AP 10/10/02: Clark says he supports Bush's Iraq War Resolution

[stickdog]

http://www.concordmonitor.com/stories/news/politics2002/1010_clark_2002.shtml

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark said yesterday he supports a congressional resolution that would give President Bush authority to use military force against Iraq, although he has reservations about the country's move toward war.

Clark, who led the allied NATO forces in the Kosovo conflict, was in the state yesterday for a series of stops, including one to endorse Democrat Katrina Swett in the Second District race.

He said if she were in Congress this week, he would advise her to vote for the resolution, but only after vigorous debate. The resolution is expected to pass the House overwhelmingly. Swett has said she supports it, as does her opponent, incumbent U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass.

The general said he had no doubt Iraq posed a threat but questioned whether it was immediate and said the debate about a response has been conducted backward.

[dfong63]

1. clark's foreign affairs expertise - he's been all over the map

[tlb]

2. Just think, if Karl Rove had returned his calls

Clark would probably have been carrying Powell's briefcase at the UN.

[Silk]

3. Clark

another flip flopping dem on the Iraq War. I actually credit Dean, Sharpton, and Kucinich for staying consistent on this issues even though I don't like them.

[blm]

6. Well, let's see what Dean said last February:

Josh Marshall notes his appearance on Face the Nation.

>>>>>
But on this point Dean's position has evolved too. In that same Face the Nation interview, when asked whether there were conditions under which he might favor war, Dean said ...

"My question is not that we may not have to go into Iraq. We may very well have to go into Iraq. What is the rush? Why can't we take the time to get our allies on board? Why do we have to do everything in a unilateral way?"

...

"My problem is not whether we're going to end up in Iraq or not. Saddam Hussein appears to be doing everything he can to make sure we do go into Iraq. My problem is, it is important to bring in our allies."

Now, my point is not to say that Dean was some sort of war-hawk. Clearly, he was no friend of the president's policy. But then neither was John Kerry, and certainly not Wes Clark. So let's drop this idea that support for war under some circumstances and not others is some sort of waffling or dodge. Because if it is, then Dean isn't in the clear either.

[papau]

4. Same as Kerry's position - and both are reasonable

The don't go to war without getting back to us, but we believe war is the next step if you do not let inspectors do their thing -

Indeed the non-war solution in March was "intrusive inspections" - expected to take Saddam down without a shot being fired as the Iraqi's noticed he had to power - which was killed by Bush.

In October Bush was saying he was not going to war - but needed the resolution as a barginning chip.

Why the media wants to lie about a Dem (by telling partial truths only) and make them look bad is a good question - but it does seem to be the standard media operating procedure for the last few elections.

[renie408]

5. Help me

Did the man not just recently say that he would NOT have voted for the IWR?? I swear, if I am wrong about all this stuff that keeps coming up about Clark, I will eat it, but can we just get this one thing straight?? Was he or wasn't he for the war? Or does it depend on which party he is in at the time the statements were made??