ere the unique mission of the department of homeland security comes into play. ..

the distributing threat information should not be punished but encouraged which is why we need to create legal safe harbors for companies to be able to exchange threat information without fear of being sued. moreover better information sharing improves industry's ability to safeguard the personal data by allowing entities to keep the prying eyes of hackers outside our health records and bank accounts. i am pleased to announce we are aiming to resolve this dilemma and strengthen our cyber security foundations further. this week i am releasing the draft of a new bill that will further enhance the role as the primary federal civilian interface for the sharing of cyber threat information to enable timely , actionable, and operational efforts between the federal government and the private sector.

this draft bill gives protections for exchange of cyber threat information including government to private and private to private sharing. for instance, is a major bank fell victim to cyber intrusion it would not be held back from sharing details of the attack with either the government or other banks and businesses as long as the sharing is done through the appropriate channels and does not compromise the private information of customers and citizens. moreover, the draft bill would give liability protections for companies to monitor their own information systems importantly and use defensive measures to prevent intrusions. in the current environment companies do not feel that they have adequate protection from these measures. we are not incentivizing participant in the safe harbor.

right now we are working with the house judiciary committee on crafting a liability exemption standard that addresses these issues and will be used in other cyber information sharing legislations in-house. with this legislation i also plan to continue my laserlike focus on privacy protection so that information sharing can be done without risking exposure of personal data. my draft bill would ensure information when it changes hands, whether provided to the government or exchange their companies, companies that is thoroughly scrubbed for personal information so americans do not have their sensitive data exposed. it would also require the distraction of any personal information that is unrelated to cyber security risk or incident. i take that issue very seriously

it is clear we have been losing ground better cyber threat information sharing will help us turn the tide. thank you so much for having me. i appreciated. [applause] >> i we will say that a couple of years ago chairman mccall told me that he was going to pass cyber legislation. at the time i thought that

will be a good trick. when he says he has a new bill i would probably bet on this one. with that i have i have questions. i don't know if people in the audience want to start. >> good to see you guys wearing green ties for st. patrick's day. my question is how do we combat insider attacks which seem to be one of the biggest problems we are facing. the usb and global contributor. a lot of openings that kind of attack. >> it is very hard. we are being infiltrated not only in the cyber space itself but also human

capital intrusions. and that is a matter of human security measures to ensure clearances and things like that that we have properly vetted individuals participating in this process. it is an issue that is open in that regard to legislate a spike and penetrate a federal agency. in our goal we call for more clearances. we held that complaint over and over. i would argue the information kind of like when i worked for the joint terrorism task force we did not give sources and methods the same is true here. they are giving that really sources the actual morse

code. you see them. that is where the privacy peace that i talk about is so important. personally identifying information but the infiltration by human this by element is real and you cannot be 100 percent secure in that. >> the two in the front. >> i have been in the cyber realm for almost two decades now, looking at homeland security and workplace retention and satisfaction scores. in terms of getting people to join homeland security and any agency, what do you recommend in terms of recruitment policies and strategies? >> one of the bills past enhances the workplace.

hire and retain more highly credentialed individuals. i would argue this is probably the most innovative and vibrant offices within the department of homeland security. over the last five years the capabilities have really stood up. the undersecretary from mcafee extraordinary experience. we have a partnership with nasa the detail program where they can lend their expertise. with the legislation we passed last congress on enhancing the workplace we are going to get more and more talent.

i remember, i would not work for the justice department because i i wanted to check that box and do something else. you have you have to recognize it is a great place to gain experience but we want to get the more experienced people coming over there. you cannot keep them forever it is hard. even the nsa has a hard time keeping good workers. the private sector is so attractive. lucrative in the field out there cyber security. it will always be a challenge but the last five years that have stood up with a very well credentialed set of individuals. anyone watching this podcast , i encourage them to

look into the working department. it is going to involve, we have several portals. this will be the primary civilian interface to the private sector. the future is legislatively because it has already been authorized. it is a brighter future for the department of homeland security. >> it is the 1st question on my list. for more in the audience. >> my question is as you or your team drafts this bill in consideration that it will be legislated what consideration has been given to include other countries who are probably considering, you know, legislation to support information sharing, sharing, and if you could

talk about that in the context of multinationals that also have footprints in those countries command is there any consideration for reciprocity? information sharing. >> that is a great question. i am glad that you brought this up. i think the rest of the world is watching the united states right now to see what we do. the other countries don't. they are not they are not as far along with the legislation as the united states. this is what we do. we will change cyber for the next decade but it has an impact globally because the other nations are watching to see how we are crafting this command it will be a model for the rest of the world. and they will take what we do and try to apply it in their own countries

commander is an opportunity for an exchange of information. our view is within the civilian interface several streams of information, the intelligence community, the department of homeland security and the fbi are being funneled. i think that is a model that will play well and the rest of the world we will appreciate that. what i found is a lot of the high tech companies preferred the civilian interface because they do not want when they do international business they don't want the idea of the nsa in their networks and so it is important to have a civilian interface that is not -- if someone wants to voluntarily work with the nsa to get information introduced legislation providing for that. we have that portal depending on which you prefer. but i no a lot of the companies i deal with prefer

the civilian with the privacy protections when i do the international business but that is a great issue. not to get into all of the other -- i am on the foreign affairs committee. they raised so many issues about the proportional response, an active cyber warfare. those questions are still unanswered today. something that we are going to work on legislation to greater define. when you have a nationstate attacking like cases or you have the force out of iran that is a nationstate what is the proportional response? >> thank you for your comments. in dhs today we have an

undersecretary, gen. undersecretary, general taylor, probably the most knowledgeable and understanding individual relative to information sharing with this time in dhs this time at the state department the overseas security council and the private sector. how does the how does the accomplices when he has a staff 300 people? he cannot process the information he needs. the fbi has 10,000 analysts. he has 300. he has a larger task but does not have the resources necessary to accomplish it. >> well, frank is doing a fantastic job. the challenge for intelligence and analysis is not to compete with the intelligence community and duplicate efforts but rather provide a unique product that dhs can provide primarily through overseas tsa screening in airports and customs and border

patrol and secret service area at intelligence can create a unique intelligence product that then they are more interested in. if you start trying to compete with the cia, you will get destroyed. the failure frank taylor is taking us to an innovative new place. the white house has proposed an intelligence sort of melting pot of information something similar. it would be for cyber threat information. that could greatly enhance the capability by providing this other entity that can synthesize all this information. one important issue not in my remarks is that real-time

sharing is absolutely vital. you have to stay ahead of the threat curve. if you can't you will lose. real-time sharing looking at machine to machine, trying to take out the human error as much as we can. >> we will sweep across. >> my name is martin from the council of scientific society presidents. we have a long-term view. essentially the holder of the places where going for the next decade. the most important things that we have to focus on other personnel doing this kind of job. they will not be the people who are trained as computer

software engineers the people who can think ahead and jump to the areas where problems are not currently seem connect the dots that are not quite put. can't find them. maybe ten or 15 centers that have that capability but no support. is that possible? >> i mean,, again, we had a built in workplace last congress. that is an interesting issue right now that is something we will take a look at. i agree with you the unique creative talent that can think outside the box because the threat is so ever revolving and not just the classic software guy.

he also need the critical, analytical thinker to put in the. if there if there is an area that is needed is this one. >> while we're waiting someone asked me about proportional response to south korea. i replied that people would probably be grateful. it's difficult. >> good morning and thank you for your time. for many our customers whatever biggest problems is situational awareness understandable from your basic 18 -year-old soldier to advanced defenders.

what investment only making? what efforts are we making so that i can go somewhere and understand the threat and how to react to it. >> well, the good news is it is higher the former head of the nct see. one of the most talented national security experts in the country. i always encourage companies to sit down. your ability is more unique. cyber command may be more limited. but it is an open information sharing portal that is there for no other

reason than to share information. is not there for offense of work to prosecute, despite. is there to provide threat information to the private sector. to anybody an invitation to tori. it is impressive. give him a tour last week they came back compressed. >> recently retired. of going out myself a little bit. in my group prior to that time was a lifelong intelligence officer. do you held position on the

programs that he exposed not the ones against for intelligence but the things that are referred to as domestic spying? i would add, that, but what is your position? if you think that they should be modified, how. >> he did extensive damage. my hometown of austin texas south, sxsw, he appeared by skipping a standing ovation. i consider him to be treasonous. >> i think we are aligned on that. >> it is demonstrated by the damage is done to our national security. i read the classified report from dia. it is very extensive very damaging.

it goes across a lot of different areas. in reading the document it was clear to me. not set this up on his own. because of the areas he targeted to steal and then release it appears to me that he was directed by a foreign country. a lot of the stuff deals with china and russia primarily. the fact that he is in russia says a lot. i would argue he is not enjoying -- the irony is he is exposing is a police state and there is no privacy in russia. it doesn't make any sense to me at all. he's done great damage to our national security and is in great damage to this advancing these policies in this town in advancing this

legislation. the one thing i am worried about. i talked to the chairman. the political environment. how is that going to hamper our ability to move this legislation forward and what impact we will this have on this? i would argue my bill. i get an easier way. it will be more difficult because they never codified information sharing. i support that. we should have any portal that member companies want to go to on a voluntary basis and we should support

that. i we will say he is doing great damage economically international security and great damage to advancing the policies that we are discussing. >> the next couple of months will do a series to try to put it into the context of crimea and syria and isis because it is a different world. we have more the other side. >> i. good morning. that line of questioning, one of those companies in the past they don't even want to entertain the idea until they see an essay reform is that going to be

another factor this time around? >> you will have -- this will take place before fisa reform. that is part of the remedy overall strategy kind of hard to find in congress these days with the idea to tackle this piece in the reform. now, is that the cart before the horse? the idea is to do the cyber security 1st. but your.is well taken. >> good morning. many of us regarding the sony attack is quite new in the sense that it was an attack by nationstate directly on our

constitutionally protected liberties. i'm wondering if you have any thoughts of a portion of response in light of this attack and when it happens again. >> i completely agree. we have had attacks in the past. sony should the american people's attention and curiosity. let's just be honest. it was a direct attack our constitution and free-speech in addition there was a nationstate and it was entirely destructive. you going to your office and turn the computer on and there is a skull and cross bones. similar kemal of the hard drives are completely destroyed information stolen. so that was a very sophisticated attack on our

constitutional way of life. a proportional response on that that is a hard question to answer but but i think a response is necessary, whatever that is. if you have all the tools and the toolkit you have to have some response. i can talk about whether they originated that attack. there were some cyber responses. i can't go into detail about that but a cyber attack merits of cyber response. the show as a deterrence. if they can do that with impunity it is just like a kid, you have to have discipline in a deterrence to stop them from doing it.

