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Clinton and Sanders to address Isis threat in wake of Paris attacks – live Clinton and Sanders to address Isis threat in wake of Paris attacks – live
(35 minutes later)
4.26pm GMT16:26
Someone in the audience asks about the Trans Pacific Partnership, a sweeping trade agreement that has found strong opposition among Democrats.
“The final language of the treaty itself didn’t meet” the standards Clinton sets for evaluating agreements, she says.
“Does it help to create good paying jobs in America, does it raise incomes, does it [improve] national security?”
She frames this re-evaluation as justification for her flip-flop on the treaty, which she had previously supported.
4.22pm GMT16:22
Zakaria asks about Republican suggestions of letting Christian refugees into the US but treating Muslims differently. Clinton rejects it.
“I don’t think we should have a religious test for bringing refugees into our country.”
“So far we know that trying to vet and understand the connections that a person or a family might have with somebody in the United States, looking to see what organization, often a faith based organization might sponsor them,” is a proven model, she says.
4.20pm GMT16:20
The moderator notes that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have dropped of coalition bombing raids and shifted their attention to Yemen, where a civil war has spiraled into an international conflict and, arguably, a proxy war with Iran.
Clinton again puts faith in diplomacy. Noting the contradictory interests of nations in the region, she says that the US needs to treat both Yemen and Syria as larger challenges involving Iran.
“What you’re facing in Yemen could be a limited preview of what we could face going forward, unless we make a concerted effort to stop the fighting and get all the various groups [to make an effort toward peace talks and have a voice].”
Each problem needs consideration “on their own as well as bigger trends”, she says.
4.17pm GMT16:17
Zakaria points out that past and present Pentagon leaders have said a no-fly zone is not a good idea at this stage.
Clinton politely disagrees: “I believe that the no-fly zone is merited and can be implemented, again as a coalition and not as an America only” situation.
How she would convince coalition forces to enforce the no-fly zone – and how she would convince Russia and Iran to stop flying in support of Bashar al-Assad – goes unsaid.
4.15pm GMT16:15
Asked about whether Obama underestimated Isis by calling them the “junior varsity” of terrorists, Clinton says Isis has “had an evolution” and increased its capabilities.
She concurs that her foreign policy thinking has tacked with Obama’s over the years: “We largely agreed on what needed to be done to repair our alliances, to get our country in a position to deal with the wars that had been inherited.”
But she says she disagreed with him about faster intervention in Syria around the start of the civil war, and that she wanted to arm opposition forces. “There were some [moderates back] then”.
4.12pm GMT16:12
Zakaria asks Clinton how her strategy for the campaign in Syria differs from Barack Obama’s.
She says her plain entails “intensification and acceleration of the [air strike] strategy, but it also has to intensify [in] the other parts of the strategy.”
That means arming Sunni tribes and Kurds even if Baghdad doesn’t want to, she says, as well as convincing allies to bomb Isis more and to target finances and travel routes.
4.09pm GMT16:09
Finally she tells an anecdote about granting citizenship and the values that represents versus the wholesale rejection of those values by extremists.
The speech ends, and she sits down with moderator Fareed Zakaria.
4.08pm GMT16:08
Clinton lays down something like a“smart power” doctrine, to use her words.
We have to use every pillar of American power, military and diplomacy, development and economic and cultural influence, technology and maybe most importantly, our values. That is smart power. We have to work with partners, like the EU, the Arab League and the UN.
She says the US should have faith in “old-fashioned shoe leather diplomacy” and never be afraid to act alone, using the example of the raid on bin Laden (and not the invasion of Iraq).
4.06pm GMT16:06
“Since Paris, no homeland security challenge is being more hotly debating than how to address Syrian refugees seeking asylum in the United States,” Clinton goes on, excoriating Republican comments on blocking or tracking refugees.
She notes the grueling refugee vetting process, and takes up president Obama’s comments that rejecting refugees contradicts American principles.
“Discriminating against Muslims, slamming the door on every Syrian refugee, that’s just not who we are.”
“Many of these refugees are fleeing the same terrorists” that the US is fighting, she says. “We should be doing more to [ameliorating] this crisis, not less.”
4.05pm GMT16:05
Clinton broaches the question of security vs privacy, but merely lays out two sides of the argument: law enforcement doesn’t like encryption, lots of other people do.
We need Silicon Valley not to view government as its adversary … to develop solutions that will both keep us safe and protect our privacy. Now is the time to solve this problem, not after the next attack.
She doesn’t say how to strike a balance.
4.03pm GMT16:03
She moves on to the problem of domestic terrorism and radicalization, and says that European nations are far behind the US in terms of sharing intelligence and counterterror coordination.
“And here at home we face a number of our own challenges. The threat of airline security is [changing] as terrorists develop new devices … Law enforcement also needs the trust of residents and communities, including in our own country Muslim Americans.
This should go without saying, but in the current climate this bears repeating. Muslim Americans are working every day on the front lines against [terrorism and radicalization].
4.01pm GMT16:01
The strategy of targeting terrorist financing, cyberspace, and blocking foreign fighters is necessary to defeating not only Isis but “defusing and defeating the next threat and the one after that,” Clinton says.
4.00pm GMT16:00
Next Clinton says the US needs to ramp up its efforts online to counter terrorist groups, saying that online territory should be treated exactly the same geographical territory.
The government should do more, she says, and “social media companies can do their part by swiftly shutting down terrorist accounts.”
Offline or online, we are in a contest of ideas.”
But Clinton rebukes comments by many Republicans that the US is at war with “radical Islam”: “Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism.”
“We are in a conflict of ideas against an ideology of hate... but let me clear, Islam is not our adversary,” added Clinton.
“The obsession in some quarters with a clash of civilisation, or repeating the word Islamic terrorism, isn’t just a distraction, it plays into their hands by alienating people we need by our sides.”
The kind of rhetoric used by some conservatives “plays exactly into [terrorists’] hands by alienating partners we need at our side,” Clinton says, even though she acknowledges a “distorted” extremist “strain” of Islam.
In the end it didn’t matter what kind of terrorist that we called bin Laden, it mattered that we killed bin Laden.”
Updated at 4.27pm GMT
3.56pm GMT15:56
“We have to place more obligations on countries to police their own banks,” she says, and the US needs to press its allies to crack down on individual financing.
And once and for all the Saudis, the Qataris and others need to stop their citizens from directly funding extremist organizations, as well as the schools and mosques around the world … where recruitment happens in clusters.”
3.54pm GMT15:543.54pm GMT15:54
Clinton moves on to disrupting international terror cells, saying that although there’s been a lot of conversation about Isis in the last week, al-Qaida remains the most sophisticated network.Clinton moves on to disrupting international terror cells, saying that although there’s been a lot of conversation about Isis in the last week, al-Qaida remains the most sophisticated network.
“Most urgent is stopping the flow of foreign fighters to and from the Middle East,” she says. “Their western passports make it easier for htem to cross borders and eventually to return home radicalized and battle-hardened.” “Most urgent is stopping the flow of foreign fighters to and from the Middle East,” she says. “Their western passports make it easier for them to cross borders and eventually to return home radicalized and battle-hardened.”
She says information sharing is a high priority, as is getting Turkey to “finally lock down its border”.She says information sharing is a high priority, as is getting Turkey to “finally lock down its border”.
“We also have to be smart and target interventions that have the greatest impact,” using people smugglers and Isis transporters as an example.“We also have to be smart and target interventions that have the greatest impact,” using people smugglers and Isis transporters as an example.
Updated at 4.13pm GMT
3.52pm GMT15:523.52pm GMT15:52
“We cannot deal with Iran and Isis as two separate” questions, Clinton continues, saying that regional politics amount to US national security interests.“We cannot deal with Iran and Isis as two separate” questions, Clinton continues, saying that regional politics amount to US national security interests.
Raising the cost to Iran for bad behavior will contribute to a more effective fight against Isis.Raising the cost to Iran for bad behavior will contribute to a more effective fight against Isis.
She says the US needs to redouble its commitment to allies to send the message that “the time for delay is over, we should get this done” – a rebuke to Obama’s reluctance to intervene in Syria.She says the US needs to redouble its commitment to allies to send the message that “the time for delay is over, we should get this done” – a rebuke to Obama’s reluctance to intervene in Syria.
3.50pm GMT15:503.50pm GMT15:50
She says greater cooperation with the Turks, including arms and intelligence, is necessary to resolving the Syrian civil war and defeating Isis.She says greater cooperation with the Turks, including arms and intelligence, is necessary to resolving the Syrian civil war and defeating Isis.
Countries like Jordan have offered more and frankly we should take them up on it. Our efforts will only succeed if the Arabs and Turks step up. …Countries like Jordan have offered more and frankly we should take them up on it. Our efforts will only succeed if the Arabs and Turks step up. …
So far Turkey has been more focused on the Kurds than countering Isis, and to be fair Turkey has a long and painful history [with the Kurds],So far Turkey has been more focused on the Kurds than countering Isis, and to be fair Turkey has a long and painful history [with the Kurds],
We need to get Turkey to stop bombing Kurdish fighters in Syria who are battling Isis, and become a full partner in our coalition efforts against Isis.We need to get Turkey to stop bombing Kurdish fighters in Syria who are battling Isis, and become a full partner in our coalition efforts against Isis.
3.49pm GMT15:493.49pm GMT15:49
Clinton moves on to Syria, saying that although she supports Obama’s line that the nation requires a political transition away from Assad, it also needs greater military intervention.Clinton moves on to Syria, saying that although she supports Obama’s line that the nation requires a political transition away from Assad, it also needs greater military intervention.
“The viable Sunni opposition groups remain understandably preoccupied with fighting Assad, who let us remember has killed many more Syrians than the terrorists have,” she says.“The viable Sunni opposition groups remain understandably preoccupied with fighting Assad, who let us remember has killed many more Syrians than the terrorists have,” she says.
“We should retool and ramp up our efforts to sppotr and equip viable Syrian opposition units. Our increased support should go hand in hand with our increased support from our Sunni and Arab coalition forces.“We should retool and ramp up our efforts to sppotr and equip viable Syrian opposition units. Our increased support should go hand in hand with our increased support from our Sunni and Arab coalition forces.
We should also work with the opposition and our allies to enforce no-fly zones.We should also work with the opposition and our allies to enforce no-fly zones.
She adds that special forces could be involved in the war, and says that “Russia and Iran have to fess up” that supporting Assad is making things worse.She adds that special forces could be involved in the war, and says that “Russia and Iran have to fess up” that supporting Assad is making things worse.
“There is an important role for Russia to help,” she says, immediately after calling out Vladimir Putin by name. “There is no alternative to a political transition that allows Syrians to [continue under] Assad’s rule.”“There is an important role for Russia to help,” she says, immediately after calling out Vladimir Putin by name. “There is no alternative to a political transition that allows Syrians to [continue under] Assad’s rule.”
3.46pm GMT15:463.46pm GMT15:46
Clinton says the US can and should support regional forces, even though “the Iraqi national army has struggled, and its going to take more work to get them up to shape.”Clinton says the US can and should support regional forces, even though “the Iraqi national army has struggled, and its going to take more work to get them up to shape.”
She says American forces may need “Greater mobility and flexibility” including embedding with Iraqi unites. Even so, she continues, it will take Sunnis to come together to fight back, as they did during the Iraqi civil war.She says American forces may need “Greater mobility and flexibility” including embedding with Iraqi unites. Even so, she continues, it will take Sunnis to come together to fight back, as they did during the Iraqi civil war.
But those militias were “betrayed” by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, she says. “Baghdad needs to accept, even embrace, arming Sunni and Kurdish forces in the war against Isis. But if Baghdad won’t do that, the coalition should do so directly.”But those militias were “betrayed” by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, she says. “Baghdad needs to accept, even embrace, arming Sunni and Kurdish forces in the war against Isis. But if Baghdad won’t do that, the coalition should do so directly.”
3.43pm GMT15:433.43pm GMT15:43
She says her strategy has three main points.She says her strategy has three main points.
