General Wesley K. Clark Calls on President Bush to Start Honoring Soldiers

[robbedvoter]

General Wesley K. Clark Calls on President Bush to Start Honoring Soldiers who Died in Iraq
http://clark04.com/press/release/091/
Last Spring, immediately prior to the war in Iraq, the Pentagon issued a directive stating: "There will be no arrival ceremonies for, or media coverage of, deceased military personnel returning to or departing from Ramstein Airbase or Dover base." President Bush has strictly enforced this directive throughout the war.

"This is absolutely unacceptable. The brave men and women who've lost their lives in Iraq deserve proper public ceremonies to honor their service. And the American people should know the consequences of the Bush Administration's reckless war," General Wes Clark said. "Many of the men I served with in Vietnam came home in coffins. The government started bringing them back in the middle of the night to hide the casualties from the American people. I never thought anything like that would happen again. Apparently, I was wrong."

President Bush has also refused to attend a single military funeral of any soldier killed in Iraq. Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush (Sr.), and Clinton all attended funerals for soldiers who were killed in conflicts under their command.

"Part of being a leader is facing the consequences of your actions, no matter how hard or painful that is," said Clark. "President Bush owes more to the families of our soldiers. They should not be mourning alone."

[saigon68]

1. HOLD HIS ASS TO THE FIRE

Let the Chimpanzee know, the families and the parents, especially, deserve better.

Clark certainly doesn't mince words:---

General Wes Clark said. "Many of the men I served with in Vietnam came home in coffins. The government started bringing them back in the middle of the night to hide the casualties from the American people. I never thought anything like that would happen again. Apparently, I was wrong."

[Options Remain]

2. clarks shoots and scores

thats two nice hits. Keep em coming.

TearForger

[7th_Sephiroth]

3. General Wesley K. Clark Calls on President Bush to Start Honoring Soldiers

to wich dubya replied "on-ore?"

[phillybri]

4. Kick

:kick:

[Gloria]

5. Excellent! I hope this gets some coverage soon....

I'm surprised Kerry hasn't been bringing this up...or has he?

on edit....Hope this comes out during the debate!!! ANd that it gets picked up in every news outlet!!

[NNN0LHI]

6. This guy is smoking. I am telling you. Damn! n/t

[demnan]

7. Good!

I hope Clark keeps on in this vein. He's hit his stride.

[Rob in B_more]

12. This is great

If the all the Dems keep pushing this either the shoe will fit or he has to publically cave and go to a funeral. Neither way does he look presidential. Lets hope no more funerals are necessary though.

[robbedvoter]

8. Let's see coffins, says Clark - Daily News

New York Daily News:

Let's see coffins, says Clark
WASHINGTON - Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark accused President Bush yesterday
of trying to "dishonor" Americans killed in Iraq by barring pictures of
their coffins arriving home in the U.S. Clark, who is vying for the
Democratic presidential nomination, called it a "blatantly political move"
for the Bush administration to impose restrictions on news coverage of
soldiers' remains arriving at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and
burials at Arlington National Cemetery.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/story/139616p-123966c.html

[Petrodollar Warfare]

9. Clark can say things that one other candiate can...

...and I am glad he stated this. We had Veterans day earlier this month, but neither Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfelt or anyone from this adminsitration has honored the fallen soldiers. Not one. Their is not excuse. Clark is a good man and he is right on target.

Having said that, I still say that Howard Dean can not win unless Welsey Clark is his VP choice...it's the only war to beat the 2004 Campaign Fear Mongering...courtesy of Karl Goerbbels Rove.

[Johnyawl]

10. Give 'em hell, Wesley!

It's about time someone started pointing out how little the bush administration actually supports the troops.

[kskiska]

11. Hitting him where it hurts

It's about time. Paul Begala will run with this one. He's been hitting on it a lot.

[Donna Zen]

32. Begala

is under strict orders: do not mention Wesley Clark. So far he has been content with saying "yes sir mr. AOL."

[Gloria]

13. Clark is going after Bush on CHARACTER AND VALUES....

FIrst, the comments about alcohol and his marriage, delivered with a smile...

Now, this about honoring soldiers....

For Americans who are too uninvolved to care about issues, going after Bush on character is the other way to get their attention. Clark is systematically aiming to undermine the Rove/GOP stranglehold on character and values.....

I hope he keeps it up!! GO CLARK!! I'm writing a check today--I've finally decided to do it!!

ON EDIT....the check is in the mail along with this letter:

TO THE WES CLARK CAMPAIGN!!

11/24/03

I have decided to support General Clark! Over the past couple of weeks I’ve watched the General in various TV interviews and on Cspan.

What has finally made me commit to the General is his willingness to go after Bush on CHARACTER AND VALUES. First, his comments about Bush’s alcohol/marriage, delivered with a compliment. Now, his comments about Bush’s unwillingness to attend services for soldiers and even the whole idea of hiding the homecomings of soldiers in their coffins.

