Milosevic Trial Helps Clark Try to Gain Notice

[robbedvoter]

December 17, 2003
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/17/international/europe/17TRIB.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5062&en=dc2acbca71a05be4&ex=1072242000&partner=GOOGLE
Milosevic Trial Helps Clark Try to Gain Notice
By ELAINE SCIOLINO

snip


In the process, he also sought to burnish his credentials as a potential commander in chief. Of the Democratic presidential contenders, he said in an interview after testifying: "I'm the only one who's ever faced a dictator down. I'm the only one who's ever testified in court against one."

According to officials in The Hague who spoke on condition of anonymity, former President Bill Clinton — who has said he will not endorse anyone for the presidential nomination — weighed in on General Clark's behalf in a letter to the court.

The letter arrived after Mr. Milosevic, who is serving as his own lawyer, attacked General Clark's character by citing criticism of him by Gen. Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to officials in The Hague familiar with the testimony.

General Shelton said in October that General Clark had been asked to resign early from his NATO post because of "integrity and character issues." General Shelton then refused to elaborate.

During a break in testimony on Tuesday, Mr. Clark and the tribunal prosecutors contacted intermediaries who contacted Mr. Clinton, who swiftly faxed a brief letter to Carla Del Ponte, the chief prosecutor at the tribunal.

"Contrary to Mr. Milosevic's claim, General Wesley Clark carried out the policy of the NATO alliance, which was to stop massive ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, with great skill, integrity and iron determination," the letter stated, according to officials in The Hague.

snip
Asked in an interview about the relevance of his testimony for his presidential campaign, General Clark explained that it proved that "I've been there; I've done it."

He sought to put foreign affairs on a different, higher plane than domestic policy issues like medical insurance, the quality of public schools and taxes, issues he called "the typical bread and butter of the Democratic Party."

By contrast, he said, he is the only person in the Democratic field "who's a proven quantity" in foreign affairs.
snip
"We know how to handle these Albanians, these murderers, these rapists, these killers of their own kind," General Clark quoted Mr. Milosevic as saying then. He added that Mr. Milosevic had also referred with satisfaction to Yugoslav killings of Kosovo Albanians in the 1940's, when they were said to be trying to unite with Albania.

In the courtroom on Tuesday, officials in The Hague said, Mr. Milosevic again referred to ethnic Albanians as murderers, rapists and killers of their own kind.

He also sought to question the legality of the 11-week NATO bombing campaign against Serbian forces in Kosovo, but the prosecution prevented him from doing so, officials at The Hague said.

snip
Prosecutors tried in vain to get the testimony of Richard C. Holbrooke, the senior Clinton administration official who brokered the Dayton treaty, officials at The Hague said.

In negotiations with the United States government, they said, they had to choose between Mr. Holbrooke and Mr. Clark and ultimately decided that General Clark's testimony would be more valuable.

[Spazito]

1. Great article!

I wonder how Shelton feels knowing he helped a war criminal attack a representative of the United States. Thank goodness it is now clear that Shelton was simply smearing a good man.

[juajen]

2. I don't like the title of your thread

It places motives other than truth on the head of Clark in this. He is an honorable man and a famous one. He doesn't need a war crimes trial to get attention, as your title implies.

[BootinUp]

3. Well

it is the title of the NYTIMES article.

[Democat]

4. Why did they use the word "try" in the article title?

Because he's a Democrat.

If he was a Republican, they would have left that word out.