The first prong of the streagy “Starts with a more effective coalition campaign”, involving more bombing and greater intelligence. “Arab speakers with deep expertise in the Middle East” and stronger partnerships. “Our goal should be to achieve the penetration” that the US managed “with al-Qaida in the past”.The first prong of the streagy “Starts with a more effective coalition campaign”, involving more bombing and greater intelligence. “Arab speakers with deep expertise in the Middle East” and stronger partnerships. “Our goal should be to achieve the penetration” that the US managed “with al-Qaida in the past”.
An air campaign is necessary but insufficient, she continues, but “like president Obama I do not believe we should again have 100,000 troops in combat in the Middle East. That is just not the smart” option.An air campaign is necessary but insufficient, she continues, but “like president Obama I do not believe we should again have 100,000 troops in combat in the Middle East. That is just not the smart” option.
3.41pm GMT15:413.41pm GMT15:41
“At the heart” of modern terrorism is Isis, Clinton continues.“At the heart” of modern terrorism is Isis, Clinton continues.
A physical enclave in Iraq and Syria, an international terrorist network that includes affiliates across the region and beyond, and an ideological movement of radical jihadism. We have to target and defeat all three.”A physical enclave in Iraq and Syria, an international terrorist network that includes affiliates across the region and beyond, and an ideological movement of radical jihadism. We have to target and defeat all three.”
She says “our goal is not to contain and deter Isis” but to defeat and destroy Isis, a backhand at remarks last week by Barack Obama. She says the US must also “pursue the long-game”, involving a “generational struggle against an ideology with deep roots.”She says “our goal is not to contain and deter Isis” but to defeat and destroy Isis, a backhand at remarks last week by Barack Obama. She says the US must also “pursue the long-game”, involving a “generational struggle against an ideology with deep roots.”
“This is a worldwide fight and America must lead it.”“This is a worldwide fight and America must lead it.”
3.39pm GMT15:393.39pm GMT15:39
Hillary Clinton takes the podium, beginning her speech.Hillary Clinton takes the podium, beginning her speech.
“I wanted to come here to our city which has shown such resilience in the face of terrorism to talk about the events of the last week,” Clinton begins.“I wanted to come here to our city which has shown such resilience in the face of terrorism to talk about the events of the last week,” Clinton begins.
“Our allies treated that attack against one as an attack against all. Now it’s our turn.”“Our allies treated that attack against one as an attack against all. Now it’s our turn.”
She says we face the same adversaries, and must show the same determination.She says we face the same adversaries, and must show the same determination.
“Every society faces a choice between fear and resolve. The world’s great democracies can’t turn our backs on those in need.”“Every society faces a choice between fear and resolve. The world’s great democracies can’t turn our backs on those in need.”
3.34pm GMT15:343.34pm GMT15:34
Hillary Clinton is due any minute on stage in New York, where CNN’s Jeff Zeleny and my colleague Lauren Gambino (@lgamgam) are in the room waiting.Hillary Clinton is due any minute on stage in New York, where CNN’s Jeff Zeleny and my colleague Lauren Gambino (@lgamgam) are in the room waiting.
The stage is set at Council on Foreign Relations on Upper East Side for @HillaryClinton to deliver #ISIS speech. pic.twitter.com/gUFEAm08TcThe stage is set at Council on Foreign Relations on Upper East Side for @HillaryClinton to deliver #ISIS speech. pic.twitter.com/gUFEAm08Tc
Updated at 3.34pm GMTUpdated at 3.34pm GMT
3.22pm GMT15:223.22pm GMT15:22
Donald Trump would not rule out tracking Muslim Americans in a database or giving them “a special form of identification that noted their religion”, Yahoo news reports in a long interview with the Republican presidential candidate.Donald Trump would not rule out tracking Muslim Americans in a database or giving them “a special form of identification that noted their religion”, Yahoo news reports in a long interview with the Republican presidential candidate.
“We’re going to have to do things that were frankly unthinkable a year ago,” Trump said. “Some people are going to be upset about it, but I think that now everybody is feeling that security is going to rule.”“We’re going to have to do things that were frankly unthinkable a year ago,” Trump said. “Some people are going to be upset about it, but I think that now everybody is feeling that security is going to rule.”
He said he would consider warrantless searches of Muslims and increased surveillance of mosques. “Certain things will be done that we never thought would happen in this country in terms of information and learning about the enemy.”He said he would consider warrantless searches of Muslims and increased surveillance of mosques. “Certain things will be done that we never thought would happen in this country in terms of information and learning about the enemy.”
“We’re going to have to look at a lot of things very closely,” Trump said. “We’re going to have to look at the mosques. We’re going to have to look very, very carefully.”“We’re going to have to look at a lot of things very closely,” Trump said. “We’re going to have to look at the mosques. We’re going to have to look very, very carefully.”
Earlier this week Trump suggested police surveillance of Mosques, and praised a controversial program by the NYPD to spy on Muslims as “great”. He said he would consider former NYPD police commissioner Ray Kelly, who led that program, for a cabinet position.Earlier this week Trump suggested police surveillance of Mosques, and praised a controversial program by the NYPD to spy on Muslims as “great”. He said he would consider former NYPD police commissioner Ray Kelly, who led that program, for a cabinet position.
Updated at 3.28pm GMTUpdated at 3.28pm GMT
2.56pm GMT14:562.56pm GMT14:56
Hello and welcome to a busy day in American politics.Hello and welcome to a busy day in American politics.
Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, and her biggest rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, are due to lay out competing plans to defeat Islamic State extremists in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. Sanders has also promised to explain to voters what he means by his self-declared philosophy of democratic socialism.Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, and her biggest rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, are due to lay out competing plans to defeat Islamic State extremists in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. Sanders has also promised to explain to voters what he means by his self-declared philosophy of democratic socialism.
The Republican frontrunners are rambling through key states trying to nudge each off the top of the polls. Ben Carson is in Alabama, meeting with voters before an afternoon event, and Donald Trump is holding a rally and town hall in Iowa. Among the 12 other candidates, ascendent senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have sparred over military spending, and former governor Jeb Bush is pressing hawkish opinions about war in the Middle East.The Republican frontrunners are rambling through key states trying to nudge each off the top of the polls. Ben Carson is in Alabama, meeting with voters before an afternoon event, and Donald Trump is holding a rally and town hall in Iowa. Among the 12 other candidates, ascendent senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have sparred over military spending, and former governor Jeb Bush is pressing hawkish opinions about war in the Middle East.
The stump speeches and major policy announcements promise an eclectic day: the bickering of election season along with serious questions reflecting a troubled world. The Democrats will announce their foreign policy plans only hours after France confirmed that a ferocious police raid in Paris killed Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected organizer of last week’s horrific terrorist attack in the city.The stump speeches and major policy announcements promise an eclectic day: the bickering of election season along with serious questions reflecting a troubled world. The Democrats will announce their foreign policy plans only hours after France confirmed that a ferocious police raid in Paris killed Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected organizer of last week’s horrific terrorist attack in the city.
And Republicans will argue about extremism and religion as governors around the US resist accepting Syrian refugees. Barack Obama has criticized the governors for their “offensive and hysterical” reactions to the refugee crisis, and promised to veto a bill that would increase screening on top of the year the US already requires. Here’s how the day is due to unfold:And Republicans will argue about extremism and religion as governors around the US resist accepting Syrian refugees. Barack Obama has criticized the governors for their “offensive and hysterical” reactions to the refugee crisis, and promised to veto a bill that would increase screening on top of the year the US already requires. Here’s how the day is due to unfold:
Somewhere in there, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is expected to approve a measure aimed to block Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entry to the US without a strict background check. (Barack Obama has said he will veto it.) My colleagues Ben Jacobs and David Smith will be up on Capitol Hill with the latest.Somewhere in there, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is expected to approve a measure aimed to block Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entry to the US without a strict background check. (Barack Obama has said he will veto it.) My colleagues Ben Jacobs and David Smith will be up on Capitol Hill with the latest.
Meanwhile, follow along for all of that plus more from the other candidates on the trail.Meanwhile, follow along for all of that plus more from the other candidates on the trail.
Updated at 3.26pm GMTUpdated at 3.26pm GMT