the whole global picture at some.we will have to talk about treaties with other nations. we can have an alliance nationstate cyber attack on the alliance members in the cyber world which is really forward thinking. we have to look at this is a global event an international issue that will call for an international response and alliances. china and russia and iran there will be consequences. >> hello. with the bill you are working on how do you see

those being winded on the floor if at all? are you saying your bill in no way will be shared to any other agency? >> no, the information that they will have will come through the intelligence community. the information shared by the private sector only information we gain private sector will be share with the federal government to protect this country. i have been very encouraged by the sense of patriotism. mr. chairman, this is such an important issue not just about my company anymore. it is about the united states of america. i want to help be a part of this information served -- information sharing process.

again, 80 to 85 percent that we don't have can be used to better protect defenses and nation. as you know every federal agency is being hit. the country is under attack. i can't really speak. mark into the senate. i anticipate house and tell will mark up a similar type bill that will have other portals. always say is we think it is a primary portal because of the civilian interface. can't be prosecuted. we think it is really the

place for safe harbor. however, if a member company wants to go to nsa is a portal we will allow for that as well. i think house and tell will deal with some of these other portals. a lot of the financial sector numbers like to get to treasury. there is no reason we would want to stop that. we want to preserve current relationships and information sharing that exists and not shut those down. several portals and we want to enhance that information sharing through the liability protection piece. that is a course of this legislation that will enhance information sharing and greater informed participation. >> i we will do a final

question. chairman of the community. you are one of the recognized leaders in cyber security doing it longer than anyone else in washington in a positive way what do you see the agenda being? >> not just cyber but across the board. >> it is about travel and preventing travel. i think i have got talk about connecticut's in the foreign fighters through turkey and keeping them out of the united states is a number one priority. j johnson, we call him the dual threat. going to radicalize over the internet and pull off a a

major assault or a boston bombing for a peristyle attack. a train it comes back, westgate shopping mall to make and do a heck of a lot of damage. we are concerned about keeping the threat outside of the united states. in addition to aqa p the premier bond makers that are very sophisticated nonmetallic ied's. that is a great challenge and one of the biggest priorities as far as protecting the american people. the border obviously is a big issue as well but the area that has no borders is the future. that is one of the more exciting innovative engines coming out of the apartment that i think will have lasting consequences for the department of homeland security. that will evolve into not

only being the primary but they go to place in the future for the private sector. that is really how i see economic threats and then the cyber threats particularly as these more rogue nations get cyber capability we have to stay ahead of the curve get is going beyond espionage to warfare. you you can buy a lot of this stuff already on the internet. this is the area. they say what keeps you up at night well a lot of things combat cyber is getting higher. you have the probability of small-scale attacks being high but the damage is done.

the cyber piece higher probability that it could be extremely severe and damaging and the time will get worse. >> it is great news. >> we are always cheering. i am grateful you came and talked to us center time out of your schedule. thank you so much for joining us. >> thanks for having me. [applause] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] >> each evening at 7:00 o'clock while congress continues on its spring break some of our q&a interviews. today andrew keen talked about his his book regarding the internet is not the answer. he says social networking creates false communities. you can see his comments at 7:00 o'clock eastern. at 8:00 o'clock eastern book tv in prime time. starting starting off of his book on modern mercenary private armies what they mean for world order. scott taylor on trust betrayed, barack obama hillary clinton command the selling out of america's national security. at 10:05 p.m., bartholomew ferro.

starting at it can't eastern on c-span2. >> host: congressman ruben gallego from arizona's 7th district. what is it like? >> guest: it is fascinating. every day brings a new challenge. everyday i get to do something interesting and everyday i miss him a little more but i am glad i am here and feel like i am doing good works my district and hope to be here for a long time.

>> host: have a someone a someone who was born in chicago end up in arizona? >> guest: a woman a woman who is now my wife. essentially what happened is i was in new mexico with my wife working on the 2,004 election. while their i got accident -- activated and sent to iraq. when i returned my wife had established himself well in arizona and i i had just left the military, leaving the marines once you are done you are done. arizona was a good option at that time. >> host: lets take a step back. your your family originally from new mexico. came to the us when. >> guest: my mom in the 70s and my dad in the late 70s. >> host: why chicago? >> guest: a great place for immigrants. a a lot of industrial base

good paying jobs cheap housing and it was just a good draw. chicago has the second-largest latino population in the country. >> host: raised by after one raised by a single mom, so your dad left when? >> guest: around age 11. >> host: any memories? >> guest: many. that is what made painful. he on the 4th -- he on the farm in mexico. i looked up to him as a father figure. when everything went south when the economy went bad i don't think you reacted well to it and his company eventually shut down which caused problems which is why it hurts so much to see someone i looked up to abandon us have going to ask you what happened?

>> guest: a lot of things happened. he had a company that employed a lot of people and did not get paid by some contractors and did not pay his taxes and then started selling drugs. for someone who i thought was a good moral compass really ended up not being met. >> host: how did your mom keep everything together? >> guest: i cannot tell you. it was tough. i remember hard times. she is an amazing woman. it is her birthday actually. >> host: happy birthday to your mom. >> guest: i won't say holds years. >> host: if you could talk to your dad what would you tell him? >> guest: nothing. i have moved on. i took his spot and i had to become a a father figure

for my sisters at a young age would actually do chapter in my life to move on and be a good husband and hopefully a good father, to. >> host: you went on the harvard. it is not a cheap school. >> guest: i realized we were pretty poor and in order for me to go to college i was going to have to get some scholarships. and i realized i had to make sure i get the best grades to score the best on my test my freshman year of high school i committed that i would apply myself to harvard. if i get myself ready i would get a a scholarships like to go to college. my freshman year of high school i started reading is much as i could. i did a lot of research to

prepare myself to make myself qualified. doing very well. i passed a lot of ap exams and got in and they gave me nearly a full ride. my goal was accomplished. not to be a burden on my family. >> host: what advice to your mom give you? >> guest: well welcome it was more emotional support and anything else. my mom is a hard-working person. she went to college of high school. it was difficult for her to understand the paperwork and things of that nature. now she gets it down pat. she really gave me a lot of emotional support and also just making me stay focused.

while i am working and studying she made me realize are is an important focus for family making sure start time for my sisters and family. >> you are in high school get the letter nearly a full scholarship. >> guest: i was shocked. i was working that day at a hot dog stand. i knew what time the mail came. actually he came to my swearing-in. i went and saw the letter big packet which is a good sign. i called my mom and she was still at work. she started crying. i told my sisters and they went back to work. my boss was proud of me.

i i guess i went back to work that day but it was -- it was just another more step to my when i was flipping burgers that day. >> host: how do your mouse did your mouse support you over the years while you were growing up. >> guest: she was a legal secretary at a law firm for most of her life. she supported me emotionally come but she works very hard jobs as a legal secretary and then administrative secretary. those are great experiences for me growing up being able to see professional people walking around. for me it was a good example. it was about whether you can accomplish some kind of construction goal everyone in the family was carpenters

and for some reason i thought that is what i was supposed to be. of course that is good, honorable work but i did not know that there were other options. it was important. my mom taught me about the dignity of work. we did not make much but she taught me that we should be proud we are working on this jobs. she brought home and pay. we always left the house looking like a million bucks because what matters is how we carry ourselves that necessarily how much we had in the bank account. >> host: do you remember the name of the hardback hamburger stand you worked out? >> guest: absolutely, susie's. it is still there. >> host: what did you

learn about customer service >> guest: a lot of what i was doing was in the back because i was i was flipping burgers and making hotdogs. what it did teach me was because of the interactions you had everyday people come in to the restaurant from all walks of life. a lot of them are having bad days. but what but what it taught me is i need to treat everyone the same even if you are being mean that they having a great day or bad day i'm going to treat you professionally and make you the best hotdogs or italian beef sandwich or hamburger. but a lot of the other jobs i have had have always taught me, if you treat people professionally you are going to get treated the same in return. even if you are not you are still better off.

>> host: how are the burgers and what was the most popular item on the hot dog? >> guest: the hotdogs were more popular, the chicago style hot dogs. peppers on the hotdogs for which most people won't do but it was pretty good. >> host: at harvard and you withdraw to join the marine corps. >> guest: i was very drastically different from what i came from. a very rich school some grey some great students and some very middle-class students and they get along well but i had a tough adjustment. and a lot of things i look back on but but i think i had always imagined myself going to harvard. in reality, i always wanted to join the marine corps, to serve my country, and in the

back of my mind i would join the marine corps 1st and then go to college. it was a track that was going to take me somewhere and put me off of my goal. i found myself being unhappy, not getting good grades. i decided it was time to do what i wanted to i wanted to do, so i left and joined the marine reserves. you do some training and then returned to school, which is why did. i have never regretted it sense. >> host: once a marine always a marine. >> guest: absolutely. >> host: what do you remember about your time in the military? >> guest: the friends i made in the friends i lost. i got to serve with some of the -- sorry. i serve with some great men. you know. and i don't think i i would be surrounded by people that could again.

>> host: what did they teach you? >> guest: they taught me about humility. my friend stop me about, you about, you know really being, you know, there for each other. the marines taught me about discipline and organization but that was the marine corps. the marines are served with taught me about what it truly means to care about another human being you are not related to and what you are going to do to keep them alive. >> host: let me follow up on that because it was not without loss of sacrifice. can you explain? >> guest: explain what, i'm sorry? >> host: the losses and sacrifice. >> guest: i lost my best friend and a lot of platoon members. my my company lost a lot of good men in combat. you know,. you know for reasons i

think that were incorrect. we incorrect. we did not have proper armor in our vehicles. i think that i think that we were also in an area that should have had more manpower than what we had but to this day the fact that i lost such) still haunts me. >> host: as you and others in congress to be military spending and with the military has were needs how do you apply your experiences? >> guest: a look at the budget from a perspective of the ground pounder. every operation whether every operation whether it is a begins is going to involve the infantry. you know, when it comes to the budget i always look at how this is going to affect infantrymen. everything needs to be supportive of that.

when it comes to the types of airplanes i we will look at what the infantry guy needs. at the end of the day that is where most likely the ordinance will be dropping from. and then lastly i think just my perspective, it is important we fulfill our commitments especially to our military personnel are retired. efforts and talk of how we try to change or benefits to retirees and dependents and i know i know for a fact is a member as a veteran, member of the military there is nothing more disheartening to join the military where you are guaranteed certain things and then told that was not the case. we have to change because of budget priorities. it certainly is in the budget priority, how fast it into a war zone zone and how much were willing to spend on a war in the same has to happen with military benefits.

they should not be taking shortcuts. >> host: you deal with information and constituents cloudy you filtered through the data, the data letters e-mails, reports, bills that you have to read? >> guest: i don't sleep much. it is just my nature. being being motivated and stimulated by actually enjoy getting information and i don't -- most of the time what i need when i need to go deeper i we will start asking questions. for me i enjoyed. it is enjoyable the hear from my constituents. elected challenge. a lot of it is more i love my staff. i feel bad. i just do it.

don't really think about it because it's part of the job and it's enjoyable. >> host: is it what you expected so far? >> guest: to some degree yes. he kind of understand what it means to be in the minority but there are other aspects of it that i enjoyed. right now right now we are working on the colombian piece process to be helpful to the us government on that it has been a good opportunity for us to get involved. being on the national committee has been helpful defense budget, getting in the weeds on that has been enjoyable with difficult

well we found different ways to be productive. >> host: how did you meet your wife? >> guest: she bought me a date auction. >> host: you have to explain. [laughter] >> guest: well, well, she was walking back from some late-night class that she was taking and so her girlfriend on the streets walking the some event and they had not seen each other and forever so her friend invited her to come to this event command it was a date auction being done by the sororities and paternity is at harvard to benefit the september 11 -- this was right after september 11. and i happen to be auctioned off the night. and coincidentally this woman was a mutual friend of ours and we had never met. and so i started getting auctioned off and her good

friend and my good friend she urged it to bid on me. .. >>

>> i think for her it was a great feeling. and of think there is anything else we can do to reiterate how big of a job she has done. her proudest moment was to see all four of her kids graduate from college. that is very hard to do nowadays in the fact she did it by herself to show her strength and what a great mother she is. but she knows i am accomplishing a step of a sibling is a medical school

so one of my sisters becomes a doctor then she will be the favorite bed i think my mom is very proud. mostly for me but she did a great job. >> host: when you tuxedoes what was the way through your mind? >> i had three members i was thinking i am here is my charge to do my best and i was thinking about the pressure that i needed to fulfill to be a strong advocate for every day people and for veterans. >> host: how do you know, if you have achieved that? we'll show our benchmark? >> guess my facebook post.

just kidding. i guess a lot of times i feel i put it on the table and even if i fail this is the internal debt check that i have all the time. sometimes it is just looking in the mayor. what other people would be proud of pope led ted answer that honestly. >> host: being a husband and the sun and a father some day. >> guest. [laughter] hopefully. >> host: will you tell your kids about your career so far? >> that i was born in this country and i was given this

opportunity but it is only 50% you have to go the other 50% that doesn't mean i can forget everyone else that got me here. and how i can be of service to them and their families. i think especially to allow the of veterans to do their job to do their job and help their families. >> host: thank you for your time.

[inaudible conversations] cpac i am president of the national press club the leading organization for programs like this and we fight for a free press worldwide. for more information visit our web site press.org. on behalf of the members worldwide welcome to today's luncheon and also the c-span and public radio audiences. you can follow the action on twitter use the #npclunch the applause that you hear is not a lack of journalistic of a nativity.

after the speech we will have the question and answer period and i will ask as many questions as time permits. our head cast includes guest of our speaker as well as a working journalist who are also club members. each person please stand briefly as names are announced. from the audience right right, joseph martin washington and bureau chief for the omaha world herald and the national press club membership secretary. john rosenberg strategic advisor on africa policy. christopher, a fellow at the hudson institute and a guest of our speaker. , from bloomberg news said white house correspondent and former president of the national press club. , mate -- maggie insisted to

our speakers and her guest today. , madonna reporter for "usa today", vice-chairman of the national press corps speaker committee and former president of the national press club. skipping over our speaker is doris from science and health communication with the npc member who are arranged today's program. thank you. machel carter, vice president for worldwide speakers group and a guest of our speaker. paul, national security you reporter for "u.s. news and world report" in the third generation member of the national press club. jolt whitaker from the beverage news daily and the former secretary of national press club. [applause]

ayaan hirsi ali is an author and women's rights activist and former muslim and outspoken critic of the religion she renounced. her latest book "heretic" why islam needs a reformation now" says that ordinary muslims are ready for a change. in a recent essay she points to raising immigration where many hold views that americans would see as extreme. people with views such as these pose a threat to us of not because those that hold them will turn to terrorism. most will not been such attitudes imply a readiness to turn a blind eye to the use of violence and intimidation. ayaan hirsi ali was raised in a strict muslim family has survived female genital

mutilation and a civil war. her family immigrated to settle arabia then ethiopia and the dinner -- and later settled in canada after her father arranged for her to marry a cousin she fled to the netherlands and was granted asylum and leader citizenship. in 2003 she was elected to dutch parliament. one year later she collaborated on a film critical of islam's treatment of women. fran ago was assassinated and ayaan hirsi ali received death threats. she moved america in 2007 and obtained his citizenship in 2013 and co-founded her foundation. a fellow at the harvard center of international affairs and a visiting fellow at the a. e. i..

