Gen. Clark made a major move tonight on Geraldo, IMHO!!
Submitted by Gloria on October 2, 2005 - 10:54pm.
I just posted the following comments on DU if you would like to keep it alive there.....
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Gen. Clark made a major move tonight on Geraldo....
If the video goes up anywhere, watch it!!
First off, Clark said that what Abazaid said today was basically a "theory"...all the "ifs" about how we could succeed in Iraq.
More importantly--Clark said that there was only a window "of a few weeks" for Bush to engage nations in the region etc. and that at that point, it would be time to get the troops out, in the right way.
Now, what he did tonight was switch the emphasis on his plan, the plan he presented a couple of weeks ago to the Out of Iraq Caucus, that was impressed by his presentation.
He is moving his plan along in terms of boxing the "pro-more troops crowd" of the DLC, etc.
For several months he has talked about a "window" of a few to 6 months for Bush to execute a bunch of suggestions, knowing full well Bush wouldn't do it.
Well, the "window" is up in a few weeks. And, appropriately, he shifted the emphasis from all the suggestion to getting the troops out in the right way. Previously, he spoke of executing several suggestions, and that if it wasn't done, the American people would have a right to demand the pullout of troops.
Clark is working his way to the that goal, it seems as if the clock is ticking for him to start emphasizing pullout, rather than "success" in Iraq....
This should get interesting!!! Clarkies???
after his appearance and we just went over it all and we're just hopeing and hoping!!
He did a beautiful job on Abazaid, too. Didn't criticize him personally, but got the point across that it was all "theory."
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Can anyone tell me what the plan is? Plan for what? Sitting here tonite watching Wes, who is the only one I trust to give me the flippin truth of what is going on over there, while I have two loved ones who are damn precious to me smack dab in the middle of that hell hole frankly has me scared shitless. Getting them out the "right way" according to Wes a month ago means without having to do a "fighting withdrawl", a "bloody retreat". Doesn't sound to me like they listened to Wes early enuff. When I listened I heard an all out civil war when these phony elections are held in two weeks coupled with Hussien's trial. That we only have a "few weeks" to do Wes' plan. Doesn't sound likely. This was the first time I have felt Wes was hopeless. I feel it too. And right now I don't give a rats ass what the political ramifications are for anyone. All I care about is the troops, 2 in particular, coming home safe with their arms and legs. I'm not directing this at anyone, truly. Just letting some steam off. Some days are harder than others and watching and hearing Wes tonite didn't make me feel real good. I hope you didn't mind me doing it here, Gloria.
things are beyond hope now. I think he knows things have to play out a bit more before he comes out with both barrels blazing, fighting the best way he can to see that whatever can be done to prevent as much harm as possible to our troops is done.. It was very clear, as he pursed his lips tonight, that he felt the troops had done the best they could do, but the "theories" wouldn't work. You could see how really dejected he must feel. Of course, he knew this time would come, but he's human, I'm sure he is pretty damned upset that it's come to this. This is one time I'm sure he wanted to be wrong.
He still talked of getting the troops out the right way, he has to say that, but that looks like it will be difficult as things further disintegrate. I actually read a story in the foreign press yesterday speculating that the British forces might very well be DRIVEN OUT, overrun....Can you imagine that??
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Wes Clark makes a proposal based upon his many years of experience, and it gets little air play. I'm hoping that reason will eventually prevail. I think we should all be very concerned about the situation in Iraq. Clark was right that fighting the terrorists in Iraq is like stomping on an anthill to kill the ants.
This president has made a huge blunder by invading a sovereign country which did not attack us. After almost three years, the situation in Iraq has not improved. We need someone with some proven leadership to get us out of the mess we have created, and we need to get out the right way and with the right plan. I trust General Clark to come up with such a solution, I don't trust the powers that be to listen to him. It's a terrible situation. We don't know how bad the consequences of this military blunder will be.
"Wes Clark makes a proposal based upon his many years of experience, and it gets little air play." This is frustrating but true. I wrote a blog a few days ago suggesting that every time we hear a TV journalist say the Democrats have no proposals about Iraq that we e-mail them some of Wes Clark's op ed pieces, etc. Tim Russert did the same thing Sunday on "Meet the Press." I just don't think it is a coincidence that all of the press keeps ignoring him.
Say what you want, but I think that journalists are being given directives to ignore him by those who fear a Clark candidacy. Wes Clark is the best person for the job of President and those who are in command and screwing things up on a daily basis know it.
I still say that we should let these journalists know that they just can't keep ignoring Wes Clark forever. There are just too many people who know he has the right proposals and the ability to implement them.
Just got thru listening to the rebroadcast last hour, and it sure sounded to me as tho the General is moving toward calling the window closed. Not yet, not definitely, but in that direction.
I think It's probably more important to that audience that he just get out some of the truth about what's really going on over there. They hear so little of it.
In any case, we may not have long to wait to confirm what we think we heard. Perhaps this has been posted elsewhere already, but during the midnite (central time) replay, they ran a big advertisement for tomorrow's O'Reilly Factor, announcing General Clark as his guest. Checking the Fox News website, he's on the schedule for 8pm eastern.
http://www.foxnews.com/fnctv/index.html
"Never underestimate what a determined soldier can accomplish when he's fighting for his country." -- General Wesley Clark
O'Reilly Factor, announcing General Clark as his guest. Checking the Fox News website, he's on the schedule for 8pm eastern.
I just got here, so don't know whether everyone knows.
He was brilliant as usual. Yes, somber but he knows way more of what's going on over there then we can even imagine. It's clear, the window of opportunity he's spoken of so often is nearly closed and his heart and concern is with the men and women in uniform. If we must leave, we need to withdraw with minimal casualties and hopefully not leave Iraq in total civil war, which is what he and all of us have feared. Our loss of the peace will forever haunt us as a nation.
Didn't catch this last night and very much appreciate you capturing it and posting.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
--Hunter/Garcia
I fell asleep last night and missed it. It's nice to know that you and others are always thinking ahead and getting these appearances on file for future reference.
I don't approve of political jokes.....I've seen too many of them get elected.
I sent this to Dana Priest at WaPo, as I know she and Wes are friends and this is in the paper today:
I finally got to see what everyone has been talking about onblog. Wes was terrific as always. And, yes, it was notable that he said we have only a few weeks to get this right. And that we need to begin getting our troops out -- in the right way. I was surprised by how negative Geraldo was about our prospects in Iraq. He didn't seem to be completely on the FOX bandwagon!
I am so glad people are listening to Wes.
Leadership means lifting people up. --Wes Clark
We were pretty busy on the Commander-in-Chief thread last night, so I didn't get to view this then. Clark is saying what so many of us feel - we want our boys home, but not to leave behind the mess that Bushco created.
I recently read Gen. Clark express this. So true. There have been editorials (slate amoung others) ridiculing his plan. I think that Gen Clark would do a better job using Bush's plan, then Bush would using General Clark's plan. The devil is in the details.
I think that the tipping point in Iraq has indeed come. They are in civil war. Primarily it is shites murdering Sunnis and even more so the other way around. Now the Kurds are threatening to pull out of the government. This is going very poorly.
I've never seen Wes so dejected. After helping build up the Army following Viet Nam and to see his hard work destroyed before his eyes must be killing him.
Big hugs to you, Mariner! I can't imagine what you are going through.
"George Bush has had his day and he's bollixed it up."
that Wes is more pessimistic. I thought it was intersting that he menntioned the negative opinions of the Saudi and Iranian spokesmen. It seems that Wes is saying there is no one who does not see the disastrous situation there, except the WH.
He also dealt very well with the issue of Saddam's trial--no easy out here.
Anxious to see what he says on O'Reilly.
The General gets it right.
Competence--What a concept!
"I think the mission is in great trouble."
Imagine what it must have taken for Wes to utter those words.
"We've got to do it the right way.....without leaving a seething Al Qaeda recruiting hotbed."
Wes seemed adamant when he said this but I honestly don't know how this will be accomplished, as long as W remains in office.
"The trial of Saddam Hussein is only going to aggravate the ethnic tensions that already exist."
Like adding fuel to a fire that's already burning out of control.
To hear Wes say this is extremely frightening and I believe even more so for people who have loved ones in harm's way. My heart goes out to all of them.
As far as a major move.....I hope Gloria is onto something. I also hope that the Bush-loving, FOX-veiwing public is paying close atention.
I don't approve of political jokes.....I've seen too many of them get elected.
that the Fox viewers realize that they're seeing something rare and brilliant, the same way many Clark supporters did when they watched Clark on CNN.
I'm sure Bush is just waiting for those next two votes to happen, then he'll announce victory - "it's up the the Iraqi people now", he'll say. "We've given them the door to walk thru, it's up to them to keep it open."
We'll be withdrawing in droves by next Fall - I can guarantee it. GOP wants to WIN in Nov 2006.
Newsweek Poll on Bush's approval ratings:
40% approve
53% disapprove
7% don't know
9/29-30/05 1004 people
jayfosterman@yahooo.com
People, I'm begging you to listen to me and read the story I'm on the verge of getting published. Any sane person reading it will come away convinced that we're all doomed unless Bush resigns and lets Wes take his place. Trust me, if it gets published on the internet it will get everyone to drop what their doing and acknowledge we're on the verge of the point of no return unless we let Wes do his thing.
so just email me if you'd like me to forward it to you.
You need to take out the email addy as it widened the blog. No big deal, but you can do it.
Please, do not post a reply to mrhopeforwes, but make a comment instead.
hopefor, my email is noelschutz(at)yahoo(dot)com
Cheers, Noel
when he will announce it a last cause.
Then he will provide us with a reasoned withdrawal plan to keep it from being a bloody retreat.
He has always said that time was short, and now the fuse is burning close to the bomb - his bombshell. It will be a major announcement that he now backs withdrawal because all the advice he and others have given Bush have been ignored. He will then sketch out a planned withdrawal.
The recent announcement by a prominent retired general that Iraq is the greatest strategic mistake (Wes has called it a strategic blunder) in the history of the U.S., combined with Bush's dropping ratings and the worsening situation in Iraq will make the announcement timely and strategicall at the right moment.
IMO, Noel
I think he has big plans.