The Official Wesley Clark for Secretary of Defense string. The right person. The right time.

[99th_Monkey]

Near as I can tell, the RePukes must just be ASKING for Obama to
nominate Clark, since they don't like the Republican that Obama first
nominated,

I don't know of any "dirt" anyone has on Clark, that would preclude
him from serious consideration. Does anyone?

The most "contriversial" thing Clark's done, according to Wikipedia
anyway, is to speak out for Obama's presidential run in '08.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Clark

What say you DU? Clark for DoD Secretary?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. He'd be fine, but I don't see Obama backing down on Hagel.

And he should not back down. The GOPers should not be allowed to win.

Anyhow, the GOPers would oppose Clark, too, not that they'd have a good reason. They will oppose any Obama nominee, just because.

[99th_Monkey]

4. I thought I saw that Hegal was definitely not going to get confirmed by Senate.

maybe I got that wrong? I'll google into it. I don't want
to be suggesting anyone else prematurely, for sure.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. The GOPers have got a sort of procedural Kabuki theatre thing going on.

As I understand it, once the Senate reconvenes, the nomination will come up for a vote, and he'll be confirmed. This filibuster was basically an episode of really pathetic dick-waving by McCain and his Mini-Me, Lindsey Graham, who claim to want more information about Benghazi - as to which Hagel had no involvement whatsoever. It's just a delaying tactic so we can all see how important and powerful those two little creeps are. He will eventually be confirmed.

[99th_Monkey]

16. That would be nice. But just in case.

I hope Obama keeps Clark in mind, to back-stop the Hagel nomination.

[99th_Monkey]

17. That would be nice. But just in case.

I hope Obama keeps Clark in mind, to back-stop the Hagel nomination.

[elleng]

13. McCain and linsley have said Hagel will get it,

notwithstanding their b.s. of today.

[99th_Monkey]

9. I dunno. These links seem to suggest that Hagel's a no-go

Thanks to Sen. Reid, who didn't have the balls to put a stop to the filibuster nonsense in the Senate.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/14/republicans-senate-block-hagel-nomination

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/us-obama-nominations-hagel-idUSBRE91C1K320130215

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130213/DEFREG02/302130020/Republicans-Will-Filibuster-Hagel-Nomination-59-Vote-Expected-Friday?odyssey=nav%7Chead

[LiberalAndProud]

18. Did you see this?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/14/mccain-satisfied-with-wh-response-on-benghazi-negotiating-to-end-filibuster-without-a-vote/

[HERVEPA]

30. Geez stop. You don't know what you're talking about.

[Purveyor]

2. Pristina International Airport incident

Pristina International Airport incident

One of Clark's most debated decisions during his SACEUR command was his attempted operation to attack Russian troops at Pristina International Airport immediately after the end of the Kosovo War. A joint NATO-Russia peacekeeping operation was supposed to police Kosovo. Russia wanted their peacekeeping force to operate independent of NATO, but NATO refused. British forces were supposed to occupy Pristina International Airport, but a contingent of Russian troops arrived before they did and took control of the airport.

Clark called then-Secretary General of NATO Javier Solana, and was told "you have transfer of authority" in the area. General Clark then issued an order for the NATO troops to attack and "overpower" the armed Russian troops, but Captain Blount leading the British troops questioned this order,[81] and was supported in this decision by the British commander of the Kosovo Force, General Mike Jackson, who refused to sanction the attack, reportedly saying "I'm not going to start the Third World War for you."[82][83]

Jackson has said he refused to take action because he did not believe it was worth the risk of a military confrontation with the Russians, instead insisting that troops encircle the airfield. After two days of standoff and negotiations, NATO agreed to an independent Russian peacekeeping force, and Russia relinquished control of the airport.

The refusal was criticized by some senior U.S. military personnel, with American general Hugh Shelton calling Jackson's refusal "troubling," and hearings in the United States Senate suggested it may amount to insubordination, with Senator John Warner suggesting holding hearings regarding whether the refusal was legal and potentially changing those rules if it was.[84] British Chief of the Defence Staff Charles Guthrie agreed with Jackson and told Clark this on the day Jackson refused the order.[85]

MORE...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Clark#Pristina_International_Airport_incident

[Fawke Em]

5. Oh, the one even Gen. Michael Jackson says was no

big deal?

That one?

[Purveyor]

20. "I'm Not Going To Start Third World War For You," Jackson Told Clark

Behind the scenes battle over Pristina airport between British adn US genereals comes to 1

guardian.co.uk, Monday 2 August 1999 10.11 EDT

Nato supreme commander General Wesley Clark is not being allowed to fade away quietly. Days after the Clinton administration relieved him of his command two months early, Newsweek is reporting that the victor of Kosovo was blocked from sending paratroopers to Pristina airport to pre-empt an unexpected Russian advance.