For Americans too uninvolved to care about issues, addressing Bush on character is one way to get their attention. The General has begun to take aim at the Rove/GOP stranglehold on the “character and values” issue. I am stirred by his ability to convey his anger at what is going on in a nuanced and statesmanlike manner.

Keep up the great work! I believe the General has the experience and DEPTH to be a great President!

It’s time for America to wake up to what this cynical, un-American Administration is doing to this country! I believe General Clark is the man to do it!!!

Sincerely,

[DoveTurnedHawk]

14. FUCKING AWESOME

I remember a couple of posters were asking for some candidate -- any candidate -- to raise this issue.

GO CLARK!

DTH

[MarkTwain]

26. Ditto...

....nail the heartless, hypocritical, son-of-a-bitch to the wall on this shameless issue.

[David Zephyr]

30. Your Candidate Is Speaking Truth to Power, DTH!

Go Clark, indeed!

[FrenchieCat]

15. Stellar, Stellar, Stellar

This candidate is strategizing....and outmanuvering the enemy, that would be Bushco.....and in particular, Rove.

That is the advantage of having a General on board......psychological warfare is coming at play.....

IF ANYONE CAN DO IT, IT'S WES CLARK......

REMEMBER A VOTE FOR WES IS A VOTE FOR A NEW PRESIDENT IN '04
A VOTE FOR ANYOTHER CANDIDATE IS A VOTE FOR BUSH FOR 4 MORE YEARS!

[DancingBear]

16. Make us proud, Wes

Hit Bush every chance you get, and make what passes for the media these days sit up and take notice. Keep it up, and hopefully soon the media will ask these questions to Bush DIRECTLY, instead of reporting via the primary filter.

[VolcanoJen]

17. All PATRIOT, No ACT!!!!!

Go Wes!!! 'Bout time someone said it!!

Ya know, the Clark Campaign has some kick-ass slogans...

All Patriot, No Act
"W" Stands For WES
The Wes Wing!

:D

[lumpy]

18. Clark has the best chance of beating the Bush

with all he has to offer. No doubt in my mind. Picking a well know good man for VP might even cinch it. Graham?

[Gloria]

19. Clark has just hired someone from the Graham campaign.....

some good people coming in......

[Eloriel]

24. And Dean has hired Graham's daughter

I think I'd rather have her. Clark hired Graham's campaign manager.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10732&JServSessionIdr003=tw254yq7n2.app196a&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1301
November 24, 2003

Contact: Press Office, 802-651-3200

Gwen Graham Logan, 305-389-2145

Gwen Graham Logan Joins Dean for America

BURLINGTON--Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D., announced today that Gwen Graham Logan has joined the Dean for America campaign as National Surrogate and Southern Regional Advisor. As a surrogate, Graham Logan will speak on behalf of Governor Dean throughout the country. She will also assist the campaign in the South, including her native Florida.

Graham Logan is the eldest daughter of United States Senator and former presidential candidate Bob Graham.

"While campaigning for my father, I got the opportunity to know Governor Dean. I believe in him and his message of hope and change. This campaign is not about one person, one interest or one policy; it is about empowering the American people to take back this country for themselves. I am proud to join the Dean for America team on behalf of that effort," Graham Logan said.

"I am pleased that Gwen has joined my campaign, and that she will be working on our across the country. Her good judgment and unique insights into presidential campaigns will be invaluable in the weeks and months ahead," Governor Dean said.

Graham Logan is an attorney and mother of three. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Washington College of Law at American University.

[ozone_man]

40. Graham for VP?

Her father that is. Just a possibility for Dean. He would boost Dean in the South and put heat on Bush. Or maybe Edwards. Gee, it would be nice to take Florida back from Bush.

[truthspeaker]

20. satire

"Bush pledged to honor fallen soldiers by allowing them to vote in the 2004 presidential election."

OK, he didn't say that, but you know they're thinkin' it.

[ignatius]

21. Woohoo!! Bush the chickenhawk during Vietnam and still is, too

gutless to honor those he sent to die for his drummed up war.

You go General Clark.

[bushisanidiot]

22. Go Clark!! Nail That Deserter's As*!!!!

Chickensh*t Bush can't look a military parent in the eye after what he's done to their kids.

What a WEAK "president"!!

[skypilot]

23. Wasn't Bush the one who...

...declared that HE was the one who had to comfort and hug the widows and other family members of fallen soldiers? When can we look forward to that, George?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

38. Sorry, Mr. Sensitive only conforts British families.

[young_at_heart]

25. Can reporters ask him WHY he's doing this?

I'd love to hear an unscripted answer!

[lonewolf0507]

27. Honor these Warriors

Cowards do not face their actions. President Bush is a coward. He has not attended a funeral because of his decision to lie about sending these brave men and women to their deaths. The actions we see now from this man are the actions he has done all his life. He is not a man of honor or morals. He is a liar and a coward. Let him go hide under his bed with his tail hanging out. Let him curl into a ball with his teddy bear. We don't need him to honor these real men and women. Lest let us honor our fallen, by allowing us to see them return home for the last time.

[Fleshdancer]

28. Thank you Clark for saying what needs to be said

One bit of advice for Clark though...speak slowly and use smaller words. Words like "leader", "consequence", and "reckless" are difficult words for bush to understand.

[spotbird]

29. Was this published anywhere?

It likely won't be, but it would be nice. This is exactly what each of them needs to do. Let the Democrats decide who wins the primary but start attacking Bush like the election is tomorrow.

Honest to God I’m undecided but these two issues today make me very seriously consider Clark.

But as a disclaimer, I gave up on issues long ago and decided that the guy who gets my vote is going to be the one who has the best chance of winning. This is a winning strategy, and as much as they hate it Clark has credentials that take the military strength issue off the table.

I’m a little late to the debate but will someone please give me the short answer as to why Clark was relieved of his command. I do remember that he had stellar performance reviews given by Republicans and that when he reached a certain level they are no longer given (to anyone) so the truth really can’t be verified, but what is it anyway.

[spotbird]

31. Interesting freep response

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1027793/posts?page=24#24

With one or two exceptions, none of the patriots there seem to bothered at all about the secret return of the soldiers. They have vile things to say about Clark, which show a real disconnect between his comments and reality. Their ability to rationalize is never ending.

[saigon68]

34. FUCK THOSE ASSHOLES

Check out this comment

To: Wolverine

Too funny.

Wes is a disgrace to the uniform. What a whore.

26 posted on 11/24/2003 12:35 PM PST by Truth Table
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies >




They are beyond hope, worthless Little Cry Babies.

[neuvocat]

42. If it makes the freepers mad

then its good for America.

[Donna Zen]

35. Interesting response from someone who served

If you are lucky, once in your lifetime a truly exceptional person will cross your path. I met and know such a person: General Wesley Clark. For three years, I had the privilege of working for General Clark when he served as Supreme Allied Commander-Europe. I can attest to the fact that he is a general's general and a soldier's general.


I first met General Clark in June 1998 on a special assignment in Maastricht, Belgium, in support of General Hugh Shelton. I was immediately struck by two things. First, although General Clark wore the uniform of a four star General, he spoke as though he were a polished diplomat. He seemed comfortable in both worlds - as a General and as a spokesman for NATO.


The second thing I noticed was the way he treated his subordinates. He treated everyone equally, regardless of their rank, and he listened - really listened - to what people had to say. And the General's security detail clearly loved working for him. This is not common; most security guys don't get to know their principals on a personal basis.

In the weeks before I arrived at SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe), I thought that I would be the "token Hispanic." When I arrived, I quickly found out that I was mistaken. I had never seen so many minorities working in any high-powered setting. I learned that it was because General Clark values diversity and wants to give everyone a chance.


And from the moment I arrived, General Clark and his wife did everything they could to make me feel welcome. My first assignment was to take the General to his quarters and then to a dinner engagement with NATO officials. After the event, the first thing General Clark asked me was whether I had gotten anything to eat. To most four-star generals, security is an instrument. With General Clark, it was a different story. He always treated his staff like family.

During the war in Kosovo, I saw how deeply compassionate General Clark is. He worried about the pilots who were out on night missions, and he would not go to sleep until he knew the last pilot had bedded down. Instead, he would work in his study, going over the latest intelligence reports and providing updates to the alliance and officials back in Washington. When he finally went to bed, it was only for two hours, and more often than not, he would be awakened by calls. His instruction to me before going to bed was: "Cris, push every call through." No rest for the General.

General Clark is an extraordinary leader. People trusted him because they knew that he was honest and a straight shooter. And there was no mincing words with him. He always wanted to hear the truth. You didn't put things off. He wanted to know what had gone wrong so that he could make corrections and get back on the right track.


But most of all, General Clark is loyal -- loyal to his country and to the United States Army, the organization that brought him up from West Point cadet to Supreme Allied Commander. I have worked around a lot of generals, and I can say that the Boss is one of the best I've ever worked with. He cared deeply about the soldiers he led, treated all of us who worked for him with the highest respect, and served his country with dedication, courage and honor.

Note: The man who wrote this posts often at the Clark blog and is also a member of Meet up in AZ. This is his introductory post. It pisses me off when media whores like that Faux rat's-ass think their slime balls are their badge of honor.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

37. As a former officer, that is the kind of person for whom I would have...

...enjoyed working. I learned early in the process that you took care of your men first. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of serving under any officer, Navy or Marine, that didn't put himself first.

Gen. Clark, I still don't know who's going to get my vote, but you have my utmost respect and admiration.

[madrchsod]

33. how much longer before

asks bush about his service record and where he was during the missing year. you know dam well this pisses of clark to think this guy was a coward during nam and now he is sending good men and women to war..

[Lorien]

36. It's a press release from Clark's site, will

the corporate press carry it?

Even if Clark isn't my #1 pick, I certainly am glad he's in the race! keep exposing that hypocritical baffoon, Wes!

[robbedvoter]

39. See #8 - so far one sighting in the press

Looking for more...

[neuvocat]

41. My God, someone finally said it.

Someone finally said it.