Newsweek Interview: Gen. Wesley Clark

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

NEWSWEEK INTERNATIONAL

July 14 issue — For a self-described “nonpolitical” person, Gen. Wesley K. Clark finds himself in an unusual position: considering a run for the White House. Earlier this year, a grass-roots organization started a campaign to persuade the four-star general to run in 2004. Clark recently received more than a thousand letters from supporters in New Hampshire urging him to run, and last week draftwesleyclark.com opened its national headquarters in Washington, D.C.

FOR DEMOCRATS LOOKING to take back the Oval Office, Clark’s resume is a godsend—he spent 34 years in the military and served as NATO Supreme Allied Commander and commander in chief of the U.S. European Command from 1997 to May 2000. Clark has not yet decided to take the plunge, but his name has got America buzzing. NEWSWEEK’s Michael Hastings asked for his views on how Washington is handling its global role. Excerpts:

HASTINGS: What could you bring to table that the other candidates haven’t?
CLARK: I’ve never really addressed that issue. I’m considering this candidacy because a lot of people have confidence in me and have asked me to consider it. To me, it’s really about the issues. I saw it starting to go wrong before the <2000> election. I met with Condi Rice. She told me she believed that American troops shouldn’t be keeping the peace—they were the only ones who could kill people and conquer countries, and that’s what they should be focused on doing. What she was telling me that she, as a potential Republican national-security adviser, didn’t support our engagement in Europe. So I saw it going wrong from there. Then, as the administration took office, I saw more and more what I believed were misunderstandings and missed opportunities.

-cont-

http://www.msnbc.com/news/934709.asp

[RememberJohn]

1. He SOUNDS like he wants the job...

[Mz Pip]

2. What a lovely

skewer of Bush's aircraft carrier stunt. Clark looks better and better.

MzPip
:dem:

[tabasco]

3. Had Condi Rice pegged as a dumbass from Day One

I wonder if Clark foresaw how bad the train wreck would be. Sure hope he runs. During the worst times in our nation's history, great men have stepped forward to help us overcome.

[VolcanoJen]

4. What he says about Condi is newsmaking in its own right

In the linked article, in response to the question, "What could you bring to the table that the other candidates haven't, Clark responded,

I’ve never really addressed that issue. I’m considering this candidacy because a lot of people have confidence in me and have asked me to consider it. To me, it’s really about the issues. I saw it starting to go wrong before the <2000> election. I met with Condi Rice. She told me she believed that American troops shouldn’t be keeping the peace—they were the only ones who could kill people and conquer countries, and that’s what they should be focused on doing. What she was telling me that she, as a potential Republican national-security adviser, didn’t support our engagement in Europe. So I saw it going wrong from there. Then, as the administration took office, I saw more and more what I believed were misunderstandings and missed opportunities.

This is an absolute bombshell of a comment, and I'm sure Gen. Clark's comments just threw the White House into a tizzy. Now this, to me, is just plain gutsy. Other candidates have thrown lobs at the President (albeit softballs), but I can't think of anyone who's called out Condoleeza Rice's role in this entire debaucle. That's just fascinating to me, and it's also fascinating to me the way Gen. Clark went right to that Condi comment as an answer to a rather unrelated question. It was like he wanted to get it out there, his criticism of this administration's diplomacy.

Gen. Clark impresses me more each time I hear from him. Count me among the (temporarily) smitten.

- Jennifer (haven't found my candidate yet.)

ON EDIT: freakin' typos

[indictrichardperle]

5. Condi is frightening

the parents of US troops should hear that, gawd she is such a national treasure :puke:

I can barely see Richard Perle's lips move every time she speaks.......whew what a know-nothing puppet for the Straussian neo-cons.

[absolutezero]

15. Straussian neocons?

Don't tell me you listen to anything Lyndon LaRouche says other than "George Bush is a bad president" like everyone else with an iq over 50 does.

[Julien Sorel]

6. All right, this interview is it. I'm on board the Clark train.

He kicks ass in this interview, and he has Clinton's gift of being able to insult people without coming across as unduly nasty. My biggest concern, that he is too smart for this electorate, seems to not be an issue, either, at least in this interview. I absolutely love this line:

The world expects something more of an American president than to prance around on a flight deck dressed up like pilot. He’s expected to be a leader. That’s my fundamental issue with it. It doesn’t reflect the gravitas of the office. Furthermore, it’s a little phony.

This is lethal stuff, and Clark, with his military background, can pull it off easily. And he's not running strictly as an ex-military person, but talks about creating jobs and the like:

A strong America is not strong only because of its military. Our strength comes from a robust, diverse economy and an engaged citizenry, and values, and a structure that other nations admire and emulate. The military is just one component of U.S. power.

Exactly the kind of understanding that is totally lacking from Jackass Bush and his crew.

[Kahuna]

8. Yea Billy!!!!!!!!

You can voice your support to draft Wesely Clark at:

http://www.draftwesleyclark.com

:hi:

[loyalsister]

7. Condi and Bush are SOULMATES!

That's just the kind of warped shit I'd expect to hear from him. Actually, it seems like I read that she assembled his foreign policy team and had a hand in choosing him as a candidate. I have thought for a long time that he was chosen partly because of his lack of empathy. The PNAC handlers knew they wouldn't have to worry about their figure head weeping over collateral damage or even U.S. soldier casualties even if he wasn't enthusiastic about the whole thing.

[molly]

21. Bull - empathy - watch his eyes - listen to him

ever known anyone trained as an officer - they don't show emotion.

[loyalsister]

24. huh?

Since when was Bush an officer? Watch his eyes? I think the smirk is what is most revealing.

[mainer]

9. I love this guy

He speaks my language.

[leftwingnut]

10. I like Clark...but...

...I like Dean/Clark even better! that's the ticket I want. Just curious, what was Clark's view of invading Iraq, BEFORE the war? To come out talking now, after the fact, is easy....what was he saying before?

[northernsoul]

13. I agree that he is more VP material

I'm not sure how much domestic policy experience he can actually bring to the table. As a Dean supporter, I'd be thrilled to see a Dean/Clark ticket as well.

[Kahuna]

19. He was a war analyst on CNN and was ALWAYS AGAINST IT.

:eyes: Surprise! Surprise!

[Caution]

11. Good interview but...

How about his stance on some issues? The Draft Wesley Clark gives some information about his feelings on the issues but mos tof this is through comments made in interviews. While I believe he is a very intelligent man and clearly has good leadership qualities (I always stopped to watch when he was on CNN), I cannot simply throw support behind someone without definitive statements on the issues, both domestic and foreign.

While I have no problem with him throwing his hat into the ring, i do not intend to blindly jump on his bandwagon.

Rather than drafting him to run, we should be drafting him to give us information on how he stands.

Abortion Rights?
Gun Control?
Death Penalty?
Balanced Budget?
Health Care?
Social Security?
Medicare?
Military Spending?
Campaign Finance Reform?
Environmental Issues?
Tax Reform?
Welfare?
War on Drugs?
Criminal Justice System?
Civil Rights (gay rights? women's rights?, minority rights?)

[Zech Marquis]

12. "kill people and conquer countries"

oh yes, what an enlightening woman Condi Rice is :eyes: If she feels that way about peacekeeping, "wtf: does she think about the sheer quackmire form hell in Iraq right now?

[wes_clark_for_pres]

14. Hi everyone!

I heard about DU at our Clark Meetup yesterday...I've been having lots of fun just looking around. Here's my first post.

[northernsoul]

16. Howdy and Welcome Aboard

:hi:

hope you like it here!

[Kahuna]

17. hmmmm. ... In what state?

I was at a Clark meetup yesterday and mentioned this site. :hi:

[newyawker99]

18. Hi wes_clark_for_pres!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[wes_clark_for_pres]

22. Madison, WI!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, I'm back after surfing this site for a few hours...having a few Leines Reds with my friends to celebrate a birthday and then to surf some more. WHAT AN AWESOME DISCUSSION HERE!!! I am so looking forward in taking part in this engagement on the Democratic Underground...thanks for the kind welcome! I just donated some cash and hopefully will have a star by my moniker. Sorry...I'm obviously a Clark fan. I started out a diehard Kerry supporter last fall...could go on forever but THANKS for the welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LeinesRed]

23. Excuse me??????????????????????

Where abouts?????? I was not at the meet up...had to work. WELCOME! Send me a note.

[davsand]

25. I love Madison!

Great town, and a good progressive population!

Welcome to DU, and I'd love to hear about Clark's positions on the issues. I'd strongly suggest you think about a thread on Clark in General Discussion as soon as you are able. I'm sure there are several on here that would like to learn more.

Laura

[molly]

20. I really like him - Kerry/Clark