What has WES CLARK Done? IRAN: A Work in Progress

[FrenchieCat]

I am of the opinion that if Clark would not have forced debate on the issue of Iran day in, day out, for the last few years, Iran would not be discussed in the way that it currently is.....a way not so favorable to Bush, PNAC and the NeoCons as it could have been, and as they had planned.

Of course, a lot has to do with being bogged down in Iraq....but considering who is President, that wouldn't necessarily stop them with their pre-planned grand design, and to date, there is still no guarantees. The chances however of Bush being able to pull it off (an air strike doesn't require a large military.....so our Soldiers in Iraq might not mean much to these folks)...are not as high as they once were.

The Iran Issue was initially a country on a list drawn up by PNAC's Neocons....and a country included in the labeled Axis of Evil in Bush's 2002 SOTUS.
http://colorado.indymedia.org/newswire/display/14130/index.php

Wes Clark wrote about this plan in his book written in early 2003, and offered a warning shot at the bow of congress, as he participated in his first debate in September of 2003 as he entered the Primaries--Some of us were too busy debating whether Clark was or was not a "real" Democrat to have really heard clearly enough what he was articulating then....

"This administration's preemptive doctrine is CAUSING North Korea and Iran to ACCELERATE their nuclear weapons development. Now there are some of us who aren't in Washington right now, but I'd like to ask all those who are...lets see some leadership in the United States Congress. Let's see you take apart that doctrine of preemption NOW. I don't think we can wait until November 2004 to change the administration on this threat. We're marching into another military campaign in the Middle East. We need to stop it." Wesley K. Clark, 2003 Primary Debate

And by that I mean concrete work on behalf of Wes Clark--

Wes talking to members of congress on background on this for some time
http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/maxine_waters_on_hardball_wes.html

Clark discussing his warnings on Iran with those who can included the topic as part of the debate
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2006_02/008153.php
http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/2/3/151316/2141

Wes making a pointed splash with harsh words on the Huffington pages that culmulated in his being targeted by the Republican Jewish Coalition and by every Jewish NeoCon writing for the media, including the Lieberman media wing, TNR.
http://www.reason.com/blog/show/118265.html
http://www.freemarketnews.com/Analysis/27/6786/carter.asp?nid=6786&wid=27
http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/01/wes_clark_and_the_new_york_mon.html
http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/the_new_york_sun_confirms_it_j.html
http://www.rjchq.org/media/pdf/wesclarkad-1.pdf

constantly bringing up the refrain that we should be talking to Iran, to the point that other politicos have now adopted quite a few of his views.....word for word.....
"General Wesley Clark began the drumbeat calling for direct contact with Iran."
http://www.tpmcafe.com/node/29624
http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/wes_clark_on_iran_information.html
http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/01/iran_and_us_politics_the_good.html
which has had some "adjusting" and "toning down" their Rethorics....
As an example:
Before - http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/world/?content_id=5400
After - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/18/politics/p163857S76.DTL

And also...Wes Clark doing what he can to sound the alarm to the netroot community...by literally blogging about it himself......
http://www.crooksandliars.com/category/democratic-party/wesley-clark/
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/1/115124/5806

and Bring it up consistently on Fox where he has a national voice...
http://securingamerica.com/taxonomy/term/23

The truth is that when you type "Wesley Clark Iran" into googles, one gets 46 pages of reference
http://www.google.com/search?q=Wesley+Clark+iran&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&pwst=1&start=0&sa=N

Wes Clark has discussed Iran and kept it as a point of debate until his recommendation that Iran be given a seat at the table when dealing with Iraq and when dealing with Iran's possible Nuclear ambitions was put in as a recommendation in the Baker Commission report (yes.....Wes was talking about that by his lonesome way before the Baker commission was ever even established. But Bush ain't having none of it).
http://www.tpmcafe.com/node/29624

If Wes Clark had not taken such an offensive approach on Iran, there might not be the kind of talk that we are now finally hearing from the corporate media-
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-US&q=war+with+iran
By that I mean that the News media is now countering the notion of any type of offensive against Iran as something not required or recommended; and even our usually reactive congress is talking proactively about curtailing Bush's power on this specific issue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/washington/30cnd-congress.html

Sure, we still have the "Pushers" selling their ware......

MSNBC Scarborough Country transcript from Tuesday, Feb. 6 where Joe Scarborough and his panel talk about "whether we‘re one step closer to a coming war with Iran. That country blames the United States for kidnapping an Iranian diplomat in Baghdad. Is it more saber rattling on the part of the Iranian government, or is it the final straw in an inevitable showdown?"

Here is the Scarborough Country video link to watch the interesting debate:
http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=B6F7C0BF-83AE-469E-A401-03A4360D1D79&f=00&fg=email

But also just look at how the debate is transforming.....
http://www.alternet.org/tags/iran/
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001200.php


I realize that Wes Clark is not the only one to have talked about this issue of Iran. His good friend Sy Hersh has been sounding the bell as well....but bottomline is that I believe that Wes Clark has changed the direction of this one topic....and for the better. The Hate talk against Iran has significantly abaited, and has been replaced with a more sensible debate on the issue that looks at the long term..

Sooooo....I said all of this to say, I think that Wes Clark deserves some admiration and a lot of our respect. For being someone that the media rarely ever discusses.....
http://ezraklein.typepad.com/blog/2005/05/clark_comes_bac.html
I will tell you that Wes Clark is effective and doing work for this country that has much more significance than a Book Tour or Photo Ops.

Iran and 2008
http://jbulworth.blogspot.com/2007/02/2008-and-iran.html

Wes Clark will be in Saudi Arabia for the next few days...and I'm sure that Iran will again be words that he utters to whomever will listen....and in this case, it will be the world stage:
http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com/newsroom/news_view.phtml?news_id=2023

But when he comes back from the summit, Clark hosts a public conference "Nuclear Weapons in a New Century" at the Ronald W. Burkle Center for International Relations at UCLA
Nuclear Weapons in a New Century: Facing the Emerging Challenges
March 6 and 7, 2007 Covel Commons, UCLA Campus
http://www.awesclarkdemocrat.com/2007/02/clark_hosts_public_conference.htm

If you don't think Iran is part of the challenges that we must face...and yes, Clark has already mentioned that we may have to understand that we will not be able to start war with countries just because they have nuclear aspirations and that we need to look at the considerations of living with such. (damn....that's pretty daring considering the current CW on this!)

--------------------
For one who is not in congress, has not taken not one thin dime from us since his retirement in 2000.....Wes Clark really continues to perform services for us; services needed. There is more that Wes Clark has done, issues that he has effected.....and so this may be just one of a series...... ;)

[Texas_Kat]

1. Playing "look over there" wth the troop escalation

Excellent analysis. Clark understands that while Bush is playing "look over there" with the troop escalation, Bush is busy planning to go to war in Iran.

Most Democrats don't believe Bush will go through with it. Of course, they'll be surprised (again) when Bush does just that.

Then we'll have another round of "what the definition of imminent is" and "I'm sorry"s.

As Jim Webb said last week on Kos:

"Iran, the first place to look in order to understand the possibilities inherent with this Administration is the "Presidential Signing Statement" that accompanied the 2002 Authorization to use force against Iraq. Those who participate in Daily Kos should get a copy of this signing statement. Its language is very troubling. Basically, the President asserts his authority to use force as Commander in Chief in almost any situation that he deems is a threat to American "interests" around the world. (snip)"

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2007/2/15/164028/169/124#c124

Clark has been calling attention to this just like he did to the Iraq War. We're stupid not to listen.

[FrenchieCat]

8. your statement.....

"We're stupid not to listen" goes as a must say....

Because what I will hate the most, is when folks are caught unaware....and start trying to figure out why they didn't "pick up" on all of the warning signs.

I will be glad to tell them that they were engrossed in the Primaries 343 days prior to the first vote.....

Congress has a load of work to do....but you'd barely know it reading this forum at DU.

[CJCRANE]

2. I've come to the conclusion

that Bushco is basically doing the dirty work for our allies the "moderate" arab states (and Israel too - but before I'm accused of anti-semitism - they're just a bit-player).

It's just a big pre-planned geo-political game, we little people are irrelevant.

On edit: of course Halliburton, Big Oil etc get to clean up on the goodies.

[Dinger]

3. Whassa Matter, Are Some Afraid They Might Actually Win With Wes?

Geez, even if you are supporting another candidate, at least READ this, please:)


I you (non-Clarkies) do this I PROMISE ro do the same.

Peace, Ding


P.S. Oh yeah, K & R! Frenchie rocks:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :yourock: :headbang:

[FrenchieCat]

10. That's part of it....I'm sure.......

It appears that we have morphed into exactly what some here claim not to be about......candidate personalities as the issue du jour, and not much else.

I don't blame anyone, cause I'm right up there. Just funny how many fingers I've had waved in my face with this exact accusation.

[roguevalley]

24. I love that you do this, Frenchie. This is why I support Wes Clark.

He knows what he's doing and he does it, without worrying about what it might do to his political career. He puts the country and our people and our Constitution first. Of course, this all might be hero worship on my part. :evilgrin: :P :crazy:

[FrenchieCat]

25. Shit, What's wrong with admiring a leader.....in particular when he is leading?

Hell, I'd rather that than those that lead from the rear.......hard to see where to go when those that should be leading are waiting for you to make the first move.

The beauty of course is that Wes Clark also intensely listens....which is why he is so good at negotiating peace. :patriot:

Yep....this guy has the skills we need to take us into the right direction forcefully and without stumbles or hesitation.......while the rockstars instead of doing what they could do in the majority are instead entertaining the media, who in turn distract us....this far out before any votes. Our democracy is broken....and there are many of us who are just rolling with it.

[roguevalley]

26. someone is trawling the clark threads and insinuating supporting

clark is hero worship.

[FrenchieCat]

27. Too bad! They're just jealous.......

ya know!

But it's not our fault! :)

[capi888]

4. Terrific FrenchieCat!!!

This is a timely Post!!! With all that is going on in the World, people need to hear his voice over and over. Regardless if he runs for President or Not (fingers crossed he does) His voice needs to be out there to inform the public of the details of the World Affairs and how it effects our everyday living.
We have been given a gift in WKC. He continues to fight for America and the World.
Thank You for reminding me of his continuous efforts to wake up the American People and the World.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Well I figured that the 2008 elections are looming close...but figured I mention

other current events, that may be deemed "important" when we look back!

Kinda of like Wes' concern about Iraq once upon a time.....

I do think his concerns are honest. I think his criticisms of Bush are exactly what he believes. One reason that I think that is I have had an opportunity to talk to him in a sort of a semi-private way.

Going all the way back to the summer of 2002, I got a sense of how strong his feelings about Iraq were. Long before it was clear that the administration was really going to sell a war on Iraq, when it was just a kind of a Republican talking point, early in the summer of 2002, Wesley Clark was very strongly opposed to it. He thought it was definitely the wrong move. He conveyed that we'd be opening a Pandora's box that we might never get closed again. And he expressed that feeling to me, in a sort of quasi-public way. It was a Fourth of July party and a lot of journalists were there, and there were people listening to a small group of us talk. There wasn't an audience, there were just several people around. There was no criticism I could make that he didn't sort of see me and raise me in poker terms. Probably because he knew a lot more about it than I did. And his experience is vast, and his concerns were deep.

He was right, too. How long ago was it that you were hearing all this sweeping rhetoric from the Project for a New American Century; that we were going to essentially conquer the south of Asia, contain China, and dominate the Middle East? And the United States was going to stand astride the world like a colossus.
http://www.buzzflash.com/interviews/03/10/int03221.html

[capi888]

9. Yes, I remember..

That is when I signed up for the DraftClark movement! Watching and listening to him, I was totally mesmerized. When the Towers came down and the Pentagon was hit, I was watching CNN, and they had a reporter near the Pentagon, and Rummy was helping them carry people out of the burning building. She yelled at Rummy, "Sir, who do you think did this"!! Rumsfield, yelled back...at her "Saddam Hussein did this"!!! I knew THEN, that they were going to set this up, even, as we all know it was Al Qa eda, they were going to go after Saddam..and connect the dots.
When I started listening to Wes on CNN, was eye opening, as he was expressing, what I knew was going to happen, even though others thought I was nuts!!
I will never forget that incident with Rummy, and even though we went after the tali ban, I knew that a connection would be made with Iraq. Especially after the State of the Union, speech..

[jen4clark]

6. A beautiful tribute, Frenchie Cat

to someone who just goes out and does what's right because he's a true Patriot. His body of work on trying to stop this next war before it happens is overwhelming and you are simply amazing for putting this all together. Definitely a thread to bookmark. Thank you! :patriot:

General Clark has said several times he believes Bush will attack Iran in the Spring. That means only a few weeks away, and I know this is the #1 reason Clark hasn't announced he's running, yet. He knows once he announces, everything he writes, says and does will be painted by Corpress as political posturing and this is too important.

If you haven't seen it yet, Ruth posted the video of Clark on FOX this morning over at CCN. Check it out!!

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/11111

[Ladydawnelle]

7. Excellent Compilation

Lots of great links there! Thanks!

I have always been a Clark admirer. He's definitely one of my heroes!

I hope and pray he gets another shot at running. He's really (clearly) the only logical choice. ALL the rest are only small pieces of the WES CLARK complete package. Why buy only part of the story when you can have the complete novel???

AND, he's a self-proclaimed LIBERAL!!(see his myspace.com or facebook pages) I LOVE THAT!

[kaycesf]

11. Frenchie, this is a fantastic compendium to present as a

timeline to support your thesis that Wes has been working steadily to help us turn the tide against BushCo and that he has been quite effective. Honestly, American voters should be on their knees begging this man to run. For me it is a given that Wes Clark is THE national security candidate if he should decide to run, but he is so much more as well. The Iranian issues have always been top on Wes Clark's list of concerns. Too bad that many of our own Dem Congressmen didn't listen to him when the IWR was presented to them for a vote! Now I hear many of them repeating much that Wes has been saying since 2002. sigh*

Wes Clark has never failed us... others have and that should be remembered! Thank you for this great reminder! He's outstanding!

Muchas Gracias, chica!!!!

[Sooz]

12. Actions speak louder than words

What have the other candidates DONE?

[Ladydawnelle]

13. OMG

I just heard on CNN that the british are taking their troops out of Iraq! Can we be far behind?

[Sooz]

16. I really don't think that Bush's plans

depend in any way on what the British are doing. He's hell bent on destruction, and that's one thing (maybe the on ly thing) he's damned good at.

[Sparkly]

22. They've cast some votes, and therein lies a big irony, to me...

Here's General Clark, working tirelessly, putting his name and reputation on the line to take a stand EVERY time it matters (and before others), knocking himself out to make himself clear, and yet it's sometimes said, "Yeah but he didn't vote in Congress, so we have no idea where he really stands." :crazy:

(Nothing against the jobs of Senators -- just saying it's not the ONLY thing that matters, and votes can be as much about deal-making as taking a stand, but I digress.)

[FrenchieCat]

23. Well then Sparkly....you'll love my one in the series that will deal with

Genocide, and what Wes did there that changed things in a global way.....although Bush pretty much screwed that up for the future.

On the OT....I've heard folks cynically snark, "But isn't Wes, Hillary's stalking horse? and isn't that why he's waiting to see if she signals for him to enter the race?"

I answer.....":wtf: did the Clintons ever "do" for Wes Clark for anyone to think that he would be at their service to such an extent? Some respond...."Well he was Clinton's General, wasn't he?".....as though that is supposed to mean that if Clinton commands, Clark obeys for f*ckingever! :eyes:...

In reasoned reality, it is the Clintons that "owe" Wes Clark a great deal. Because during the time that Bill was determining what "is" was, and Hillary had no clue as to what someone sleeping next to her was actually doing for recreation, and they were both busy fighting the Right Wing conspiracy, Wes Clark was fighting a NATO war and winning it in the best of scenario for Bill Clinton.

You see, when you look at Bill Clinton's Foreign Policy legacy, the most good that came out of it was what Wes Clark was able to achieve when in command. Whether one looks at Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti, North Korea, rehauling the infamous SOA in an attempt to clean out the crap to our strengthened ties with Europe, Clark was there playing a big part. Of course if you look at other Foreign policy areas that Clark either was in disagreement with Clinton or simply not a part of...well then, Bill starts looking less "so" good; i.e., Somalia, Rwanda, and Bosnia (until 1995 when Clark got involved in the Dayton Peace Accords). If you count the deaths caused by Rwanda and Bosnia alone, the count is approximately 1 million. Ironically, when one counts the deaths caused by Kosovo, one counts approx 500....but as well one counts 1.3 million saved Muslim lives.

So who "owes" who?

My point is that it is Wes Clark that saved Bill Clinton's foreign policy ass more than once....and it is Clark that got retired prematurely under the Clinton's watch (through Pentagon covert knife action).

So whatever these "Stalking Horse" fools think.....Clinton owes a great part of his legacy (and he has parlayed it) to Wes Clark.....not the other way round. So any favors that folks might have observed coming from Bill Clinton during Clark last run should understand that those were favors owed to Wes Clark, not the backwards ass way round folks tried to reason that whole thing. It's fascinating for folks to actually think that Clark somehow didn't simply earned his stars....and Lord, did he ever!

In otherwords, Clark has never owed the Clinton a goddamn thing! He worked for what he got, and then some.

On the other hand, Bill Clinton will always owe Wes Clark.....just as long as he lives, and then thereafter.

[kimmerspixelated]

14. I'm really glad to hear that Wes Clark is doing so much.

I was worried he was keeping it under his hat, but apparently I was wrong! ALL HAIL TO WES CLARK!
If we can't have Gore( I'm still very hopeful-I WANT WES CLARK)

[Sooz]

15. I don't think Gore wants to be President anymore

He wouldn't be able to spend as much time on global warming and related issues. And that is critically important work. More power to him! Maybe there would be a place in a Clark administration for Gore to have his own Department of the Earth. It's something Clark has a keen interest in as well, so I would expect him to rate it a very high priority.

[MissMarple]

17. Thanks, FrenchieCat!

Wesley Clark is one of our country's best assets.

[Donna Zen]

18. A transcript that's missing

...and I wish I had it. I seem to recall that the program took place shortly after the 04 election.

One night Wes Clark appeared on HardBall. At some point Wes tells Matthews that the media has a responsibility to discuss Iran with the American people. He said that the media had failed in the run-up to the Iraq war. That was the same interview in which Matthews asks Clark: what went wrong in Iraq. Clark's answer: the entire concept was flawed. Matthews, who acts surprised, repeats Clark's words...the entire concept.

Somewhere that video and the transcript exist.

I agree that Hersh and Wes and a few others, have kept the bush Iranian plans front and center with the hope of dodging this bullet. There is no way that we can bomb Iran and not increase the amount of blow-back from bush's horrible blunders. As it is, we've got years and years ahead of us to reap what we've sown in Iraq.

[FrenchieCat]

19. I think I recall that......vaguely.

I'll have to find it.

I think that Matthews said something to the tune of.....I haven't heard it quite put that way before....

Well, considering that Clark's only been on Hardball a few times, it won't be difficult to locate.

Thanks! :hi:

[FrenchieCat]

29. Found it!

CLARK: I think that the military cards have slipped out of public view.
And, as a result, I think that we‘re not getting the kind of dialogue we need on this. I think Americans need to understand that this administration still has military options both in Syria and Iran and that the alternatives to those military options are effective, engaged diplomacy. And I don‘t see the effective and engaged diplomacy.

(CROSSTALK)

CLARK: Therefore, I think there‘s planning for military options. I think it‘s the wrong course at this point.

MATTHEWS: Right.

CLARK: But I think we need that dialogue. You started this dialogue, Chris, in the summer of 2002 about Iraq.

MATTHEWS: Right.

CLARK: And, at the time, people thought, well, what‘s going to happen? Why would we go into Iraq? And yet, right now, we‘re in that same period here with both Syria and Iran. There are military options available. There are people that I‘m told around town thinking about it.

(CROSSTALK)

CLARK: And there‘s not a discussion on it in the American...
http://securingamerica.com/node/53

[dogman]

20. This is the answer to the "Is Clark going to run?" posts.

He is more concerned about the fate of the nation. I've read whacked out posts that Clark is afraid to run, that he is waiting for the hard and dirty work to be completed before he enters. I believe him when he says that a candidacy would politicize the message and reduce the effectiveness of his campaign to help the Democrats get the policy right. I know that it is often mentioned that a strong ego is required to run for President, and he has displayed that he has that ego. I also believe he has the ability to control that ego and put the good of the Nation ahead of himself. That is why even though he has yet to announce, I will wait for his decision. I have not yet seen any characteristics in the other candidates that make me eager to join their campaign.

[trillian]

21. There is no question that....

.....Clark has changed the discourse in Democratic politics.

Clark is not only responsible for the discusion on Iran, but for the overall attention to national security for the first time in 50 years.

Democrats owe him more than they will ever know.

[PhilipShore]

28. Clark is smart -- When a Repuke organization like the PNAC has a plan...

they will carry it out -- they may move it around the schedule a bit here or there, but Repukes -- usually -- never change their mind about something.

It was wise for Clark to bring public attention to it -- because more then likely they would of bombed Iran by now -- and we would be watching in on TV.

[FrenchieCat]

30. I agree.

In addition, the news today is echoing exactly what Clark said over 4 years ago BEFORE the war even got started.....

That going into Iraq would supercharge AlQaeda.


These folks are so damn slow! :eyes:

[Cameron27]

31. Thanks Frenchie, Wes has such an impressive record.

Here, on this message board, there hasn't been a single question about Wes that Clarkies haven't answered, not a distorted fact that hasn't been corrected on thread after thread, and yet the very same BS just keeps getting dredged up again and again.

So although I agree with you that he "deserves some admiration and a lot of our respect," I'm not holding my breath. As far as the media, maybe Wes should botch a joke, don pair of jeans, a natty blue work shirt and dig up some dirt in New Orleans, make an off the cuff comment, that for a woman, Hillary is extremely articulate and clean, or make a splash by disparaging Congress for failing to listen to him.... who knows, maybe he'd get some attention.

It gets depressing.

I just have to hope that things will change if he decides to run.

[FrenchieCat]

32. Wes is doing excellent work, nevertheless......

He is after result before any publicity. The publicity would only help him have a stronger voice, if nothing else.....and that would be a good thing, even if it might not be enough to win an election.

But remember, the Corporate media is owned by some of the same folks that own other interest that profits from the war machine. So don't expect Wes Clark to ever be given credit by them. Waiting for that will make you cynical...and I don't think that is what the General would want for you and yours.

Chin up! Wes will get his dues one day.....until then, always remember....its the result that counts! It has to be about Duty, Honor and Country :patriot:

[Larry Allen]

33. Not one shred of evidence

"This administration's preemptive doctrine is CAUSING North Korea and Iran to ACCELERATE their nuclear weapons development"

What evidence does Wes Clark have that Iran has a nuclear weapons program? Not one shred. Now he is claiming that the Iranians are ACCELERATING their program. I think if it was anything more thant an entire fabrication, Scott Ritter would know about it.

I guess were just supposed to skate over that part. Just one more Democrat surfing the waves of Bush's oil war propaganda, in my opinion. Accept the premise in order to offer a different solution. That validates the propoganda and is itself crime.

[Adelante]

34. "surfing the waves of Bush's oil war propaganda"

Boy, have you got that one wrong.

Welcome to DU, Larry Allen :hi:

[Sparkly]

35. Huh?

Here North Korea cites BushCo's threats as a reason to go forward with their nuke developments:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5402292.stm

That same month (October 1996) they started launching their tests.

[FrenchieCat]

37. The sentence you quote, Wes said back in September of 2003....

and it appears that the quote was correct, because after being named in the Axis of Evil, Iran did in fact ACCELERATE its Nuclear research program whether for weaponry or not is the issue, isn't it?
Neither Iran or the US is a good guy in this, IMO.

Maybe you believe that the U.S. no right to jam up Iran as it has done (ditto for the UN), and you may be technically correct....however, your technical assertion doesn't make the possibility of war instigated by the Bush administration's rethoric less real. Iran ain't Alice in Wonderland....and so regardless of whether they have or don't have a Nuke weapons program, the real issue is will the United States and Iran continue with the escalation of words to a point of no return, or should we be encouraging the United States to sit at a table with Iran to make certain determination and negotiate towards a peaceful agreement of sorts? That's all General Clark is trying to get to happen based on those facts.

Here's a story from the Iran Daily from just yesterday--Don't know why Iran's President would mention their Nuclear program if there wasn't one--whether they deny what it is for, or we accuse what it is for is really what is escalating the tensions, isn't it?

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday if hostile countries believe they can achieve their goal of halting Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities by sowing the seed of discord, they are badly mistaken.

Addressing a public gathering at Rasht’s Azodi Sport Stadium, President Ahmadinejad said Iranians support dialogue and believe it should be held under fair conditions, IRNA reported.
“Nothing is wrong with the closure of nuclear plants, but the western countries should also stop their nuclear activities to put the two sides on an equal footing for taking part in negotiations,“ he said.

The president added that if the West wants to bully, it should know that it will be defeated by the resistance of Iranians.

“Everyone knows that when the Iranian nation gains access to peaceful nuclear technology for medical purposes, it will be a giant leap forward. This is why they are trying to prevent the Iranians from gaining access to this technology,“ he said.
http://www.iran-daily.com/1385/2787/html/

[The Count]

36. The only reason there's a more critical look at this new madness - is that Clark

has been yelling about it - to the congress, the media, directly to the people...
While others rattled their sabers at Iraq in tune with * ("Iran should know, the world won't back down!"

[autorank]

38. K&R...thanks for getting this on record.

Clark has been selfless in his dedication to fighting tyranny, tireless and brilliant too.

His work is greatly appreciated.

[MissMarple]

39. FrenchieCat, your thread has a link at Securing America.

:applause: :bounce: :applause:

http://securingamerica.com/

[FrenchieCat]

40. Kewl! Thanks for letting me know! Cool that they link DU stuff!

now, I have to add this petition to Clark's long list of leading on this BEFORE it gets out of hand.

Sponsored by Wes Clark and VoteVet! :patriot:
http://www.stopiranwar.com/