Clark Attacks the Military-Industrial Complex (NPR TRANSCRIPT)

[DoveTurnedHawk]

In light of the nature of certain recent attacks by various candidates against General Clark, I thought it appropriate to repost my transcript of an NPR interview where he clearly outlines his position on the Military-Industrial Complex. In other appearances, General Clark has also called the Pentagon a "want machine" and has expressed willingness to cut the military budget by as much as 25% with the lion's share coming from Air Force programs.

--

A caller asked a question about Eisenhower's warning about the military-industrial complex.

General Clark: "I think General Eisenhower was exactly right, I think we should be concerned about the military-industrial complex. I think if you look at where the country is today you've consolidated all these defense firms into just a few large firms, like Halliburton, and with contracts and contacts at the top level of government. You've got most of the retired generals are one way or another associated with the defense firms. That's the reason that you'll find very few of them speaking out in any public way. I'm not. When I got out I determined I wasn't going to sell arms, I was going to do as little as possible with the Department of Defense because I just figured it was time to make a new start. But I think the military-industrial complex does wield a lot of influence. I'd like to see us create a different complex. And I'm going to be talking about foreign policy in a major speech tomorrow, but we need to create an agency that is not about waging war but about creating conditions for peace around the world. We need some people who will be advocates for peace, advocates for economic development abroad, not just advocates for better weapon systems. So we need to create countervailing power to the military-industrial complex."

To listen to the original program, go here:

http://nhpr.org/cgi-bin/search/swish.cgi?query=clark&metaname=swishdefault&sort=swishlastmodified&start=165

Then hit entry #175.

Then hit 2003-11-05: General Wesley Clark.

Approximately 35:30 - 37:00.

DTH

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Gawd We Need This Guy

in the worst way. He will set things right.

[maddezmom]

2. thanks DTH

bookmarking for later use. :)

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. Me too. Stashed away. Thanks. n/t

[Clark4VotingRights]

39. Yup. I like to save those transcripts.

Thx.

[Auntie Bush]

3. Isn't he fantastic?

Thanks for posting that.

As I read it I got to thinking maybe Dennis would surprise everyone and back Clark.

[David Zephyr]

5. You Amaze Me.

Kerry has BLM.
Clark has DTH.

And they are both very fortunate to have such intelligent and graceful supporters like you.

This is a very informative post, DTH. Clark should speak more to this issue to address the fears many have about Clark.

:thumbsup:

[DoveTurnedHawk]

6. Thanks David

I kinda lost my shit and went overboard for a little while over this past week, but these civility rules sure are going to help a lot. :-)

DTH

[David Zephyr]

18. You Are First Class In My Book, DTH!

First Class.
Top Drawer.

And congratulations on your engagement! :hi:

[MidwestTransplant]

7. Same thing Ike warned about...

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. That man is incredible!

Thank you for posting this...it's a definite keeper!

[bearfartinthewoods]

9. what firms did he lobby for.

i'm sure i remember reading some military connections.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

11. Alternative Energy BICYCLES

That's about the closest military connection there was, IIRC.

DTH

[Kolesar]

45. Bicycles? How about APPARATUS TO SPY ON AMERICANS?Can you say Big Brother?

The Center for Public Integrity
http://www.bop2004.org/bop2004/candidate.aspx?cid=12

A small excerpt:
Two weeks after declaring his intention to run for president, Clark was still registered to represent a high tech contractor, Acxiom Corporation, giving him the rare distinction of seeking the White House while registered as a lobbyist. Shortly after Clark announced his candidacy, a company spokesman said the general no longer lobbied for Acxiom, but, according to the Senate Office of Public Records, Clark had not filed any termination papers.

SNIP

According to federal disclosure records, Clark lobbied directly on "information transfers, airline security and homeland security issues," for Acxiom, which sought funding to do controversial informational background checks on passengers for airlines. Privacy advocates have criticized the program, called the Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-Screening System II, because of concerns that the data collected would be an overly invasive violation of individuals' rights to privacy. The public outcry has been so strong that there is a bi-partisan effort to create more oversight for the program to protect privacy interests if CAPPS II is implemented.

Clark lobbied the Department of Justice, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Transportation for the company. Clark also reported, on his lobbyist disclosure forms, that he promoted Acxiom to the Senate and the executive office of the president. According an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette report, he even met personally with Vice President Richard Cheney.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

46. Not Military, and Also Rehashed to Death

Please see any one of literally over a hundred other DU threads for more information.

DTH

[Kolesar]

47. Not BICYCLES, either

LOL

[DoveTurnedHawk]

49. The Question Asked About Military Connections

I answered the question.

:shrug:

DTH

[Kolesar]

50. 'tis all part of the "War on Terror"

Fear is really "in" this year.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

52. Going Off-Topic Is a Rule 9 Violation

It has also been rehashed to death here, like most other negative attacks on Clark.

Returning to the point at hand, Clark did not lobby for weapons systems. He was not part of the MIC.

DTH

[Kolesar]

53. There was an ancient Greek fable

I think it was one of Aesop's fables. There was this man who had some profound harm from another person that was driving him mad. One of the minor gods found him and told him to just dig a hole in the ground and just yell his complaints into the hole.

[windansea]

10. wish you could post this in latest breaking forum

it seems there are a lot of misinformed people re Clark and MIC

[11cents]

12. Notice similarity with Kucinich - "Department of Peace"

Well, admittedly, I'm not sure exactly what Kucinich intends with a "Department of Peace," but it's probably not a million miles away from Clark's "countervailing power." But Clark has the background and chops to discuss this in terms of the way money and influence flows in Washington -- and most importantly, he's the guy with the background that will make people who aren't in the left's isolated magic circle want to listen.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

13. They Are VERY Similar

I would love to see a closer political relationship develop between Clark and DK!

:thumbsup:

DTH

[KaraokeKarlton]

14. Wasn't Clark a lobbyist for companies going after defense contracts?

I think that sort of makes it somewhat difficult for some people to trust him on this. That's how I feel about it, and I'm quite certain that I'm not alone. :shrug:

[jmaier]

16. KK

I'm curious. Originally when I did some research into Gephardt's charge against Dean being supportive of Gingrich's medicare 'reforms' I was upset to find some merit to the charge. But, you know, today Gov Dean speaks strongly in favor of medicare and other positive health reforms and I chose to take him at his word on his platform.

Should I not? Or should I hold him accountable for what seems to me a pretty untenable past position?

[slinkerwink]

42. did you check out http://www.dickfacts.com?

It's a site that's meant to counteract the gephardt site on Dean's positions on medicare.

[arewethereyet]

32. can't vouch for accuracy but there are leads to follow here

its not a favorable site but it does state his only actual client as a lobbiest, a company called Acxiom. They make data storage systems and it claims that they are marketing one to the Dept of Defense.

Real ? Some of the points presented seem to jibe with other ones but this is a cursory review at best.

If you're interested its a starting point.

http://www.freedomofthought.com/archives/000277.html

[hilzoy]

54. As noted above,

He only lobbied the military on behalf of a company, WaveCrest, that makes a more efficient electric generator. It is currently used in electric bicycles, which have been bought (I believe) by special forces and by law enforcement; but the company hopes it will eventually be used in hybrid cars and wind power generation. That's the sum of his defense dept. lobbying.
He did also lobby for Axciom, but that wasn't to DoD. Axciom does data mining; apparently, after 9/11 they discovered that they had a number of the hijackers in their data bases. Clark, hearing of this, tried to get the word out (e.g., lobbied), without pay; after several months, they put him on salary. The information they gather is publicly available. Later JetBlue, to whom Axciom had provided data, got into trouble, but Clark was not associated with the dealings between Axciom and JetBlue. From a Washington Post article (sorry, no working link, but it's from early Oct. 2003): "Government and industry officials who have attended meetings with Clark described him as thoughtful and persuasive. Jones, the Acxiom official, said Clark repeatedly stressed the need to "properly balance legitimate privacy interests and the need for security." "

[Jerseycoa]

15. Thanks

When was this? I don't see it through the link.

[Exgeneral]

17. How old is this interview?

Why isn't this getting more attention han his previous lobbying for the defense industry?

[DoveTurnedHawk]

19. About Two Months

Right around there. Although I just noticed my link is apparently outdated, I will try to find it again.

DTH

[DoveTurnedHawk]

21. This Is the Weirdest Thing

I found it again, it was on "The Exchange" on November 5, 2003 with Laura Knoy, and I copied the exact link as listed on the URL line, but for some reason it keeps resetting back to the main home page.

:shrug:

DTH

[Jerseycoa]

24. Was this a two-parter?

I remember listening to the program that was about his personal life and there was supposed to be a second, but I missed it. Thanks a lot for unearthing this. :)

[hilzoy]

55. You can also find it here:

http://www.lifes-abeach.com/vidclips/nh_11_5_03.ram

[jmaier]

20. because it isn't

a sexy, negative soundbite.

[kayleybeth]

22. Thanks DTH

Great find. I am bookmarking this!

[Terwilliger]

23. Good for him

Now, I'll believe when I see it.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

25. Fair Enough

I think one could safely say that of most of the candidates on most of the issues.

DTH

[Terwilliger]

28. no, most of the candidates aren't generals calling for...

sweeping defense reforms

I believe Kucinich more than I believe Clark.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

29. Kucinich Is an Honest and Honorable Man

And I won't say anything bad about him.

I will say, however, that just because you're a General, that doesn't make you a bad person. In fact, I bet Generals know better than anyone where the waste is in the Pentagon budget.

If Clark had whored himself out to Halliburton, I think your point would be very strong. But he didn't do that. Not even close.

DTH

[Terwilliger]

37. You're claiming that Clark will follow through on some grandiose

leftist rhetoric, yet criticize Dean and others for saying the same sorts of things.

No thanks.

The above post had nothing to do with Kucinich, btw.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

38. I Believe He Will, You Believe He Won't. Fine.

Clark's position has been consistent, or at least not contradictory, unlike some candidates with whom I have a problem.

The above post had nothing to do with Kucinich, btw.

??

Then why did you bring him up?

:shrug:

DTH

[KittyWampus]

44. Clark Got Stabbed In The Back For Doing The Right Thing

and standing up against the Neo Cons in the Pentagon.

That is who he is and his record. So it makes sense to believe he can and will deliver.

[imhotep]

31. the other candidates

have a record to back up their words.

[Dookus]

36. And Clark has a 34 year history

of public service, great integrity, and unchallenged love of country. His positions today match his positions in the military - education, affirmative action, support for families, etc. etc.

[cryofan]

26. I could vote for this guy! -eom

[DoveTurnedHawk]

27. So Could Millions of Swing Voters

:-)

Go Clark!

DTH

[Jerseycoa]

35. Cool!

:)

[Kahuna]

30. Clark is the only candidate who can truly unite us..

Job one towards that goal is media deregulation.

[DIBL]

33. kick

[Clark Can WIN]

34. Cool, I have always said that anyone who bothers to do honest

research on Clark would 9.7 out of 10 be happy with what they found. (there's always a small contingent that won't be swayed) He's a fantastic candidate and the Democratic party is darn lucky to have him.

[bigtree]

40. Center for Strategic and International Studies

Gen. Clark- Senior Advisor

Other advisors:

Brent Scowcroft
James Woolsey
Henry A. Kissinger

Good company?

Likely suspects.

[QC]

41. Here are some other people associated with the CSIS:

Madeleine Albright, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Edward Luttwak (author of The Endangered American Dream) are listed among their experts. Also, Max Baucus and John Edwards have spoken at their meetings.

Do you have a link to a complete listing of their advisors?

[Printer70]

43. Clark lies again

Halliburton is not a defense firm, it is an energy exploration and discovery company.

[beawr]

51. Which provides Materiel (sic) and logistics support

and gets big bucks from the DoD.

[Larkspur]

48. Sounds like the same strategy that Bush employed in 2000 to deceive

voters -- "I'm an uniter, not a divider" "I'm a compassionate conservative."

Clark was still registered as a lobbyist for a firm that represents the military-industrial complex 2 weeks after entering the Dem Prez race. As Bush has taught us, lying works. Is Clark following that same strategy?

Clark has no record to back his assertions that he will stand up for the average American agains the MIC. He does have a record supporting the MIC.