Lieutenant-general Sir Michael Jackson overruled General Clark because the British commander did not want to spark a clash with the Russians.

"I'm not going to start Third World War for you," General Jackson told the US commander, according to Newsweek. In the hours that followed General Clark's order, both men sought political backing for their position, but only General Jackson received it.

News of the clash between the British and US commanders comes just days after the US snubbed General Clark by ordering him to step down next year, two months early, to make way for Air Force General Joseph Ralston, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

The move is widely seen as a rebuke for the man who led Nato to victory, but who clashed repeatedly with his superiors because he favoured more aggressive tactics. General Clark, for example, pressed for the use of Apache attack helicopters, but his wish was denied amid fears of American casualties.

MORE...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/1999/aug/02/balkans3

[Fawke Em]

23. And, when interviewed during Clark's primary run, Jackson said it

was "no big deal."

Unfortunately, one can never find that on the web, but I keenly remember it from back in the day.

[MrSlayer]

3. He should have been the first choice in 2009.

He could do any job, State, Defense, NSA, Energy, literally anything. Why this great mind has been kept out of the cabinet is beyond me.

[elleng]

10. DAMN RIGHT!

[Fawke Em]

6. I was for it before now!

KICK!

[elleng]

8. Hey, Fawke!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

[Fawke Em]

24. Thank you! And, to you, too!

Help me out, btw, don't you remember that Gen. Jackson interview when Clark was running where he said Pristina wasn't really that big of a deal?

[elleng]

26. Yes, and there was more to it than that;

thought of checking it out, but didn't. Not just not a big deal, but the whole story mischaracterized, I think.

Haven't found a particular yet, but check this out, bunch of Wes quotes: http://www.quotesdaddy.com/author/Wesley+Clark

More, not entirely satisfactory except for final paragraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1562161/Gen-Sir-Mike-Jackson-My-clash-with-Nato-chief.html

[elleng]

7. I've wanted Wes to be SecD or SecS or NSA forever,

but for some reason PrezO has seemed to ignore him, from what's apparent to the public anyway.

There's no 'dirt' on Wes, but sure don't see repugs supporting him, as he's distanced himself from them, never registered R, and clearly registered D.
P.S., he's about as progressive as one can be, in addition to understanding economics, foreign policy, and military matters.

[rdharma]

11. If the Republicans are pushing for Clark......

........ then they've got something up their sleeves.

Hagel is a much better choice in any case.

[elleng]

15. Not 'much better,' imo,

but agree if they ARE, which I doubt, they've got somethings up their sleeves.

[99th_Monkey]

19. WHO said RePukes are "pushing Clark"?? certainly not me.

unless you mean where I say, "the RePukes must just be ASKING for Obama to
nominate Clark". <-- this was rhetorical, you know as in being a little sarcastic.

Here, does this help?

[Fawke Em]

29. The Republicans aren't pushing for Clark.

The OP is... and so am I.

I know I'm not a Republican and highly doubt the OP is, either.

[zonkers]

14. Maybe he can turn the cabinet post into a reality show.

[TwilightGardener]

21. I like Clark, but that is not going to happen.

[Purveyor]

28. I liked him as a Fox News "military and foreign affairs analyst"...but that is about it.

Post-2004 campaign

Clark continued to speak in support of Kerry (and the eventual Kerry/Edwards ticket) throughout the remainder of the 2004 presidential campaign, including speaking at the 2004 Democratic National Convention on the final evening.[124] He founded his current political action committee, WesPAC, in April 2004.[2] Fox News Channel announced in June 2005 that they had signed General Clark as a military and foreign affairs analyst.[125] He joined the Burkle Center for International Relations at UCLA as a senior fellow.[126] A managing partner of the companies that support the Center, Ronald Burkle, described Clark's position as "illuminat[ing] the center's research" and "teaching [the] contemporary role of the United States in the international community."[127]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,97454,00.html

[Angry Dragon]

22. Who gives a damn what the republicans want

THEY LOST

[99th_Monkey]

25. You apparently misconstrued my OP

do really I need a sarcasm smilie next to where I say
"the RePukes must just be ASKING for Obama to
nominate Clark"?

Here's one for you just in case

[Angry Dragon]

27. Thank You .......... I always wanted one of those

[Honeycombe8]

31. What makes you think he's on the radar at all? Has the admin. said anything?

Have you heard anywhere that Clark's on the radar? Isn't he on tv now? If so, that pretty much precludes him from a political office.

[99th_Monkey]

32. No. I just pulled it out of my nowhere.

Last edited Fri Feb 15, 2013, 06:36 AM - Edit history (1)

literally.

Out of thin blue air.

Please note: no sarcasm smilie in sight.