Posted on 12/03/2005 8:57:00 PM PST by upchuck
Dear upchuck,
It is no coincidence that for every month that the White House has refused accountability, for every month that the Republican Congress has abdicated its oversight responsibilities, Iraq has sunken deeper into turmoil. With Members of Congress home in their districts this week, they will find that America is demanding answers, and that they can no longer simply sit on their hands.
Republicans refused accountability for the lack of equipment for our troops, and to this day soldiers are still buying their own body armor. Republicans refused accountability for the White House's role in Abu Ghraib, and our reputation in the world has been tarnished even further. Republicans have still not taken a serious look at the Bush Administration's use and manipulation of pre-war intelligence, and our national credibility is heading for an all-time low.
All of these issues, and so many more, put our troops in danger and undermine our remaining chances to get Iraq right. We will not complete the mission that almost 2,000 Americans have given their lives for unless we address these questions, demand benchmarks for success, and hold the White House and the Pentagon accountable for meeting those benchmarks.
The Republican Congress must not abdicate its responsibility and leave President Bush to his own devices any longer. We must demand a strategy from the Administration that sets benchmarks for success and a commitment from Congress to hold the White House accountable for meeting them.
The unfortunate truth is, only a new Democratic majority in Congress will likely provide full accountability and answers to the tough questions that the Bush Administration has dodged for years.
But Iraq cannot wait until after the November 2006 elections -- by then it may be too late. So I am standing with Democrats in Congress and urging those Republicans of conscience to join us to change the course in Iraq before it's too late. With Tom DeLay indicted, Bill Frist under investigation, and President Bush's White House paralyzed by indictments and investigations that have brought dwindling poll numbers, America needs real leadership now. We Democrats must provide that leadership, because the Republicans have clearly demonstrated they can't, or won't.
Because Congress has taken itself out of the equation, the American people have no real way to find out from President Bush why our "progress" is measured in negative numbers, whom we can hold accountable, or most importantly, how to rectify the problem. If we are to have any chance of leaving a stable Iraq behind, we must change course now.
Accountability is not just about clarifying the past; it is about success in the future, and getting the right people in the right positions to make the decisions that will make or break the mission. If we do not have benchmarks for progress, we will not make progress. If we do not hold those people making decisions accountable, we will never get the right people making the right decisions.
Our mission in Iraq has been hurt by the lack of oversight and accountability over President Bush's blundering strategy, and nothing is more crucial to turning the tide than Congress living up to that critical responsibility.
Tell Republicans in Congress that the mistakes of the past must be examined and rectified, and that a course for the future must be concrete and accountable:
It is clear that we can no longer trust the Bush Administration to be honest with us about our progress in Iraq. With oversight, accountability, and transparency from the Congress, though, we will not need to. And perhaps Iraq will yet have a chance.
Sincerely,
Wes Clark
This is so disgusting I'm almost sorry I posted it.
Dear upchuck...after I get done upchucking, could you explain why this was addressed to you???
Not as sorry as the rest of us. I never read, listen or watch this moron.
It's just a pitch for democrat surrender monkeys to take over Congress. God forbid.
Dear Wes, don't you get it? You were the Clinton's candidate, destined to lose, but whose job it was to help make sure the democrats would not take back the White House, thereby furthering Hillary's nomination in '08. Your job is done. No need to stick around. You have NO CHANCE for the nomination. Be thankful for what you have. The lecture circuit pays more than a retired general's pension.
This is the same guy who was in charge during the U.S. bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. He needs to write an article about that.
Very well said. Once you run for Pres it must get in your blood, sort of like John Effing "I server in Viet Nam" Kerry, Al Goreliani, Weasly Clark, the Clintoons, and the list goes on and on
Accountability? Why did Bill Clinton fire you, Lt. Col. Clark?
...could you explain why this was addressed to you?I am on Clark's email list. He sends stuff out about three times a month. Most of it I just trash. But every so often he comes up with something so despicable, like this, that I post it on FR.
Pot shots and flames directed at Clark are welcomed :)
Not for those with sensitive vagal nerves! An emetic trifecta: spew, hurl, and upchuck. I'm sorry -- I appreciate your concerns about Clark. But the barf motif is hilarious.
That man deserves a spot in the Culture of Hypocrisy club, that is the democrats...
He is insufferable to watch on TV..and his writing is just as bad.
I am glad his e-mail comes to your computer...I am afraid my computer would see it as a virus! LOL
LOL!!
How 'bout, "An emetic trifecta: spew, hurl, and upchuck chunks."
I think Fox gives some of these people air time to exhibit the ignorance and insanity of the Dems.
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