A Soldier's Story.....The Nation reviews Clark's book

[FrenchieCat]

Below is a link and a an excerpts from three-page article in The
Nation. Ostensibly a book review of Winning Modern Wars, it gives a
favorable run-down of Clark's background and his views on foreign
policy, and to a less degree, national security. The first and last
paragraphs should indicate why I think it's worth reading in full.

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml%3Fi=20031208&s=fitzgerald

review |
A Soldier's Story
by Frances FitzGerald

In the annals of American politics Winning Modern Wars is an unusual
book. Written--by Clark himself--between April and September of this
year, it proceeds from an analysis of the military campaigns in
Afghanistan and Iraq to a comprehensive critique of Bush's war on
terror and on his national security policy generally. Possibly some
other modern presidential candidate wrote a book such as this just
before entering the race, but offhand I can't think of one. Most of
Clark's views about the general direction of US foreign policy will
sound familiar, for most are shared by the other major Democratic
contenders. However, this book is nothing like the goo usually served up in campaign literature, for he is also a very good writer:
logical, lucid and concise. Moreover, he has much of interest to say
about military operations and the relationship--or lack of it--
between specific campaigns and the overall US security strategy. He
is well qualified for the task.

"Transforming frustration at home into action abroad has emerged as a pattern in democracies under stress," Clark observes. "It...happened in ancient Rome, in the Netherlands and in Britain. And like most distractions, it provided false reassurance and was followed by damaging consequences." In Clark's view, American power resides to a large degree in the "virtual empire" the United States constructed after World War II: that is, among other things, its network of economic and security arrangements, the leverage it had in international institutions and treaty regimes, plus the shared values and reservoir of trust, or "soft power," that permitted past Presidents to lead by persuasion. Clark's forceful book warns that the Bush Administration is undermining this virtual empire and at the same time imperiling the "hard power" Bush counts upon, the power of America's economy and armed forces.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Excellent Review.....

and said that unlike other candidate's book, Clark can write!

[robbedvoter]

2. Sooo. he did speak up against the war?

Who'd have thunk it!

[FrenchieCat]

3. But of course, my dear....

It's starting to heat up Robbedvoter, doncha think?

Wes has been on TV everyday this week. Did you see him on C-Span?
Speech to the Foreign Relations Council and then took many questions today.

Two appearances on Sunday morning, Face the Nation and Sunday with Blitzer....

than the Dem Debates same day!

Hot Damm!

WE WELCOME ALL TO THE WES WING!"

[Rowdyboy]

4. I have it on order

and I can tell its gonna be a serious read. Just comprehending the three page review made my head hurt. But, after reading it, I am even more comfortable with this man. He has a serious knowledge of strategy, tactics and our military capabilities. Unlike Bush, who never served, Clark has spent his life trying to keep soldiers from dying. He also cared enough about the slaughter in the Balkans to pressure Clinton into entering and tried to do the same to stop the genocide in Rwanda. I have a good feeling that he would bring that perspective to the presidency.