In a live-audience interview at the 92nd Street Y Cultural Center New York City, Amy Goodman interviewed Four Star General (Ret.) Wes Clark for Democracy Now. They talked about his presidential aspirations, courageous effort to stop an iran war, and collaborative effort with Stop Iran War and Vote Vets.
Although I am not currently a Clark supporter, I strongly believe Wes Clark is making a powerful contribution to America and the Democratic Party.
Clark confirmed what many of us have feared, that the Bush administration does have a plan for war without end, a plan to pick off one country after another. Americans have a right to know what this administration is up to. And Wes Clark is on a pretty short list of real heroes. Amazingly, Clark said this:
So I came back to see him a few weeks later, and by that time we were bombing in Afghanistan. I said, "Are we still going to war with Iraq?" And he said, "Oh, it's worse than that." He reached over on his desk. He picked up a piece of paper. And he said, "I just got this down from upstairs" -- meaning the Secretary of Defense's office -- "today." And he said, "This is a memo that describes how we're going to take out seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and, finishing off, Iran." I said, "Is it classified?" He said, "Yes, sir." I said, "Well, don't show it to me." And I saw him a year or so ago, and I said, "You remember that?" He said, "Sir, I didn't show you that memo! I didn't show it to you!"
Here's what Clark has said previously about the notion of war as the Bush-preferred method of solving problems:
"... surely we have learned by now that, particularly in this region, force and the threats of force should be the last, last, last resort. ... It is past time to ask our elected officials in the White House and Congress to exercise leadership: recognize the real strategic challenge we face, and start to work now to avoid an escalation and widening of conflict in the Mideast."
Message to the Democratic Congress: Hello! Is anyone (besides Jim Webb) out there?" Let the investigations, and resolutions preventing a run-away, perpetual war begin. NOW!
If this report is true, though, these people are well beyond insane.
Perhaps this "waiting game" of Clark's is better, but I hope we hear something official from him very soon, and I repeat...
Jim Webb for Senate 2006 = Wes Clark for President 2008
Thanks!
Steve
I've said it before and I'll say it again - no one else has the depth, the gravitas, or the qualifications of Wesley Clark. I know he doesn't have the financing. I know he has never held elective office. I know if he comes into the campaign he may be too late. I know the media does not appear to know he exists. Still and all, this man should be President.
If it worked in Virginia, a "microcosm of the U. S." (a close approximation of Jim Webb's recent comments), it will work at the national level with Wes Clark.
Jim Webb for Senate 2006 = Wes Clark for President 2008
Where have I seen that before...?
Thanks!
Steve
About 3/4 of the book is focused on the events of Iraq/Afghanistan/9-11.
The remaining 1/4 contains Wes's prescriptions for the future.
The book was written during the late summer of 2003 a few months after the Iraq invasion.
I'm a little bit surprised that this bit of information hasn't entered the public consciousness yet either. I've heard stories about Iran and Syria, and of course N. Korea, but Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Lebanon?
Talk about bending over backwards to prove Bin Laden's point that the U.S. isn't engaged in a fight against terrorism but a war against Islam (which is exactly how these actions would have been seen throughout the Muslim world).
These NeoCon fantasies too also reveal the type of cartoonish view that they have concerning the efficacy of military force and U.S. power. It shouldn't have taken the Iraq invasion in 2003 to discover what conventional military power can and cannot do.
That's why he's urging everying to recognize that stopping a war with Iran is critical. That's why he isn't in the race yet. He puts country first, and he's doing so by working with VoteVets on www.stopiranwar. If you haven't gone there, signed the petition and passed it along to everyone you know, now is the time.
Thanks!
Steve
Unless the neo-cons still advising Bush decided it would be good public relations to be able to say that they were engaged in negotiations with Iran when Iran suddenly launched an unprovoked attack on a US warship. Which, of course justified the launching of multiple cruise missiles in retaliation....
If you think this is just a progressive's worst nightmare, I suggest you read the following two articles:
Then get to work and help Wes Clark and Vote Vets to prevent another unnecessary war: http://www.stopiranw...