An Official Website of William Loiry

PRESIDENT CLINTON THANKS WILLIAM LOIRY

New York - December 21, 2011.

William,

This year we celebrated a big milestone: 10 years of life-changing work. As I reflect on the remarkable successes of the past decade, I'd first like to express my deepest thanks on behalf of the millions of people around the world whose lives have been touched by your support.

When I left office 10 years ago, I couldn't have imagined all that we'd accomplish together. Thanks to you:

• Cities around the world are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2 million tons through projects that also boost local economies.
• 13,000 U.S. schools are offering more nutritious foods and physical activity in an effort to fight childhood obesity.
• 25,000 Peruvians have received cataract surgeries that help them return to work and earn a living -- benefiting both their families and their communities.
• Entrepreneurs in New York City have received $15 million worth of pro bono consulting services, helping them grow their businesses and create jobs in their communities.
• Smallholder farmers in Rwanda and Malawi have planted 4.5 million trees that have also increased their crop yields, allowing them to support their families and reverse deforestation at the same time.

These are just a few of the tangible steps that have made a measurable, meaningful difference in millions of lives across the globe.

And I am certain that, with your support in the years to come, we can build a world where every child has the same opportunity to succeed, where every individual has the chance to live out his or her dreams, and where our common humanity matters more than our differences.

From everyone at the Clinton Foundation, we wish you a joyful and healthy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Bill Clinton


WILLIAM LOIRY ON THE END OF THE IRAQ WAR

FLORIDA – December 18, 2011. Today, the final U.S. military troops left Iraq. History will determine exactly why the Iraq War was started, but the statistics are indisputable:

• 4,487 U.S service members were killed
  
• More than 30,000 U.S. service members were wounded
  
• More than 150,000 Iraqis were killed
  
• More than $800 billion was spent on the war by the U.S.
  

As always in times of great strife and turmoil, my team and I were there. Equity International, through its Center for Reconstruction & Development (www.rec-dev.com), brought thousands of government, military, diplomatic, business, nonprofit, and humanitarian leaders together to identify and plan for immediate humanitarian relief and long-term economic reconstruction. Our first Iraq reconstruction conference was held on May 5, 2003, just five days after President Bush declared an end to the initial military campaign.
Based on our experience, here are my recommendations for moving forward with future reconstruction plans:

• Future reconstruction forums and plans must include the involvement of those we are trying to help. To my dismay, past U.S. and international forums focusing on the reconstruction of countries and regions hit by man-made and natural disasters have not included enough representation from those we are trying to help. This arrogance limits us with essential insight. Our forums have always included ministers and ambassadors as well as businesses and nonprofit leaders from countries we are trying to assist.
  
• Future reconstruction plans must include the involvement of the private sector. The initial international governmental reconstruction forums on Iraq did not include the private sector, even though we requested representation. The private sector provides on-the-ground implementation of reconstruction programs and therefore must be included in the planning if we are to reap the most efficient and successful use of international aid in the future.
  
• Future reconstruction plans must include lessons learned from past reconstruction programs. Even though we had five years worth of expertise from reconstruction of the Balkans from 1996 – 2000, almost no one from that campaign was consulted as Iraq reconstruction plans were designed. Starting from scratch each time we need a response to a man-made or natural disaster is foolish and unnecessary.
  

In all, 1.5 million Americans served in the Iraq War. The effects on many are long-lasting and potentially devastating. As a country, the U.S. must:

• Provide veterans not only enough medical treatment for physical scars from the war, but also provide new and effective health and wellness programs for vets and their families. These are essential to effectively combat the psychological impact of the war and keep our military families happy and healthy.
  
• Provide veterans with jobs. There is no excuse that in America, any American veteran of the Iraq War is homeless and without hope.
  

Finally, I’d like to say thank you to the families of U.S. service members and other American government officials who were killed; the families of private reconstruction executives and relief workers who were killed; to all who were wounded while pursuing security, relief, and reconstruction; and to everyone who tried to make Iraq a better place.

WILLIAM LOIRY: HONOR 9/11 VICTIMS BY IMPLEMENTING NEW RECOMMENDATIONS

WASHINGTON - September 11, 2011. The best way to honor those who were killed and injured during the September, 2001 terrorist attacks is to work harder to prevent a repeat of that dark day and to take care of those who take care of us.

Certainly some great progress has been made during the past ten years. The establishment of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2003 coordinated the efforts of many agencies to protect our homeland. Transportation security is much more professional and technologically sophisticated than it used to be. FEMA has made great strides in disaster preparedness and response since the Hurricane Katrina debacle. And the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and our intelligence agencies have identified and stopped potential terrorist and criminal suspects before entering the U.S.

More needs to be done.

My most urgent recommendations are to treat our first responders with the respect and care they deserve. Why were first responders not invited to the 9/11 ceremonies in New York? Why did it take so long for Congress to pass the 9/11 first responders health care bill? Why are first responders, who are increasingly becoming victims of cancer as a direct result of the toxins they absorbed during the 9/11 attacks, not being taken care of?

After listening to more than 1,000 federal, state, and local officials at our homeland security forums, plus the business community, the following are also my long-term recommendations to make our country safer:

• Congress has more than 100 committees and subcommittees involved in security and intelligence oversight. The House and Senate should eliminate duplication by working together through special oversight panels.
• A coordinated approach within specific homeland security sectors is needed. For example, public health security and bioterrorism response is the mission not only of the Department of Homeland Security, but also of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Food & Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control. In the rapidly growing sector of cybersecurity, there are separate and distinct cybersecurity programs coordinated not only by the Department of Homeland Security, but also by the FBI, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy.
• We need better pre-positioning of disaster response resources around the United States, so that urgent supplies such as food, water, medicine, and shelter reach victims in the critical hours and days following a disaster.
• Congress needs to ends its failure to allocate the radio spectrum space needed by first responders to avoid the communications problems that cost too many lives at Ground Zero on 9/11.
• Border security is stalled along the southern border with an increasingly dangerous Mexico following the failure of the multi-billion-dollar Secure Border Initiative. Border security with Canada, other than at airports and check points, is almost non-existent. We need a comprehensive and effective southern and northern border security strategy.
• We need new technologies to keep up with the continuous threat of explosives on the bodies of potential terrorists as well as explosives in cargo.
• And we must stop transporting hazardous cargo in or near highly-populated areas.

Perhaps the most overlooked area which could prevent another 9/11-style attack is to mount a major offensive to prevent the desire of those who might wish to harm America and Americans in the first place. We have such an opportunity. From Libya to Syria, thousands of average citizens are risking their lives every day to bring historic democratic change to a region which has previously provided the seeds for violent radicalism. They want our help and we should give it to them in a much bigger way.

We should:

• More aggressively aid citizens in those countries which are still ruled by tyrannical dictators.
• Help build the economies and governance of those countries which have transitioned, notably Tunisia, Egypt, and now Libya.
• Empower massive people-to-people programs between the United States and the Middle East & North Africa, much as we did to empower the transition of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

We honor those who were killed and injured ten years ago by implementing these recommendations