From the Times....Clarks'dismissal by Clinton- what does this mean?

[SoFlaJets]

To General Clark's humiliation, President Clinton's Pentagon relieved him of his command. And President Clinton had signed off on the plan, according to several published accounts, apparently unaware that he was being deceived by Clark detractors.

does anybody know the story behind why BC relieved Clark?What was the deception?Who did it?anybody know of this?

[hedda_foil]

1. Link please.

[SoFlaJets]

2. Here tis.......

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/19/politics/campaigns/19CLIN.html?ex=1064940329&ei=1&en=96b16b4fa448fbb0

[Abe Linkman]

3. What's your title in the Clark campaign staff?

Clark was fired based on his own scary performance, not because somone deceived the deceptive Bill Clinton.

[Another Bill C.]

5. Not Quite

Clark's dismissal was based largely on the word of British General Michael Jackson. Jackson was second in command of the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment which conducted the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry Ireland in May 1972 during which 14 unarmed protesters were fatally shot by Jackson's men.

The British Army (and Jackson) have been blatantly lying about this event for the past 31 years. They lie easily and often which was probably an influence on Clinton's decision.

[SoFlaJets]

8. ME!!!!!!!!??????????????

What is MY position?In a campaign?HHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
you gotta be frickin kiddin me I'm just asking a question here a little paranoid there Abe?Booo I'm behind the curtain...Just enjoy the play...Wes Clark is riling them up ain't it now

[mddemo]

4. clark for president

This is one guy i will never vote for, I was in the British army contingent that this lunatic ordered to attack the russians at Pristina Airport. If it hadnt of been for General Sir Michael Jackson (a great commander and soldier, who told clark that he wasnt about to start WW3 for him) refusing the order my company would of been the one who started WW3. The Russians now admit they had thousands of airborne troops ready to go to support the unit at the airport, this thing would of escalated beyond belief very quickly. Clark for President no way.

New US citizen, voter and democrat.

[jayson23]

6. democrat? really?

Personal attacks such as calling a four-star general a "lunatic" seem a bit more in keeping with a Fox news hound than a participant in a reasoned debate. What was your job in the British army contingent? What sort of orders did you recieve?
All of the reports I read say that Clark ordered tanks to be used to block the runway. Hardly an order to attack. From what I can see, your "great commander" was disobeying an order from a superior because he thought his judgement was superior. It's easy to engage in hypotheticals after the fact. I see General Clark as a decisive, strong leader, one I'd be proud to call my President.
I don't want to descend into sniping between candidates, and I'll support the Democratic nominee no matter who (besides Lieberman) it is, but I must stand up for General Clark.
This "story" is getting far too much coverage from the right-wing spin doctors, and they're embellishing it with every telling. Let's not start handing ammo to the republicans.

[mddemo]

7. clark

My unit was a part of the 6th brigade, we were ordered through command to commit part of our armor to block the runway in order to stop the russians landing any more aircraft, the russian commander informed our colonel that he had orders that no one outwith his command was to enter the airport, we had guns they had guns, they were not for show. Our IC reported through DIV HQ to Sir Jackson what he had been ordered to do and advised that without additional support we couldnt force our way through the russians, at this point the CO went ballistic and realised what was about to happen ordered us to stand down. I was part of the Recce Platoon and we reported and watched as the russians prepared for an assault that they believed was coming and they were getting ready to repulse. Now as to wether Sir jackson should of disobeyed and in fact counter manded the orders, what would be your take on a US general refusing to act on Rumsfelds order to carpet bomb a civilian neighbourhood. The very fact that Clark was replaced as the British command had lost all faith in his abilities speaks volumes.

[surfermaw]

12. I agree stop the snipping among democratic candidates

[carpetbagger]

9. Clark did not order an attack.

He ordered Jackson to send troops towards the airport, offer to help the Russians, and camp out on the runway. Nothing here about firing, returning fire, or anything else.

Javier Solana signed off on the plan.

[mddemo]

10. orders to attack

Sorry but as the point of the spear so to speak, we had very definite orders, nothing about assisting the russians, we were ordered to robustly occupy the airport, and to robustly defend ourselves if attacked. Hell we even replened beforehand and took on extra ammo adn POL. To me and everyone in the Brigade these orders signified that we were to use force, they signyfied to our DIVHQ the same thing, and as i said before they were enough for our General to realise what was about to happen and for him to countermand the orders. The great thing about the military is that the orders are pretty clear as is the ROE.

[bloom]

11. I think people need to be more open to the possibilities

Just because someone runs as a Democrat does not make them automatically OK.

I'm sure everyone knows that - but it doesn't always sound like it.

[disgruntella]

13. I don't know the whole story, but here's an editorial

From WA Post in 1999 - since it's in the archives of WP (which aren't free) I am linking to a reprint

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/decani/message/16306?source=1