Actors Quote by Wesley Clark
“I think there's no question that, even though we may not have the evidence as Richard (Perle) says, that there have been such contacts (between Iraq and al Qaeda). It' s normal. It's natural. These are a lot of bad actors in the same region together. They are going to bump into each other. They are going to exchange information. They're going to feel each other out and see whether there are opportunities to cooperate. That's inevitable in this region, and I think it's clear that regardless of whether or not such evidence is produced of these connections that Saddam Hussein is a threat.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Middle Eastern security, 2003
The speaker argues that proximity of hostile groups in Iraq makes cooperation inevitable, implying Saddam remains a threat regardless of evidence.
In simple terms: Iraq's hostile groups naturally interact, keeping Saddam a threat.
Key Takeaway
Consider the broader context of regional threats.
Themes
security
politics
regional conflict
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
political
strategic
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- academic research
- media commentary
Key Concepts
geopolitics
terrorism
intelligence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does proximity influence alliances?
- What evidence would change the assessment?
A Different Perspective
Evidence may be insufficient to prove specific links.
![“[Saddam Hussein] is a threat because he is dealing with al-Qaeda. . . . A true threat facing our country is that an al-Qaeda-type network trained and armed by Saddam could attack America and not leave one fingerprint.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c41/george-w-bush-64_al-qaeda_saddam-hussein-is-a-threat-because-he-is_1285153.jpg)
