Yepsen: A general holds appeal for a nation weary of war

[IA_Seth]

Ok, a lot of snippage goin on....follow the link and read the whole thing.

What do you think his chances are for Iowa in 08?


-------------------------
Yepsen: A general holds appeal for a nation weary of war
DAVID YEPSEN
REGISTER POLITICAL COLUMNIST

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060516/OPINION01/605160355/1035/OPINION

May 16, 2006


(snip)

"You'll not get an 'A' out of this," he said in an interview. "You might get an 'F.' If you're lucky, you'll get a 'D+.' The failure will come if you just get mad and pull out - just say 'That's it. You people are fighting; we're leaving.' If you do that, they'll fight even more."

Instead, he said, the United States must now try to hold the country together; not let it become a haven for terrorists, and prevent any other single country in the region from dominating it. Also, the United States has to work to let people "lead some semblance of normal life," help put a government in place, get U.S. troops off the streets and reduce the U.S. troop presence. The United States also must expand its diplomatic efforts in the region and make clear it seeks "no permanent presence" of troops in the area. Also, it should work to establish a government, bolster the economy and improve security. "You'll be left with an Iraq that is a lot more Islamist than before and anti-American. It's not a very pretty outcome, but that's the absolute best you can hope for," he said.

So is this the program that makes Clark president? It's not a grabber like Ike's "I will go to Korea" line. Also, the Bush administration is already trying to execute some of it. And there are a lot of angry Democratic activists who want to leave immediately and won't like hearing candidates say we have to remain awhile longer.

(snip)
------------------

[Broke Dad]

1. I came of age during Vietnam . . . think the "Wonder Years"

Watching the Vietnam War from the relative comfort of junior high, I will never ever trust a general. Vietnam was a lie that got deeper and uglier with every new offensive and "hearts and minds" initiative and inflated Viet Cong body count. The Pentagon is always fighting the last war. There is always at least three ways to do something: the right way, the wrong way and the military way.

My brother served in Iraq as part of the Guard from Jan 2004 to Feb 2005. He also served in the Army from 1983 to 1987. He told me that in the Army the way you get ahead is to be a "yes" person and tell your superiors what they want to hear. Risk takers and real leaders (as well as the control freaks) are routed to the "off ramp" before they get their star or stars.

Clark is a smart guy. But being smart will not get you elected president, just like being dumb will not keep you from being president. i could see Clark on the Democratic ticket in 2008, but not at the top of the ticket. I want somebody who will defend the Constitution and blow up the NSA and start over with an intelligence community that DOES NOT spy on American citizens.

It is too easy to point out the mistakes of the Bush Administration. It's like pointing out a cornfield in Iowa in July. Duh! So what General Clark are you going to do to reverse and correct the mistakes of the last six years? I know that you don't want to get pinned down with people shooting at your solutions/proposals, but if you want my vote or even my serious consideration . . . do something more than point out the cornfield full of mistakes made by this group of 60 year old frat boys and frothing neo-cons.

[IA_Seth]

7. That's unfortunate...

It's unfortunate that you'd rule out someone to lead this country because of his service and his proven leadership abilities. Anyone that can say flat out that they will never trust a general is being hyperbolic at best, oblivious at the worst. I can understand perhaps having a leaning toward distrust after having lived through the Vietnam era, but to distrust a man that has given as much to this country as Clark has, and is as uniquely qualified as Clark is, SOLELY based on the fact that he was a general, is absurd.

You simply can not earn the awards that Clark has (one of the most highly decorated Generals since Eisenhower), you don't become the Supreme Allied Commander as Clark has done, you do NOT enjoy the successes that Clark has as general by "being a yes man". Being a yes man may get you extra chow, relieved from latrine duty, or the command of your platoon, but you aren't going to the top as a yes man. Duty? Respect for the chain of command? Yes, those things are important in any army, but those things are very different than some spineless non-leader as you'd imply.

Clark is a smart guy. Clark is a Rhodes Scholar. But more than that he is articulate, charismatic, and able to connect with the "common man". He never earned much more than most of us for the majority of his life (until his retirement), and knows what its like to not have a trust fund. Yeah, he isn't the "son of a millworker", but he was raised as a middle class kid without any special entitlement. He took an OATH to defend the Constitution as a member of the armed forces, an oath that he doesn't take lightly.

And you want him to do something more? What, like tour the country, raising money for Democrats that we need so badly to be elected this fall? Clark's PAC isn't holding on to money for the off chance he will run, they are dumping into communities all over the country so that we have a chance at gaining control of Congress this fall. He speaks out any chance he gets as to wrong doings of this administration and the Republican party, giving examples of what needs to be done instead of just knocking them with partisan attacks. What more can he do?

[Debi]

2. Seth and Wes Clark sitting in a tree....

K
I
S
S
I
N
G

I swear, there are like 10 I :loveya: Gen. Clark threads all started by Seth :eyes:

Ha, ha, just kidding you buddy. (Yeeeeaarrrggghhh!)

I think Clark has a good place in the race b/c of his 2004 experience and his past military experience. It will add to the debate just as it did in 2004. I don't agree with his position here, but it's the fool that doesn't at least listen to people with experience.

So, go get 'em Seth! (But make sure you ask him to honor Iowa/New Hampshire First in the Nation or he's out the door w/my footprint on his :kick:)

[IA_Seth]

3. Hmmm....

I wonder who paid for the Culver picture sticky up there....

[Debi]

4. Woo Hoo

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo::woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo::woohoo: :woohoo:

I tried to do this but for the life of me could not figure out how to make it small enough :shrug:

Ah well - I added the link to his site so if anyone wants to know who he is (and where to contribute) all they have to do is click on his face!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo::woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo::woohoo: :woohoo:

On Edit:

So, who posted the Iowa DUers are the best? And what does ITMFA stand for???

[CornField]

5. .

[Debi]

6. AAARRRRGGGGHHH

Damn you CornField


(just kidding) ;)


On edit: If you highlight the little red guy up there he's swearing at you! :P