Reply #18: Interesting. I note, though, that she's not willing to name her

[Mairead]

former affiliations. That seems misguided, to me--it's not as though anyone was asking her to 'use their names to endorse' Clark or anyone else. She's claiming that Clark is okay because of her experience and affiliations, but she won't name them. Without those links, her testimony seems less credible.

Steph4Clark, I think it's a good idea to write a letter to the editor. I worked with a number of different organizations, and not to sound evasive, but I can't use their names to endorse a presidential candidate unless I get permission because it's essential that they remain politically impartial. I am speaking in my personal capacity, and I think if you speak to anyone who worked seriously on behalf of victims in Bosnia, they will tell you something very similar to this. It's very easy to get positive testimonies about General Clark and I think it would be a good idea to incorporate them into a letter to the editor. CP, please don't drop your support because of this. I sympathise with your impulse (and thank you for feeling so strongly about creeps like Mladic), but honestly, General Clark is one of the people who stopped some of the worst war criminals of our day from continuing with their slaughter. It's really important that you take the time to learn about the big picture in the Bosnian war if you're not familiar with the details.

Posted by: Ghia at September 22, 2003 02:55 PM

An interesting paragraph:

Ironically, it was in the Balkans that Clark suffered one of his few embarrassments. While trying to build bridges with Serb leaders, Clark lunched with Serb commander and accused mass-murderer Ratko Mladic. Impulsively, the soft-spoken and ever-smiling Clark exchanged hats with Mladic and accepted an engraved service pistol, only to find the Serb press waiting, cameras ready, to record the apparent show of support as he emerged from the meeting.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/index/kosovo/koso061.htm


What I find puzzling is: if he was Director of Plans for the JCS, what was he doing over there? Rather than someone more intimately involved, I mean.