Clark: Bush burning valuable military resources in Iraq

[robbedvoter]

Clark: Bush burning valuable military resources in Iraq
By Kate McCann, Associated Press Writer, 1/1/2004
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/clark/articles/2004/01/01/clark_bush_burning_valuable_military_resources_in_iraq/
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- The war in Iraq has cost America billions of dollars in equipment and weakened the Army's ability to respond to other threats, according to Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark.




Clark said the cost of rebuilding and refurbishing tanks and aircrafts will reach into billions of dollars after the mileage consumption and other wear on military equipment is calculated.

"We know now this war in Iraq is consuming the United States Army's readiness to respond to another crisis somewhere else in the world," he said while campaigning at a Manchester police station.

The retired Army General has lashed out against the war since he launched his campaign in September.

"Why do we want Iraq? If we want oil, we're going to buy oil. We're stuck there and the terrorists there are using our presence as a way of killing Americans," Clark said.

[NNN0LHI]

1. This is true. We are really screwing up in Iraq

Many were saying this at DU months ago. And they were right.

Don

[Zech Marquis]

2. and furthermore

if NK, China, or someone else decides to do something, the US is in no shape or condition to really do anything about it. Not enough troops available--most are either in iraq, going to Iraq, or just back form Iraq and have been worn out, their equipment is worn out, no one wiling to help out either...and god help us if there is another 9/11 scale attack here...

I think you'll see a whole lot of military votes NOT going to *--the Veterans are already PO when Rummy just jacked up their medical drug premiums (from free or very low, which they deserve--to like $9 to $20 for each bottle of medicine they get at military hospitals!)

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. What a deal

W is so brilliant, he's said he would run this country like a business, the MBA president. What he forgot to tell everyone was the only kind of business he knows how to run are bankrupt ones.

Keep in mind that in 3 short years the price per barrel of oil has gone from $9 to over $30 per barrel. Add to that the fact that the current prices do not include the billions we are spending in Iraq and the 500 American lives and 22,000 wounded that Bu$hCo has wasted in the quest for dominance of the world's resources. When all is said and done the current cost of oil is astronomical.

Now, add that to the cost to our ability to defend ourselves and our national security and you can see that we are in big trouble. The neocons are having dreams of moving on to Syria and Iran but someone forgot to tell them they don't have the ways and means at the moment. They used it all up in Iraq and have left the US in a very vulnerable position as a result.

[xchrom]

4. when all you know how to do

is wreck stuff -- this is what you get.

[BootinUp]

5. I liked Clarks one liner at the end

"When I am President, I will go over to Iraq," Clark said. "And it won't be to deliver turkeys in the middle of the night.


LOL

[truthspeaker]

6. nice, but should have phrased it differently:

"We know now this war in Iraq is consuming the United States Army's readiness to respond to another crisis somewhere else in the world," he said while campaigning at a Manchester police station.

He should have said "a real crisis".

[robbedvoter]

8. Disagree. Iraq wasn't, but is now a real crisis. W made it so.

It has to be addressed as such.

[robbedvoter]

7. My letter to the Globe:

I want to thank Kate McCann for an excellent coverage of General Clark's views about the war in Iraq.
While it was fair and relevant to get the NH Republican Party's viewpoint on this, it may have behooved Ms McCann to give the general a chance to respond to it, rather than let it hang as the conclusion of the piece.
The general may have then countered with some of the ideas presented here:
http://clark04.com/issues/iraqstrategy/
And the readers would have been fully informed.
Again, thank you for covering this most important issue.
Sincerely,

[GRClarkesq]

9. Who are we going to invade next?

Noone, since we have few forces left. Enought to maybe mount a defense somewhere, but not go on the offensive.

The other "Axis" powers have to be hoping Iraq ties down significant US forces for a long time.

[BootinUp]

10. Listening to the pundits and repubs

You'd think Libya figured it was them.

[GRClarkesq]

11. True, but I think

Khadafy just got tired of the whole game and figures he can get paid if he plays ball. He has no WMD equipped enemies, except Israel, but Israel is not going to invade Libya.

[Ernesto]

13. Remember when Nixon "opened the door" to China?t

Chimp will now take credit for Libya & Iran... Thank you very much.

[RamboLiberal]

12. Clark is totally correct on this

I've seen this reported a few other times - though not enough by our Michael Jackson/Scott Petersen obsessed media.

Way to go General Clark! Love this comment:
"When I am President, I will go over to Iraq," Clark said. "And it won't be to deliver turkeys in the middle of the night.

And damn I'd love to bitch-slap Repug women like this one - wonder if she's too old to enlist. And since I'm female I don't have to be a gentleman like Wes. From the article:

But Julie Teer, a spokeswoman for the New Hampshire Republican Party, says Clark has been unable to articulate a coherent foreign policy position on Iraq.

"When it comes to Wesley Clark talking about Iraq, New Hampshire voters have heard nothing but double talk and anything abut straight talk," Teer said. "To take criticism from Wesley Clark on Iraq is like getting a lecture on sportsmanship from Mike Tyson."

[velocity]

14. Remember Bush's "Two Division not ready" to Gore

Well there was an article posted that at the time of the rotation, two divisions in Iraq will not be ready to do anything for some time once they get back. Major equipment issues.

[GRClarkesq]

15. The rotated divisions

will need to reequip before being ready for combat again.

To be fair, they have been on extended combat operations which takes a toll.

The factory which makes replacement tracks for Bradles IFVs is working around the clock to make replacements.

[rustydog]

16. the whole purpose of iraq was the oil and

an empire in the middle east.

To repay the military industrial complex in the same process is just icing on the cake.

This is a humongous money-maker for the military industrial complex...tanks, jeeps, hummers all need spare parts, reapir and upkeep ( taxpayer dollars) fuel is needed for the vehicles, aircraft and to heat quarters in the winter...who makes the mre's?
Not uncle sam!

This is one complete cash cow (mad-cow for that matter) for Bush corporate supporters. Halliburton, brown and root, carlysle etc.