General Clark's lacks confidence in Admin's Iraq Strategy

[FrenchieCat]

Clark not confident in administration's Iraq strategies
By Tim Mccahill, Associated Press, 6/9/2005 14:59

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark said Thursday that the rebuilding of Iraq could be hampered by the Bush administration's failure to follow through on measures necessary for success.

Clark, who was a candidate for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, also said he expects the Army to announce a substantial pullout of troops from the region by the end of the summer.

"Barring some vast systemic change in Iraq in which the reception of the troops ... was entirely different, I think it's clear that we need to reduce the size of the forces there," Clark told The Associated Press.

The administration has not set a timetable for withdrawing troops, though Vice President Dick Cheney recently predicted fighting in Iraq will end before Bush leaves office in 2009.

snip
He also said the administration hasn't dealt effectively with Iraq's neighbors. "The broad outlines of how to succeed are clear," Clark said. "The question is, can the administration do a good enough job to make us successful and that remains uncertain."

White House declined to comment.
snip
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/160/region/Clark_not_confident_in_adminis:.shtml
(registration required)

[burrowowl]

1. Who in the hell isConfident expect Bu$hCo and are they really? eom

[wtmusic]

2. What is Clark doing these days

besides wishing he hadn't taken all those CNN commentary gigs in the runup to the war?

[FrenchieCat]

3. Actually, I think he's glad that he did those commentaries....

Even if CNN did end up tossing him off the air. It was good that Americans saw one Retired General, who certainly could give us a blow by blow of what was happening MILITARILY...But also voiced his concerns on the bad policies from the CIVILIANS IN CHARGE.

Ya know...the "Support the troups, but don't support the civilians in Charge's policy" type of concept that many Democrats (look in the mirror quick!) don't seem to be able to grasp....which is why the Republicans think that the flag and National Security Strength belongs to them... and one of the reasons why we lost the election (see--Bin Laden Tape on the October 29th--election Surprise).

I especially enjoyed the commentaries where Clark defended Michael Moore's First Amendment right to Free speech...right there on CNN ...when none of the Democrats were anywhere to be found (guess some were in between their legs busy looking for their BALLS!)

Plus I think that he's glad that he had a voice....and was able to say a number of important things, including what the DSM said...before anyone knew that the memo existed:

Bush used 9/11 as a pretext to implement Iraq invasion plan

Clark told me how he learned of a secret war scheme within the Bush Administration, of which Iraq was just one piece. Shortly after 9/11, Clark visited the Pentagon, where a 3-star general confided that Rumsfeld's team planned to use the 9/11 attacks as a pretext for going to war against Iraq. Clark said, "Rather than searching for a solution to a problem, they had the solution, and their difficulty was to make it appear as though it were in response to the problem." Clark was told that the Bush team, unable or unwilling to fight the actual terrorists responsible for 9/11, had devised a 5-year plan to topple the regimes in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Iran, and Sudan.
Clark's central contention-that Bush used 9/11 as a pretext to attack Saddam-has been part of the public debate since well before the Iraq war. It is rooted in the advocacy of the Project for the New American Century, a neo-conservative think tank that had been openly arguing for regime change in Iraq since 1998.
Source: The New Yorker magazine, "Gen. Clark's Battles"
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Today, he was on the Ed Schultz radio show....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1842253&mesg_id=1842253
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This week-end, he's in New Hampshire...
THE GENERAL'S RETURN
Retired Gen. Wes Clark will return to New Hampshire on June 12 for an appearance at the Manchester City Democratic Committee's annual Flag Day fund-raiser. The location has yet to be determined.

Usually a big event on the political calendar, the committee's fund-raiser has attracted Al Gore, John Kerry and John Edwards in the recent past. This year, former Manchester Mayor Sylvio Dupuis will be honored.
http://www.theunionleader.com/Articles_show.html?article=54283&archive=1
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IN OTHER NEWS.....DATED JUNE 9TH....

Retired general voices support for shipyard
By Associated Press
Thursday, June 9, 2005 - Updated: 01:40 PM EST

CONCORD, N.H. - Retired Army General Wesley Clark is speaking out for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which the Pentagon has recommended closing.

In an interview with The Associated Press this morning Clark said the shipyard is a "unique facility."

The former NATO commander and one-time presidential candidate has said the Pentagon's plan to close military bases around the country will isolate the military from the American people and the rest of the world.

Clark is scheduled to be in New Hampshire for a Democratic fund-raiser.
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=88708

Clark plays down potential presidential ambitions
By Associated Press
Thursday, June 9, 2005 - Updated: 01:41 PM EST

CONCORD, N.H. - Former presidential hopeful and retired Army General Wesley Clark will be in New Hampshire this weekend. But he's playing down any speculation about what his visit to the state that holds the first-in-the-nation presidential primary every four years might mean.

In an interview with The Associated Press today, Clark said he hasn't ruled anything out.

snip
Clark will be the featured speaker at a Democratic fundraiser.
http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=88709

you can always check out his schedule at his securingamerica.com website.....if you really want to know :hi:

[FrenchieCat]

5. Where you going to respond?

to my comments....here or on the other thread where you attempted to start a Flamewar?

Enquiring minds just want to know. :shrug:

[Justice]

4. It is great he is in NH for several days

I am going to the event on Sunday night, and am pleased that Wes is there all weekend drumming up support and interest.