Clark not "popular" with the military because of his progressiveness?

[wyldwolf]

To all on both sides of the political spectrum who are (gleefully?) pointing out that Clark was not "popular" with the military:

Clark was not popular with the upper Pentagon brass

Despite his credentials as a warrior - 34 years in the Army, including a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart earned in Vietnam - {Clark} argues that the U.S. military must learn how to perform such nontraditional functions as peacekeeping and even nation-building, because that's what it will be doing in the 21st century, like it or not. And, since it's no small task to turn gung-ho soldiers into order-keeping policers, it's all the more urgent that the entire military start rethinking its doctrine immediately.

Paradigm-shifting views such as these did not make Clark popular with his superiors at the Pentagon, including former Secretary of Defense William Cohen.

http://www.newamerica.net/index.cfm?pg=article&pubID=528

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. I Can't Imagine How They Felt

when he said the "don't ask , don't tell policy needs to be revisited.

[wyldwolf]

3. So here we have a four star general rocking the boat...

...saying the military's role in the world should evolve into humanatarian goals and nation building and that gays should be welcomed into the military.

Enough to make the good ol' boys shit bricks.

I'm not sure that I'd be in favor of policy. I supported that policy. That was a policy that was given. I don't think it works. It works better in some circumstances than it does in others. But essentially we've got a lot of gay people in the armed forces, always have had, always will have. And I think that, you know, we should welcome people that want to serve. - MSNBC

Former NATO supreme commander Wesley Clark says it is time for the ban on gays in the military to be lifted.

http://www.gaypasg.org/Press%20Clippings/June%202003/General%20Wesley%20Clark%20Would%20'Welcome'%20Gays%20To%20Military.htm

[OKNancy]

2. Interesting date on the article

July 2001. Clark was already dissing Bush before 9-11.

[EagleEye]

4. SO he's a Rumsfeld?

[diplomats]

6. Rumsfeld's a conservative/neocon

there's nothing progressive about him.

[disgruntella]

5. Clark, the military, and progressiveness

...General Barry 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."

Quoted in "Clark aims for the Wes Wing"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1044318,00.html

(I've quoted this before; it just amuses me.)