Reply #17: Clark again repeated some major points he keeps making [View All]

[Tom Rinaldo]

Bush mistakenly took us into Iraq in an elective war and didn't finish the job in Afghanistan. As a result we have squandered hundreds of Billions and 1700+ lives. Iraq now is a crisis. Also Bush disengaged from N. Korea and Iran, won't even talk to Iran (and won't talk bilaterally with N. Korea) while they as a result accelerate their weapons programs. Clark doesn't approve of rigid time lines (for withdrawal), he wants strategies for success, and he ticked off what America should be doing (but isn't under Bush). Main emphasis on talking directly to Iraq's neighbors and giving them reasons to support a stable Iraq, also effective training of Iraq's forces.

On Gitmo, Clark said we should have asked all our Allies to develop a program for detainees, share the burden and ownership of it. Do it to standards all can agree with.

P.S. Clark is worried about our volunteer Army.