SECRETARY HAGEL: Ambassador,thank you. Let me just add a couple of sentences towhat Secretary Kerry said.First, I enthusiastically support what Secretary Kerry is doing. Weall knowthere is risk in everything. There is risk in status quo. The risk is alwaysthere inanything in complicated areas of the world. But I believe there is farmore risk in letting thisslide.
I noted in my comments that – notin the context of this particular issue but overall onsecurity issues, it’sgoing to continue to take – as the world is very instructive on this pointandthe history has been particularly instructive – committed leadership and visionto addressany big challenge. And as much risk and uncertainty that is in thisone, I do strongly applaudand support what John’s doing here. It’s clearly ineveryone’s interest.
As to your question, SecretaryGates may have said it a little differently than I did, butessentially, I saidthe same thing as Secretary Gates did. This is a partnership. Partnershipsmeanpartnership. Everybody has to participate. Everyone has to contribute.Everybody has arole to play. Because not only is something new today withrestrained resources in everyone’sbudgets. I get that, the realities of whatwe’re each dealing with in our own respectivecountries, own respectivepolitical dynamics and dimensions – but if your nation’s security isnot worthan investment, is not worth leadership in fighting for that investment, thenyou’ve gotthe wrong leadership or – again, history’s been instructive on thispoint – then the future of thatcountry is in some peril. It’s going to takesome courage and vision and strong leadership tomake this point clear to allof our constituents. And the Europeans must play their role as well.Thank you.
AMBASSADOR ISCHINGER: Thank youvery much. Among the many questions that werehanded to me, there are two thatare almost identical, and I’m going to take these twotogether.
The first one is from Lord Powellfrom the UK, and they’re both on the T-TIP. Now, they’reboth addressed to bothof you as former senators, and I read the first question from CharlesPowell:“T-TIP is indeed vital, as Secretary Kerry says. Is it achievable now that theSenatemajority leader intends to deny the President fast-track trade promotionauthority?”
And the other question is from anAmerican, Charles Kupchan from Georgetown University.Professor Kupchan raisesthe following question: “T-TIP is ‘the next big thing’ for theAtlanticrelationship. As former senators, please discuss the prospects forcongressional support,especially in light of Senator Reid’s recent comments.”
This is exactly the samequestion. I don't know which one of you wants to take that one.
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I don’t –look, I respect Harry Reid. I’ve worked with him for along time, obviously.Our colleagues are here – Lindsey Graham and John McCain and formerSenator JoeLieberman. And I think all of us have learned to interpret a comment on one dayinthe United States Senate as not necessarily what might be the situation in amatter of monthsor in some period of time.
Let’s get T-TIP done, put it inits context, then we wage the fight. And I’m not at allconvinced that whatwe’ve heard is going to – I just think that there’s a lot of room here still,soI wouldn’t let it deter us one iota, not one iota. I’ve heard plenty ofstatements in the Senateon one day that are categorical, and we’ve wound upfinding accommodation and a way tofind our way forward. So this should not bea deterrent, and I hope nobody will let it stand inthe way.
On the merits, this is a majorinitiative for us, for Europe, for the relationship, for the world.And whenyou combine it with the TPP, it really has a capacity to achieve what the WTOhasnot been able to succeed in, and it could have a profound impact onjumpstarting theeconomies for all of us. It’s worth millions of jobs, and inthe end, jobs are a very powerfulpolitical persuasion.
SECRETARY HAGEL: This TPP isclearly in the self-interest of both sides of the Atlantic,clearly. And Iwould suspect that our senators here this morning would have a better senseofthis than two former senators, but this is a good example of what I wasreferring to in myremarks about let’s be smart and let’s be wise and let’s becollaborative and use all of theopportunities and mechanisms that we have toenhance each other – culturally, trade,commerce, exchanges.
We all know that a secureeconomic base – a dynamic, strong economy – is the anchor ofany nation’sfreedom. Without the money, without the resources, your options becomeverylimited very quickly. So I would hope that this would get done by the UnitedStates Senate.It’s clearly in everyone’s interest. Thank you.
AMBASSADORISCHINGER: Thankyou very much. I have one concluding question becausewe have already run outof time for a while. This is from Jo Joffe, whom both of you know. Hisquestionis the following, and I read it: “The U.S. keeps going through cycles ofwithdrawal. Isthis another one? And if so, who is going to mind the store?”
A question addressed, again, toboth of you.