Clark wants probe of W.House on Iraq intelligence

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N03382944.htm

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct 3 (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark called on Friday for an independent probe of the Bush administration's use of intelligence before the Iraq war, calling it "twisted" and possibly criminal.

The retired four-star Army general and NATO commander who entered the 2004 White House race two weeks ago amid a flood of publicity and instantly rose among the leaders in some polls, said the American public needed to know if it was "intentionally deceived."

In his harshest indictment yet of President George W. Bush, Clark said the administration's "irresponsible" Iraq policy had put Americans in danger and the United States in crisis mode at home and abroad.

Going further than his nine rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, most of whom have called for a special counsel to probe the leak of an undercover CIA officer's name, Clark also demanded an independent commission investigate the "possible manipulation" of intelligence leading to the war in Iraq.

more

[central scrutinizer]

1. great!!!

While the other Democratic candidates criticize Clark and question his Democratic Party loyalty and credentials, Clark is doing what they should be doing - attacking the unelected fraud.

[Flying_Pig]

2. Damned if he isn't turning out to be the kind of candidate I've been

looking for. Keep it up Wes, and you've got my vote, my money, and my time at your headquarters. He's saying things the other Dems should have been saying a year ago. And why weren't they? Some, swayed by AIAPC/JDL/Likud, just gave it up to support PNAC's plans for the ME. Some, were perhaps afraid. Regardless, these times call for a person with guts, and Clark seems to have them in spades.

[11cents]

8. Emm -- flying pig?

You keep referring to the JDL (Jewish Defense League) -- which is a tiny organization of baggy-pants would-be terrorists (thankfully they're generally too inept to do much damage) that is taken seriously by nobody. Perhaps you're getting your Jews mixed up and are thinking of the ADL (Anti-Defamation League). Which IMHO shouldn't be equated with the Likud either, but at least it's an organization of some influence.

[Flying_Pig]

11. Not mixed up, I don't think. JDL is small, but they make big spalshes...

Like the award they just gave the Mussolini loving Italian Prime Minister, and who also is a best "Bush buddy". They support PNAC's goals, hence their inclusion on my "Shit-List". My "Shit-List" does not discriminate by reason of faith, nationality, nor political afilliation. If they support PNAC or Likud, directly, or indirectly, they're on my list. I call em' like I see em'.

[KittyWampus]

12. Timing Is Everything

I think that the Democrats have been waiting to strike when the iron was hot!

[PsychoDad]

21. I agree...

It's great to see a Dem canidate go after Bush instead of the other canidates for a change :silly:
And like a pitbull at that

[davidinalameda]

3. pretty damn cool

go Wes!

[bicentennial_baby]

4. Bam!

He shoots, he scores!

[StephNW4Clark]

5. Why Clark's ahead of the curve on this one...

I think that's a very wise and astute call to make. Because that's the emerging strategy - "slime and defend", right? But who are they going to "slime and defend"? The CIA - the body responsible for handling intelligence. And the WH is going to blame the CIA for giving them "faulty" intelligence. And take no responsibility.

That's why Clark (OK - IMO, that's why) is calling for an independent commission. Because you need to be able to prove a linkage, proof of collusion or manipulation by the WH in order to rightly nail their asses to the wall.

[RedEarth]

6. Mercy...Clark is laying it on Bush

It's good to see Clark, as well as the rest of the Dem candidates, go after this group of criminals in the white house. Even though "Leakgate" is a big issue, the manipulation of intelligence in an effort to make a case for war with Iraq is huge. An independent commission to investigate the lead up to the war would really make this admin squirm.

Some more of the article.......

"Nothing could be a more serious violation of public trust than to consciously make a war based on false claims," he told a conference of military reporters and editors. "Its handling of intelligence and its retaliation against its critics may have been criminal."

"INTELLIGENCE GAP"

"We need to know if we face an intelligence gap ... because the system has been twisted to suit the prejudices of the policy makers," Clark said

[hippywife]

7. I guess

he can just get in line with everyone else with that request:

http://www.petitiononline.com/affero03/petition.html

[tweekinnow]

9. Read this about Jim McDermott

from 2002...Once Bush got a republican congress in his pocket it was time for the White House to rev up the "Bullshit Machine" and innuendo America into an unprecedented illegal attack.In an effort to facilitate his keepers/ business partners in PNAC moving onward to jab a heplock in Iraq's oil puddle.He lied in the state of the union address ,he violated his oath of office and he outraged most of the civilized world.Google McDermott, this is nothing new.

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/j100202.html

[catforclark2004]

10. Difference is that Clark has a larger audience!

McDermott has been spot on point...and so have Kucinich...difference is when Wes talks, the mainstream media repeats it.....That's the difference.

[tlcandie]

13. Why is that catforclark2004?

Do they have selective hearing? Are they paid for only listening to specific people? Do they know who has the ability to boost their career and who doesn't?

I'm not pointing any fingers or saying anything wrong about anyone! I'm just curious why that is?

Why is it the every day person's statement doesn't mean jackshit in this society or to our media? Why is it that ONLY A SELECT FEW are represented within our media?

If Clark can pull it off.. great! Even still, nothing against the man or any nominee (not a basher here), just plain friggin' fed up with ONLY A SELECT FEW being heard and/or represented in this country!

EDITED: typo

[Rowdyboy]

14. Can I offer my opinion?

In 1976 when I was 22, my candidate for the Democratic nomination was Fred Harris, a populist senator from Oklahoma. He was the most progressive candidate, smart, opinionated, scathing, hated by the utilities etc., and he got wiped out in the primaries (finished 4th in New Hampshire-withdrew then).

The media focused all their attention on Jimmy Carter (the new face from the "New South"), Jerry Brown (fascinating new face), Henry "Scoop" Jackson (serious centerist), Mo Udall (passionate liberal) and George Wallace (you can imagine , he got lots of airplay). My candidate got drowned out because so the media can only deal with a few candidates-they are so shallow that to present the merits of 10 different candidates is overwhelming. Likewise, for the American people. If you don't have a "hook", you're probably not going to catch on. Quality, professionism, intelligence, mean next to nothing. Its pretty much hype now.

I wish I lived in a country where Dennis Kucinich could win. It would be a far better place to live...

[homelandpunk]

15. This caps off a beautiful week

The week was awesome. BUT THIS?!
This is DAMN big.
This is jaw-dropping huge.
This is what we have dreamed of.

Since Clark has done this, it is time to unite behind him. Absolutely. This will only go forward to it's end if he is front runner and has the momentum. Do you Deanies, Kerry-ites want your man in the WH more than you want Bush in jail? Think about it.

[kaitykaity]

16. Kick

re: dupe lock

:kick:

[maggrwaggr]

17. I just watched the network evening news and saw nothing of this

so it mustn't have happened.

I did see our popular president saying that David Kay found stuff that proved that we went to war for good reasons.

fucking media. We really need to start taking out the media. Shutting them down. Something!

[Bread and Circus]

20. Here's a little kick and links to show it happened....

Clark Calls for Independent Investigation of Bush Administration's War on Iraq...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/10/04/wclark04.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/10/04/ixportaltop.html

also at http://www.clark04.com

start excerpt

For Immediate Release
October 3, 2003

General Clark Calls for Independent Inquiry Into Growing List of Bush Administration Intelligence Failures
Restates Need for Independent Counsel for Probe into CIA Leak

CRYSTAL CITY, VA -- General Wesley Clark today challenged the Bush Administration's failure on a growing number national and global security blunders and called for an independent body to examine whether the Administration has intentionally manipulated intelligence to promote its agenda.

During his keynote address at the 2nd Annual Military Reporters and Editors Convention today, Clark raised persistent questions about the intelligence used by the Administration to justify the war in Iraq. He also charged that the Administration hasn't acted quickly or decisively enough to respond to growing concern over recent reports of the possibility of the disclosure of a CIA agent's identity, a federal offense.

"The current Administration has taken our country badly off-course," General Clark said. "It is violating longstanding values and principles of American democracy - with dire consequences for our security. Its treatment of our allies; its headlong rush to wear; its poor planning of post-conflict Iraq is costing America hundreds of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. And its handling of intelligence - and its retaliation against its critics - may have been criminal.....

end excerpt, goto Clark04 for more.

Sorry if this was a dupe, I didn't see a thread on it.

:grouphug:

[madmax]

18. Go for it Wes!!!

"The inadvertent disclosure of the name of a business affiliated with the CIA underscores the potential damage to the agency and its operatives caused by the leak of Plame's identity. Intelligence officials have said that once Plame's job as an undercover operative was revealed, other agency secrets could be unraveled and her sources might be compromised or endangered."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40012-2003Oct3.html

[Aleesha]

19. Bushieboys military records!

Wouldn't it be frickin' wonderful if Clark could pull those records out of his hat!! It has only just begun!