Clark calles for White House investigation into Cheney-Weekly Standard ...

[wyldwolf]

(the article in question, by the way, is also being used as the primary source by rightwing radio to prove an al-Qaida/Saddam connection.)

Presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clark on Sunday accused Vice President Dick Cheney of "playing politics with national security" based on his recent comments during an interview with the Rocky Mountain News.

Clark has called for a White House investigation into statements Cheney made to the News, in which the vice president called a Weekly Standard magazine article the "best source of information" on an alleged link between the former Iraqi regime and the terrorist group al-Qaida.

The Weekly Standard article was based on leaked intelligence reports that had been forwarded to Congress. In response to the story, the Department of Defense said certain still-classified raw intelligence reports had been sent to the Senate Intelligence Committee but that it was "inaccurate" to report that officials had confirmed new information about ties between Iraq and al-Qaida.

The Department of Defense press release concluded: "Individuals who leak or purport to leak classified information are doing serious harm to national security; such activity is deplorable and may be illegal."

"Now, the standard rule on anything like this is never to confirm it because if you confirm something like this, you're giving away maybe sources and methods," Clark said. "The vice president said that that was the best explanation of the connection between al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein. So he's essentially using a leaked memo to confirm his predisposition to believe that Saddam had something to do with 9-11."

"That's playing politics with national security," Clark said. "It risks our intelligence community, our sources and methods; it's wrong. And as president I won't tolerate that."

http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/politics/article/0,1299,DRMN_35_2604832,00.html

[BootinUp]

1. Good for Clark

Too bad all the other candidates have their heads up their *sses when it comes to Bush and cronies neglect of National Security.

[Old and In the Way]

2. I like to think that each is taking the fight to this administration in

different ways. I think this is a great shot accross this administration's bow and I hope that this energizes the General's campaign.

[robbedvoter]

3. Energized plenty, thank you very much. We drafted our man, no need

for media coronation to energise us - our man is doing it every day. Thanks for the nod down...;-)

[Loren645]

4. Good for Clark! Not easy taking on the status quo candidates

and the regime. But he's doing it.

[HootieMcBoob]

5. He talked about this on MTP yesterday

He needs to hold congresses feet to the fire and get this done. Imagine if he were to talk about this more often in national venues, calling the administration's integrity and national security concerns into question to the point where there actually is an investigation. It would be a big deal for him. It would show that he's capable of getting congress to move on things without even being in the white house.

As President he would be able to accomplish a lot more for progressives than any other candidate. Clark in a landslide -- that's my prediction!
:bounce: