The General: Did Clark Fail to Salute? (Clarks NATO Firing)

Newsweek ^ | Feb 2, 2004 | Evan Thomas and T. Trent Gegax

[XHogPilot]

Wes Clark won a war, but ran afoul of his Pentagon masters and lost his job. (snip)

Gen. Hugh Shelton, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that Clark had been sacked as commander of NATO forces after the 1999 Balkans war because of "integrity and character issues." (snip)

What really happened? According to a knowledgeable source, Clark ran afoul of Cohen and Shelton by being less than totally forthcoming in morning conference calls during the Kosovo war in the spring of 1999. From his NATO headquarters in Brussels, Clark wanted to wage the war more aggressively, but back in the Pentagon, Cohen and Shelton were more cautious. They would give Clark instructions on, for instance, the scale of the bombing campaign. "Clark would say, 'Uh-huh, gotcha'," says NEWSWEEK's source. But then he would pick up the phone and call [British Prime Minister] Tony Blair and [Secretary of State] Madeleine [Albright]." As Clark knew full well, Blair and Albright were more hawkish than Shelton and Cohen. After talking to the State Department and NATO allies, Clark would have a different set of marching orders, says the source, who has spoken about the matter with both Cohen and Clark. "Then, about 1 o'clock, the Defense Department would hear what Clark was up to, and Cohen and Shelton would be furious (snip)

[Travis McGee]

Ping.

[Peach]

LOL. Some funny lines there.

[cake_crumb]

"But the cigarette used to burn down and suddenly there would be this intense smell of burning flesh and one of us junior officers would have to offer a loud stage whisper: 'Pssssst! Sir! Time for a new cigarette!' and he'd look annoyed, drop the butt and light up another and the process would start all over."

Good lord. Sounds like something out of a British sitcom. They're both nuts. Completely insane.

[BipolarBob]

Nah, not really. Not even by bad personalities like him.

[BipolarBob]

This is my first day to post, but yeah probably. How does everyone keep these threads straight anyway? I forget where I'm going, where I've been and what I'm here for.

[leadpenny]

Well, you found your way back to this thread, so I can assume you know about the "My Comments" link at the top of the "latest posts" page. Of course, posts are sequential, and when you see them floating through, it is just in the order they show up on JimRob's server. Most of the rest of it is Magic, Blue Smoke and Mirrors. Oh, there are some Boot Camp threads around somewhere. Again, welcome.

[leadpenny]

You can go to your personal page or anyone elses by clicking on a screen name. There you can edit your page, see what threads you have bookmarked (Links), send a private mail to another FReeper, etc.

[BipolarBob]

Thanks a lot. I started lurking right after MadHowards Iowa YEEEAAAAGH thing at the behest of a friend. These guys crack me up with these photos. I appreciate your help.

[Who dat?]

A general who fails to return a private's salute is a pig in uniform.

I understand that that is the theory, but in practice it's sort of a "wave off" - no?

For clarification, I'm not saying he ignored them - I'm saying that I've seen the return salute look like thery're swatting at flies. I sort of took that as the general-norm. Wave them off. But I was just a kid at the time.

[xzins]

Thanks, AF.

[Matthew James]

"I've served with these fellow officers and no one hates them more than I do....."

Ditto.

[Matthew James]

IMO Clark is given too much credit for "winning the war" in Kosovo. If you have the stomache to actually read his book you can see just how clueless he was. --Also very self-centered. You'll never see him mention any of his key staff officers, who were really doing the work, while trying to keep him out of trouble.

That said, don't purchase the book; check it out of the library. Why contribute to his campaign?

[XHogPilot]

IMO Clark is given too much credit for "winning the war" in Kosovo

'Depends on where you look. Check this thread...

Balkan Failure is Clark's (Building anti-American anger)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Interesting picture, isn't it? This is the first time I believe I've ever seen a candidate for POTUS blatantly try to appeal sexually to members of the same sex.

It's not really difficult to imagine Clark with another man.

Now please excuse me while I go gouge out my mind's eye.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Separated at birth?

[ExSoldier]

If you ever get a close look at MaCaffrey, look at the two forefingers of his right (I think) hand. You can see scar tissue clearly. LOL It's not a war wound. Self inflicted is more like it. I can't remember which hand for sure, but it is the one with the disfigured forearm.

[Mr. Mojo]

As Clark knew full well, Blair and Albright were more hawkish than Shelton and Cohen. ...........After talking to the State Department and NATO allies, Clark would have a different set of marching orders,

Not suprising. Foggy Bottom is enthusiastic about war only under very unusual circumstances. And fighting on the side of Muslims in a war against Christians is one such circumstance. .....especially when it serves the dual purpose of covering a traitorous 'Rat President's behind.

[ExSoldier]

" Apparently, Clark didn't level with Shelton."

That may be the incident that Shelton is using now but it's not the defining moment that led to a "relief for cause." There is a much more serious incident that I suspect that General Shelton will use only IF Clark gets the nomination. I have buddies in the association of Special Forces retirees in Tampa, FL. Tampa is also the HQ for the Special Ops Command (SOCOM) which General Shelton once commanded. According to my sources, Shelton has the goods on Clark with video, audio and official memos that will tie him to responsibilties for NEEDLESS American deaths of ground troops in that theatre of operations. I can't be more specific, lest I steal the good general's thunder. But that is more than enough reason to be "relieved for cause."

[xzins]

I believe you. NSDQ.

Say Hi to Gen. Brown for me. He's the best.

[dgallo51]

It's a nice story, but I don't buy it. I think it's a smoke screen, like WMDs were for Klinkton to bomb Saddam during the Monica thing, which was a smoke screen to cover WMD technology transfers to the PRC.

No. I hear Four Star Weaselly was drummed out for being a chronic bed wetter, and I'll believe it til the day I die.