the topic of her talk today is clash of civilizations. isis, is long and the was. please join me with the warm national press club welcome to ayaan hirsi ali. [applause] >> thank you for having me back again at the national press club. i want to start by a acknowledging cruz who was a former president of the mayor can enterprise institute and among so many things he has done he brought me to america. thank you. [applause]

when i was last here four and a half years ago was invited to come to speak to you on the proposition is long is a religion of tolerance. i don't know how far back your memory extends. the you will forgive me to enjoy this moment that then i took the position that it was not a religion of tolerance it was not a religion of peace. of course, october 2010 i acknowledged there are millions of muslims who are a peace-loving and tolerant.

but i was confident that is long was not tolerated. in 2010 i published a book titled nomad and there is one chapter where i acknowledge okay i was born into is long in through that evolution or intellectual journey i was able to shed religion. not just is lot. and with my useful enthusiasm i untold if you

get liberated from hellfire you will join me again in 2010 and was disappointed that the ex muslims that night interacted with andy countered would not really jointly with my atheism. i thought if you wanted them religion it might be possible and was sinking with the way americans think if there is a problem there must be a solution. if the problem is that want to believe in a god. in 2010 to say there is a benign god. back then i was promoting the idea if you are a peace-loving and tolerant and want to be religious i

had a very naive letter written of the hearts and minds of all these millions of people who were spiritual for redemption. and fortunately today i have to admit to you that the pope did not follow my advice. there is no program, a catholic program if it is there i don't know about it. he has not involved me in it. nearly five years ago i have come to the conclusion you don't shed a religion that easily.

people are attached to their religion. and i am here to say that i have matured and i have learned and i have come across my our -- more and more muslims who instead of converting to something else and deserting their religion they keep it. and that brings me back to the statement is is long and a religion of peace and tolerance? in 2010 it was a matter of debate. and i got questions from this audience and we went back and forth and i remember saying go-ahead.

but today field there is a change. there is a shift of opinion to my side. i don't want to claim that does the triumph if you have changed your mind or come to shift your position is not because of peace or tolerance is not because i have persuaded you but events may have. i just want to blunt your list of those events just some highlights. the eric spring. -- the arabs during. i honestly think that is

open for debate because i think of it that something happened there. some to have liberal democracy. it wasn't a french evolution. but what happened is what happened to me in 2002 this person this entity that claims absolute authority who the heck is this sort who the heck are they? some countries succeed to do that some do not but the central question is what sticks out in the heads of those people that are demonstrating to allow myself to submit to

something. if you are an egyptian and reduce day who are you? with the absolute apology you have the same question if you are a wife to a husband why should i obey unconditionally? wide you have the last word mass questions? this takes you to the next level. everybody will say that is what god wants you to do it is a matter of time before we say maybe it is not with god or the profit muhammed.

the arab spring is not dismissed it is remarkable. the second to point coming from the arab spring is the elections of to be shed in egypt this seems an there is a substantial budding of the population with the agenda for political change based on sharia law or secular law of the matter how imperfect that id tunisia and it makes a choice to go with a second

government. it is fragile but it is something we need to note in my view. if we could do anything we need to help teach will survive. we also sought the election in egypt. in that instance people's supported and subscribe to a government based on sharia law. it was one year old. when many egyptians conspired to make that change. they still had that energy to make a choice between two very bad options.

sharia law that came about through the ballot box or the secular and military lot. in the egyptians went with secular lot. then we saw the civil wars iraq and syria and yemen and libya. but to be more accurate a policy more receptive arabia and iraq. in 2010 it was a completely different context. we had not seen boko haram haram, remember #bring back cover girls? -- over girls?

it was unthinkable in 2010 that the likes of al qaeda would takeover of country as large as mali but the government with france in the lead al qaeda was kicked out and some measure of order is restored but the islamic extremists and made the point. of course, the proclamation of the of caliphate that to say it is a religion of peace it is a religion and of tolerance on this side or that side but there was no caliphate. and in response is the obama administration's pledge to

degrade, destroy and through the gates of hell that particular caliphate. and even more shocking and disturbing history of individual volunteers from over 80 countries including many women and even more disturbing was the citizens from the liberal united states. in 2010 when we were discussing and debating if it is a religion of peace and tolerance i could say go-ahead do your research. but today with all of these events unfolding before your eyes i don't think a day goes by without a headline in about what is done in the

name of islam that is even more shocking. the latest good friday in kenya. i grew up in kenya. the man who masterminded that atrocity was a refugee he went to university. at least if you live there you be envious of his position. he got radicalized and today that is what he does for a living to mastermind a terrorist actions in kenya. the country that welcomed him. you only appreciate this if you are a somalian. in the context of the war the place that you go to in

