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)

[CommandoFrank]

Isn't 'scum' a little harsh?

No. It should be 'skum bag'.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Welcome to FreeRepublic. If you "can't stand" Clark, why do you care what anyone calls him?

[Porterville]

I agree with Clark on this one, screwing Cohen is something I'd be apt to do myself. He is nutz, but I like it... (But if he bombed the Russians that'd be a little too far)

[Indy Pendance]

Probably not a good idea to correct people on your first day. Liberals are ruining this country, they are scum, all of them.

[Cautor]

it seems like you have some rage issues. i mean you seriously have fun watching someone self-immolate?

Spontaneous combustion is always a trait I favor in Democraps.

[optimistically_conservative]

Idaho5412
Since Jan 25, 2004

Are you a Clark troll?

Is yes too short a response?

[leadpenny]

Let's win on the issues.

The issue is: Clark is pond scum.

[farmfriend]

bttt

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I think people who are calling him "scum" are "calling them as they see them".

It's not really a matter of "disagreement" with him on issues. He's got a character problem. A big one.

[gatorbait]

Firstly folks(thanks Xhogpilot for this article),if Evan Thomas is on the headline, bet your mortgage it's either a hit piece on the Reublican target du jour or a puff piece on the Socialist's latest hero or cause.

Secondly,Clark's firing could only have been made from the Oval office, his command was too high for even SecDef or the CoS to summarily do so.Think MacArthur in Korea. Clinton had to issue the order and Clark has alluded on some forum that Clinton was tricked into it by Cohen and Shelton. Now , c'mon folks. Bill Cohen, genius SecDef and master plotter,taking advantage of poor , innocent Bill Clinton? Clark is unworthy of any consideration and is only marginally worthy of respect for past service for it is obvious he has renounced it all.

[leadpenny]

Don't worry. At the end of one of these threads we all get together, sing Cumbaya, and hug.

[Porterville]

One thing I will say about Clark if he were elected president, there'd be alot more butt sex and war.

[Senormechanico]

Just try not to hurt our "self esteem".
(sarcasm)

SM

[Peach]

Anyone else hear Clark on George Stephanapolous's show this morning?

George asked Clark why he supported "the Iraq resolution for regime change last year but doesn't support it now."

Clark responded "It depends on the meaning of the word 'the'.!!!

This is not a joke. He really is parsing a 3 letter word ala Clinton. The guy is a nutjob.

[Indy Pendance]

We all here are trying to expose these people for what they are. They want to give our sovereignty to UN; a one world government; they way to rewrite the US Constitution, they want our country to become more socialist that what it is already. They desire to remove values and morality from every aspect of our lives. Which leads to all our rights being taken away forever. Anyone who desires to do this to MY country is scum.