Clark outlines plan for capturing Osama bin Laden

Wednesday, November 12, 2003 | SIOBHAN McDONOUGH, Associated Press Writer

[jveritas]

URL: sfgate.com/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/11/12/national0350EST0456.DTL

(11-12) 00:50 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

Criticizing President Bush's efforts, Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark says he would press Saudi Arabia to provide commandos to accompany U.S. troops in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders.

Clark, a former four-star Army general, says although the Bush administration did the right thing by going after al-Qaida after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, it failed to finish the job it started.

"They still haven't found Osama bin Laden. And every day, Americans live at risk because of this failure," Clark said in remarks prepared for delivery Wednesday.

Clark campaign spokesman Matt Bennett outlined Clark's speech and 3-point plan for capturing bin Laden hours before the candidate was to deliver the remarks at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

First, Clark said he would pressure Saudi Arabia to contribute to a joint U.S.-Saudi commando force to scour the Afghan-Pakistani border where bin Laden is thought to be hiding.

Clark said since many of the leaders of al-Qaida come from Saudi Arabia and many of the attacks are aimed at targets in Saudi Arabia, the country has a vested interest in stepping up cooperation with the United States in capturing bin Laden.

But instead of ferreting out al-Qaida, the Bush administration has focused its energy and resources on Iraq, Clark said.

"They've downplayed more serious threats in other parts of the world," he said. "In fact, it's been months since Mr. Bush has even mentioned Osama bin Laden. These days, the only name we hear is Saddam Hussein, and the only country we hear about is Iraq."

Second, Clark proposed reassigning some of the intelligence specialists, linguists, and special operations forces now searching Iraq for weapons of mass destruction to the hunt for bin Laden.

Third, he said the United States needs to repair relations with allies and friends.

"With his unilateral march into Iraq, President Bush has scorned many of our key allies, preventing the necessary cooperation to destroy al-Qaida," Clark said.

©2003 Associated Press

[jveritas]

Bin Laden heard Wes Clark three steps solution to capture him and he is saying to himself:

"Now I am finished, Wes the genius has made a plan that I cannot escape".

[diamondjoe]

Yes, I am sure that Al Qaeda would be terrified at the prospect of Saudi commandos hunting them, and would surrender immediately.

[Shermy]

Saudi "commandos" in Afghanistan. Wonder how our new Afghan friends would feel about that? Though it would be an ingenious plan from the Saudi side - they could reinsert more AQ into the region.

[small voice in the wilderness]

With Wes Clark planning, I'm sure it involves ACME anvils, rocket booster tennis shoes, and earthquake pills.

[dts32041]

Hey WC Clark, how about sending an apache to catch an kill apaches, worked against the apaches.

Oh yeah that is right your Apaches couldn't get it up, so maybe you don understand the reference.

[Missouri]

3-point plan

Point 4, bomb a few Chinese embassies to flush OBL out.

[zarf]

LOL!!

[dts32041]

don=doesn't

[Adrastus]

Come on now. Weasley was just offering a suggestion not completely thought through. I'm sure his 4 star experience would be invaluable to .........ah, hell. I can't even do it in print, let alone keep a straight face. This man is an idiot and that he was given 4 stars is a monument to someones ability to buy politicains wholesale. Could not have had anything to do with talent or ability.Neither of which is detected in him.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

LOL! Great one.

[piasa]

Criticizing President Bush's efforts, Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark says he would press Saudi Arabia to provide commandos to accompany U.S. troops in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders.

Clark is such a comedian.

In the Balkans, under Clark, the US had our special forces working with the KLA. It didn't work out too well since the new 'allies' at one point were apparently plotting to ambush some of our folks, but the White House's Balkan allies's boys didn't survive the experience. I hope that isn't what Wesley had in mind.

Has Clark ever actually talked with US military personnel who have had to TRAIN middle eastern nationals- Saudis, Omanis, etc, much less go on a friggin mission with them? Apparently not. From what I hear it is generally described at best as humorous and frustrating, at worst and as a ... nevermind.

I have an idea, though. How about we just send Clark over there to command an all-Saudi unit, and save our troops for something less likely to flop?

[Clemenza]

Wesley who?

[Burlem]

Gee, I wonder why he did not share his plan with Clinton...
He is such a numskull.......

[Maumee]

Will someone, anyone, please come up with a plan to capture Waco Wes... with a net!

[John Valentine]

This man is an idiot and that he was given 4 stars is a monument to someones ability to buy politicains wholesale.

Didn't this whack job come to prominence during the ... Clinton administration?

'nuf said.

[JmyBryan]

Man, this guy is something else. I'm starting to favor Clark over Sharpton as my preferred democratic opposition candidate.

[Wolverine]

An old wive's tale says put sugar in the bed next to the host of tape worms. They will come out...grab them by the head and pull them all the way out.

 

Go ahead Waco Clark, grab the head now..!! Put them in a bag. Put the bag in your pocket. Take you prize home and charish it always.

[buffyt]

I am still leaning toward a demoncratic ticket of Braun/Sharpton! But Wes is gaining on them....

I loved how Dean said he didn't go along with NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. He doesn't think EVERY child in American deserves an education?????

Do any of these blockheads ever think BEFORE they speak????

[WOSG]

Criticizing President Bush's efforts, Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark says he would press Saudi Arabia to provide commandos to accompany U.S. troops in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders.

ROFLMAO. Ah yes, the famed Saudi commandos who were instrumental in the battle of ... the battle of ... anybody ... class?? anyone? (hmm, I cant seem to recall what military achievements these famed commandos had)

And how similar are the hot sands of Arabia to the cold mountains of Afghanistan anyway?