America "Needs New Strategy" Gen. Wesley Clark Tells 2600 at DePauw

[DoveTurnedHawk]

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While at the airport, the general called President Bush's speech before the United Nations in New York today, "one of these annual requirements... the President has caused a tremendous amount of problems for our allies, for our international organizations. He hasn't treated the United Nations and our allies with the kind of respect and brought them into the problem the way that he could've. Now he's gone and asked them for help. It's not surprising that it's very difficult for him to get the kind of help for our country that we need. And I think it shows that the administration's policy on Iraq and the way it's been conducted, with a very small coalition -- just the United States and Britain substantially -- has been faulty."

Later, in his Ubben Lecture, the general added, "There are a number of pressing issues, and beyond the immediate crisis we have to rebuild our relationships with our allies. We have seriously damaged these relationships," he said to applause, adding, "We have to respect other leaders, just as we expect them to respect us. In a democracy, of course, we understand that our president reflects public opinion more or less -- I mean, he has to. If he doesn't, he's held accountable at the next election. It's no different in any democracy. So there's no point in being that angry at the French, because their president is more or less reflecting the opinion of the political class in France. The German Chancellor is reflecting the opinions, more or less, in Germany. And the American President has to understand he speaks to an audience that extends far beyond the borders of these United States. He has to be a world leader."

Asked by students about the Patriot Act, Clark said the implications and effectiveness of the Act -- which he says he's read cover-to-cover three times and is still trying to make sense of -- must be carefully analyzed before, as Attorney General John Ashcroft hopes, its powers are expanded. "Because when you're dealing with something like the Bill of Rights, it is so precious, it is so central to the this country that we must never allow an administration to abridge it without full, open and complete accountability to the American people."

General Clark, whose speech was interrupted many times by applause, offered this advice to students who may feel disenfranchised and that their vote means nothing. "I want you to understand that politics is not a dirty word. I want you to understand that in a democracy -- if you love your country, if you love your parents if you love the town you've grown up in, if you love this University -- then you have to fight for it and protect it. And that doesn't mean you need an assault weapon at home. It means you need to use your mind, and your voice and your ideas."

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http://www.depauw.edu/news/story.asp?id=378873712384259

DTH

[imhotep]

1. duh

more stating the obvious and platitudes from Clark.
No plans, or solutions, which isnt surprising coming from someone with no experience with political issues.

[Name removed]

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[dalsept]

8. but a vision

He said that he would "reclaim the mantle of patriotism" and I believe that this is what must be done to win. The electorate has been whipped up into a war frenzy and it will be much easy for the democrats to redirect this energy than it would be to quelch it. The democrats have to own the war by providing a vision for its conclusion and allowing by Americans to voice oposition without having their loyalty questioned. Clark can do this in a smart symbolic fashion that no other candidate could match.

[neverforget]

2. Damn, I really like this guy. Bush is definitely crapping his pants now.

He's extremely eloquent and intelligent unlike the squatter.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

4. Absolutely

The smartest man running right now, IMO.

DTH

[dean4america]

5. but...

the article leaves out where 50-75 people left early out of boredom. the first half of his talk was a rambling wreck of personal life stories that turned off a lot of people in attendance, and the second half was, unfortunately, very general (no pun intended) and lacked the specificities and grasp of policy that would have been good to see. In other words, it was oratorically well-delivered, but rhetorically empty (a charge also levied against the Big Dog in his days).

Also, IMHO, saying you've read the Patriot Act three times and are still trying to make sense of it (though a direct quote is not attributed), is not very inspiring. Like many here, I assume, I've also read the Patriot Act, and it is a clusterf*** of substantial proportions that must be eliminated in toto. I think HE thinks it should be, too, but his finiessing the words too guardedly annoys me.

[Julien Sorel]

7. AP coverage described the crowd as 'enthusiastic.'

It wasn't a campaign speech, so why should he turn it into a policy wonk session? Should he have taken the school's money, and then used the speech to campaign? Are you telling me that you wouldn't then, have complained about that?

[Julien Sorel]

6. He's getting better.

This is Clinton:

"I want you to understand that politics is not a dirty word. I want you to understand that in a democracy -- if you love your country, if you love your parents if you love the town you've grown up in, if you love this University -- then you have to fight for it and protect it. And that doesn't mean you need an assault weapon at home. It means you need to use your mind, and your voice and your ideas."


Counting the days until his pool reporters are won over...