Proof Clark Did Not Want War

[Quixote1818]

I am sure this has been put out for discussion already but it seems quite a few people on here missed it as so many of you still keep saying Clark has been inconsistent on the War. I will admit Clark says too much somtimes leaving his speeched open to all kinds of interpretations much like ancient religious documents however Richard Perle heard what Clark had to say and he understood EXACTLY what Clark was saying.

In the meeting of the House Armed Services Committee
on September 26, 2002, here is what Perle said of Clark:

"So I think General Clark simply doesn't want to see us use military force and he has thrown out as many reasons as he can develop to that but the bottom line is he just doesn't want to take action. He wants to wait."

“This is what should be shown to all media outlets. I can understand why McGovern endorsed Clark. Clark has held dying soldiers in his arms. He does NOT want war. His wife told the audience that when she was in Phoenix. Drudge did not tell the truth about Clark. I hope Clark supporters are sending this Richard Perle quote to every media outlet you can think of.

[La_Serpiente]

1. Read the whole committee hearing for yourself

between Richard Perle and Wesley Clark

U.S. POLICY TOWARD IRAQ

Hearing Before the
House Armed Services Committee

September 26, 2002

HUNTER: The committee will come to order.

Today, the Committee on Armed Services continues its review of United States policy toward Iraq. This morning's hearing marks the fourth in a number of planned public sessions designed to educate and inform the committee and the American people on the various issues surrounding Iraq's continued violation of numerous United Nations resolutions, its illicit development of weapons of mass destruction, and the threat that Saddam Hussein poses to the United States, the Middle East, and the international community.

The committee has received a classified briefing from the intelligence community in each of the last three weeks, which we also opened to all members of the House in the last several weeks. We also heard from former UNSCOM inspectors about Iraq's illicit weapons programs and Saddam Hussein's persistent efforts to thwart U.N. inspections and we heard from an Iraqi defector who was a leader in Saddam's nuclear weapons program.

more...

U.S. POLICY TOWARD IRAQ

[Guaranteed]

2. Kerry didn't "want" war, either.

The issue is that he didn't speak out about the war being wrong when it counted. All he said was "we need a broader coalition and a better post-war plan." Which is basically the same thing that Clark has said.

Although, you know I actually have more confidence that Kerry didn't actually WANT war than Clark. As I remember it, Clark seemed to be approaching it from the perspective of a general (no surprise). It wasn't a matter of "whether," but more of "how."

The one great thing that Clark has going for him is that he didn't have to vote on the issue.

[Quixote1818]

4. He was trying to make people think

I think Clark's testimony was about being a Devils Advocate and to throw out all the bad things that could happen and explain how complex the process would be and bring up all the unknowns. Clark was trying to make people think before they just went blindly into War. He was also trying to put the breaks on a pro war machine that was getting out of control!

[Rob in B_more]

3. Clark has to stop this smear better

I think the Drudge article gives Clark a perfect whipping boy.

I saw Clark interviewed by Brokaw after SOTU last night, he did an excellent job taking shrub to task for the war, but then Brokaw says but you have flip-flopped on the war, and the resolution (my paraphrase), Clark didn't effectively deny it, if I didn't know the facts I would have bought what Brokaw was selling.

I wish Clark would have said, "If people would read my statements and writing on the subject in their context and entirety, instead of the cut and paste jobs that people like Drudge circulate, they will see that I have never supported this war. I was a military professional and I discussed these issues not with sound bites, but in a real world and nuanced fashion. I have made all of my writing and statements available for all the world to see, if any of it reads like an endorsement of the war please me ask me about it specifically Tom."

[deminflorida]

5. Please post this to the Clark Blog....

Please..before the debate....

[Quixote1818]

6. I agree

I heard about this and it pisses me off. That's why Clark people need to get this message out as much as possible. It's amazing the campaign wouldn’t answer this the way you put it. It's so simple. They should have Richard Perle's statement as a visual with Clark and make guys like Brokaw read it.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Even shorter perhaps, he could quote or paraphrase Perle

"I think the record is pretty clear on my opposition. After I testified before Congress in 2002, why do you think Perle, an instrumental advocate for invading Iraq, said this about me..."

[Quixote1818]

8. Bingo!

[newyawker99]

11. Hi Rob in B_more!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Capn Sunshine]

9. If Clark did not want war, he wouldn't have enlisted during Vietnam

any thinking person saw that piece of work for what it was. Yet Clark chose this time to go career military.

That's plenty of proof for me.

[Quixote1818]

10. Service in Vitenam

Luckily only about 1% of the electorate thinks the way you do and most see his Service in Vietnam as a good thing. You are entitled to you opinion though.