Clark Opposed Gulf War I (Or Not)?

[DrFunkenstein]

SPLIT PERSONALITY
by Ryan Lizza

Candidate: Wesley Clark
Category: Foreign Policy
Grade: F

General Clark needs to make up his mind about the war with Iraq--not this year's war, but the first one. Clark's sentiment toward that conflict seems to change depending on the audience to which he's speaking.

When he was the main attraction at the now infamous fundraiser for Arkansas Republicans in 2001 the general had nothing but praise for the war. "I mean Desert Storm was wonderful; we whipped Saddam Hussein," he told GOP fat cats.

But Thursday night in New York, before an audience of Democratic donors, Clark seemed to have changed his mind. In criticizing the Pentagon and Republicans for opposing Kosovo he dismissively referred to the 1991 conflict as "a war for oil." Just as the Republicans did back in 2001, his Democratic audience cheered.

Wasn't Clark supposed to neutralize Bush's national security advantage? The general, if we take his derogatory comment about the conflict to mean that he thinks the war was unwise, is now to the left of Howard Dean on the issue. Even Dean mentions his support for the first Gulf War in almost every speech.

http://www.tnr.com/primary/index.mhtml?pid=781

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[gristy]

1. I don't see the different views as inconsistent

In 1991 he was in the military. My understanding (having no military experience myself) is that when you are in the army you follow friggin orders. You don't go around saying this war or that action is dumb.

Now he's out of the military, and he can say whatever he likes. Including what his opinion was back then.

Whether his now-stated opposition to GWI is a good idea for his candidacy remains to be seen. I don't see it as being very important.

[Jivenwail]

2. You are basically correct

Those in uniform are not allowed to speak against the Commander and Chief - no matter what. They simply can't do it. My husband has been in for 20 years and knows this first-hand. He's experienced it while watching some of his shipmates stand at Captain's Mast for disparaging Clinton. If they speak out, career over. Some may even be drumbed out of their branch of the service altogether. Look what steps were taken to silence those soldiers in Iraq who spoke up against Dumbsfeld a few months ago. And even the families have been silenced. That's why I joined MFSO. My voice will never be silenced and I have my husband's blessing to say what I want, when I want.

[dd123]

3. We are not talking about his views when he was

in the military.

We are talking about 2001 and 2003.

The point is, his views on the 1st Iraq war change depending on his audience. The question is where does he really stand?