the hope of the better future is not the u.s. but it is kenya. there are millions of somalis that are enjoying something better than home and to meet personally not only a deep shot but a source of shame and embarrassment that our neighbor that we repaid them in this way of life somalis to stand up. but i don't want to hold you up. you understand there holdup of position that it is not a religion of peace. not yet. not yet. that is made own evolution. of course, we are desperate

i felt that in 2010 and a still think that. for muslims do join in the christianity and don't think that will work. so the question is what needs to happen? i know if you operate as a policy baker or adviser or observer you had a list of measures of military options. of course, we have to destroy through the gates of hell with isis. i get that. of course, we understand this is the economic equation. we understand there may be

something to gain through diplomacy. but ultimately this is the ideology that one fifth of humanity believes it we cannot get away from the reality there is something within islam inherent, that inspires, incites, and mobilizes millions of people who engage in what our president calls violent extremism. so then what is the answer? for a half years later my position is if we accept that position it is not a

religion of peace then what do you do? i struggle with this question for a long time. i thought instead of pretending there are several is lawn except there are three sets of muslims purview have says many sets as you like we look down 1/5 of humanity but i would describe as with the prophet founded is long -- is lomb -- ayaan hirsi ali to give up your gods he was preaching he was preaching peace in there are muslims

and that is the majority of muslims when they reflect on their religions. but then there is the second set. to go from mecca to medina. he becomes a warlord a legislature and a leader for there is a law for that period but in 2015 if you want to apply mohammed's moral guidance fins you will end up with the islamic state or al qaeda at zero or boko haram. then we have a small group of people or individuals with islam today.

i did not see them in 2010 but i do now who say there is something within our own scripture that provides too much inspiration to too many bad people. what do we do about it? they are struggling at for the change. and here is the interesting thing. if we move the debate may it doesn't need an exodus but something else, a reformation judy is the winter reformation and islam meets ago through the reformation so for the conformist what needs to change? when you turn on the television and you feel

yourself inspired and hardened of the current president of egypt and know how he came to power and he says from the 1,000 year-old university in egypt the looks of the cleric made in evolution and religion what does he mean? what does he want? >> i don't know. i just know the very fact he is doing that is new and incredibly brave. and i have five. the leadership but don't think any change will come from them but it gives them the benefit of the doubt.

but they're looking at five amendments. those that were born into is low behalf to change our attitude toward the car run. -- chiron it must be in its context except to be inspired and it is problematic. number two the second amendment of a bite to make with islam growing up as a young muslim girl we invest far more in life after death sale of life before death that we have a change of priorities.

number three per kosher real law. -- sharia law. it is under the kingdom of saudi arabia with a first manifestation there is a lesser-known concept if you want to understand the worst manifestation of what that looks like of the images of the afghan a woman in some random man says she did this and they come up to linter. but then of course, the holy war with the jihad.

if these are made given the time we have i cannot delve into every one of them. but they are in the book. i think we will have of separation of politics in it is long. -- islam and that is the question what do we do to help that process? we have to side with those individuals and those groups to bring about that kind of change. this is my commitment. and now i welcome your questions. [applause]

>> reforming of major world religion as you describe seems to be a huge undertaking are you planting a seed for centuries down the road where is there a reformation. >> but this is the process for i wish i were. to uic any hope? i give you a few examples. if you are living within saudi arabia you must have

had towhee tweets about than doubts of the prophet. not only the saudis for those that have access to the internet so it is to islam to the christian reformation but if you are in tunisia today and your source of income was because of tourism you have a vested interest immediate and dire to keep up that tourist industry so what you see is the urban elite that is

muslim of varying degrees but invested to not have sharia law because of that is applied they are out of a job and cannot put bread on the table. it is important to note that. during the reformation that had an interest to reform the church. finally i see the state's all of them. that before the arab spring they are coming to understand so to take it head-on. i've mentioned in the

egyptian president put the government of soviet armed arabia declared the muslim brotherhood as an entity if you know, anything, they want sharia law but by peaceful means then those that don't want it, these governments like the king of jordan is from islamic extremism. the time is right to say maybe now is when it will take hold and most importantly of all there are individuals who are risking their lives literally. all of these combined into a wonderful opportunity.

>> host: is there an individual out there whose voice could rise above to be heard to move forward? or is it somebody that needs to emerge down the road to make that happen? and what can americans or non muslims do to levant's this cause? >> guest: we live in a world of order rethink individual will come we will rally around the individual. with that line of thinking you think maybe who knows. then you have all muslims subscribe but i really think in the world that we live in it is not going to happen

like that. there is no hierarchy. is flat all men are equal before god. you can see that has the advantage but also the disadvantage because the way they stand you have a choice only between obeying the leader with the cleric but in the modern world after seeing the grass roots movement i personally think it is best to invest it is all very young. way don't discriminate between who is really interested in meaningful change or who was just pretending. so when i have three

individuals before me i debate a woman in she has shown herself with her program with the american government as a leader of a change for she has not convinced me because as we debate she stars with islamist and that is the end of conversation. so we need to talk to individuals and that is a beginning. from there you ask the question if it is imperfect then what do we need to do? then bring them together. many are very advanced. some of them are in government.

