Clark's Speech at New American Strategies

[StephNW4Clark]

http://clark04.com/speeches/008/

And tomorrow (according to NAS), the webcast will be available to view.

[TacticalPeek]

1. Thnx 4 lnk

:)

[Bread and Circus]

2. Here's an excerpt.....

and I don't think Clark will mind if I share it
with you....
______

General Wesley Clark New American Strategies for Security and Peace

Center for American Progress
October 28, 2003




...What did the "dream team" give us? An election-driven, poll-driven, ideologically-driven foreign policy. An array of strong-willed advisors and lieutenants...too powerful to be ignored...too independent to agree. With a president inexperienced -- and shockingly disinterested.

In fact, what the "dream team" has produced is an almost unbroken string of foreign policy failures.

Sunshine
Kyoto
Balkans - in together, out together, and even now trying to slide out
ICC
Bio-weapons
A relationship with Mexico that has faltered...
Of course, we know these men and women, and all their lieutenants. We see them, socialize with them, serve with them, talk to them...But let's be clear - their policies have been horribly, tragically wrong - and we must say so - clearly, repetitively, and with no apology for candor or forcefulness.

And then there is 9/11. There is no way this administration can walk away from its responsibilities. This wasn't something that could be blamed on lower level intelligence officers. Our great Democratic President Harry Truman said, the "buck stops here." And when it comes to our nation's foreign policy, the buck sits on George W. Bush's desk. And we must say it again and again until the American people understand it. National security, next to upholding the Constitution, is the most important duty of any President.

And with respect to the war on terror after 9/11, the record is even worse: We have an administration that led us into Afghanistan - then failed to plan and put the resources in to finish the job...allowing Osama Bin Ladin to survive and challenge us like some antibiotic-resistant bacterium.

We have an Administration that misled American people and Congress on the challenge of Iraq
The rhetoric is strong on bin Ladin, but they've pulled a bait and switch - which they planned from the very beginning. And that distracted Tommy Franks at the very moment he should have focused on getting our greatest enemies.
Mr. Bush went to the White house speechwriters and told them to make their strongest case for war. They created the axis of evil. Probably the worst formulation in the last half century of American politics. It has alienated friends, embarrassed supporters and served to accelerate and intensify the very threat it claimed to describe.

We have lost faith in our president. We have lost faith in his leadership. And the world has lost faith in our authority. The current Administration has taken our country dangerously off-course. And all of this two years after the world stood by our side following the tragedy of September 11th. And almost six months after Mr. Bush stood on the deck of the Abraham Lincoln and declared the end of "major combat operations."

Today, President Bush backtracked on his May 1 political photo op on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln by blaming the troops on the aircraft carrier for the declaration of 'mission accomplished' in Iraq. This is wrong, this is irresponsible, and this is not leadership. Politicizing the mission of those troops in the first place was bad theater, and diminished the office of Commander in Chief -- but to now turn his comments on those very troops is outrageous. Instead of trying to blame the sailors and soldiers, the President owes our troops in harm's way and the American people a plan to bring peace to Iraq and stability to the regionstation in Fallujah. Nothing is safe from their reach.....

---

And there is a whole bunch more, it's a great speech.
It will be online tomorrow for viewing.

[TacticalPeek]

3. Killer.

[Bread and Circus]

4. Progressives are picking up on Clark's New American Patriotism

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/30/politics/30TALK.html?ex=1068094800&en=540b5c49bf431a6f&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

....Mr. Podesta, the president of the Center for American Progress, said his new institute is determined to seize back some of that discussion — and influence. "Our mission is to put before the American people new ideas and alternative strategies," he said in an interview.

Gen. Wesley K. Clark, a Democratic contender for president, endeared himself to the crowd by accusing the administration of making the nation more insecure — not less.

The gloves were off. There was a sense that the administration is at last vulnerable.

Brett Lambert, a defense contractor, noticed the adjustments. Dozens of American flags — more common at Republican functions — met conference guests at every turn.

"It's nice to see a flag associated with progressive causes," he said. "And it isn't upside down."


______


Could we have ever challenged Bush like this if we
didn't have a General in the race?

[Tatiana]

5. Clark is picking up some steam.

It's wonderful to see. I think he has everyone beat on the foreign policy issue.

I'd love to see him go head to head with Bush in a debate.

[RandomUser]

6. This is good news for the Dem party

We need to be able to reclaim the mantle of patriotism. I should be patriotic to dissent. And I'd love to see Bush go on tv and say he's against Wes Clark and is anti-New American Patriotism -- the right to dissent, volunteerism, and all that it stands for.