Clark's bars: This general might not have the right presidential stuff

Pittsburgh Post Gazette ^ | Sunday, September 21, 2003 | Jack Kelly

[dk/coro]

I concur. Regrettably, in my tour as Aide to the CNO/CJCS, I met a number of Flag Officers (and Senators) who would fit precisely into Clark's egocentric modus.

This turkey embodies all that is corrupt in our Senior Officer Corps -- and he should be tossed into the dustbin of history, forthwith.

And, I suspect that enough of Clark's inane utterances will soon jade even the Kennedy end of political spectrum. If the truth were known, the Dems really do not have a bonifide candidate to offer up -- and they are keenly aware of this shortcoming, IMHO.

Have a great weekend, and don't sweat the small stuff. *S*

[A Simple Soldier]

I am no fan of Clark. I have met him personally and have plenty of friends who have seen him in "inaction" at various levels of his career.

However, Farah is playing fast and loose with some facts in his piece and trying to create an unnecessary level of hysteria.

Clark commanded 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood (as a Major General, 2 stars) at time of Waco, but he was not the commanding general of Fort Hood. That is the III Corps Commander, who is a Lieutenant General, 3 stars. Now, it is probably likely that the Bradley Fighting Vehicles used at Waco came from his division, but Farah makes a significant factual error here, as the order would have had to been issued from the FORSCOM Commander (a General, 4 stars) through the Corps Commander. Division commanders do not talk to the AG directly.

Clinton and Clark's Rhodes Scholarship timeline do not intersect. The first time they met was years later when Clinton was the Governor of Arkansas. Rhodes Scholarships are generally 2 years. Clark graduated from USMA in 1966 and Clinton from Georgetown in 1968. Clark was enroute to Vietnam about the time Clinton was getting to Oxford.

There is plenty to hit Clark on, but creating and propagating false conspiracies only creates doubt about any factually legitimate critiques of policies, decisions, and actions of Clark.

[weegee]

Did Clark ever savage the Clinton Administration over the domestic quagmire that was "Waco"? 50 days without resolution?

[binreadin]

Eva, you are scary. I like the way you think--very Machia, Mechiav . . . , well something like that anyway.

[binreadin]

Thanks for that. I've unfortunately learned to discount a lot of the far right information, as it is becoming increasingly less reliable. This is a real problem, as it undercuts the essential conservative position in the long run. We need to stick with the truth, always.

[Iowa Granny]

A good read.

[Pikachu_Dad]

I strongly prefer for Bush to remain as President.

However, I would much rather see Clark as President than any other of the 9 ninny's presently running for the Democratic ticket.

That is because Clark, even if he orally opposes the war in IRAQ, visually supports the war in IRAQ.

His running is a tacit admission by the Democratic party that this country is at war and needs a strong military leader to get it through the next four years.

[Eva]

One correction, Clinton never graduated from Georgetown.

[A Simple Soldier]

Yes he did graduate and receive a Bachelor's degree from Georgetown.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/bc42.html

You are thinking he never earned an advanced degree from Oxford and you would be correct.

[Dan Evans]

Thanks, you're a straight shooter, Soldier. It's always best to get the facts right.

[bruinbirdman]

"...and he should be tossed into the dustbin of history, forthwith. "

Rumsfeld is trying to shake up the big brass. Even with stiff resistence, I think he is making progress.

yitbos

[jimbo123]

Clark is an unstable delusional nutcase who should go back to cleaning Hitlery's swimming pool.

[firebrand]

He has improved the Democratic presidential field by entering it

You mean the average IQ of the contenders and the noncontenders both rose when he made his announcement?

[bvw]

Clark's the candidate of the People. The People of a Big Central Country. Unfortunately it's not the US.

[A Simple Soldier]

Can we have a few more "facts"?

Where did you hear these utterances? The Pentagon? What was the service of those who uttered such words? What was their rank and duty?

If anything, our flag and general officers understand the electoral college better than almost any other group in America. Our senior officers are not usually intellectuals in the classical sense, but they tend to be smart and often bright and are reasonably well-read on the US Constitution and other civic issues.

I have also never heard anyone, to include graduates and faculty of said War College, utter the words, "intellectual" and "War College" in the same sentence. I did not know those words could be uttered in the same sentence without bringing forth hellfire and such (end sarcasm).

As for military contempt, beyond one or two odd balls, of the current President, back in 2000, I'll hold my serious doubts in check until you respond. Especially since it is well-established that the absentee votes of Florida residents serving in the military were critical to putting Bush over Gore in the popular vote totals in Florida, hence giving Bush all of Florida's electoral votes. If anything, I knew plenty of guys who were preparing to resign from the military if Gore was elected, even if he had won with no controversy. I know more than a few guys who were going to get out but hung around a little while longer because Bush was elected.

I am glad to see you think there are a few good ones still around, though.

[metesky]

I agree that the man's accomplishments or lack there of should not be slanted and you have the correct timeline on Clark.

What do know or think about the persistent rumors that Clark was one of the two still unidentified officers who briefed the WH on the military plans for Waco and was actually on the ground at the Waco site?

[Terp]

This same or nearly same article was posted 2 or 3 days ago. But good to see it again!!!

[A Simple Soldier]

I am skeptical he was on the ground or provided any advice. He would not have the expertise necessary for that type of operation. He likely briefed someone above him on the temporary transfer of selected armored vehicles in his division to civilian law enforcement and the status of their training. FYI, that action is perfectly legal under Posse Comitatus. His soldiers may have provided training to the law enforcement officials on the proper and safe use of the vehicles. Again perfectly legal. Civilian law enforcement officers used the armored vehicles.

I am not an expert on Waco. I was in Ranger school while it was happening.

I would say that this dog won't hunt. I would not waste much energy on the Waco action. Even if he was involved, his culpability is nil as he was not obeying an illegal order in transferring armored vehicles to civilian law enforcement. Continuing to push down this path just seems paranoid and conspiratorial.

His conduct as CINC SOUTHCOM and later CINC EUCOM/SACEUR is really where you can see his conduct at the strategic level and make a true judgement.

[bruinbirdman]

"Any financial/investing types care to decipher for us?"

"Wesley Clark, the former Army General who announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination on Sept. 17, has not given up his board memberships, according to published accounts.

Since retiring from the military in 2000, Clark has held a variety of industrial positions, including jobs with a Washington, DC-based technology firm, an investment company, and director or advisor positions with six other organizations. In most cases he was brought on board to assist with military or government contracts.

One such company is Acxiom Corp., the Little Rock, AR-based data firm. Clark joined Acxiom in December 2001, and played a part in the company’s efforts to market its services to federal organizations involved in homeland security, according to Acxiom spokesman Dale Ingram.

Ingram did not comment on whether Clark’s actions resulted in any new business for Acxiom.

While Clark is maintaining his position on Acxiom’s board of directors, he did terminate his consulting agreement with the company upon announcing his candidacy. That contract was valued at $150,000 per year, said Ingram."

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