Maybe I'm off base about Clark's anti-war views

[anti_shrub]

but when I read the article everyone's going nuts over that's supposed to destroy his anti war cred, I took his statements to mean that he was against going in to Iraq but since we did anyway he was hoping we'd win as soon as possible. I took his apparent approval of the war as him hoping we'd be done with this ASAP.

I mean, he *is* a General, I don't know why it seems some people think he goes around putting flowers in gun barrels here. It also doesn't mean he's going to run around like George C. Scott in Dr. Strangelove and bomb all the a-rabs before they can see the Big Board. Hell, that's Bush's gig.

I'm still playing the Anyone But Bush card, but I heard Clark speak a couple of times, most recently on Bill Maher's show, and I like what the man had to say. Like it or not, Chimpy the War Hog got us into a military mess and we could do worse than having a General get us out.

Also, why are any canidates being nailed to the wall if they don't have their entire platform published in triplicate months before any serious debates or campaigning? We're suffering thru having a complete and total fuckwit as President who couldn't find oil in Texas let alone WMDs in Iraq, is it really worth bashing the Dems who don't share your views on fluffy kittens when we have Special Ed from Crank Yankers in charge?

[StephNW4Clark]

1. 100% agreement with you

That's right. Exactly right.

Like a true general, he knows there's no sense in dealing in hypotheticals. We're there, we have to deal with it.

[Maple]

3. Like a 'true general'?

You mean all the other ones on the ground in Iraq are fakes?

There is only one solution to Iraq...and you ain't gonna like it.

Face it now, or face it in ten years time.

[StephNW4Clark]

8. UM - NO

How you extrapolated that from my statement is a mystery.

What I am saying is that he is facing the situation exactly like the ones on the ground in Iraq are dealing with it too, and not dealing in hypotheticals, as in 'What would I have done differently if this hadn't happened?' or "I wonder what things would be like if we found WMD?" or "Wouldn't it be great if we had a broad international coalition of support?"

But thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt, and being so courteous as to ask me to clarify my statement and not put words in my mouth.

[VaLabor]

4. What's hypothetical about this statement?

"As for the political leaders themselves, President Bush and Tony Blair should be proud of their resolve in the face of so much doubt. And especially Mr Blair, who skillfully managed tough internal politics, an incredibly powerful and sometimes almost irrationally resolute ally, and concerns within Europe."

Let's just face it and stop making excuses. This article is an embarrassment. No idea why he even bothered to write it, other than the cold political calculation that he wanted to be perceived as if he supported the war all along as soon as it looked like it was a glorious victory.

I want Clark to be a great candidate. But this is just embarrassing.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi StephNW4Clark!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[juliemoo]

2. Amen brother

[Dookus]

5. You're exactly right.

the quote being thrown around here was his endorsement of the TACTICAL aspect of the war, not the POLITICS of it.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

6. Absolutely Right

Before the war started, he said many times that this was an elective war, and that we had plenty of time.

Once Shrub made the decision to invade, he framed his answers based on that context. And of course, like any American who cares about the soldiers-of-the-line, he wanted the fight over quickly with as little loss of life as possible.

Aside from that, he was an analyst for CNN whose job was to analyze military strategy and tactics. So the ridiculous people who say he was pro-war, probably were just hearing his objective analysis. It is a fact that the American army did not need an extra month for reinforcements, especially when they did so well in the field.

DTH

[Generic Other]

7. He's got broad shoulders and can talk without cue cards

He also looks like he can manage not to alienate everyone on earth in my name. These are all points in his favor

[dfong63]

9. he was rumored to be an "anti-war" candidate, but he's not

as the quote cited by VaLabor shows. it wasn't taken out of context, it was written BY HIM, and all the spin doctoring and excuses in the world don't change the meaning. Clark is an opportunist who talked out of both sides of his mouth on this issue.

[G_j]

10. I guess I read the FAIR

article differently than most. It seemed to me the criticism wasn't aimed at Clark, but the media for the way they were spinning the "anti-war" label. FAIR is known for focusing on media spin and lies.

IMO, "anti-war" doesn't fit either Dean or Clark, anti-Iraq war maybe.