that we have a vested interest in that then go about the subject with the political ideology that is religious in many ways. but not a problem that is new to america. but we choose not to do it. >> host: you made reference to isis as a threat that needs to be dealt with quickly and efficiently. what do you think of the u.s. approach can be obama administration said no boots on the ground to do with the way they do with now without committing troops? is that the right approach? [laughter] i see in our approach to the middle east today, to use

the most politically correct word that i can is a coherent. but made just give you an example. we fight isis alongside and iran. senator arabia in the other governments are our allies they wage a proxy war in yemen and syria but we are supporting and opposing them we have nuclear negotiations with iran and they're out there saying death to america and death to israel. it is not, and our policies

and approach to the middle east is incoherent. what was called the islamic civilization unfortunately millions of muslims find themselves with the islamic extremist. i think we need to take a step back in a more coherent way. i don't think they can influence that but whatever we do the next candidate or congress our next president does we have a number of policies on the table that americans are not comfortable with there is military or economic where we're the most uncomfortable

is a we're dealing with ideology. i still think we have not made any effort to invest to dissuade the people so that we have the alternative. locale but the islamic extremists are saying. whether skier or elsewhere -- here or elsewhere america is greek and american ones to come to take your oriole they just want to feed their consumers.

to know vladimir katchis is about to cover isis. looking at the people that they have to beheaded. we saw the journalist they deserved it but there's was a young woman from arizona who went there probably against the advice of her parents to help the people of syria and they killed her. that is something of a blake to advertise to the rest of though world to say how many american volunteers are there across the world selflessly trying to help how much money do we spend?

but that is america. so to know about the situation with the gays or blacks or female molestation. of that people take only one side of this story. and what it fails to do with the most philanthropic nation in though rolled the don't just give money but the time. i have spent time with silicon valley people but to

innovate and to invent solutions. what they're facing is not the sectarian war. that is a big public-housing -- big problem. is a campaign of information. and not stereotypes. >> the reference to the word fired lynch extremism to describe the threat. whity think the administration wants to stick to that terminology? you do not produce a goal is to not encourage the and

millions of peaceful muslims out there, is that a bad goal will? >> it is the administration before that and before that which is that we, as the united states of america that people who use is on as a religion we are not at war with them their blood to convince muslims that we are not at war with you. which iran it would be very different. we're not a war which islam.

it demonstrates a restraint we can be but we are not. here is what frustrates me. we are not seeing the necessary reciprocity. but allies like the government of saudi arabia. if you give them a thing you're they will take though holding and. analyze the negotiations with iran. the more we give the more they take so with this negotiating context so that doesn't mean to go to war but negotiate differently. i don't care of the president says i don't care.

that is out it was agreed to in the nature tubes that euphemistic if those issues. i don't care what he calls it. what i care is the policy all come. if the president picks up the phone to call the king of saudi arabia about the gentleman who will get 1,000 lashes if he is lashed then has the most powerful country in the world, we are being taken for a ride. these negotiations and believe that to the experts.

to be ultimately pessimistic it is the next and the next if western society finds itself in big trouble it is dead because islam is stronger or destructive it is because weirdo longer confident. [applause] >> some of your critics say your criticism of islam crosses the line so one year ago when they had brandeis university to honor you would be similar to awarding white supremacist or in

anti-semites. brandeis' withdrew plans to give you an honorary degree. how do you respond to the suggestion the your criticism of is on amounts to prejudice and intolerance? >> someone to highlight the have a hidden agenda by a woman who was a journalist for the "washington post". she wrote a wonderful essay on the honor brigade she had been in jiri of a flake you all to read it and it is unfortunate that they submitted and caved but it

isn't only brandeis. there are so many of our institutions taken in by the honor brigade to take that essay so why you criticizes from january of this year. >>. >> for with the majority of violence 70% to is one quota but that may have changed but the was responsible for a majority of violence does this excuse u.s. government

to contribute to the violence in the middle east? and they cite the iraq invasion so has the last play a role of increasing violence? >> with the iraq invasion if you want to use that policy as an excuse for the emergence of isis and al qaeda then that is one thing. but the person who puts that occupation on the table right now how we can stop it just once touche shutdown the debates. of course, there are policies and i really think it is extremely important

and it happens all the time to analyze several policies and to change them. but i have seen in the debate about united states foreign policy is robust and whichever way the people of america have a say. the people of china do not have assay of their foreign policy. in the muslim world the people do not have to say. so peace to not allow them were to talk about the human rights in they do not allow them to use those policies

to change the subject. [applause] >> host: a couple of questioners wanted to drill down that violence in the name of islam is endemic but where is the problem? they're religion itself or that practice of today's muslims? is islam not only a religion but a combination of political system or military philosophy social system or more? >> guest: my book "heretic" why islam needs a reformation now" the data. thank you. [laughter] [applause] >> host: the recent terrible attack in the

united states to do you think there is a likelihood to see some of those devastating attacks were reducing, security and other governments have taken the necessary precautions? did make the fbi or cia all agencies have done a remarkable job. we need to applaud them the united states of america says we will not let this happen again ever. but the policies through 2009 there are other members of the military.

but if you look and evaluate them trillions of dollars to have day incident like nine levin ever have been here a again. there is the determination that the enemy has these resources. . .