Clark: You cannot win the war on terror simply by killing people.

[calteacherguy]

If you chase down and arrest, or kill, every single identified member of al Qaeda…every sympathizer, you still won’t succeed in this campaign because there are far more potential recruits than there are actual enemies. And our actions, unless they’re accompanied by understanding of America, by belief in this country’s legitimacy, of what we’re trying to do and the methods we’re using, we simply create more resistance to what we’re doing. So I think it’s that principle that we’d like to proceed, Bob. I’m open, I’d like to consult with anybody who’s running for any office in the land and provide these ideas in great detail. I think they should be at the heart of American discourse today because this election in 2008 is not going to be about national security in a limited sense.

I know there are going to be people talking about ‘the army’s in trouble’, ‘what about the defense budget and how does that compare with energy independence’ but it’s going to be about who we are as Americans, whether we live up to our values. Because if we live up to what people expect of us, by our own Constitution, we will achieve the security we seek. And if we don’t, we’ll just be any other country out there with a big army and navy.

<snip>

"Um, would you see yourself potentially running as a vice presidential candidate on a ticket in ’08?"

You know…Liz, thank you. That’s a great question.
You know…you can’t answer a question like that. It’s entirely too speculative and you know…what I…I’ve said to a lot of people…what happened when I ran the last time, I was very happy to run.

I was against the war in Iraq early on. I wrote the op-eds against it, I testified in front of…against it. I was cited in the Senate, and then when I ran it was like as though somebody said ‘ah, he’s running for office, you see – all of this was a smokescreen, he’s just out for his own ambition, forget about what he says, it’s how he uses it to advance.’

I’m not.

These are…and what I said when I ran, I meant every word of it and I didn’t say it to get elected and that’s counter to political logic. When you’re running for office, you have to say what it takes to um, appeal to your base and to get yourself put into office.

I’m not standing for office. I haven’t said I won’t, but I’m not standing now.

I want the words I’m delivering to be taken seriously by somebody who’s spent his life in this field. I’m the only one on any side of any of the announced candidates who’s ever ordered men and women into battle and had to deal at the head-of-state level with the concerns and problems where diplomacy and force intersect. So I’ve got some experience and, you know, with the help of a lot of other people, we were actually successful in what we did in Kosovo in 1999. It’s the only air campaign in history that ever succeeded in accomplishing its purposes. So, I want to share those experiences as I saw them, with the American public and with people all over the world.

And…and so I’m very honored by your question and it’s nice that you asked me that and of course, like anybody I’d love the opportunity to be of service at some point, but it’s really about trying to work the ideas at this stage. And it’s the way the media works – if they say you’re in it for your ambition, then what you’re saying is only what you have to say to get elected, you don’t really mean it. So I really mean this and uh, and I think if we would take heed of some of the experiences that I and other people are sharing around this country, then maybe we’d get a better policy.


General Wesley Clark - Legitimacy: First Task for American Security
Hosted by: Center for Politics and Foreign Relations, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), The Johns Hopkins University
May 16, 2007
transcript by Reg NYC and Melang
http://securingamerica.com/node/2425

In the most important sense, Clark is running. He's running to change what's most important on a fundamental level. He's running to change this nation and bring us back to our own moral center. While others are sprinting, Clark's running in a marathon.

[Doubtful Optimist]

1. I supported General Clark in 2004.

And I would wholeheartedly support General Clark in 2008.

I hope he runs. If America would actually listen to his ideas, I think he would be a great President.

Unfortunately, the RWSM always howl at the moon over most everything they hear.



ARRR ARRR ARRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
\

[elleng]

8. what General Clark said about running:

t’s really about trying to work the ideas at this stage. And it’s the way the media works – if they say you’re in it for your ambition, then what you’re saying is only what you have to say to get elected, you don’t really mean it. So I really mean this and uh, and I think if we would take heed of some of the experiences that I and other people are sharing around this country, then maybe we’d get a better policy.'

[Captain Hilts]

2. I support him in 2007. nt

[AX10]

3. Run Wes Run!

:dem:

[ArkySue]

4. I support Gen. Clark

in whatever he decides to do. He's not going to stop fighting for America.

[Canuckistanian]

5. I do, as well

He's the front runner in my books.

[northofdenali]

6. He's the best we have in terms of dealing with the terrorism threats.

He understands that, yeah, they DO hate us, not for our freedoms but for many other reasons, including our relative wealth and their unrelieved poverty. George W. Bush is the poster child for recruitment for terrorists - period. I'm sure his name is invoked at every "swearing in" of a new recruit. And rightly so.

"but it’s going to be about who we are as Americans, whether we live up to our values. Because if we live up to what people expect of us, by our own Constitution, we will achieve the security we seek."

I haven't fully committed to any candidate, and won't for a while yet. Clark is certainly a front-runner with me. I volunteer and campaign HARD for those I support, with time, money, and anything else that's needed. If we all do that, despite work/home/family obligations, even a little extra can mean the difference between saving the United States and muddling along in the direction we're currently pointed - one that will lead to the destruction of the nation I love.

I blame apathy as much as I do the repukes and this misAdministration.

On edit - Alaskans are known for their ability to get things done despite extreme adversity. We're known to be stubborn, to find other ways of doing things if the original way isn't working. We're known to be loudmouths, rabble rousers, extremely independent - and yet we are always, always ignored by the presidential candidates, because we don't have the electoral votes. Our energy and willingness to sacrifice are routinely ignored. I get a little yappy on this subject, but it's pretty rare for a candidate to even bother to visit this state, and the ones who do usually only hit Anchorage. Even a call-in broadcast on our (admittedly terrific) public TV station would galvanize a LOT of voters, particularly in the Bush.

We're a hotbed of repukes right now - Big Oil again - but sentiment is decidedly moving away from that due to our current "scandals". Maybe, whoever our nominee is, they'll take us into account. For a change.

[jenmarie]

7. There's just no comparison

in my mind to the declared candidates. Clark is in another field altogether.

I think he will enter the race. He knows that he can only do so much in trying to change policy as an outsider. To make the real changes necessary to get our country and constitution back, he needs to be sitting in the driver's seat.

He spent his life in service to this country. He's not willing (or able) to sit back and watch everything he spent his life defending and protecting be thrashed by a bunch of chickhawk, rich white thugs.

[capi888]

9. Wes Clark a remarkable man!

I listened to the entire speech! Everyone should read or listen. Look what he has done already! Instumental in getting our Congress changed, traveled giving speeches for candidates. He now is bringing the Generals together to speak out against the policies (votevets.com). He is the lead advisor to the House and Senate, I hear the Senators say Wes's words all the time.
I believe he is on a mission, and is turning up the dialog against the Bush Administration and getting the message to the PEOPLE. We are the only ones who can help him make a difference. I hope he decides to run, however, I know he is trying to corner in Bush to make a change in the policies on the War.
I think he will run, as he says, have patience!!! He said it in this speech!!! We have to restore our legitimacy of our Country. That is why he is traveling abroad, to bring hope to our allies.
Patience!

[Dinger]

10. All I Have To Say Is, . . .

He will make a great president!

[iconocrastic]

11. You can't win the war on terror without killing people.

[BikeWriter]

12. Yeah, right. It really worked great in VietNam!

:sarcasm:

[IA_Seth]

14. you cant win a war on terror, period.

You cant fight a tactic.

[Jai4WKC08]

20. So? What's your point?

Yes, sometimes it's necessary to kill people. No shit, Sherlock. Clark has been a soldier for 38 years; I think he understands the necessity of killing well enough.

But Clark also recognizes that one problem we have in this country is too many people think that the only solution to the problem of terrorism is to kill people. And that is no solution at all.

[BikeWriter]

13. Wes Clark, the ONLY candidate we have who knows war!

[draft_mario_cuomo]

15. This is why it is good to have Clark on Faux News

What Clark is saying is not rocket science but it is an unfathomable concept for conservatives who see tax cuts as the solution to every domestic problem and dropping more bombs as the solution to every overseas problem. By having Clark on Faux we can make a dent in that thinking, which may help us gain some "converts" after they see that Democrats are the more effective anti-terror party. Only Clark can make the case to these people given his 4 stars.

I hope Clark runs. He will add a lot of substance to the race. An Edwards-Clark ticket would be dynamite...

[calteacherguy]

16. I agree. We have to reach out to the other side and try to change their thinking.

It's Clark's philosophy in the international arena, as well as in the domestic political arena. He's very consistent in the belief that we must engage even those we perceive as our "enemies" in dialogue. He's an optimist in the power of ideas.

I see you are a Mario Cuomo fan (so am I) you have probably read his comments about Clark:

"Wes Clark is a man of whom you can ask a question, and he will look you directly in the eye, and give you the most truthful and complete answer you can imagine. You will know the absolute truth of the statement as well as the thought process behind the answer. You will have no doubt as to the intellect of the speaker and meaning of the answer to this question....So you can see, as a politician, he has a lot to learn." -Mario Cuomo

Of course, there are politicians and then there are politicians. It is in the kind of politics of engaging adversaries and winning them over that Clark excels. It takes integrity and legitimacy to do that, and that's what Clark wants to bring back to America.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

17. I agree on all counts

Clark has an appealing combination of brilliance and passion, like Mario Cuomo.

That Cuomo quote is great and is dead-on about Clark.

[knight_of_the_star]

19. He's no politician

He's a leader

[calteacherguy]

21. Bingo.

:thumbsup:

[Greyskye]

18. Gore/Clark 2008 has been my dream ticked forever!!!

And then Clark/? in 2016! :thumbsup: