Mike, I'm not asking you to start World War III
Submitted by Clearsky on September 9, 2007 - 9:19am.
Wesley Clark
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"Mike, I'm not asking you to start World War III..." Wes Clark
Submitted by Clearsky on September 9, 2007
As far as I can tell from a lot of Googling on it, Friends and supporters of General Wesley Clark haven't yet done a very good job of spreading U.S. General Wes Clarks response to the widely known comment of U.K Lieutenant General Sir Michael Jackson's comment that "I'm not going to start World War III for you."
Please consider spreading General Wes' reply to that remark whenever and wherever you encounter the widely spread WWIII comment by Jackson.
Here's what U.S. 4-star General Wes Clark,Supreme Allied Commander,
replied to UK,General Mike Jackson at the time of Jackson's WWII remark:
=====================================
UK Lt.General Michael Jackson: "I'm not going to start World War II for you."
U.S. 4-star General, Supreme Allied Commander WesClark: " 'Mike, I'm not asking you to start
World War III,
I'm asking you to block the runways so that we don't have to face an issue that
could produce a crisis.
It doesn't have to be a confrontation.
YOU will have the position.
THEY will have to challenge YOU.' "
. *From "Waging Modern War",
. by General Wesley K. Clark, 2001
page 394.
for everyone before they go to the polls. How I wish.
That book is an eye-opener, even to those of us who have read his other books, all his OpEds, everything since 2000! How anyone reading that book now could compare any of the frontrunners to WKC is beyond me. In fact, to think any of them think they can lead without Wes' background is galling to me.
Golly,... I've been so angry and upset about the '08 campaign bs since I put that book down. I can't tell you how sad I feel.
Anyway, the bright side is that if Wes doesn't run, both he and Gert have had the most amazing life experience together, and a future of more to come. They both amaze me. Gert is hell on wheels, too. LOL!
It is all too much to handle. Reading WKC's memoir, his Op-Ed in THE INDEPENDENT on SUNDAY (British), and a copy of his speech to the 7th International Conference on Counter-Terrorism in Herzliya, Israel last night ---thinking about the way the presidential candidates on both sides struggle to enunciate their position on Iraq --- makes me want to throw in the towel and call my interest in politics finished.
Last June, the feckless Democratic leadership proclaimed that come September, the Republicans would cave on Iraq.
So, you tell me. What's the point of getting all excited about what George W. Bush will do the remainder of his presidency. The Democrats voted to extend FARM subsidies to multimillionaire farmers and agreed with revisions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that expands warrantless wiretaps.
They have lost the advantage on an Iraq War resolution that would end the war.
WKC writes and speaks. The Democrats cherry-pick his words to suit their policy on Iraq, but narry a one will attribute their thinking to Wes Clark.
My heart aches for you and so many others here at the CCN as I read the pain evidenced by your writings.
Along with so many, I wonder why the media seemingly refuses to give WKC a break in re 2004, let alone highlight his thinking.
He needs a pulpit. The memoir, the speeches, the appearances on TV -- all well and good -- but not giving him his due.
Last Friday night,for the umpteenth time, I met a sophisticated, educated, professed Democrat who asks, "Whatever happened to General Clark?"
I try to answer as I down my Bombay Gin and tonic, and ask the bartender for another. It's the only way I can mask my sorrow.
as much as I hate it, there is no need to 'wonder why the media seemingly refuses to give WKC a break in re 2004, let alone highlight his thinking.'
As in much of his life, he is TOO GOOD: TOO intelligent, TOO smart, TOO good-looking, TOO well-disciplined, TOO well-liked.
The 'powers,' whomever they are, are afraid that he will succeed and consequently harm them/their interests in some way. He will.
...with your conclusions, it is not easy to launch great ideas from a studio chair, or even a book these days.
While the political reality is that your thoughts are conclusive and may deny WKC the vice-presidency, the second highest political office is where he can best contribute to the American dialogue.
We can discuss the compromises that WKC might make in accepting the vice-presidency, but I am of the opinion that he should accept it if offered.
I wonder if the new Democratic President, no matter who it might be, would be intimidated by Gen. Clark. As Ellen (and Barry McCaffrey) said, he's too intelligent, too good-looking, too charismatic, and too visionary not to overshadow the President.
It would take a special person -- one completely comfortable in hs or her own skin and one who welcomes someone who outshines him or her in a number of areas. I just can't see it among this group of candidates. They think they should be President, and aren't likely to want the person who REALLY should be President around.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Don't settle for less.
Make America All It Can Be!
...the premise that the presidential nominee may feel insecure about WKC serving their administration in ANY capacity.
My point is: WKC needs a pulpit that allows his thoughts more coverage than he can achieve by writing books, giving speeches or from a studio chair. Ergo, if offered, I hope he would accept the vice-presidency.
I'm riding a roller coaster of emotions right now. Anger reigns supreme, right now.
I just wrote a long rant to you... but I've deleted it because the words don't begin to explain how I'm feeling about everything coming down.
((((Gordon and all loyal Clarksters, everywhere))))
saw the pathetic Russian contingent out of supplies in a short time, so General Clark gave them food and other supplies to bail them out. This was the force that was going to start WWIII?
...and the matter of the Pristina airport at page 221 of A TIME TO LEAD.
For those who do not have General Clark's memoir, CLark states that he ordered General Jackson to take forces to the airport. Jackson assured Clark he would be there by noon. Only Jackson himself arrived at the airport around 7 PM, where Jackson was "harassed by the Russians and left," according to Clark.
The Russians turned back from their advance to take over a portion of the airport when Clark was able to convince the diplomats to intervene to deny the Russian's apparent goal of splitting Kosovo -- even though Milosevic had been defeated --- according to the memoir.
General Clark speaks about General Sir Michael Jackson in his Op-Ed published in today's British publication, THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY ===