Wes Clark on C-Span's Book TV- interviewing David Rieff on 2/11-2/12

[FrenchieCat]

Book TV Programs
A Weekly Look at Selected Book TV Programs

On Saturday, February 11 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, February 12 at 6:00 pm and at 9:00 pm

After Words: David Rieff interviewed by Wesley Clark

Description: This week on After Words, journalist David Rieff explains the history of interventionism and how it has influenced U.S. foreign policy in his book, "At the Point of a Gun: Democratic Dreams and Armed Intervention." Mr. Rieff was a supporter of intervening militarily during both the Rwandan and Bosnian Genocide, until the war in Iraq changed his opinion. He now believes that intervention should only be used as a last resort. He is interviewed by Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.) Former NATO Allied Supreme Commander, who led the of the military operation in Kosovo.

http://209.144.51.202/feature/index.asp?segid=6759&sche...

Should be interesting!

[Pithy Cherub]

1. That looks to be informative and enlightening.

The full range of options on national security and foreign policy explored without some media martinet interrupting. :woohoo:

Thanks for the heads up!

[FrenchieCat]

2. No problem......

Amazing how much Wes Gets around.

But I'll tell you, that guy has the energy of a 40 year old!
Must be all that swimming!

[Lefta Dissenter]

3. swimming?

:evilgrin:



(sorry, couldn't help myself)

[FrenchieCat]

4. Now, come on.....That wasn't required.....

Ooooh! You should be ashamed of yourself!

But I will say, for a 60 year old (that's how old he when he took that I think), he looked damn good in that photo. He's 62 now, I think!

I'm asking folks to watch an Intellectual mindfest on C-Span Book TV with a Humanitarian General interviewing a true Pacifist Peacenik....and now, folks will be distracted!

[Thirtieschild]

8. 61 now, will be 62 in December

and oh, that pix.

[NCarolinawoman]

9. I believe the General turned 61 just last December.

[FrenchieCat]

32. Just kicking the thread....

:hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Really? 62?

That's pretty good. I would've guessed he was in his mid 50's. He and Kerry both look very nice for guys in their 60's.

[Pithy Cherub]

6. Brains and Beefcake in one General package!

That classic WES pic virtually guarantees return visits to this thread...:evilgrin:

[Wesin04]

7. Listening to Clark ask the questions

Instead of being on the receiving end will give a lot of insight into the type of issues that are important to him and even where he stands. It will be a huge plus not to be interrupted or directed by a media flunkie so the viewing public might actually be able to learn something about Clark as a deep thinker.

:patriot:

[Pithy Cherub]

22. Clark's broad range of intellectual thought and scholarly insights

will be most impressive to viewers as well. :patriot:

[FrenchieCat]

19. Rieff is world renowned, and has written 5 books....

But Bush has turned him off bigtime.

Used to support intervention for humanitarian causes...such as in Rwanda and Bosnia.....

This will be fascinating, I'm sure!

[Pithy Cherub]

21. The Reiff model versus the Samantha Power model

The picture you posted is very familiar, maybe he has been at the LA Festival of Books.

This should be a much more high powered discussion or debate between WC and DR. The one I saw live at UCLA with Samantha Power and Madeleine Albright was MA trying to stay at the 100,000 foot overview level while SP was deep sea diving for details. Samantha just could not and would not let the topic turn to other aspects of foreign policy because she was fixated on President Clinton not using miltary might for Rwanda. And I mean fixated... Now I am looking forward to it even more.:)

[cheeto]

5. Looking Forward To It

[FrenchieCat]

10. Now, YOU KNOW....

I've already stolen that graphic of yours, right? :evilgrin:

[Clark2008]

11. Cute graphic!

:hug:

Can I steal that?

[FrenchieCat]

12. I stole that one, and I stole yours......

but I'm no thief...in real life anyways!

[cheeto]

13. Steal it, post it :) Enjoy

[FrenchieCat]

