Wes on KARN, a summary
Submitted by Arky Sue on July 16, 2007 - 10:16am.
Current Events | International | Iran | Iraq | Media | Wesley Clark
The DJ, Bob, introduced Gen. Clark as a former General then corrected himself saying, "Well, no one is ever a 'former' General," (good on him), former Commander of the Kosovo War and NATO Allied Commander.
Gen. Clark talked about the troop surge and continued problems in Iraq. He reminded listeners that "everyone" is saying that the war cannot be won by military alone but that broad and robust diplomacy was needed. Wes pointed out that Bushco was not putting forth the effort needed for diplomacy to work.
He cited how many are saying that they want to wait and give Gen. Petraeus a chance to succeed. Then he pointed out that he was disappointed that no one was saying, "Give Ambassador _____ a chance to succeed," * that they were still relying on a military solution instead of a diplomatic one. Telling that I can't remember the name of our Ambassador to Iraq, isn't it?
DJ Bob asked about Iran and their "crazy leader." Wes pointed out that of all the countries in the ME that the country with the most pro-American populace was Iran, that everytime Amadinijad (sp) criticized Bush it made Bush stronger, and everytime Bush criticized Amadinijad it made him stonger. Wes continued to push for regional diplomacy and said Iran wants to be legimated, recognised.
DJ Bob jumped in at one point to mention that Gen. Clark succeeded and did not lose one soldier in the Kosovo War, and Wes pointed out that while the military action worked there was still diplomatic work going on and that that was very important.
Wes mentioned the frustration of trying to get answers from the Admin as to why there is no push for diplomacy in the region, that he has tried and hasn't been able to get any answers to this.
DJ Bob thanked Wes for being on the show and said he wished he could have Wes on for the whole hour.
A little background on KARN radio. This is our local Clearchannel talk radio station and they air programs like Rush, Hannity, etc. so it was really nice to hear the DJ being respectful and pleased to have Wes on his show.
I'm sure I've missed some of what was said, but overall it was a very good interview!
* best quote
audio has been there for 1/2 hour at least - transcript is coming right up!
‘‘ The most perfect slaves are those which blissfully and unawaredly enslave themselves.’’ -Dresden James
Ryan Crocker. I googled it. :/
Wes Clark: Soldier, Scholar, Statesman.
so-called "top-tier" 2008 Democratic Presidential candidates were saying this on a regular basis:
"Then he pointed out that he was disappointed that no one was saying, "Give Ambassador _____ a chance to succeed," * that they were still relying on a military solution instead of a diplomatic one. Telling that I can't remember the name of our Ambassador to Iraq, isn't it?"
Instead they are mostly talking about how quickly that we can get out of Iraq by a certain date regardless of what the state of diplomacy is in that region!
I was very disappointed when I saw this article about Obama where he just talks about getting out of Iraq by a date certain right now and that he would determine an exit strategy "if elected."
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070714/D8QC1DA80.html
Obama Says Clinton War Plan 'Convoluted'
Jul 13, 8:18 PM (ET)
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY
"If you simply repeal the language, then presumably you'd have to reauthorize something. You've got 150,000 troops over there and support personnel," Obama told The Associated Press in an interview after a campaign stop in Las Vegas.
"Why we would try that approach as opposed to simply setting a timetable for withdrawal strikes me as a convoluted approach to the problem," he said...
He said if elected he would meet with military leaders to determine an exit strategy that would draw down combat troops in about a year."
I have honestly never in my life seen such a weaker field of so-called "top-tier" Democratic Presidential candidates as I have see right now in Hillary with very high negative numbers, Obama who is probably a very nice person but is in way over his head right now with no serious foreign policy experience, and John Edwards who I think is just an opportunist!
I wish that Gen. Clark would run and if he does not, then I definitely think that Democrats need much better "top-tier" candidates than what they have right now if they want to have the best possible chances of winning in 2008!
Democrats just won in 2006 by saying "we are not George Bush" which was okay then but will NOT do in 2008. If Gen. Clark is not the Democratic nominee and if the Democratic nominee cannot do much better than Obama's lack of substance that I see right now, then the 2008 GOP nominee may win despite Bush!
Democrats have to do much better than what is out there now in their so-called "top-tier." If they do not and if Bloomberg and Hagel run on Gen. Clark's foreign policy, then it will be a no-brainer as to who I will support and vote for in 2008!
If we do not get out of Iraq in as responsible of a manner as possible and if we are either paying for the war in Iraq or are paying even more money than we are now because we got out the wrong way and then had to go back because the situation got worse, then there will probably not be much money left for any candidate to successfully implement their domestic agenda regardless of how well intentioned that they are!
Wes's frame about giving Crocker a chance was masterful. He really is the best.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
This is a very good interview by someone who obviously knows something about the General. Thanks for doing this.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
He's trying so hard but there's only so much he can do....Not enough people listened to him before the Iraq War and now it's happening all over again....We'll soon find ourselves at War with Iran and then everyone can run around apologizing for not doing more to stop it. Arghhh!!!! Stop the vicious cycle, I want to get off!!
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
I'll have a chance to listen to the interview in the AM. All indications are: Wes is very concerned. Not very comforting. :)
'DJ Bob asked about Iran and their "crazy leader." Wes pointed out that of all the countries in the ME that the country with the most pro-American populace was Iran, that everytime Amadinijad (sp) criticized Bush it made Bush stronger, and everytime Bush criticized Amadinijad it made him stonger.'
Heard one Dem candidate (?) refer to Amad..... recently as 'crazy' or somesuch. I was actually embarrassed! and thought of using that in a pro-Wes commercial: 'Which would YOU rather have speaking for the United States?'
Boy, did I miss a lot! Of course Wes packs so much info/insights into just a few minutes it's really amazing. No wonder it's hard to catch it all from listening just once.
Wes Clark: Soldier, Scholar, Statesman.
won't talk to Iran, General Wes.
It might get in the way of their PNAC Pipedream. They have the perfect villian to help carry out their plan. THE PLAN.....nothing gets in the way of The Plan.
It's a lousy, dumb-a** plan...but "they" seem stuck on it.
I could never get the audio to work--loved your summary--sounds like a great interview--but WKC needs a bigger megaphone--which a run for POTUS could provide at this point, I do believe. If that doesn't come about, Bloomberg is beginning to look very good to me.
Some one reported somewhere yesterday that Kissinger had said something about ME diplomacy--he says it and it gets reported. And maybe he is listening to WKC--who knows. Unfortunately, Kissinger has lots of axes of his own to grind, which are not in the best interests of most of us, imo.
OT--I just saw Sicko at a local theater. An incredible movie. Michael Moore is such a good person, and his films get better and better. (and they were good to start with!)
The General gets it right.
Competence--What a concept!
Thanks, Arky Sue