Wes Clark to be on Meet the Press 8/28

[Deep13]

Gen. Clark will be on Meet the Press Sunday to discuss his proposal for Iraq.

Per Clark mass email:

"As I've been traveling across the country and speaking out in TV interviews over the past few weeks, many people have asked me about what we should do in Iraq.

"Clearly, what we're doing there now is just not working. The American people are frustrated by the lack of progress in Iraq and looking to President Bush for leadership to clean up the mess.

"In today's Washington Post, I have written an op-ed that summarizes my current thinking about Iraq: namely, that while the Bush Administration's elective invasion of Iraq was clearly a mistake, pulling our troops out now would also be a mistake. If we put the right strategy in place, we can still succeed -- but time is running out.

"So far, instead of a strategy the Bush Administration has simply demanded that the American people show resolve. But resolve isn't enough to mend a flawed approach or save the lives of our troops. It's time for the Bush Administration to actually do the hard work, to put a three-pronged diplomatic, political, and military strategy in place that will ultimately enable us to withdraw.

"If the Administration won't adopt such a winning strategy, then the American people will be justified in demanding that our brave men and women in uniform come home. It's up to President Bush to put the strategy in place, without delay.

"I hope you'll read the full op-ed here, which fleshes out my thinking about this three-pronged comprehensive success strategy in much greater detail.

"Then, at 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT today (Friday), I hope you'll join me at www.washingtonpost.com for a live online discussion about my op-ed. I look forward to your questions and our discussion.

"Finally, I just wanted to let you know of a few important upcoming events. Next week, Josh Marshall has graciously invited me to be a guest blogger at TPMCafe.com, his new online political discussion forum. I'll be discussing a wide variety of topics there, and I hope you'll stop by frequently over the course of the week to join in the discussion.

"Also from Tuesday through Thursday next week I'll be traveling to Wisconsin and Iowa, meeting and talking with people across those two states. I'm really looking forward to the trip and to sharing my experiences with you while blogging on TPMCafe.

"Thanks again for your continued friendship and support. I look forward to talking with you about Iraq and many other important issues facing our country during Friday's online discussion at www.washingtonpost.com and all next week at TPMCafe. "

[oasis]

1. Wes can handle Russert. He'll get a question or two about Cindy.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Clarks response today in the WAPO

on Cindy Sheehan....

Houston, Tex..: How would you respond to Cindy Sheehan and the other family members who believe their children have been sacrificed for a lie?

General Clark: I have the deepest sympathy and empathy with Cindy Sheehan. My son served in the Armed Forces and I worried about him every day. And, I carried a burden of guilt about his service, as I am sure most mothers and fathers do. Because, after all, we either encourage them, supported them, or sustained them in making this commitment to their country. My prayers and condolences are with every family who has lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan, or seen him or her come home forever scarred or crippled. And I thank them for their loved ones' service and for their sacrifice. And I understand the depth of their feelings I believe, because every American trusts our leaders to use our men and women in combat only, only, only as a last resort. And in Iraq, this wasn't the case. And we will probably never learn the full array of motives that lead our nation's leaders to take us to this war. I warned at the time that it was "elective"--we didn't have to do it. There wasn't an eminent threat. So why did we? Cindy Sheehan, every mother and father of our service members, and every American has a right to know. It was a strategic blunder to go there. Now America sees it in hindsight. But those in power have responsibilities to do the right thing, and when they don't they should be held accountable. Cindy is doing everything she can to hold them accountable. President Bush should talk to her and tell her the truth.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/08/25/DI2005082501346.html

[AX10]

3. Wes is the BEST!

:dem:

[FrenchieCat]

4. Also some opinions on Clark's Op-Ed in today's WAPO

Can't say that the Democrats have no plan.

Scott Shields on MyDD 8/26/05
http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/8/26/143249/029#readmore
Clark Lays Out Plan For Iraq
by Scott Shields

Mazer Rackam on Dilatory Action 8/26/05
http://dilatoryaction.blogspot.com/2005/08/workable-plan-for-iraq.html

Matthew Yglesias on TAPPED 8/26/05
http://www.prospect.org/weblog/archives/2005/08/index.html#007521
CLARK ON WITHDRAWAL.
Wesley Clark's gone and done what needs to be done if you're going to argue against withdrawing from Iraq -- outline some alternatives. It seems to me that if the things Clark wants to be done can, in fact, be done, then they might work.

Armando on Daily Kos 8/26/05
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/26/53325/3578
Gen. Clark Merges Politics and Policy

[David Zephyr]

5. I Like Wes Clark.

And I like saying so.