2003/985
(5:15 p.m. EDT)
MR. CLARK: First of all, Mr. Secretary, what do you see as the goal of this conference, as you understand it, and how does this fit in with the desires of the United States?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I think there are several goals to the conference. First, most importantly, it's being held in Detroit, which is the center of Arab-Americanism in the United States. But it's an opportunity with a number of leaders from the Arab world, as well as senior businessmen from the United States and other local leaders, to come together and reflect on the fact that Arab-Americans have found a wonderful place to live in the United States. It kind of puts the lie to some of the anti-Americanism that you see out in the Arab world.
It also gives us an opportunity to discuss the policies of the Bush Administration with respect to the Middle East; and even more importantly, I think in this instance, is it gives an opportunity for Arab leaders to come here and get a sense of the business and trading opportunities that are existing in this part of our country and throughout the United States. And I hope this will encourage more trade. Trade brings jobs with it. Jobs cause people to have hope. Jobs cause people to think what a better future awaits them and their children, and moves them away from dysfunctional behaviors such as terrorism and those kinds of activities which do not create hope.
MR. CLARK: Mr. Bush said, I think back in May, we are determined to build a Middle East peace that grows in hope instead of resentment, which is what you're saying right now. One of the problems is part of the resentment on the part of some of the radical elements of the Arab world is against the successes economically in the world, of the United States specifically.
SECRETARY POWELL: You know, a lot of people attack our economic success, they attack globalism, but, in fact, globalism is good for the world. And those nations that are not equipping their young people to take advantage of a globalized 21st century are going to be left further and further behind.
There is despair in the Arab world right now because there are young people they know are not being prepared for the kinds of jobs that exist in the 21st century, but there are a number of Arab countries that are doing things to fix that problem. If you look at what Jordan is doing, we've ventured into a free trade agreement with Jordan. We have other countries that we're going to enter into free trade agreements with. And trade with Jordan has increased markedly in recent years. With that trade comes more jobs, comes more income, comes a better life for the people of Jordan. But King Abdullah knows that he has to educate his people to take advantage of those jobs in the technology sector, in the service sector.
And so the Arab world used to be a place of enormous learning and culture. So much came to us from the Arab world, but it's fallen behind in recent years. And now what Arabs have to do -- and Arab-Americans can help Arabs do this -- is to educate their youngsters for the kinds of challenges they'll be facing in the 21st century and the kinds of jobs that will be available.
MR. CLARK: One of the fears in the Arab world here in the Detroit area is that the success that may be bred by a conference like this won't trickle down, that money will stay in the palaces of the emirs, of the princes, but it won't trickle down to these people who you say must get this money in order to get the hope.
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I think that it has to trickle down because I think increasingly the people in these countries looking around, I hope when they look around Iraq in a year or so after we have transitioned to -- back to Iraqi leadership of its own country. And hopefully that will happen in a year, year and a half. We can't be sure.
But I think demands will be placed on these leaders to say that, look, we can't afford a society where women are left out, where you're spending your money on palaces and goodies for the elite; you have to create circumstances that give hope to people, give jobs to people. And I think that's starting to happen in parts of the Arab world. I'll be speaking about it tonight.
MR. CLARK: You brought up the subject of Iraq. Amir Moussa, the Secretary General of the Arab Assembly, said it's the common responsibility of the international community to restore stability and sovereignty of Iraq. It sounds like they're really putting the pressure on you to fix what's broken in Iraq. I know the Administration really is looking for a bit broader solution.
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, from what you've just said, he says it is the task of the international community to come together. The United States undertook this operation to free the Iraqi people with a large number of coalition partners. Right now, there are 31 nations that have troops in Iraq with us. We're not alone. But more can be done by the international community on behalf of the Iraqi people. We will be having a donors conference in Madrid next month to generate funds. The President went to the UN last week. I'm working on a resolution that will encourage more countries to donate troops or contribute troops, if they can do that, but donate money especially. How much we'll get remains to be seen.
But this is a task of the international community. The old fights about whether we should have gone to war or shouldn't have gone to war in the early spring, those are gone. Now we're trying to figure how can we all come together and help the people of Iraq, who have been freed from Saddam Hussein's evil regime. No more mass graves. No more gassing of civilians. A better life for the Iraqi people. How can we all help with that? That will also be part of my message to this conference.
MR. CLARK: On a final note on this conference here, do you think anything is actually going to leave -- anybody is going to leave this conference with a signed deal, or is this just the first step on a long road?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I don't know. I am always hopeful that there will be signed deals, but sometimes it takes a while for a deal to develop. But now I am out of my competence. I do diplomacy, not economic/financial deals.
MR. CLARK: Final question. There's one president -- there's one former general running for president. We thought maybe you'd be the first former general to run for president.
SECRETARY POWELL: Oh, there have been many former generals who have run for president.
MR. CLARK: But in the last few years.
SECRETARY POWELL: No, I am quite content with the manner in which I am serving the nation and the President now.
MR. CLARK: Mr. Secretary, thank you very much.
SECRETARY POWELL: You're welcome.
