Posted on 03/18/2005 7:15:15 AM PST by areafiftyone
Former presidential candidate and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark told a crowd Thursday at UNLV that America is in a transition period and needs to have a unified military strategy to protect its citizens in a volatile world.
Clark, a four-star general and former NATO commander, said America lacked a cohesive military strategy in various military operations since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The Democratic told the crowd that he was speaking on a nonpartisan basis.
"We lost our adversary and we lost our purpose in the world," Clark said of U.S. military planning at the end of the Cold War. "All Republicans and Democrats could agree on was that the armed forces were too large. We never really got an agreed strategy."
Clark said America's military strategy had a purpose after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He said U.S. military strategy turned into one of pre-emptive strikes, pointing to military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The strategy of pre-emption isn't working," he said. "We went into Iraq, but it turned out there was no weapons of mass destruction."
He added that before the attacks, the U.S. military and public were unaware of the importance of other countries throughout the world.
Clark was brought to UNLV's campus by the student government for a fee of $21,000.
He said the U.S. military must finish establishing a democracy in Iraq. He added that the United States must closely watch developments in Syria and Lebanon, and forge diplomatic relations with Iran.
"We need Europe to help guide the evolution of the international system as China and India become economic players," Clark said.
Some students in the crowd were captivated by Clark's message.
"He had a very refreshing view of where America can go," said communications senior Miles Dickson.
Dickson said he'd like to see Clark run for president in 2008. Clark said before the speech that he hasn't ruled out his candidacy.
But other students in the crowd did not completely agree with some of Clark's sentiments.
"I don't agree that we're seeing enough of other people's points of view," said Sally Braybrooks, an international student from Australia.
"When we see world news, it often has to do with something that America is involved in," she said.
Hey Clark - maybe if you stopped reading DU and watch the News or read a newspaper you will see it IS WORKING! We have held elections in Iraq and democracy sowing its seeds slowly across the Middle East!
Who is this guy anyway?
What kind of a retarded statement is that!?
More like stupified!
Kerry-Edwards-Hillary-Clark! What a circus. Let's just hope Dean throws his hat into the ring.
When is this old soldier going to fade away?
"I don't agree that we're seeing enough of other people's points of view," said Sally Braybrooks, an international student from Australia. "When we see world news, it often has to do with something that America is involved in," she said.
Thats because youre in America, you effing simpleton. How much breaking news do Australians see on border conflicts between Suriname and French Guiana? Or Amsterdam's tree fungus outbreak? Or Niger's sugar rationing?
I'm so sick of hearing people chastise Americans for not giving a crap about their godforsaken little forgotten backwater and it's pointless little concerns.
Americans tend to pay more attention to international events that affect them personally. Exactly as people in every other nation on earth do.
Kerry-Edwards-Hillary-Clark! What a circus. Let's just hope Dean throws his hat into the ring.
I gotta add Hillary:
He's the guy who almost started a war with the Russians during the Clinton War Crime in Kosovo -- where we ruthlessly bombed the civilians in Belgrade for 78 days, destroying the infrastrucutre including every bridge across the Danube -- just to put pressure on Milosevic to surrender.
Who is this guy anyway?
=====
He is the EX-General that was thrown out of Kosovo, I believe. At least he is not a frothing Marxist, with a mile-long rap sheet, like Hitlery...
General Strangelove speaks.
This bozo almost single handedly started World War III with the Russians while Wee Willie Clinton was playing 'great liberator' in the Balkans. Ironic, Clinton & Clark went in there to defend Muslims who were being ethnically cleansed by the Serbs, and look at the thanks we got on 9/11.
'No good deed goes unpunished'
I gotta add Hillary:
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Yes and put her in a Mao-jacket with red stars all over her.
He is nobody.
Clarke's a FOMM: Friend of Michael Moore. Say no more.
"It all depends on whether or not Hillary! needs as stalking horse in the Democratic Primary", Clark said...
Hey Clarkie, your 15 mins are up, kindly leave the stage. And please exit stage left!
Yes and another thing.... As one of the Army's senior officers who could drive budgetary requirements, you failed to push for increased manning and scream for body armor. Thanks for leaving a mess.
OMG, that is flipping awesome.
Clark was brought to UNLV's campus by the student government for a fee of $21,000.
Distinguished Finalist, Prof. Irwin Corey Lectureship on Non-sequiturs.
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