Wes Clark in Ukraine to Meet Senior Politicians

[Eurobabe]

Okay, so what to make of this now?

Veep or Secretary of State Clark?

Clark is in photo attached to this story about Putin playing hard to get.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/nato_russia_dc

[Spazito]

1. Wow!

That surely must signify something in relation to Clark's importance to Kerry, imo.

An aside, I watched a biography special on Dwight Eisenhower on A & E last night and General Clark was one of those who was interviewed and appears throughout the special, commenting on Eisenhower, it was great!



Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma (L) greets former NATO (news - web sites) commander General Wesley Clark (news - web sites) of the U.S. during their meeting at the presidential office in Kiev, June 2, 2004. Clark, now a politician, arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday to meet senior state officials and political leaders. REUTERS/Pool

[Sparkly]

3. What a GREAT picture!!!!

I LOVE that picture.

[Adelante]

5. It's delightful

These two guys look happy to see each other, too, don't they? :D

[Sparkly]

7. Yes! And it's as if the General is saying,

"See, it's really not that difficult to work with the rest of the world! It works well when we do!"

[NoPasaran]

25. Clark's OK

Kuchma on the other hand is a thug.

[Adelante]

28. Yeah

It's the nasty thing about diplomacy.

[NoPasaran]

29. Agreed

Hope Clark counted his rings.

[Adelante]

30. I just hope he doesn't put on anybody's hat

;)

[Leilani]

32. Ha! Ha!

Good one...Wes, stay away from hats!

[LandOLincoln]

34. No problem. He only wears his West Point ring, set with a diamond

that belonged to his late father.


edit: typo

[cosmokramer]

55. No one will take anything from the General...

...he is light-years ahead in his thinking, and superb with security!

:evilgrin:

[PROGRESSIVE1]

6. He looks very Presidential!

I hope that he's chosen for the V.P slot!!!

:kick:

[Adelante]

9. He gave a joint news conference w/foreign minister

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko (R) and former NATO (news - web sites) commander General Wesley Clark (news - web sites) listen to journalists' questions during their joint news conference in Kiev, June 2, 2004. Clark arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday to meet senior state officials and political leaders. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

[Leilani]

31. Oh, Wes Dem

That is a really terrific picture!

The guy is brilliant & handsome to boot.

[Scoopie]

11. I have a hunch

and it's only a hunch... BUT...

This may be why:
Ukraine's Ministry of Fuel and Energy plans to import 25,000-30,000 tonnes of high-octane gasolines in the near future to stabilize prices on the domestic oil products market, Minister of Fuel and Energy Serhiy Tulub told journalists on Wednesday.
http://www.interfax.com/com?item=Ukr&pg=0&id=5728148&req=

And this is happening on the day after Kerry gives a speech regarding on nuclear terror and securing nuke material, especially in former USSR.
The NATO summit referenced in the story is happening in Turkey - and Clark may very well be set to attend that, but that doesn't preclude his activities in the Ukraine.
Imagine, a vice president who went to other countries to secure some reserves in case the Middle East blows up or China steps in, instead of e-mailing his old company to give the inside on the bids and hogging all the cash flow for himself.

[exJW]

56. Wow!

It's almost as if, put together with the news of Putin snubbing Bush, that they are trying to tell us "we're moving on with the new American administration", and Clark has already gone to work playing clean-up "fix-it" man for America. Once more.

Or am I fantasizing?

[louis c]

2. Clark for V.P.

I originally supported Gephart for V.P. because I thought the
economy was the major issue this year. Although one can still
make a case about a failed bush economy (wage reduction and
lack of health benefits), it looks like this election will be
about War and security. In this case, I want Clark. I'll take
the two War heroes at the top of my ticket and the scum on the
other side can try to defend the two draft dodgers. 

[Adelante]

4. Welcome to DU, louis c

:hi:

[LuLu550]

16. Welcome to DU

always a pleasure to welcome someone who sees the how fabulous the General is! :toast:

[cosmokramer]

18. Welcome...

...I like you already...you have GREAT taste!

[newyawker99]

19. Hi louis c!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[MoonRiver]

21. Welcome to DU, louis!

I know you're gonna love it here! As you have probably noticed I totally agree with your sentiment about Clark!! :hi:

:kick:

[Paradise]

43. If that's how you really feel, louis c,

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Adelante]

8. Reminded by this

Several times during his campaign, Wes talked about his deep concern about loose nukes in that part of the world. Kerry is speaking about this horrible problem right now, as well.

[julialnyc]

59. He's one of Kerry's main advisers

I read recently that Clark is one of Kerry's main security advisor's. I can hear many things that sound like Wes in Kerry's speeches. I can also hear stuff that sounds like Randy Beers. It's good to know he has such a wonderful team. I think Kerry is wonderful getting such an experienced team together. Remember that one man alone doesn't run the Country and Bush has proven the outcome of poor advisor's and staff. I am so pleased to see such a wonderful team coming together!

[LandOLincoln]

10. Okay, but what's the deal? I read the Yahoo story quickly, but

at no point did I see them tie the photo of Wes and Kuchma to their story about Putin.

And does this mean Wes is going to be at the NATO summit?

[Scoopie]

12. Scroll up to my post

Land O Lincoln:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x540790#540831

[LandOLincoln]

14. Just saw it. Thanks! nt

[Scoopie]

37. Found out more

(And I've grown to love my hunches)

http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-56960.html

In addition, L.Kuchma and W.Clark have discussed international policy, specifically, the situation in Iraq. W.Clark has highly estimated the professionalism of Ukrainian peacekeepers in Iraq. The general has also raised the question of the investment collaboration between Ukraine and USA. In his words, one of the aims of his visit is to interest American businessmen to come to Ukraine.

SNIP

In the course of the meeting the sides have also discussed the forthcoming Presidential elections in Ukraine and the United States.
As reported earlier by UNIAN, W.Clark is paying a visit in Ukraine on invitation of MP, businessman Victor Pinchuk.

For those of you who don't know, Mr. Pinchuk is a steel "tycoon" in the Ukraine. He is also branching out into, get this, building pipelines for natural gas and oil. While I have found information that links him to less than reputable characters, he is still considered one of the most above-board businessmen in the former Soviet Union. And, given the way the Soviet Union works, that's actually saying a lot.

[Spazito]

13. I would bet yes on his attendance at the summit...

it would make sense for many reasons, especially as he was SACEUR and has many connections to the leaders of the countries that will be in attendance.

[apathy]

15. he will be be Sec of State

I gurantee it.

[cosmokramer]

17. I disagree...

...there is no reason to make a SOS so prominent right now...and the SOS position is not announced until AFTER an election.

You are looking at VP--and I would lay money on it.

[LandOLincoln]

24. Of course I agree with you, Cosmo. Richard Holbrooke will be

SecState, Jamie Rubin will (once again) be Deputy SecState, and Clark will be--already is the de facto--Vice President.

The three friends--in coordinataion with President Kerry--will leverage the prestige and enormous good will all enjoy in the international community to clean up the godawful messes left by the most corrupt and incompetent MISadministration in U.S. history.

And did I mention how much I look forward to sleeping in my bed again, instead of on the couch with the television set drowning out the doomsday whispers in my mind?

Time was, back there in L.A., I had to sleep with the TV set on only for the first week or two after a major earthquake...

[cosmokramer]

39. I completely agree!

[newyawker99]

20. Hi apathy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. Veep...in the flesh!

Yup...Clark is now in the Ukraine probably explaining to them that the chimp will lose in Nov. and they all just need to chill until then. Right? I say Wes Clark is going to be VP. How many other VP contenders could be doing what he's doing right now in the Ukraine or at the Summit? How many of the contenders know all of those world leaders on a "personal" basis? Wes Clark is nothing but an asset to Kerry...plain and simple.

Man he looks good in those pics! Thanks for posting this. It made my day.

[cosmokramer]

23. well, you definitely can't...

...send someone like Edwards to discuss foreign policy with the Ukrainian government now can ya?

[LandOLincoln]

26. I don't think it would be a very good idea, no.

But that's probably just me. :evilgrin:

[DancingBear]

27. No, I don't think it is

:) :) :)

[Leilani]

33. But he is charming!!

Do you think the Ukranians would think he was charming?

[LandOLincoln]

35. Of course they'd think he was charming...

while wondering what the heck they were all supposed to talk about.

:evilgrin:

[cosmokramer]

38. ROTFLMAO!

:evilgrin:

They would talk about hairspray, of course!

[in_cog_ni_to]

45. Nope...sure can't.

Clark's da man! :bounce:

[incapsulated]

36. Secretary of State Clark

It's all I want for my birthday (Nov. 11, Veteran's Day!). :)

[bain_sidhe]

40. Veep Clark for my birthday - Nov 4

So, I gotcha beat! (Of course, that assumes that our birthday wishes count for anything... :shrug: )

[Jai4WKC08]

44. VP nominee for my B'day -- July 13th

I think Jim4Wes' is the same day, so we get double wishes.

[Crunchy Frog]

51. I hope that you and Jim

have very, VERY happy birthdays.:party:

[Auntie Bush]

50. My son would like that for his birthday too. Nov. 11!!!!!!!!

[Tweed]

41. Where was John Edwards when this happened? I'm sure the irony... n\t

[cosmokramer]

53. Keep 'em coming...

...I am cracking up!

:evilgrin:

[TriMetFan]

42. Don't care if he is V.P. Or Secretary of State

We just need a man like him. He can help Kerry get this Country's Respect back. Thats all that matters.

[Adelante]

46. That's all that matters

Ultimately, it is.

[cosmokramer]

47. A wicked smart four star General...

...goes a long way in proving the military acumen of the democratic party...he should be welcome in ANY prominent position!

[Auntie Bush]

48. He looks so presidential! Ooops...I mean Vice Presidential!

[Gloria]

49. As posted elsewhere, he had a press conference today in Bucharest,

Romania, where he talked about their entry into NATO.

Wesley Clark states NATO accession brings us billions of dollars
Bucharest, June 03, 2004 - Romania's accession to NATO will bring "billions and billions of dollars " out of foreign investment inflows, will assure education for thousands of people and tens of thousand jobs, real change in economy, military system and culture, states general Wesley Clark, former commander of NATO troops in Europe.

(a bit more)

http://www.southeasteurope.org/subpage.php?sub_site=2&id=11884&head=hl

[Nicholas_J]

52. I was listening an hour ago on Radio Ukraine(shortwave)

Also has streaming link:



http://www.nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=2

Story:

http://www.nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=148&listid=1873


http://www.nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=148&listid=1863

[cosmokramer]

54. Check out this piece of data:

Just got this piece of data:


Read a report on appearances for Kerry (from a state Kerry coordinator, don't know the name): Clark 48 times, Dean, 40 times, Edwards 18.

[MontecitoDem]

57. pinch me...

I'm actually starting to feel like other people are seeing the same Wes Clark that I do! :bounce: (I hope it's not just us all talking to one another - it can't be right?)

This suspense is starting to drive me crazy - WHEN will we know?

[cosmokramer]

58. It is making me...

...nuts as well...but I firmly believe the writing is on the wall.

:kick: