Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Wesley Clarke for Secretary of Defense

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU
 
FogerRox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 07:55 PM
Original message
Wesley Clarke for Secretary of Defense
Would repubs like taking a DEM presidential contender out of circulation?

Gen Clarke knows how to the job.

It would be the smartest thing Bush every did.

But no, the Bush Crime family cannot consider an outsider, you have to be a made man, like Gates. How is Gates going to be better tan Rummy? NOT. Gen. Clarke has the background, hes done it before. From the Repubs veiwpoint, to saddle a nationally known DEM name like Clarke with the quagmire of Iraq, is an opportunity to be relished. But they dont even see it that way. Its got to be Gates, he'll do what hes told.

If these people were remotely concrned with doing one thing right, here was their chance. But they walked away from the opportunity. I can only assume they wil continue down the same path, to profit from the wars.


The Bush Crime family again shows no interest in Democracy, Social justice, economic justice, none of that.

ALL HAIL THE IMPERIUM !
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
AtomicKitten Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 07:56 PM
Response to Original message
1. I can think of no better man for the job.
eom
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
zann725 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-13-06 02:22 AM
Response to Reply #1
24. Totally agreed.
Perfect man for the job.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kagemusha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 07:56 PM
Response to Original message
2. National unity governments tend to merely soil the opposition
Look at Labour over there in Israel.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FogerRox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:02 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. Yes good point. LOL.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bling bling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:00 PM
Response to Original message
3. You must have read my mind.
I was thinking a little while ago that if Bush *really* cared about Amurika and the homeland and keepin' us safe and all that he would appoint someone who would do the best job in such a critically important position. Clark would have been a good choice.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
phiddle Donating Member (749 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:04 PM
Response to Original message
5. William Cohen, if he wants a unity candidate.
Cohen was Clinton's sec defense, a Republican and could mind the store for 2 years, correcting the worst of Rumsfield's follies.
The law would have to be changed to allow Clark to serve (he hasn't been out of uniform 10 years, as required), and in any case, I hope that he would refuse.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Salviati Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:09 PM
Response to Original message
6. Also, he's not elegible...
He hasn't been a civilian for 10 years, which is one of the requirements to be appointed Secretary of Defense.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FogerRox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 09:45 PM
Response to Reply #6
19. Correct, so just write a law, the repubs are good for that..... LOL
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Heewack Donating Member (297 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:19 PM
Response to Original message
7. Clarke has a problem
He doesn't have the military on his side. He would be like Rumsfeld in the totally opposite direction.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:22 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. You say that .... no show some evidence.
DU is not a place where one can put out some meme and walk away. If you won't answer me, wait till the Clark supporters come buzzing around you. They probably have a bazillion verifiable, legit links that dispove what you just said.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
VOX Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:54 PM
Response to Reply #8
15. You've stated elsewhere that Edwards is "greedy," and that Gore...
"overstates the facts on global warming."

Now, you've posted negatively on Wes Clark.

I recommend that you back up your assertions with links to reliable sources.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-13-06 04:35 AM
Response to Reply #15
26. I did no such thing. Did you intend your post to mean me or the guy I was replying to?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ilsa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:24 PM
Response to Reply #7
10. I know military people who'd love to see him lead again.
Either as Sec Def eventually or preferably as president.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Auntie Bush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 09:31 PM
Response to Reply #7
17. Says who?
Where'd you get that idea?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FogerRox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 09:44 PM
Response to Reply #7
18. Heewack has a good point, BUT...
I think Clarke would be given a chance, he would get a honeymoon. If CLarke hit the ground running and earned respect, the Military would rally around him, possible at least no?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
windbreeze Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 11:35 PM
Response to Reply #7
22. C-L-A-R-K.......no e...please spell his name correctly...
otherwise I am going to think you have him confused with Richard Clarke...
wb
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FrenchieCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-13-06 02:01 AM
Response to Reply #7
23. It's Clark WITHOUT THE FUCKING "E".......!
And you are wrong. Stop posting heresay without backup!

Here's my backup.....So I raise you!

Wes Clark has no "problem" with the military. He had a problem with two Military personnel (Sec. Cohen and Gen. Shelton....both whom resented the fact that as NATO Allied Commander, Clark called the shots in the NATO Kosovo intervention and that he reported to them as a 4 star General, but Reported directly to Bill Clinton as NATO Supreme Allied Commander).

Wes Clark was retired early, something which was done behind his and Bill Clinton's back by Cohen and Shelton because he did what was right. Their problem is that he had insisted that high altitude bombing, their plan, wouldn't get the job done that was needed beyond killing more civilians than were required. He called for low flying Apache helicopters and boots on the ground (as his motto was "If it ain't worth dying for, it ain't worth fighting for). Cohen and Shelton didn't want to do this because they were afraid of U.S. Casualties, and after Somalia, didn't want to "chance" anything of that and therefore were for dropping bombs from high up. It is, however, a known fact that what got Molosovic to retreat was Clark's threat of boots on the ground and The apaches....not the gradual bombing plan. The civilian casualty numbers for Kosovo hover around 500. It could have been a lessor number had it not been for Shelton and Cohen.

Clark was right and did too good a job, and so as far as Cohen and Shelton were concerned....he had to go!

Here's news articles from the era as my back up. By the way, Gen. Shelton is a friend and advisor of John Edwards, and an asshole as well. He's the one that attempted to attack Clark's character during the '04 campaign......and later recanted that it was "just Politics".

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A51403-2000May1¬Found=true ("The Unappreciated General" --5/2/00)
http://www.texasforclark.com/departure3.htm (Reprint of WAPO's Dana Priest article 8/4/99 - "Clark's Exit Was Leaked Deliberately")
http://www.texasforclark.com/departure.htm (Reprint of "Washington's Long Knives" 8/03/99)
http://www.texasforclark.com/departure4.htm (Why Wesley Clark Got the Ax at NATO - 8/6/99)

http://www.slate.com/id/2089014/ (The Shelton Smear)
More.... http://www.texasforclark.com/departure3.htm -

But in terms of the military, the other Generals have no problems with him...although certainly there is some jealousy out there, as some Generals will attest:

MAJ. GEN. ROBERT SCALES: SCALES: I've known Wes for 40 years; he's also a passionate, committed, empathetic individual. So, soldiers in wartime have to lead soldiers into battle and the lives of men and women are at stake. And sometimes that requires a degree of flintiness that you don't need in other professions.

HUME: What about those who suggest that his character reflects a kind of unbridled ambition that puts his career above all things, fair?

SCALES: No. No. Unfair. Again, like I say I've known him all my adult life. He is an individual who is committed to a higher calling. I mean he's got three holes in him and a Silver Star from Vietnam. He has a…the word patriot only partially describes his commitment to public service. And for as long as I've known him, he's always looked, you know, beyond himself and he's been committed to serving the nation. And I think what you are seeing happen here recently is an example of that.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,97689,00.html


Lt. Gen. James Hollingsworth, one of our Army's most distinguished war heroes, says: "Clark took a burst of AK fire, but didn't stop fighting. He stayed on the field 'til his mission was accomplished and his boys were safe. He was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. And he earned 'em."
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_I...


General Barry McCaffrey :"(He) is probably the most intelligent officer I ever served with," McCaffrey said. "(He has) great integrity, sound judgment and great kindness in dealing with people. He is a public servant of exceptional character and skill."

McCaffrey told the Washington Post: "This is no insult to army culture ... but he was way too bright, way too articulate, way too good looking and perceived to be way too wired to fit in with our culture."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918...
"I have watched him at close range for 35 years, in which I have looked at the allegation, and I found it totally unsupported," said retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, who taught with Clark at West Point in the 1970s. "That's not to say he isn't ambitious and quick. He is probably among the top five most talented I've met in my life. I think he is a national treasure who has a lot to offer the country."
McCaffrey acknowledges that Clark was not the most popular four-star general among the Army leadership. "This is no insult to Army culture, a culture I love and admire," McCaffrey said, "but he was way too bright, way too articulate, way too good-looking and perceived to be way too wired to fit in with our culture. He was not one of the good old boys."
http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/candidates/content/proj...


Defense Secretary William Perry: who as deputy defense secretary first encountered Clark in 1994 when he was a three-star on the Joint Staff. "I was enormously impressed by him," said Perry, a legendary Pentagon technologist who served as defense secretary under Clinton.

Perry was so impressed, in fact, that with Clark facing retirement unless a four-star job could be found for him, Perry overrode the Army and insisted that Clark be appointed commander of the U.S. Southern Command, one of the military's powerful regional commanders in chief, or CINCs. "I was never sorry for that appointment," Perry said.
http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/candidates/content/proj...

Gen. John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs overrode the Army once again and made sure Clark became Supreme Allied Commander Europe, traditionally the most powerful CINC, with command of all U.S. and NATO forces on the continent.
http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/candidates/content/proj...

Col. Douglas Macgregor: There is this aspect of his character: He is loyal to people he knows are capable and competent," Macgregor said. "As for his peers, it's a function of jealousy and envy, and it's a case of misunderstanding. Gen. Clark is an intense person, he's passionate, and certainly the military is suspicious of people who are intense and passionate. He is a complex man who does not lend himself to simplistic formulations. But he is very competent, and devoted to the country."
http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/candidates/content/proj...

General Colin Powell on CNN - 9/28/03: "I've known Wes Clark for 20 years. He's one of the most gifted soldiers that I have ever had work for me. And beyond that, I really feel it's appropriate for me to recuse myself from any further comment now that he is a political candidate."
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0309/28/le.00.ht...

Major General George Pickett on the whispers...."No big surprise, since he graduated first in his class from West Point , which puts him in the super-smart set with Robert E. Lee, Douglas MacArthur and Maxwell Taylor."
'All this book leanin' is unbecoming for an officer. The yankees got all the smart ones, and look where it got them."
http://www.command-post.org/oped/2_archives/008539.html

Admiral John Dalton, Former Secretary of the Navy, in a 2004 OP Ed--
"Wesley Clark is uniquely qualified to lead the nation - Today, America faces two fundamental challenges at home and abroad: keeping our country safe in a dangerous world, and restoring fiscal responsibility and prosperity for the working families of our nation. We must choose a President with experience and depth both for the domestic economy and the international arena. "

General Schwarkopf on CNBC News questioned about Clark and a particular whisper campaign....
BORGER: All right, General, I'm going to switch gears on you just for one last question, because we've been watching all of the Democrats react to the news of Saddam Hussein's capture. You made a little bit of news on our show on November 6th when you said of General Wesley Clark that he was not going to get your vote, that was for certain, because General Hugh Shelton had said that he was not a man of character and integrity. And you said, quote, "If that's the case, he's not the right man for president as far as I'm concerned." Have you changed your mind?
SCHWARZKOPF: Well, again, 'if that's the case' was a very, very important statement. You know, I don't know to this date--there's never been any attempt to explore with Hugh Shelton what he meant by that.

....I don't know what lack of character caused Hugh Shelton to say that, I don't know what lack of integrity caused Hugh Shelton to say that, and I'd like to hear more about it. And basically I just don't think that that's been addressed that much. And obviously to a lot of people that's not an issue at all."
http://ann.forclark.com/story/2004/1/8/191653/0022

The fizzling whisper campaign was brought to a halt when General Shelton was called on the carpet by Hague prosecutors who were trying Milosovic. Milosovic repeated what Gen. Shelton had whispered about General Clark, after Clark testified against Milosovic. Unfortunately for General Gossip, he had to call his unfortunate comments assailing Wes Clark's character "just politics".
http://wesleyclark.h1.ru/presidence4.htm#LA%20Meetup%20...

Col. David Hackworth: I'm impressed. He is insightful, he has his act together, he understands what makes national security tick – and he thinks on his feet somewhere around Mach 3. No big surprise, since he graduated first in his class from West Point, which puts him in the supersmart set with Robert E. Lee, Douglas MacArthur and Maxwell Taylor.

Clark was so brilliant, he was whisked off to Oxford as a Rhodes scholar and didn't get his boots into the Vietnam mud until well after his 1966 West Point class came close to achieving the academy record for the most Purple Hearts in any one war. When he finally got there, he took over a 1st Infantry Division rifle company and was badly wounded.

He doesn't suffer fools easily and wouldn't have allowed the dilettantes who convinced Dubya to do Iraq to even cut the White House lawn. So he should prepare for a fair amount of dart-throwing from detractors he's ripped into during the past three decades.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_I...

Andrew Young: "I asked a whole lot of my friends who were generals and colonels and majors, who served over General Clark and under General Clark and every last one of them said to me that this is a good man, and if he were leading our nation they would be proud. son of the South capable of making a dangerous world a safer place for everybody. A man we are going to make the next president of the United States."
http://socialize.morningstar.com/NewSocialize/asp/FullC...



Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
benny05 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-13-06 08:55 PM
Response to Reply #23
30. I'd like to see posted at least 3 articles that prove
Edited on Mon Nov-13-06 09:03 PM by benny05
"Gen Shelton is a friend of John Edwards who is also an asshole."

Tom Rinaldo, I know you read these posts. You and I have conversed nicely before.

I wish Clarkies would quit tearing down John Edwards and stick to talking points that favor General Clark. Tearing down others so recklessly when there are many eyes and hearts considering General Clark as a real candidate and is being vetted, doesn't help General Clark's candidacy.

One forgets that there are JRE supporters who do like Clark, but are beginning to get turned off by this kind of Rovian rhetoric.



Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FrenchieCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-14-06 02:23 AM
Response to Reply #30
31. Sorry, but I printed FACTS......Shelton was an advisor to
Edited on Tue Nov-14-06 02:32 AM by FrenchieCat
Edwards.....and I consider Shelton an asshole. I didn't say that Edwards as an asshole. You misread what I wrote which was...."Gen. Shelton is a friend and advisor of John Edwards, and an asshole as well.

But if you are "starting" not to like Clark because of my post, then I suspect that it wasn't gonna take much.

But here are the sources you requested, since you asked:
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0347,mondo5,48665,6.html
http://www.slate.com/id/2089014/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Shelton





Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
benny05 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-14-06 10:15 AM
Response to Reply #31
32. Finally
The first article is useful to me because now I have an opportunity to find out what really happened. The Village Voice is a good newspaper, but it has its biases.

What I'm not convinced is that Skelton is a friend of Edwards, but from the first piece, it seems as though the two had talked at some point.

My point is that if you know so much about General Clark and the attributes as well as recent actions that build his case to be a candidate, that's better than negative rhetoric about Edwards. You forget that there many on the DU who haven't decided because it is still early. I'm suggesting to turn up the positives on Clark. Debunk when you need to (when you are asked and if General Clark is getting hammered about something), but overall, you don't see Edwards supporters being snarky about General Clark himself. Our issue is with your tone in general.



Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ilsa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:23 PM
Response to Original message
9. I think I'd rather see him successfully run for president 2008. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jen4clark Donating Member (812 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:27 PM
Response to Original message
11. No e in Clark.
n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
William769 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:44 PM
Response to Original message
12. How about Wesley Clarke for President!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
AtomicKitten Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:47 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. I'd prefer Wesley Clark
:)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dinger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 10:46 PM
Response to Reply #13
21. Me Too (nt)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Texas_Kat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-13-06 02:36 AM
Response to Reply #12
25. I'll second that
While Wes could fill just about any role in government he might choose, the best use of his talent is as POTUS.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
TheDebbieDee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 08:49 PM
Response to Original message
14. Has Clark been out of the military for more than 10 years yet?
I think a military person has to be out of the military for at least 10 years before he or she can serve as the Secretary of Defense.

Don't know where this law or rule is, though!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
elfin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 09:25 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. Don't think so -
but it is getting close. Randi Rhodes made this mistake a few days ago, listing several generals (including Wes) as better candidates than Gates. Surprised me given her encyclopedic knowledge of all things political.

He could be eligible for the next Dem Pres. - but i hope he is Pres. or VP before that.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FogerRox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-12-06 09:47 PM
Response to Reply #16
20. Randi said a law could be passed to allow CLarke as Sec Def
I heard that too.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Totally Committed Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-14-06 03:33 PM
Response to Reply #20
35. C L A R K (no "E")
C L A R K.

Thanks.

TC
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JNelson6563 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-13-06 07:47 AM
Response to Reply #14
27. That's what I thought too
Which is a damn shame. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have clean up this nightmare.

Julie
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Adelante Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-13-06 12:17 PM
Response to Original message
28. No question he would be the best SecDef
He would be the best President, also. If not prez, he would be the best SoS. No end to the man's abilities and experience for any of these jobs in national service. His life is national service.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FogerRox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-13-06 08:36 PM
Response to Reply #28
29. Yeah, "Wes" would be good at a anumber of diferent jobs
I gotta check into the spell check a little bit more often.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jpwhite Donating Member (178 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-14-06 01:16 PM
Response to Original message
33. wait for 2008
Let's have Wesley Clark be the Sec. of Defense for whoever our candidate is going to be. We need to publicly name him as the future Sec. of Def. at the convention in '08. Let's be proactive and make Wesley Clark a part of the future cabinet. It will clearly show that we as democrats are not weak on the war on terror.

James
jpwhite@okstatealumni.org

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FrenchieCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-14-06 03:30 PM
Response to Reply #33
34. Why should he be the answer to someone's run? Just curious?
Are you planning on supporting someone who has such a hole in their resume that they'd have to drag Wes Clark on the stage even BEFORE a general election? I'd hope that whomever this nominee person that you are talking about already has the answers to how to deal wtih the war on terror, knows well how to articulate them, and would be able to stand on his/her own on a stage and sell his plan to the American people.

It would be weird to me that our nominee would be as such a deficit in this very important area to the point that they would need Wes Clark doing their talking for them in order not to look weak. Almost sounds like you want to "use" Wes Clark's experience and expertise to advance someone else in the position of Commander in chief.

How sad.

Wonder who this potential nominee is? Hope they ain't just an empty suit with great charisma. :(
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MrSlayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-14-06 06:06 PM
Response to Original message
36. CLARK. No "E".
C'mon, at least get the man's name right.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sat May 04th 2024, 12:24 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC