Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Democracy Now! Exclusive: Wesley Clark Admits Targeting Civilians In Yugoslavia
Democracy Now ^ | 1/26/04

Posted on 01/26/2004 9:51:51 AM PST by areafiftyone

Democracy Now! Exclusive: Wesley Clark Admits Targeting Civilians In Yugoslavia

In a Democracy Now! exclusive, General Wesley Clark responds for the first time to in-depth questions about his targeting of civilian infrastructure in Yugoslavia, his bombing of Radio Television Serbia, the use of cluster bombs and depleted uranium, the speeding-up of the cockpit video of a bombing of a passenger train to make it appear as though it was an accident and other decisions he made and orders he gave as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander.


Click here to read transcript of Jeremy Scahill questioning General Wesley Clark


Since the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia, General Wesley Clark has not answered any in-depth questions about his targeting of civilian infrastructure in Yugoslavia, his bombing of Radio Television Serbia, the use of cluster bombs and depleted uranium, the speeding-up of the cockpit video of a bombing of a passenger train to make it appear as though it was an accident and other decisions he made and orders he gave as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander.

With the New Hampshire primary just 24 hours away, the remaining Democratic candidates are in their final push to win votes in the key poll in the Granite state. Whether or not Howard Dean wins or loses, he set the tone very early for what has become a definitive issue in the race early on: opposition to the war in Iraq. Among the Democrats, Dennis Kucinich, Al Sharpton and Carol Moseley Braun held the most clear antiwar stances. But Braun has pulled out of the race, Al Sharpton is not in New Hampshire and Dennis Kucinich - well the media hardly gives him any airtime.

With the exception of Senator Joseph Lieberman, all of the candidates have sought to portray themselves as opponents of the war. But only Kucinich has announced a concrete plan for withdrawing US forces from Iraq. The theme of Iraq is the main issue on which General Wesley Clark is running his campaign.

Clark portrays himself as the antiwar warrior and his rhetoric against the war has escalated significantly over the past week of campaigning in New Hampshire. At his campaign stops, he has been saying regularly, "The war is wrong."

This is not always what he said as one voter pointed out to him onstage.

This is in sharp contrast to statements Clark made as a commentator on CNN before the bombing last year. In January, Clark told CNN, "He [Hussein] does have weapons of mass destruction." When asked, "And you could say that categorically?" Clark responded: "Absolutely."

In February, Clark told CNN, "The credibility of the United States is on the line, and Saddam Hussein has these weapons and so, you know, we're going to go ahead and do this and the rest of the world's got to get with us...The U.N. has got to come in and belly up to the bar on this. But the president of the United States has put his credibility on the line, too. And so this is the time that these nations around the world, and the United Nations, are going to have to look at this evidence and decide who they line up with."

Immediately following the fall of Baghdad to US forces, Clark responded to a question about finding the alleged weapons of mass destruction, saying: "I think they will be found. There's so much intelligence on this."

But as Clark speaks out about the war in Iraq, his own record in a different war is almost never examined. That is his role as the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO during the 78 day bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. Sure, the Clark campaign promotes this in its TV ads - but they say that he liberated a nation and ended a genocide. Clark mentions it often in his stump speeches and the debates. But as a qualification to be commander-in-chief.

What is not discussed is what Clark actually did when he was running a war.

Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill covered the 78 day bombing of Yugoslavia from the ground in 1999, the war Clark was leading as the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. Jeremy is now in New Hampshire and joins us on the line from Concord, New Hampshire.

Since the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia, General Wesley Clark has not answered any in-depth questions about his targeting of civilian infrastructure in Yugoslavia, his bombing of Radio Television Serbia, the use of cluster bombs and depleted uranium, the speeding-up of the cockpit video of a bombing of a passenger train to make it appear as though it was an accident and other decisions he made and orders he gave as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander.

This weekend, we had a chance to ask Clark some questions he has never faced before. After a rally where Clark was filming a TV commercial for his campaign, Jeremy and I made our way to the stage. As we attempted to question General Clark, we were told by his press people that he would not be taking questions from reporters. As he was heading backstage, Jeremy approached Clark.

That was Clark making an exit off the stage. We followed him as he left the theater and walked down the streets of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, shaking hands, signing autographs, talking to potential voters. As he was entering a business establishment, Jeremy Scahill again approached the General.

To purchase an audio or video copy of this entire program, click here for our new online ordering or call 1 (800) 881-2359.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2004; clark; democracynow; interview; saceur; transcript; wesleyclark; yugoslavia

1 posted on 01/26/2004 9:51:52 AM PST by areafiftyone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone
The ICC has Clark's number. I guess he owes George W. a debt, since he won't be prosecuted as a war criminal.
2 posted on 01/26/2004 9:57:48 AM PST by reed_inthe_wind (I reprogrammed my computer to think existentially, I get the same results only slower)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone
OUCH

These wackos will go after Kerry and Edwards over Iraq too.
3 posted on 01/26/2004 10:04:20 AM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone
Bump.
4 posted on 01/26/2004 10:19:56 AM PST by Freedom of Speech Wins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: finnman69
What in the world would lead you to characterize the questioner as a wacko?
5 posted on 01/26/2004 10:24:33 AM PST by OldFriend (Always understand, even if you remain among the few)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone
I tune into Democracy Now every once and a while...and they are as radical as you can get. What's interesting is that Michael Moore is a big contributor to this network...yet they are attacking the guy he endorsed. I wrote Moore about these very issues months ago and never got a response. I wonder how he feels about all of this.
6 posted on 01/26/2004 10:27:59 AM PST by cwb (Dean = Dr. Jeckyll exposing his Hyde)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone
I personally called the CNN reporter and had it set up so that it would be leaked,

I am sure the people who were assigned that mission appreciate Clark giving military targets to the media before the operation began.

It also is proof of what we all knew going into fighting CNN would betray our troops for a story.

7 posted on 01/26/2004 10:32:23 AM PST by mware
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cwboelter
I guess they must be deany barfers Then.
8 posted on 01/26/2004 10:34:09 AM PST by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone
I did not know that the tape was accelerated. I don't think it was three times. I think it was one-and-a-half times. Whatever it was, it was going faster than the actual speed.

Well then Weasley - if you didnt know the tape was accelerated, why would you postulate that it was not three times but one and a half and "whatever it was"?

9 posted on 01/26/2004 10:36:38 AM PST by capydick ("The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States, and war is what they got.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone
The --"bombing of Radio Television Serbia".

I remember the bombing of a Chinese owned newspaper building for which we paid for the repair.
OR
am I mixing the two up?

10 posted on 01/26/2004 10:48:44 AM PST by malia (BUSH/CHENEY '04 *A Cherished Constitutional right - the right to vote.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: malia
You may be thinking of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade...which we did pay retribution for. Or maybe it was the Al-Shifa pharamcuetical plant in Sudan. It's so hard to keep track of them all under Clinton's reign.
11 posted on 01/26/2004 10:55:54 AM PST by cwb (Dean = Dr. Jeckyll exposing his Hyde)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: reed_inthe_wind
How any sane person could vote for Clark is beyond me.
12 posted on 01/26/2004 10:57:07 AM PST by Steve Van Doorn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone
"It killed makeup artists."


"Oh - - - no!"

13 posted on 01/26/2004 11:05:02 AM PST by BenLurkin (Socialism is Slavery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cwboelter
Chinese Embassy in Belgrade -- that's it! Thanks or should I say Mahalo from the sunny 80's of HI.
14 posted on 01/26/2004 11:15:25 AM PST by malia (BUSH/CHENEY '04 *A Cherished Constitutional right - the right to vote.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: cwboelter
What's interesting is that Michael Moore is a big contributor to this network...yet they are attacking the guy he endorsed.

That sounds like the sort of thing Matt Drudge might like to throw up on his page.

15 posted on 01/26/2004 12:11:10 PM PST by Prodigal Son
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: areafiftyone
Democracy Now! Exclusive: Wesley Clark Admits Targeting Civilians In Yugoslavia

In a Democracy Now! exclusive, General Wesley Clark responds for the first time to in-depth questions about his targeting of civilian infrastructure

Anyone see the spin? The headline tries to imply he bombed people. Lots of "civilian" infrastructure is a legitimate military target. Bridges, radio stations, trains and railways, airports, fuel tanks.

16 posted on 01/26/2004 12:37:30 PM PST by BobbyBeeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BobbyBeeper
or civilian in the train ? or market place ? or apartment complex in Aleksinac ?

All very legit targets as long they are not in US.

War crime is war crime .
17 posted on 01/26/2004 5:59:49 PM PST by Fredy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson