Supporters Like Clark's Military Attributes

[DoveTurnedHawk]

LITTLE ROCK — In retired Gen. Wesley Clark they've found the antidote to President Bush, the Iraq war and an economic downturn, said Clark supporters who came Wednesday to hear him announce his presidential candidacy.

<...>

"He has fought a big war without losing a single man compared to what we got going on now," said John I. Purtle of Conway, comparing Clark's oversight of the war in Kosovo to the Iraq war. "Every day you read about more (dead) coming in."

"He's highly educated and he's the best thing that's happened since (former President) Bill Clinton as far as I'm concerned," Purtle added.

<...>

Sherrie Shepherd of North Little Rock, said Clark was introduced to her several years ago at a dinner party, where he was introduced as Wes.

"I had absolutely no idea who he was. He was the nicest most down to earth guy you'd ever want to meet," Shepherd said.

<...>

http://www.arkansasnews.com/279853299779295.bsp

DTH

[Khephra]

1. Another article could be written on a similar theme

Opponents Dislike Clark's Military Attributes

I'm a Pro-Clark Deanie...but I'm getting really sick of Kerry and Clark's military experienced being pushed as such a great thing. I'd be happier to see someone touting their DIPOMATIC side instead of their military side.

To paraphrase a quote from "Fight Club"

"We are a generation raised by warriors.
I'm wondering if another warrior is the answer."

[DoveTurnedHawk]

2. Only Nixon Could Go To China

I think that along the same lines, only a general can stand up to the warmongering, military-industrial complex.

Clark is a warrior who knows that the job of the military is to foster peace. He is a warrior who is extremely reluctant to use force, except in a just cause, since he has seen the horrors of war first-hand.

DTH

[Eloriel]

8. Reluctant to use force -- I'm not sure his record shows that

Not sure at all.

Eloriel

[pmbryant]

9. His record doesn't show anything about that one way or the other

As a general, he was subject to the orders of the Commander-in-Chief.

Same with Dean (and all the other Dem candidates, for that matter), nothing in his record shows whether he is reluctant to use force or not. After all, the Gov. of Vermont does not make the decision to use force. Same goes for a 4-star general like Clark.

We can only go on what they say and whether we trust them or not. I have no reason not to trust Clark, or Dean, or any of the Dem candidates on this matter.

--Peter

[SEAburb]

3. My concern is if we nominate a candidate without military credentials,

the Bushies are going to get us into a war with N Korea next year. In an attempt to force the voting public to reelect Bush and not change horses in mid-stream during war. If Clark, Kerry or Graham is our candidate there won't be any drumbeat to war next year leading up to the election.

[sandlapper]

4. Is the emphasis on "military credentials" useful?

There is no doubt that Clark's military service is his claim to executive competence, but is it also his "Achille's heel"?

http://www.hackworth.com/20Apr99.html

<quote>
DEFENDING AMERICA
David H. Hackworth
April 20, 1999
CLARK AND VIETNAM.
NATO's Wesley Clark is not the Iron Duke, nor is he Stormin' Norman. Unlike Wellington and Schwarzkopf, Clark's not a muddy boots soldier. He's a military politician, without the right stuff to produce victory over Serbia.

Known by those who've served with him as the "Ultimate Perfumed Prince," he's far more comfortable in a drawing room discussing political theories than hunkering down in the trenches where bullets fly and soldiers die. An intellectual in warrior's gear. A saying attributed to General George Patton was that it took 10 years with troops alone before an officer knew how to empty a bucket of spit As a serving soldier with 33 years of active duty under his pistol belt, Clark's commanded combat units -- rifle platoon to tank division - for only seven years. The rest of his career's been spent as an aide, an executive, a student and teacher and a staff weenie.

<snip>

Clark is, as well a potential lightning rod for the conservative "Waco Whackos", with his poorly concealed participation in the Reno engineered disaster in Waco, Tx. I'm not at all sure that we can afford to be tarred with the Wesley Clark brush!

[RaRa]

5. Sounds like a lot of macho bullshit

He's a 4 star general. Period. So maybe he earned it more with his intellect than by shooting people. Geeze. I'm sure he has a real appreciation for the horros of combat (unlike chimp). Hackworth sounds like he's got a bit of testosterone overload combined with a dose of jealousy (he's no general).

[Donna Zen]

7. Did you really say this?

with his poorly concealed participation in the Reno engineered disaster in Waco, Tx.

Do you understand that this is junk, designed to foment hatred and division?

and the words "poorly concealed".....oh and save you fingers...no z-pub crappy links. You just save it for your own wallowing.

[bicentennial_baby]

10. Yes, Hackworth...

FauxNews Military Analyst...what is this, battle of the cable military commentators? :eyes:

[mobuto]

11. Nonsense

General Clark commanded units at every level, from company to division. He led a mechanized company into combat in Vietnam, where he was wounded four times and was awarded a Silver Star for valour and two Bronze Stars. The idea that he was a desk officer just doesn't hold water. The General can plead guilty to being an intellectual, but he is also a champion athlete and a war hero, among a great many other things. When compared to that of the leading Democratic candidate, who went skiing in Aspen rather than serve, or to that of the President, who occasionally showed up to defend the skies of Texas and Alabama from an expected NVA invasion, Clark's record shines brilliantly.

This Hackworth is a fool.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

12. Mobuto!

Long time no see!

:hi:

DTH

[DeaconBlues]

15. Hackworth?

Yeah. He sure was right about Kosovo and Clark's ability to win that fight. :eyes:

Clark and Clinton put an end to genocide without losing one soldier. And Hackworth was dead wrong. To Hell with what that fool thought back in '99.

[stanwyck]

6. My "scientific" poll of co-workers

is showing support among the young white male conservatives(!) for Clark. I'd prefer Clark as the VP candidate. Clark's credentials are in stark contrast with George W. Bush. Bush's "Daddy got me into Ivy League" vs. Clark's 1st in class at West Point/Rhodes scholar. Bush's "Daddy got me a cushy job with a politico pal so I skipped out on 15 months worth of Guard service" vs. Clark's combat veteran/commander of the U.S. armed forces for NATO. Clark is the anti-Bush. He puts the spotlight on Bush's false maschismo. All this fake cowboy dress-up in a flight suit noensense becomes even more ridiculous when pitted against a real live Republican fantasy figure: A General. It's the Repubs own fault. They started this "whup ass" take no prisoners "go it alone" rhetoric. Well, Rambo, face your worst fear: the real deal. Not just someone who plays an action figure on TV.

[Donna Zen]

13. Last night

A writer who did the upcoming New York Magazine piece said: if bush is toast then Clark is the super-sonic toaster. He also said after hours of interviewing Clark, that the man has an amazing depth and breadth of the issues.

[Evanstondem]

14. Clark for Secretary of Defense

He's far more qualified and smarter than Rumdufus.