultan. (To add to the humiliation, Captain William Bainbridge was instructed to fly the Ottoman flag whilst in harbour at Algiers.) America had, by this time, paid over $2,000,000 in tribute and ransom to the Barbary States - but this was only one-fifth of what was expected.

Angered by delayed and undersized payments the Barbary State regents demanded more. The escalating situation was finally brought to a head by the Pasha of Tripolitania, Yusuf Karamanli. On May 14, 1801, he ordered the flag staff (flying the 'Stars and Stripes') standing in front of the US consulate to be cut down. This symbolic act was taken as a declaration of war against America.

A squadron of four ships were being made ready at that time in the US. Under the command of Commodore Richard Dale they were dispatched to the Mediterranean. On the 17th of July, 1801, a blockade was imposed on the harbour at Tripoli. Although there were a few naval successes against the corsairs, the squadron proved too weak to effectively control the situation. The US envoy to Tripoli, James Cathcart, continued discussions with the Pasha hoping to reach a compromise on the amount of tribute now being demanded - a one-off payment of $250,000 and an annual tribute of $20,000.

In 1803, an enlarged squadron was sent to the Mediterranean under the command of Commodore Edward Preble (of the 44-gun frigate Constitution). On the 31st of October 1803, one of Preble's ships, the frigate Philadelphia, ran aground on a reef near the harbour. Captured by Tripolitan gunboats, the frigate was floated free and taken into port. Captain William Bainbridge and the ship's 307 crew were imprisoned.

On the 16th of February, 1804, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a raid on the harbour in a previously captured ketch, renamed Intrepid. Although the main aim of the raid was to retake the Philadelphia, Decatur had to settle with burning the frigate to the water line. The raiding party escaped before an alarm was sounded. The British Admiral, Lord Nelson, described the raid as "the most daring act of the age." Unfortunately the crew of the Philadelphia remained in prison, and the Pasha was now asking for $200,000 for their release.

While Preble was bombarding Tripoli, the American Consul to Tunis, William Eaton, was hatching a plot. Eaton was not sympathetic to the demands of the Barbary States. In June 1799 he wrote to the US Secretary of State describing the character of the local Muslim population:

"Taught by revelation that war with the Christians will guarantee the salvation of their souls, and finding so great secular advantages in the observance of this religious duty [i.e. keeping captured cargoes] their inducements to desperate fighting are very powerful." Eaton, with additional support from James Cathcart, proposed to President Jefferson that they should back Hamet Karamanli, the elder brother of the current Pasha and the rightful heir to the regency, in a military coup. Eaton returned to the Mediterranean with the new title "Navy Agent to the Barbary States" and permission to carry out his plans. Naval support was to be provided by Commodore Barron, who assigned Eaton the use of the Hero under the command of Captain Isaac Hull, and a small detachment of US Naval Marines. Three ships, the Argus, Nautilus and Hornet, would be made available to ferry provisions and provide offshore bombardment.

Eaton entered into negotiations with Hamet after tracking him down in Egypt. Despite his family being held hostage by Yusuf in Tripoli, Hamet agreed to the plan. A 'convention' was signed between Hamet Karamanli and William Eaton on the 23rd of February, 1805, which included a 'secret' article:

"His Highness Hamet Bashaw will use his utmost exertions to cause surrender to the commander-in-chief of the American forces in the Mediterranean the usurper Joseph Bashaw, together with his family, and chief admiral ... to be held by the Government of the United States as hostages..."

Eaton and Hull, based in Alexandria, recruited around 400 mercenaries, including Europeans (mainly Greeks), Arab cavalry, Turks, and a caravan of camels. They were promised supplies and money on arrival at their first target, the Tripolitan port of Derna. Eaton, now styling himself 'General', led the "motley" army on a fifty day trek across 500 miles of desert. He was not, however, confident about the relationship between his men (specifically Midshipman Peck and the seven naval marines led by Lieutenant Presley Neville O'Bannon) and the 200 odd Muslim mercenaries he had recruited:

"We find it almost impossible to inspire these wild bigots with confidence in us or to persuade them that, being Christians, we can be otherwise than enemies to Musselmen [Muslims]. We have a difficult undertaking." (Eaton's personal journal, April 8, 1805) On the 25th of April they received limited supplies (they were particularly short of munitions) and funds (not enough to pay the mercenaries) at a rendezvous with the ships just down the coast from Derna. Two days later, April 27, they attacked.

Recorded as the first land engagement of American troops outside the American continent, the battle at Derna has a particular place in the memory of the United States Marine Corps. The trek across the desert is commemorated in the first verse of the Marines' Hymn: "to the shores of Tripoli".

While Hamet and the Muslim mercenaries were supposedly attacking the castle at Derna, Lt. O'Bannon and his marines led the attack on the harbour fortress. At 2:45 pm, backed up by a large number of European mercenaries, and following an offshore bombardment, O'Bannon bravely rushed the harbour defences. The defenders turned and ran - leaving cannon loaded and ready to fire. After raising the 'Stars and Stripes', O'Bannon turned the guns towards the town. By 4 pm the entire town had fallen.

Tradition has it that Hamet was so impressed by O'Bannon's bravery that he presented him with his own sword - an honour commemorated by the presentation of a 'Mameluke' sword, engraved with the legend "The Shores of Tripoli", to every US Marine Officer on graduation or direct commission.

Yusuf Karamanli was aware of the expected attack on Derna and had sent out reinforcements. Unfortunately they were a day late in arriving. The Pasha's troops dug in and began preparations to retake the town. On the 13th of May, and under barrage from both the naval guns and the captured cannon, the Tripolitan army attacked the town and was only just beaten back. During their retreat, they were heavily bombarded by the Argus. Several more unsuccessful attempts were made during the following month. Eaton, meanwhile, made preparations to take the battle to Tripoli.

Here comes the diplomatic betrayal.

During Eaton's trek across the desert, and without his knowledge, a new treaty was being worked out with Yusuf Karamanli. Colonel Tobias Lear, Consul General to the Regency of Algiers, listened to the "overtures of peace" being made by the Pasha. The treaty, signed on June 4 1805, provided Yusuf Karamanli with $60,000 for the release of Captain Bainbridge and the crew of the Philadelphia, but Yusuf's reduced circumstances were reflected in the lack of any treaty payment or any agreement to pay further tributes. The treaty was signed by both parties in the main cabin of the Constitution.

Aware of the situation in Derna, Lear got Yusuf to agree to Hamet's evacuation, with the promise that his family would be sent out to join him (this was later ignored by Yusuf and not enforced by the Americans). The US frigate Constellation was dispatched with instructions the next day.

Eaton was informed of the 'sell-out' by Lear and the US Congress on June 11. He was instructed to remove his troops from the area and to take Hamet back to Egypt. Unfortunately Eaton had still not received enough money to pay the mercenaries, and he departed as instructed, taking as many of the European mercenaries as he could - the rest, including all the Muslims mercenaries, were left behind, unpaid, to face the wrath of the Pasha.

The problem of Barbary pirates was forgotten about during the next decade, as Napoleon once again went on the offensive in Europe, and America went to war (all be it briefly) with Britain. After the war of 1812 American ships were once again under attack in the Mediterranean. Two naval squadrons, under the joint command of Commodores Decatur and Bainbridge were sent out. Under threat of heavy bombardment, the Bey of Algiers agreed to a new treaty which protected the US from future predation by Barbary corsairs. America was finally free from the treat of piracy in the Mediterranean.

On his celebrated return to the US Commodore Stephen Decatur made his famous toast:

"Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country right or wrong!"

The Barbary pirates were not defeated, they still attacked ships of other nations. In 1816 a combined British and Dutch offensive destroyed the Algerian fleet, and the Tunisian fleet was destroyed at the battle of Navarino in 1827 when the British, French and Russian alliance defeated the entire Ottoman navy. The final death knell was sounded when France began its conquest of Algeria in 1830.

[xzins]

The guy's a political shill.

We are winning the war on international terror. Only a blind partisan can fail to see that.

[colorado tanker]

Dicky-poo, you are so last year. That's why the best gig you can get is a Newark fishwrap.

[Brilliant]

At this point, Clarke has no credibility.

[MeekOneGOP]

THE LETTER FROM CLARKE TO PRESIDENT BUSH

[MeekOneGOP]

bump!

[matchwood]

Clarke is on my "don't bother to read list" - he had his chance to do something but played politics and wrote his book. He is scum.

[JoeSixPack1]

Wow, I knew he was a simpleton, but had no idea he was this far gone.

The simple response to this entire piece is... "He doesn't get it".

The next is - a history lesson on militant islam shows appeasement, retribution, and co-existance have always failed. With 1000 years of history to bolster the argument.

Third - We're getting tired of beheadings and we need to kill stuff. We do it well. It works for us and it's worked throughout history when used.

FORCE. Militants understand nothing less. Death is their only other option. Not ours.

We will not pray to their god out of fear for our lives.





"Pacifists are among the most immoral of men.
They make no distinction between aggression and defense.
Therefore, pacifism is one of the greatest allies an aggressor can have!"
by Patrick Henry

[Roy Tucker]

Clarke was grandstanding to try and get a position in the next Democratic administration. He knows he is out in the cold for another four years except to be dredged up by the Mainstream Media every once in a while.

Ignore him.

[perfect stranger]

Between that and the fact that most of the rest of his list is ALREADY happening I'd say this guy is pretty much useless, other than to serve as a bad example.

[Rightone]

F U Clarke. You really suck. Go try to find a real job rather than spouting this crap.

[Gumption]

What a freaking disingenous disinformation artist. How can anything be achieved except disaster if the perps are left in place?

That's the most conformist sounding thing I've ever seen you say around here. I'm as surprised as I am solaced.

[Torie]

You never know what will come out of my mouth next. Always keep them guessing. :)

[Brimack34]

Get rid of idiots like you DICK.

[PhilDragoo]

From the grooveyard of forgotten hits, Richard Clymer Clarke, knows all, tells all.

And he knew that Condoleezza Rice hadn't heard of al-Qaeda until he mentioned it--ri-ight.

Somehow, we feel she'll do fine without Spinning Dick.

[tkathy]

The idea that it's all America's fault that the butchers are butchering is idiotic.

[TheCrusader]

"That threat is not terrorism, or even all terrorist organizations, but rather the jihadist terrorists who seek to hijack Islam and use violence to replace existing governments with nondemocratic theocracies."

Which existing Islamic governments does Clarke claim the 'jihadist terrorists' are trying to hijack and turn into 'nondemocratic theocracies'? As far as I know they are already all either nondemocratic, theocratic, or both.

Does Clarke refer to Saudi Arabia? (kingdom) Iran? (theocracy) Kuwait? (Kingdom) Syria? (kingdom) Egypt? (one-party rule) Morocco? (ruled by a King)? Jordan? (kingdom) Libya? (ruled by tyrant) United Arab Emirates? (sheikdom/theocracy). Though Turkey is democratic they have a Bureau of Religion that supports the Imams and mosques and essentially ignores the Christians, and I don't see the "jihadist terrorists' trying to turn Turkey into a 'nondemocratic theocracy' anyway.

So exactly what is Clarke talking about? I think he's been smoking some bad weed.

[MeekOneGOP]

R. Clarke - ZOTTED by Condi!!

[Beckwith]

Didn't this dickstick have nine years to win the War on Terrorism?