Clark writes to Rumsfled - protests closing of schools for Army families

[StephNW4Clark]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3347501,00.html

"Clark Decries Pentagon Schools Proposal

Tuesday November 4, 2003 4:46 PM


By RON FOURNIER

AP Political Writer

BOSTON (AP) - Retired Army General Wesley Clark criticized a Pentagon proposal to close some schools on military bases, calling the idea an example of the Bush administration ``gouging away benefits'' owed to U.S. troops.

``To be talking about closing these schools when we're in the fix we're in now really shows a lack of sensitivity. It's petty, particularly given what's going on in the U.S. Army,'' Clark said in an interview hours before joining other Democratic presidential candidates in a debate here.

The Army Times reported in Monday's editions that the Defense Department is completing a study on whether to close or transfer control of 58 schools it operates on 14 military bases in the continental United States.

Clark compared the proposal to making reductions in veterans hospitals and commissaries, where military personnel can shop cheaply."