Wes Clark on Kennedy's Vietnam comments

[robbedvoter]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4685593/
SCARBOROUGH:  I want to play you something that Secretary of State Colin Powell said today regarding Ted Kennedy.

Actually, I‘ll just quote it for you.  He said: “Senator Kennedy should be a little more careful and a little more restrained in his comments because we‘re a nation at war.”

And, of course, he was referencing the Vietnam quote, where he compared Iraq to Vietnam.  I wanted to ask you, because there are a lot of Americans out there that are going to saying, gee, this is exactly what happened during Vietnam.  You had American troops on the ground.  You had politicians back at home saying things that seemed to play into our enemies‘ hands.  I know Senator Ted Kennedy.  I know his family.  I‘m not saying here—saying that he‘s un-American.  I‘m not saying that he doesn‘t want America to succeed. 

But can‘t you agree with me as somebody that had to hear politicians in America shoot their mouth off while you were fighting the war over there that that was irresponsible for him to say yesterday, and he may have been playing into some of these people‘s hands? 

(CROSSTALK)

CLARK:  No.  No, I don‘t think so, Joe. 

I think the men and women in the armed forces, I hope they understand they‘re fighting for our freedom and our rights.  And the Iraq war and the president‘s conduct of foreign policy is a legitimate political issue.  He‘s running for reelection.  He wants the American people to endorse him and his judgment.  Well, he took us to a war we didn‘t really have to fight without our allies, without enough troops on the ground, without any plan for what we‘re going to do after we got to Baghdad. 

Look at what‘s happening now.  Of course, it‘s a legitimate political issue.  That‘s no disrespect to the men and women in uniform.  They‘ve done a brilliant job.  I‘ve know most of the generals over there.  I love them.  I‘ve served with them.  I know a lot of the soldiers.  I hear from them periodically.  They believe in the mission.  And we want them to. 

But that‘s the military side.  This country and every citizen has a responsibility to participate at least by voting in the political process.  And the judgment of the president of the United States is one of the issues in this election, and Ted Kennedy is fully within his rights.  He‘s not giving aid and comfort to the enemy.  He‘s calling it like he sees it, and he‘s a patriot. 

[Maat]

1. Very, very well said. We need this man to play a critical role...

in the Kerry Administration.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. Thanks, that gave me a chill up my spine (the good kind).

Extremely clear how Clark parses this out into the "political" and the "military" issues....

[okieinpain]

37. I love his wife, caught her on cspan. I imagine that's what

eleanor roosevelt was like. she is a great speaker, and you just become glued to her voice.

[mourningdove92]

3. woohoo, go get em Wes.

That was a brilliant answer. What did Hhhhhannity do then? Stutter and look his usual stupid self.
That man gets on my very last nerve. I can't watch him more than about 10 seconds before I want to reach through the tv and slap him. Hard.

[robbedvoter]

5. It was Scarborough - he ended the interview pronto!

[Kanary]

4. "Believe in the mission"

Yup, chills, alright.

Kanary

[KittyWampus]

25. Yeah, Who Gives A Shit About The Troops Morale

It's not like they don't WANT to be there or they can't just get up and leave.... (sarcasm)

[joeybee12]

6. Wonderful response. I still don't see how Wes didn't do better in the

primaries.

[mmonk]

18. Doesn't anybody remember?

Candidates such as Lieberman kept reminding people he was only recently a democrat (really a republican) who couldn't make up his mind on Iraq. Those of us whom were Clark supporters sure do remember. Remember, foreign policy wasn't going to be a "winning" issue for the dems. It was only going to be the economy. Yes, I'm going to rub people's faces in it.

[librechik]

7. VP nominee PLLLLEEEEASSSE!!!

get him out there while Kerry is still on Percocet from the surgery! He looks groggy! (I know, I've had the same surgery and it takes a LONG time to recover--wish I still had some of those percs...)

[eridani]

39. Why VP?

Why not Secretary of State or Defense? I think VP is a waste of good talent in his case.

[sweetheart]

8. Wes clark kicks ass.... Wes for Veep!! n/t

/

[underpants]

9. Gen.'s Marsh and Newbold said on ABC WNT tonight.......

I will find the link and put it on here as well as on a new thread.

Marsh (Kosavo command) said that it was very similiar to Vietnam

Newbold (just retired as Joint Chiefs chief of staff he of the "I think Saddam was a paper tiger" quote) said that the situation is worse than we think.

[underpants]

15. Link to and text of the ABC story (Two General's Assessment)

Generals' Assessment...liken war to Vietnam (ABC WNT just now)


http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/World/generals_war_assessment_04040...

April 7 — In the past few days, coalition troops have seen some of the worst fighting in Iraq since the United States invaded the country over a year ago.

Peter Jennings spoke to two retired U.S. generals to get their perspective on the recent surge of violence in Iraq: Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, who was director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the run-up to the Iraq war, and Maj. Gen. William Nash, who was a commander in the Persian Gulf War and in Bosnia.

Cut to pages 1 and 2

Peter Jennings: How much trouble are U.S. forces suddenly in, if they are suddenly in trouble?

Nash: In my view, the forces are in less trouble than the overall policy on the end state, if you will, of Iraq. That's the issue that must be at the forefront of all military operations.

Peter Jennings: Gen. Newbold?

Newbold: I completely agree. I said it's being fought at the tactical and strategic level. At the tactical level, our troops are performing magnificently. At the strategic level, we should ask whether we have a coherent plan, using all the elements, economic, political, diplomatic, informational, throughout the region, not just Iraq. To diffuse the reasons why they are suicidal in coming after us, I don't think we're doing well.

[dae]

10. Scarborough tried to get him to ever so sweetly agree. HaHa!

Way to go Wes!:kick::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Killarney]

11. Perfect response!

[maddezmom]

12. another great response from WES

thanks for posting. :)

[Postman]

13. Wes Clark should be VP. He's a good man.

n/t

[Hemprus]

14. It good..

to see someone stand up for the right to question authority. The ruling party in this country doesn't want think citizens. It want the usual sheep to pretend everything is fine and go back to our little lives. I hope more people will follow WC direction and rhetoric.

[goclark]

16. Go General Clark..What a VP You Would Be!!

Your remarks were simply brilliant.

:kick:

[Hemprus]

42. I agree!!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

17. Now I see why you guys love Clark so much

He knows the "military side" and the political can (and should) be separated.
I think he'd be a great VP.

[Gloria]

19. Wes = VP! He's the ONLY one addressing the Chalabi issues...

the roadblock to solving the mess is that the Bush Admin. is so committed to Chalabi..

And who but WES is talking about that?? He did it on CNN on Monday. And today, Josh Marshall brings up Chalabi and his nephew again. I just posted on GD ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1366963

Wes speaks with a clarity that most Americans should be able to understand.....crisp, clean, direct. Perfection.

[Skip Intro]

20. Nice

I'd like to see Clark on the ticket.

[Carolina]

21. Wes is still the best

and boy do I miss him. We need him out there. Please let him be the VP choice. He'll dare repukes like Frist, Chambliss, Lindsey Graham, etc. to question his patriotism or to stifle dissent ... He'll wipe the floor with their chickenshit, chickenhawk asses!

[RedEarth]

22. Way to go Wes.........great words from the next Secretary of State...

[Skittles]

23. THESE WHORES REALLY WANT US TO BE QUIET

DON'T THEY

[0007]

24. Yes they do Skittles -

[sadiesworld]

26. I am the BIGGEST Wes Clark fan and think he would be a great VP...

but (... did you feel it coming) I was VERY concerned about some Ted Kennedy comments Monday. In response to a reporter's question about Kerry's VP options, Kennedy must have said three times "the most important issue is to not have someone who takes attention from the nominee". As we know, Wes is very compelling and has been accused of taking the spotlight from others (W. Cohen's crap). I found Kennedy's comments troubling. Perhaps it means nothing, but he made such a point of it.

:shrug:

[Gloria]

28. Well, Kerry and Clark on the same stage right after Wes dropped out...

Kerry didn't seem too worried about that....and Clark is doing a lot of heavy lifting for Kerry on national security all over TV.

2 vets are a great team...both heroes. I think this combo is greater than the sum of the parts.....Clark wouldn't detract at all...he would enhance the ticket, big time, esp. now.
Everyone else is a lightweight in the area of security

[sadiesworld]

30. You're singing to the choir...

I just wanted to express a concern among friends.
:pals:

[LandOLincoln]

34. I'm amazed Kennedy said that once, let alone 3 times.

Seems to me the "most important issue" is that Kerry picks a VP who'll do the most to help him WIN THE FLIPPIN ELECTION.

Since Kerry regularly polls behind Dubya on national security, it would seem that Wes would be the best choice for VP, with his good looks and charisma not a distraction but an enhancement of the Kerry/Clark ticket.

Besides, those two names just sound so damned good together...it's the alliteration, I guess.

[sadiesworld]

35. Kennedy's initial response was that the most important consideration

was who was most able to take over the presidency should something happen to Kerry. Then he went into this weird thing about the importance of the VP not overshadowing the POTUS. It was very odd...probably meant nothing, but strange. It was from his speech to ? on Monday (c-span).

[are_we_united_yet]

27. Very nice Wes!

[Crunchy Frog]

29. If anybody managed to tape that program

I would love to get a copy of it. I missed it.:cry:

Please PM me if you can help. Thanks.

[Jane Austin]

31. I TiVo'ed it

and can put it on a DVD for you.

However, the DVDs, for some reason, don't play on anything but the newest players.

[Crunchy Frog]

38. I'll take whatever I can get.

Please PM me to make arrangements. Thanks.:pals:

[mgarretson]

32. new link...

seems like ABC changed the link from when you first posted it... I found "quotes" here: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/World/generals_war_assessment_040407-1.html

[troublemaker]

33. NY TIMES article about the VP stakes

Long article sourced from the Kerry camp--went on and one mentioning practically every Democrat breathing, except no mention of Wes. That's good. As I read down I was holding my breath hoping he wouldn't be mentioned.

These days your VP is supposed to be a big surprise. If Clark wasn't the guy I can't believe the Kerry folks would have made such a point not to mention him.

[Bread and Circus]

36. Go Wes, boy I wish he was on the ticket.....

It's too bad a professional politician will be picked as VP.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[MrSlayer]

40. Wesley K. Clark would have been the best President ever.

And I don't care what anyone says. I believe with his diplomacy skills and intellect that under his leadership phrases like "world peace" wouldn't sound so absurd.

[bklyncowgirl]

41. Yeah Wes!

A great response from a guy who's been there.

[wasichu]

43. " They believe in the mission. And we want them to."

What mission is that? Steal the oil, illegally invade a country, or killing human beings because they don't want us there?

[Richardo]

44. What next? You going to call them "baby killers"?

:eyes: