November 16, 2003
New Video - Meet the Press, 11/16/03, Complete in two parts
Video link for Part 1
Video link for Part 2
Transcript
Wesley Clark: I think there was a window of opportunity at the end of the military operation to be able to bring the Iraqi people on board.They could have seen a really smooth effective, impressive U.S. Occupation.
American soldiers could have been in every village, they could have known the names of the people there.
They could have provided food and water right away.
But we didn't do that.
There was no plan for that.
And, as the weeks went by and this insurgency began, the target of the insurgency is the will of the Iraqi people to resist the American presence.
And every helicopter shot down strengthens those in Iraq who would use the Americans to gain their own power inside Iraq.
And they would strike the Americans; they would show their power vis-a-vis the Americans.
It's those cheering crowds in fallujah that all this is directed toward.
I don't know if it's too late but I know that window's closing very quickly.
In order to take advantage of this time, we must move right now to give authority back to the Iraqis.
I know June is too late.