What Others Say About Wes Clark

[Skwmom]

Wes Clark has the character and depth to be another Marshal or Eisenhower in time of war.“ Brigadier Gen William W. Crouch, March 1988

He is unquestionably one in a million. ....I have never been more impressed with an officer's talent and dedication. He should rank with men like Douglas MacArthur, Maxwell Taylor, Creighton Abrams..." Col. Charles G. Prather IV, June 23, 1977

“I think he is a national treasure” and “one of the top five most talented people I've met in my life." Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Sum 2003

son of the South capable of making a dangerous world a safer place for everybody. I asked a whole lot of my friends … who served over Gen Clark and under Gen Clark, and every last one of them said to me that this is a good man, and if he were leading our nation they would be proud. Amb. Andrew Young, Dec. 21, 2003

"Major Clark is the most capable White House Fellow I have known….He brought to his work a brilliant mind and rare common sense. He has initiative, style, imagination, moral courage, and integrity each in extraordinary degree...He has a rare sensitivity to others and a remarkable ability to motivate and lead them....." James T. Lynn, Director, Office of Management & Budget 1976

My Enron experience has brought home to me just how important the tone at the top is. integrity, he's not going to mislead the American people and he has a long-term vision.” Sherron Watkins, Enron whistle-blower

Even though he was the commanding general, you were never made to feel less than. Gen Clark was very supportive of women. He did not place barriers. Maj. Patricia Williams (Ret.) U.S. Army

devoted to the development of young people, especially the school system. Lt. Gen Daniel W. Chrisman (Ret.) U.S. Arny

Wes Clark is nobody’s yes man, his ability to cut through b.s. that somebody is giving him - I don’t know any communicator better than he is. He’s been around the world. He knows foreign leaders. He knows foreign cultures, he knows our own culture. He will have the welfare of the American people writ large always in his heart and in his mind. Col. William J. Taylor Jr. (Ret) U.S. Army West Point Faculty

He’s a soldier but a statesman as well. He’s not just a person with a narrow military knowledge. He has a great grasp of some of the complex issues surrounding education and economic issues. Adm Charles Larsen (Ret.) U.S. Navy

I think the thing that makes Wes different from others is that he has been motivated not for personal gain - he’s been motivated be-cause he feels generally for this country and always has. I think Wes Clark is an American hero. I know that’s a trite term and perhaps overused term but it’s a realistic term when you describe him. Capt. Gaines Dyer (Ret.)

The Biggest Reason I Support General Clark ... I think it is his innate sense of decency. You can see the humanity in his eyes. They say a good man is hard to find. Well, kids, we found one.....He loves his wife, and helped her raise a fine son… He loves kids (says he wants LOTS of grandkids, and is excited and animated when they are around.) He believes in peace over war, even though he's a mighty warrior. And he believes in God, and spirituality. He believes we are all equal….He's intelligent beyond most men who run for office, and only ran because we asked him to. He cares about the environment, and the kind of world we hand to our kids, and he cares about the size of the deficit we hand them, too. I could go on, but as you can see -- he's a good and decent man. He cares about the country. He loves the flag he served under and fought for. He will be an Extraordinary American President.
Totally Committed's web log, A Clark Supporter

[MIMStigator]

1. AWESOME

em

[MIMStigator]

2. What did Brigadier Gen Crouch say about Dean?

n/t

[DeanIsAPitbull]

3. General Shelton thinks he has character issues.

Which is why the majority of the voters think he's not good to be prez. :)

[xrepub]

6. lack of particulars

Shelton never gave any details. Do you think it is fair to smear someone like that, and not give enough details for a defense?

[Printer70]

42. I don't think that's in Clark's best interest

...one of the reasons Clark hasn't fired back is if he does, the details will come spilling out and it will make him look worse. We've already heard about how Clark ordered the bombing of Russian soldiers and was refused by his own subordinates...it could get much uglier than that.

[Turkw]

9. Shelton needs to explain or APOLOGIZE, Shelton apparently doesn't have a

problem with drive by smears or systematic rape and murder.

I have big problems with Shelton's character and integrity!

[dogman]

10. General Shelton has character issues.

How come he refuses to return press calls for any evidence or explanation? The majority of voters will elect him President of the United States and he will be a great one!

[arewethereyet]

20. How come ?

his comments were a warning shot over the bow.

He knew that the evidence of Clark's massive and ongoing fudging of effectiveness reporting of the air only battle plan in Kosovo were available to any reporter willing to do a little work.

Clark chose to ignore the warning and the Newsweek guy found the reports and went interviewing after that.

Now thats just one reporter doing a little research. If it becomes necessary, much more will come to light.

You have to understand, 4 stars who became chairmen of the joint chiefs are not accostomed to answering to anyone short of the commander-in-chief and they don't give a rat's behind what ther press thinks. Clark reiterated this sentiment when he stated taht TV stations were legitimate military targets (in Kosovo).

[dogman]

28. Rehash?

If he has something to say allhe has to do is say it. We've discussed the TV stations at great length and will never convince Milosevic supporters tha propaganda inciting the murder of 1.5 million people for being of a different ethnic group was unacceptable. Clark received reports, he didn't make them.

[arewethereyet]

34. he did recieve reports

from which he got and faked information to be delivered to the boss. Its exactly the researching of the source documents that fed his reporting and the inability to jibe the numbers that was found and reported.

Better clean your glasses, the general is busted.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

38. Riiight. This is what someone in the position to know had to say....

http://www.couplescompany.com/Features/Frontlines/Clark.htm

For sure, he’ll be strong on defense. But with his high moral standards and because he knows where and how the game’s played, there will probably be zero tolerance for either Pentagon porking or two-bit shenanigans.

No doubt he’s made his share of enemies. He doesn’t suffer fools easily and wouldn’t have allowed the dilettantes who convinced Dubya to do Iraq to even cut the White House lawn. So he should prepare for a fair amount of dart-throwing from detractors he’s ripped into during the past three decades. TOP

Hey, I am one of those: I took a swing at Clark during the Kosovo campaign when I thought he screwed up the operation, and I called him a “Perfumed Prince.” Only years later did I discover from his book and other research that I was wrong – the blame should have been worn by British timidity and William Cohen, U.S. SecDef at the time.

-snip-

But if he wins the election, don’t expect an Andrew Jackson field-soldier type. Clark’s an intellectual, and his military career is more like Ike’s – that of a staff guy and a brilliant high-level commander. Can he make tough decisions? Bet on it. Just like Ike did during his eight hard but prosperous years as president.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[xultar]

16. You must not bother Deanisapitbull with details. He keeps us informed

of the goings on about the campaign front.

[Printer70]

43. As far as I know, they have to do with...

1. Threatening to bomb Russian soldiers for entering a Serbian airfield that would have led to a major international confrontation.

2. WashingtonPost report:

Another retired four-star general told the Washington Post recently: "There are an awful lot of people who believe Wes will tell anybody what they want to hear and tell somebody the exact opposite five minutes later. The people who have worked closely with him are the least complimentary, because he can be very abrasive, very domineering. And part of what you saw when he was relieved of command was all of the broken glass and broken china within the European alliance and the European Command."

[Tatiana]

14. And exactly what would those character issues be?

Huh?

What?

Ummm.... yeah. Until he explains what "character issues" Clark supposedly has, this is just a bullshit smear with no evidence to back it up.

[arewethereyet]

21. he lied about the air campaign effectiveness in Kosovo

have you forgotten the Newsweek article already ?

[Tatiana]

39. Newsweek....

Warrior's Rewards

NATO's military commander won in Kosovo but not in Washington. Now he has paid with his job.

By John Barry and Christopher Dickey,
Aug. 9, 1999

<snip>

Yet the core problem was at least as much one of personality as of doctrine. Since his days at West Point, Clark has been something of a loner. (His favorite sport was long-distance swimming. He still tries to work out in the pool every day: lap after arduous lap, oblivious to the outside world.) Clark gloried in being the lone warrior, the take-no-prisoners intellectual. "It's very difficult to stop this ambitious man," said one of his European peers during the war. His colleagues might admire and envy Clark, but few actually liked him.

<snip>

Should Clark have been surprised to be shown the door? He rubbed even his admirers the wrong way. Subordinates wearied of his high-pressure attention to minute detail. A European NATO officer who worked closely with Clark remembered him during the air war "with his little laptop being able to see all the aircraft maneuvering in the air war." As another NATO veteran put it, "He does get in people's knickers to some extent."

more...

http://wesleyclark.h1.ru/departure.htm

Seems to me like this is just a personal case of jealousy/envy of an intellectual.

[arewethereyet]

41. no, this Newsweek

actually pulled from Newsweek on another source, sorry for the confusion...
http://mujweb.atlas.cz/www/kutija/nw000515.htm

[Printer70]

44. Honesty and Judgment- Washington Post

1. Threatening to bomb Russian soldiers for entering a Serbian airfield that would have led to a major international confrontation.

2. WashingtonPost report:

Another retired four-star general told the Washington Post recently: "There are an awful lot of people who believe Wes will tell anybody what they want to hear and tell somebody the exact opposite five minutes later. The people who have worked closely with him are the least complimentary, because he can be very abrasive, very domineering. And part of what you saw when he was relieved of command was all of the broken glass and broken china within the European alliance and the European Command."

[xultar]

15. Thanks for letting us know about Gen Shelton,

Next time you speak to him. Tell him hello from Wes Clark and his supporters!

[deminflorida]

22. Shelton can say he at least knew Clark in the military, even

though his comments are questionable....probably jelousy....I wonder if Shelton is a skier and is jealous of Dean's skill on the slopes of Aspen?

[EXE619K]

35. Not the Gen. Shelton quote again!

With all due respect, That General Shelton comment is being seriously over-played here.....

General Clark is a fine man and there's no doubt about that.

But, the reason I do not support the good General is because he's a one-dimensional candidate. National Security is the only issue that he has a commanding lead on others and this alone does not guarantee our freedom from terrorism.

National Security is being seriously over-emphasized since 9/11. This should not be the sole and defining vision for our country. Everytime I hear someone on the street say things like "Freedom isn't Free!", "Have you Forgotten?" or the infamous "The soldiers are dying to protect your rights!"....I feel like :puke:

I've served in the Army for more than 10 years and to hear this kinda shit comming out of someone who has never even served nor deployed for any reason is very disturbing. When the bullets fly and the mortar rounds crack like thunder, do you really think that the first thing on our minds is "protecting your rights?"
Nothing but a bunch of bullshit from people who benefit by the deaths of good people because every bomb dropped is another "Cha-ching" for their cash piles. Afterall, the weapons industry is just that: a business entity.

The General is a great man and I hope you understand that I'm not trying to put him down in anyway. But, the lack of records showing me that he is better qualified than others like Dean, Kerry, Kucinich...etc poses a problem for me. I'm sure that his military records are impressive. But, I believe the President of the United States Should be reserved for a person with a civilian background.
That's just my preference, I guess.

And like I have posted earlier today.....What kind of message are we, as a nation, sending by placing a military careerist on top of our state?

But, that's just my opinion.




DEAN LEADS THE WAY!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

40. They can only rehash the same old things: Shelton, voted for Reagan,

made a nice speech about Bush. If anything, the media is going to be bored to death.... Besides, the only people who care about him voting for Reagan/the speech about Bush are a few rigid idealogues.

60% of the population voted for Reagan back then. And do you think Bush will get up and say "Look at all the nice things this guy said about me" don't vote for him - he's a bad judge of character.

[mot78]

4. Take that Shelton!!

The second the Repugs run a commercial involving Shelton and Schwartzkopf trashing Clark, we should instantly respond with a commercial using these quotes.

[Lefta Dissenter]

5. Not to mention my sig line

[Skwmom]

8. There are a lot more quotes like this.

Wes Clark is the real deal and a truly extraordinary man.

[KC21304]

19. I think Wes Clark is a wonderful guy, and I would love to have

Kerry/Clark, but get your own slogan. " Real Deal " LOL

[Skwmom]

25. I think Clark is the real deal

That is how I've described him from day one. He's the real deal because what you see is what you get - he's not another phony politician.

[Printer70]

45. Here's why that won't work

None of those people were Bush's boss. Shelton is giving an employee reference and saying that Clark was fired for matters of "integrity". That's a damning reference. This is particularly true because there is a great deal of cohesion and respect amongst members of the military brass, certainly when compared to political figures.

[windansea]

7. classy! n/t

[xultar]

31. Clark kick! n/t

[Leilani]

11. Really Inspirational

Beautiful endorsements..

[maddezmom]

12. great post :)

and better bookmark, thanks for posting.

[Jerseycoa]

17. Thanks for posting this

Great reading. :)

[Clark4VotingRights]

18. Great compilation. Thanks! It's a keeper.

n/t

[pasadenaboy]

23. Even though I like Clark

I'm not a big fan of generals in general (no pun intended).

So, I don't really care what all these military people have to say.

[Skwmom]

33. There are plenty on non military people who say great

things about Wes Clark. It's too bad you have such a negative view of military people.

[pasadenaboy]

48. my view isn't negative or positive, per se

I just don't know of any them, so their opinion doesn't matter to me. Its just that being a general or an admiral is the same as being a senator, there are some good ones, some bad ones, some smart ones, some crazy ones, etc. I don't know enough to tell them apart.

I should have been clearer about that.

[Walt Starr]

24. Clark would make a great Chairman of the Join Chiefs

He's not ready for prime time when it comes to politics, IMO.

[arewethereyet]

29. he retired without that achievement

that is to say, he's ineligible and apparantly un-deserving else he would have it on his resume.

Sec Def perhaps but he would have a dodgy relationship with the Pentagon.

Sec State maybe if you trusted him to stick to the plan. He has demonstrated problems doing that in his past.

He seemed to be doing OK as lobbyist for the military industrial complex, the standard career path for ex-generals.

[Skwmom]

32. I'm not looking for a great politician - I am looking for a great Pres

I sick and tired of politics as usual. Clark is truly a breath of fresh air.

[Printer70]

46. Clark's Domestic Blank Slate

Can easily become Republican-lite: irresponsible tax cuts and not cutting the deficit and no plan for 40M uninsured.

[Hoppin_Mad]

26. You left out Michael Savage's props to The General ! ;-)

Did he get the Savage endorsement yet ?

[YellowDawgDemocrat]

27. Nice little compilation. The next compilation will be from Rove

And it will include top brass and other dignataries...with a different take on him...and it won't be posted in DU, it will be in the media, day after day after day after day.

[Skwmom]

36. There are too many people that will step forward on Clark's

behalf (I'm not worried_. In addition, Clark's honesty and integrity shines through). Furthermore, Rove has to walk a tightrope when trying to attack Clark because of the potential backlash from trying to tear down a true American hero who has served his country with such distinction.

[sandnsea]

30. But what does he think??

Of Reagan. Of Bush 1. Of Reaganomics. Of missile defense. Of the cold war. Of communism. Of the drug wars. What did he think when all this was going on? I'm sure John Ashcroft could get a line of people to say things about his integrity too, but that doesn't mean I want him as President!!

[Skwmom]

37. Clark has said plenty of what he thinks

you should check him out.

[Printer70]

47. Like what?

All I've heard is irresponsible tax cuts, a volunteer program based on the politics of fear, and no plan for healthcare...just more of the same.

[snyttri]

49. Clark's sincerity really comes through in person in town hall settings.