NVDL: Immediately after 9/11 I remarked that the way to deal with extremism was to understand what is upsetting foreigners and try to allay their fears and paciffy them. This sounds like a weak-assed non cowboy style of dealing with a problem, but in a world of assymetrical warfare, there's no other choice. Bush was too daft to see that and so the USA learnt the hard way. The tough nut to crack about suicide bombings and terrosim is the perpetrators tend to die in the act, so there's really not much left to accomplish but to understand why and then implement preventative measures....and some degree of conciliation.
To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend – because there is no force in the world more powerful than the example of America. That is why I have ordered the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, and will seek swift and certain justice for captured terrorists – because living our values doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger. And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture.
In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand.
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