14. David Rieff is bilinqual--Speaks French Fluently...hails from Boston

http://www.unisi.it/ammin/newsletter/comunicati/century/brieff.htm
Born: September 28, 1952, Boston, Massachusetts.
Educated: The Lycee Francais de New York, The New Lincoln School, and Princeton University (A.B., 1978)
2) Employment
1979-1989: Senior editor and director, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (publishers), New York.
1980-1985: Program Director, The New York Institute for the Humanities at New York University.
1985-1986: Visiting Professor in Creative Writing, The City University of New York
1990-1995: Writing Faculty, The Empire State Summer Writing Program at Skidmore College
1998- : Deputy Editor, The World Policy Journal
1990- : Contributing Editor, The New Republic
1989- : Freelance Writer
3) Professional Associations and Boards
Senior Fellow at The World Policy Institute at the New School; Fellow, The New York Institute for the Humanities at New York University; Member, The Council on Foreign Relations; Board member of the Arms Division of Human Rights Watch; Board member of the Central Eurasia Project of the Open Society Institute.
3) Publications
a) Books:
Going To Miami: Tourists, Exiles and Refugees in the New America (Boston: Little, Brown, 1987)
Los Angeles: Capital of the Third World (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1990)
The Exile: Cuba in the Heart of Miami (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992)
Slaughterhouse: Bosnia and the Failure of the West (New York, Simon and Schuster, 1995)
(with Roy Gutman) Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know (New York: W.W. Norton, 1999)
b) Articles:
Frequent contributions to the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Le Monde (Paris), El Pais (Madrid), The New Republic, Harper's, The Atlantic Monthly, Foreign Affairs, and many other publications.
4) Current Projects
Completing a book on disaster relief---The Ends of Humanitarianism---tentatively scheduled for publication by Simon and Schuster on February, 2001.

[Donna Zen]

15. This is great!

I'm really looking forward to this interview. I wonder if he will be hosting other interviews on CSpan? But mostly, I wonder how in the world he finds time to do all he does?

Cool graphics cheeto.

[FrenchieCat]

16. Here is Mr. Rieff

[Clark2008]

17. Awww... he looks like a beatnik my Mom dated in the 60s

(only older) :)

Nice cheekbones!

And I'm sure he's a smartie, too.

[FrenchieCat]

18. Two smart people in the room having a relaxed conversation

About humanitarianism and the horrors of wars.

Maybe some GOP nutjob will watch and learn something! :eyes:

[dogman]

71. When did Kerry grow a goatee and get glasses? N/T

[Totally Committed]

20. Outstanding!

I can't wait.

Thanks for posting this.

TC

[TacticalPeek]

23. K & R

:kick:

[FreedomAngel82]

24. Sounds good!

I'll have to remember it being on. Will it be on the c-span site?

[FrenchieCat]

26. I'm sure! They've been running spots advertising it all week!

http://www.booktv.org/AfterWords/index.asp?segid=6759&schedID=402

[CarolNYC]

29. I hope so...

It looks like they archive all of their After Words programs on booktv.org so I imagine it will eventually show up here:
http://www.booktv.org/AfterWords/archive_2006.asp

And I think they stream live on the CSpan site, right? So maybe the live stream of the program will be on the cspan site as the stream from CSpan2. I hope so as I don't have cable.

Should be interesting. I've seen him do a lot of things before but don't think I've had the pleasure of watching him interview anyone else before. Sounds like he and the author may agree on a lot.

[upi402]

27. Gen. Clark as interviewer! Wow, he may prove versatile too.

[FrenchieCat]

28. Here's the book they'll be discussing....

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0684808676.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[CarolNYC]

30. Hmmm....

Looks like another book to add to my list of books to read...I'm finally getting around to Brock's Republican Noise Machine....which I've heard Wes recommend we read a number of times....and which I've been meaning to read forever...I read his Blinded By the Right years ago....

[FrenchieCat]

31. I bought "The Republican Noise Machine" a few years ago...

Started to read it, but ended up giving it away to someone who needed more than I did (a Repug I knew)! I've been meaning to buy myself another copy.

[FrenchieCat]

35. Will be on C-Span2 in just a minute or so.....

A kick for that!

[Donna Zen]

34. The Republican Noise Machine

...is part of my reference library. The index is very complete. Whenever you come across an unknown wacky in print or on the tube, a quick scan through Brock's book locates their favorite rocks and toilet-think tanks.

[CarolNYC]

59. David Brock

I've got to tell you. I only have read the introduction so far and this book is scary...It's making me depressed too. I don't see how we break the stranglehold the Republicans have on the media...We need some people with money on our side who are willing to do something, though....You know I got an invite from Charlie Rangel and Donald Trump for a reception at Trump Towers this month for Charlie's National Leadership PAC. I don't where Trump falls on the political spectrum but it wouldn't be a bad thing to have him on our side. Whatever my issues with him, he's got money and he knows how to make things happen...

