Intro to Wes Clark: Grew up in Little ROck, turned to military for opporutnity. #1 in his class at West Point. Shot four times in Vietnam. Silver star, bronze star. Southern command. Supreme allied command, Europe. Balkans. Diplomacy and military force, saved 1.5 million Kosovar Albanians without the loss of a single American soldier in combat. 2006: traveled to 25 states, supported 96 candidates for office. Op eds, two books. Served as a military analyst on CNN, Fox. SecuringAmerica.comThis morning I woke up and opened up the papers, as I usually do, and looked first at the casualties in Iraq. Hope each day that I won't see any more. I check the units, I check the names. For me, it's personal. In the army, tradition of service that transcends generations. Duty, honor and country. TOday our army has been called to action. They're under-resourced, overstretched, in constant danger. They're saying "thank God I have a chance to fight for the United States of America."
We've got a President who mistakes slogans for strategy, stubbornness for strength. Callous disregard for innocent lives lost in that country. Robbed our country of the legitimacy that is the source of our greatest power. I grow angry with elected officials who've dragged this country deeper and deeper into Iraq when there are so many other urgent problems. Can't we do better?!?
I'm a veteran and I'm proud of it. Military: way to defend something I believe in, the United States. Helped create national security strategy of US. Helped prevent a war in Korea, helped end a war in Bosnia. Kosovo- won without losing a single Ameican life in combat. I know firsthand war, post-war reconstruction, peacekeeping. This Admin. has failed in all of those. Jeopardizes security and welfare of every single American. Even some of war's staunchest supporters...I'm the only one who has done the things we need to succeed in Iraq, Afghan. We must not only be right, we must be strong. Don't get mad, get even.
Equality, justice, fair play back into American life.
Where is the equality in America when a woman only makes 70 cents on a dollar to a man. Where's the justice when sergeants are punished for a abuse of prisoners,while politicians who directed it remain in office. Where's the balance when 46 million people lack basic health insurance, 36 million people still live in poverty. Where's the fair paly when CEO's have made billions from increased productivity of Amer. worker, while workers are struggling from paycheck to paycheck. In America I grew up in, there was a sense of shared sacrifice. Tax cuts at a time of war for those who need it least. I think it's clear that we need a new President as well. Wear military might not on our sleeve, but tucked away in our back pocket. Deal with international challenges, reenergize the American spirit, put us on the right path to a strong, secure and just America.
I believe in an America that lives not in fear but in confidence, draws its inspiration not just from past glories, but that we have the power if only we're true to our own values. Some day, great monument to the fallen in Iraq. For me, those words of sacrifice were spoken long ago by Douglas MacArthur. I don't agree with his politics, but he put in words in his last speech. Said, I do not know the digniity of the birth, but I know the glory of their death. Hope that we would go on to victory. Duty, honor and country. Blood, sweat and tears.
This year as we struggle in Iraq, let's remember who we are as Americans and the ideals we represent. THe only meaningful memorial is a stronger, safer and more just America. Somewhere between the politics of smear and spin, there are still common solutions to our challenges. We can build a better Ameirca. That's our duty,that's our call, for our honor, for our country.