Back to Brock, his "Blinded By the Right" was very good also...interesting but scary, too...the way these people operate. They are totally ruthless. I saw David at a WesPAC event a couple of summers ago, shortly after the Democratic Convention. I really wanted to talk to him but Wes was there also and it was just too hard to pull myself away from the nice little discussion that Wes was having with just a few of us. In typical Wes fashion, he spent much time with us peons before the "more important" people decided he had to move on and get out of the drizzle that was falling at the outdoor event....By then David was gone. Oh well...next time.

[NCarolinawoman]

33. I saw previews today. This should be good. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

38. Are you watching?

Talking about porportional Force.

Unlike Bush's "Shock and Awe"!

[Auntie Bush]

36. Watching now! He's looking good as usual. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

37. Kosovo was an objective Right vs. Wrong.....

Interesting! I'll have to remember that when those Serbian haters say otherwise.

[in_cog_ni_to]

39. OK...heart palpitations again.....

that mind of his. :loveya:

[Auntie Bush]

40. I admit it...I'm guilty

That face of his.:loveya:

[radio4progressives]

41. Well Damn. That was damn impressive interview..

good on Clark, he did good. very fascinating engagement.

I like how Clark's mind works... I'd like to see him as Secretary of Defense in our country or Secretary of State, i think.

[FrenchieCat]

42. He truly "gets" it.....

[NCarolinawoman]

45. Thanks for your input, radio4progressive! n/t

[Donna Zen]

46. As a cabinet member he would be in service to the Oval Office

...and any unelected advisors that person puts in power. The less foreign policy experience a president has, the more power those advisors have. IOW, a cabinet member Clark would not necessarily get to use his mind. Especially, if as is true with the current regime, the decisions would be part of a 24/7 political campaign.

Clark puts his country above politics, and that is why it is Clark, not the usual political actors that I would prefer to see creating the policy.

We are in a mess.

[FrenchieCat]

48. I agree......

He's got the kind of courage to make a great President! He truly "get's it" in a lot of different areas......including the voting machines, single payer health care, etc., etc., etc.....

[Sparkly]

43. That was an excellent discussion!!

I missed the first few minutes, so I'm watching again tomorrow!!

[FrenchieCat]

44. Bottomline....

The author and Wes agree that Bush has made intervention due to Human Rights a thing of the past. That in a weird way, Bush literally "using" Human Rights as a shield in justifying going into Iraq has made it obsolete....even if it was Bush grasping at a justification when no WMDs were found. That's is very sad indeed.

Of course, the media forgot to point out that Saddam's violations were from years past....Kosovo was an intervention to keep it from happening then and in the future.

BushCO make me sick! :puke:

[Donna Zen]

47. bush using war and human rights for political gain

Yes, Frenchie, bush has condemned people who will need help in the future. And, if it is a Democrat in the Oval Office, the republicans will be the loudest voices for letting an as yet unforeseen slaughter go on.

[TacticalPeek]

49. The Revenge of the Ayatollahs

"You can look at this war as the sort of revenge of the ayatollahs on the Ba'athists. They are using us to settle old scores."

Wes Clark to David Rieff

[FrenchieCat]

51. Ain't that something.....

Under Bush, we've become someone else's proxy! BushCo is soooo dangerous and soooo Stooopid!

[Gloria]

50. One wonderful hour of intelligent conversation from a man who

is being ignored by the Democratic Party structure. Historical perspective. Be still my heart.

...Meanwhile, we have a clod in the White House who doesn't even read a newspaper..

I don't think I can take it any more....


PS--..Did you hear Wes discuss one of his little bouts with Condi?? And his encounter with Chalabi at Davos?

[Auntie Bush]

52. Yes, that made a good ending impression.

[FrenchieCat]

53. I'll be watching it again....

It was fascinating.

I think that Mr. Rieff enjoyed listening to Wes' perspective as much as we did.

Wes sure can talk, can't he?

[Adelante]

54. Noooo

What did he say?

[CarolNYC]

58. CSpan

I don't remember exactly what he said...but you can watch the show streaming from the CSpan website...It's on CSpan2, 6 and 9PM ET. That's how I watched it last night...Very good interview. I imagine Wes was a little more...um...animated than the average Book TV interviewer....Nice discussion. Catch it if you can...

[Sparkly]

55. YES!!

My jaw dropped!! :wow:

[Totally Committed]

57. WAKE UP DNC!

Gloria: "One wonderful hour of intelligent conversation from a man who is being ignored by the Democratic Party structure."

If that makes you as angry as it makes me, we are two pretty pissed-off women! We must find a way to impress upon this Party that their DLC-inspired lack of balls and complete myopathy, is costing us election after election. The Democratic Party having Wes and out-and-out ignoring him is the eqivalent of having a gorgeous diamond and choosing to wear a beer-can flip top as a ring instead.
There is absolutely no excuse for over-looking him now.

TC

[Divine Discontent]

61. he's not ignored by me!!!!!!!!!!!!

CLARKIES voice your opinion for 08!!!!!


http://www.cafepress.com/sureshotcheney

[Gloria]

66. Totally Committed, You bet I'm one pissed off woman!!

I'm to the point of returning to Independent status. I'm not only pissed off about their blind spot on Clark, it's the utter lack of understanding about how when Rove says he's going to run on national security, he means it. It should be a signal to tighten up the message and trot out a a friggin' 4 STAR GENERAL, RET. who has perfected his approach to dealing with FAUX in appearance after appearance. He even had Hannity looking down a week or so ago, Wes just leaned forward and bitch slapped him like an errant child.

And there are so many other things I'm pissed about, I would need an entire thread to list them all!

Frankly, I have a feeling that Clark will NOT run, precisely because he knows the Democratic party is too much of a mess to deal with and to rely on. This is a man who is disciplined as hell...I can't imagine him wanting to put his credibility and reputation on the line for this bunch. They haven't improved since 2004. It's pathetic!!

[radio4progressives]

70. is he being ignored? I wonder why...

They're ignoring Feingold too, i think Feingold is really important to our party message, and priorities, as well as Clark.

But the Pelosi's and the Harry Reid's and the Hoyer's apparently ignoring Feingold.. (just speculating because of certain actions/non-actions)

If the party is ignoring Clark, then he's probably not associated with the DLC then? that makes sense now, neither is Feingold, although they tried to recruit him by getting Aipac to finance him some years ago, i don't believe AIPAC finances Feingold anymore though. Have to research that still.

[CarolNYC]

73. being ignored...

Actually, the more I see of politics, the more I fear that what the leaders of both parties, Democratic and Republican, want most is to hold onto their power...I don't think they much like anyone they don't feel they can control and I think that both Wes and Russ scare them a bit because they won't be controlled...I think if Wes does choose to run, he'll have to win without any help from "the party" because I just can't see them, at this point, backing him in any way over a number of other folks who will be much less likely to disrupt the status quo...Gee, isn't that a depressing assessment? :( God help us all...

[ArkySue]

56. On Iraq

Going into Iraq was a "strategic blunder of the highest order." ~ Wes Clark. How many times have we heard him say that? Plenty, if you are paying attention.

[Adelante]

60. I'm hoping Wes does more of this

I would like to see him interview Barbara O'Brien who wrote "Blogging America" - her blog is The Mahablog. Did anybody see her on Washington Journal on Friday? She is said to have been brilliant. I don't get C-Span and the streams always cut off on me :cry:

[Donna Zen]

63. Maha

Do you remember her? She was a DU Clarkie from the days that there was only one GD. I'm just looking through some old pms and there is one from an exchange where Maha and I are discussing the Zen of Clark. It makes me smile.

I'm very happy that Maha is having success with her blogging.

[Adelante]

69. Did you read the comment threads?

It looks like a hundred or more people who had never been to her blog came after seeing her on C-Span. Yes, I do remember her from before. I emailed WesPac to see if they would set up a Book TV interview for her with Wes. I don't know how possible it is, but I thought it would be a terrific conversation, so I tried.

[CarolNYC]

74. Hey WesDem....

The Wes hour is now archived at the Book TV site and it seems to play better for me than the live stream did...Did you try the archived link?

[FrenchieCat]

62. Rerun right now on C=Span2

Wes did most of the talking, but Rieff seem to have enjoyed it. Rieff will sell a lot of his books this way.
Wes is nice and animated on the show. does voice imitations and everything! He was a joy to watch!

[Mz Pip]

64. Repeat now 9pm EST

for those who missed it before.

Excellent interview, though I would call it more of an intelligent dialogue.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[CarolNYC]

65. Yep,

much more a dialogue than an interview, I think. Looked like both men enjoyed it quite a bit...I think it helped that Wes had so much knowledge of the events covered in Rieff's book.

[Gloria]

67. Yes, this was an exchange between two people with a lot of

knowledge between them on the subject at hand. It was really great to watch....so I'm watching again, too!!!

[Totally Committed]

68. You are so right, Gloria...

I'm watching again, too. He's just gotten better and better.

TC

[dogman]

72. It's enough to make a grown man cry!

Seeing the President we could have had and knowing what we have is really depressing.