A great article from across the pond:

Atlantic Eye: Defending Gen. Wesley Clark

By MARC S. ELLENBOGEN, UPI International l Columnist | Published: July 3, 2008 at 7:20 PM

...Had the Bush administration had more men with character; had those who have it not been afraid to use it; and those who received the information not been terrified to stand by it; the United States would not be in the disastrous muddle it's in today. A Democratic president -- any new president -- needs men and women around him who will tell the God's honest truth -- blunt, unfiltered and accurate....

Europeans are startled that a man of such great distinction, who they know and worked with, would be left in the lurch by those who should be standing behind him. They see it as a character weakness on the part of Democrats that he is not being publicly supported, especially by those who aspire to positions of high leadership. "I find it a distressing sign of weakness that he was not supported by Senators Obama and Clinton, or by any leading Democrat for that matter," a European foreign minister said to me.

An appropriate response to his comments on McCain would have been: Clark has served our country for 45 years. He is a man with experience, with great character. Clark called McCain a great war hero -- a man to whom he and millions of soldiers look up to. I agree with Clark that McCain is a great war hero. I also agree that he does not have executive experience. Questioning McCain's executive experience does not diminish his war record. It is an appropriate question that should be asked. I stand by Clark, who has served our country with distinction............"
......
"Well done, General Clark. The United States needs men and women like you.
Presidents need advisers who will tell them what they must know, not what they want to hear."

More here: UPI International

PAforClark wrote a short blog the other day, and asked an excellent question: "I wonder. What do we still have in common?"  The following is one of the answers. And thanks to Kat for asking this be made a separate blog, and to PA for asking the question in the first place.

It's time to let General Clark know how much
we appreciate his dawn to dusk work this week,
using straight talk to draw attention to National Security issues, and to counter the attempts to "swiftboat" his words. Thank you Wes for speaking up, speaking out and not giving up. Let's all give a little something as we can for the continuation of WesPAC and keeping Wes's voice out there.

https://secure.ga3.org/01/wespac to Contribute

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July 1, 2008
transcript by Reg NYC

Andrea Mitchell: Good day, I'm Andrea Mitchell live in Washington. Welcome to MSNBC's Super Tuesday special coverage. Today we are going in depth on the politics of the war in Iraq, a reality check on what is happening on the ground and where the candidates stand. Here with us now retired U.S. General Wesley Clark. The General is an MSNBC analyst and a Barack Obama supporter after having supported Hillary Clinton during the primaries. General Clark, welcome. We want to talk to you about Iraq-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you very much, Andrea.

Andrea Mitchell: -and about foreign policy. First, we want to give you an opportunity to respond to a lot that's been said since Sunday when you went on Face The Nation and had the following exchange between yourself and Bob Schieffer. Let's watch:

(on tape)

Bob Schieffer: How can you say that John McCain is un- untested and untried? General?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Because in the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk. It's a matter of gauging your opponents, and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He, he was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war. He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in Air- in the Navy that he commanded, it wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when diplomats come in and say, 'I don't know whether we're going to be able to get this point through or not. Do you want to take the risk? What about your reputation? How do we handle it-'

Bon Schieffer: Well-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: ' -it publicly.' He hasn't made those calls, Bob.

Bob Schieffer: Well, well, General, maybe-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: So-

Bob Schieffer: Could I just interrupt you. If-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Sure.

Bob Schieffer: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be President.

(end tape)

Andrea Mitchell: Now, of course, what people are focusing on is your final comment that riding in a fighter plane, getting shot down isn't a qualification to be President, but you also make the point that John McCain didn't have executive experience. This has caused, as you know, a ruckus. Barack Obama has not had executive experience either. So, why criticize John McCain for something that your own candidate can't, can't claim to.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, Andrea, thanks for giving me a chance to be on and talk about this issue, because these are comments I made some time ago in general about John McCain long before I had supported Barack Obama several months ago based on my own experience in 38 years in uniform. I was a company commander in Vietnam. I came home on a stretcher. I'd been hit by four rounds. I had a broken hand, a broken leg, was in three hospitals. And so, I know what war's like at the cutting edge. And then I was later the Commander, as you would recall, in Yugoslavia in the, in the Kosova campaign for NATO, and I helped win that battle for the United States and for NATO. And so, I, I've seen war at the tactical level. I've seen it at the strategic level. So, in this campaign, national security's going to be very, very important as an issue. John McCain has to be recognized as someone who served his country in uniform. He served with courage. He served with commitment, and I honor that service. And as I said on the show, he's one of my heroes, but the service that he had wasn't the same as having been in the White House or in the Pentagon or at a high level command and having actually had to wrestle with national policy and national strategic issues. And that's the point I'm making.

Andrea Mitchell: But as I say, neither has Barack Obama, and the political impact of this has been to take Barack Obama off-message on a day when he was giving a major speech on patriotism and in fact had to insert this following comment into his speech yesterday. Let's watch:

(on tape)

Barack Obama: For those like John McCain, who have endure physical torment in service to our country, no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary. Let me also add that no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign (applause) and that goes for supporters of both sides.

(and tape)

Andrea Mitchell: Now, he didn't mention you, General, but we have been told clearly he was referring to you. Doesn't that cause you some concern.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Oh, I've talked to the campaign about this.

Andrea Mitchell: Okay.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But Andrea, it wasn't my decision to bring this up on Sunday, and I haven't made the ruckus. But I think an important point in this is that-

Andrea Mitchell: But you answered it the way you answered it as we've shown.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I answered it the way Bob Schieffer asked it to me. I just answered a direct question. It was like, 'Is the sun shining?' I said, 'Yes, the sun is shining.' And I know that's not always done-

Andrea Mitchell: Well-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -in politics, but I answered a direct question. So, let me explain why I think this is an important issue and why I think it's important that our, our viewers understand that there's a distinction between having shown your courage and commitment as a soldier, sailor or airman in the United S- marine in the United States Armed Forces and having learned from that the judgement that will make you a better President. Because I think ultimately this is a question about who has the better judgement to be Commander in Chief. Barack Obama is not claiming any experience having been in the Armed Forces, but I think if you look at their record of what they've said on things like Iraq and what they've said on the war on terror and how they're approaching the use of all of America's powers, not only our military power, you would make a strong case with me that Barack Obama has shown the better judgement.

Andrea Mitchell: Well let me, let me point out what some of the critics from the Republican side have pointed out, that there seems to be an organized campaign and - whether or not you played into this - that also on Sunday a liberal blogger John Aravosis on americablog.com wrote, "Honestly, besides being tortured what did McCain do to excel in the military?" That was the title of the blog. Down in the blog, he said, "Getting shot down, tortured and then doing propaganda for the enemy is not command experience." Now, first of all, there's a factual issue there, because no one has proved to my satisfaction that John McCain ever did any propaganda for the enemy. To the contrary, he resisted all efforts to use him as a tool with his father being the Admiral in charge of the fleet and refusing to let himself be-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Mm hm.

Andrea Mitchell: -released and become, you know, a tool-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Yeah.

Andrea Mitchell: -of the North Vietnamese at the time.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'd agree.

Andrea Mitchell: That said, there has been an argument.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He was a very honorable prisoner of war.

Andrea Mitchell: And he was an extraordinary man, and he showed a great deal of courage and has had a career-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Absolutely.

Andrea Mitchell: -since he was a prisoner of war, which he can be judged on-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Right.

Andrea Mitchell: -his Senate career. But that-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Right.

Andrea Mitchell: -there's a whole issue of whether there is an organized campaign against John McCain's military service, which Barack Obama can stand above-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No.

Andrea Mitchell: -and say, 'I honor his service.' Take a look at the-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Absolutely not.

General Wesley Clark on The Ed Schultz Show

July 1, 2008
transcript by Reg NYC

Ed Schultz: 1-877-934-6833 Good to have you back with us here where America comes to talk, The Ed Schultz Show. Well, it all unfolded on, it all unfolded on Face The Nation with General Wesley Clark and Bob Schieffer. This is the exchange:

(dead air)

We'll get to it here in just a few moments. Let's go to General Wesley Clark joining us here on The Ed Schultz Show. General, good to have you with us.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Ed, thank you, and thank you for being such a stand-up guy yesterday in, in all this controversy.

Ed Schultz: You know, General, I, I don't, I don't know where the controversy is. I thought you were very clear on Meet The Press saying you were talking about experience on the job. That's how I took it.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, that's what I meant, and I think the controversy, someone asked me this morning on the MSNBC show, "Was this an orchestrated by- attack by Democrats." I'd say no.

Ed Schultz: Hm.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: The only orchestration was by the Republicans. I think that since John McCain's hired the, the Swift Boating team to protect his military record, they just decided they would launch a pre-emptive strike.

Ed Schultz: Clearly, they have taken your comments and turned it into an attack on Barack Obama and also of course, you know, I'm independent. I'm not on anybody's payroll but my own Ed Schultz Show payroll. I'm not connected with the Obama camp other than being a reporter and doing my own stuff as a talk show host. I don't have any special line to anybody. I was asked by the Democratic Party back in April to go warm up the crowd for 20 minutes. And we started talking about McCain, and I, I always thought he was a warmonger based on his Iraq policy. And so-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, he's certainly shown bad judgement, because he always sort of jumps and, and calls for the use of military force first, and you know as a military guy (chuckles) I'd like us to be called last after everything else has failed. Don't throw us in first.

Ed Schultz: Alright, here's the exchange you had with Bob Schieffer on Face The Nation:

(on tape)

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in Air- in the Navy that he commanded, it wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall.

Bob Schieffer: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be President.

(end tape)

Ed Schultz: Did you go too far, General Clark?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I mean, if someone asked you is the sun is shi- if the sun is shining, you said, 'Yes, the sun is shining,' you wouldn't have HAD to say that. You could've said, 'Well the sky's blue and there are no clouds,' but basically I just answered the question that was asked.

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July 1, 2008
transcript by Reg NYC

Robin Roberts: As you know the McCain and Obama camps are divided on most things, but they have agreed on one, that the comment made by retired General Wesley Clark was out of line, a comment he is not backing down from. General Clark joins us now live from Little Rock, Arkansas for a morning exclusive. General, thank you very much for joining us-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, thanks Diane for-

Robin Roberts: -this morning.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -giving me a chance to make sure Americans understand that as a retired serviceman, someone who came home from Vietnam on a stretcher, someone who spent 38 years in uniform, someone who's worked his way up through the ranks of the United States Armed Forces, I would never disv- discredit anyone who chose to wear the uniform. I fully respect John McCain and his service, and I said so repeatedly. My point is that there's a difference in preparing yourself for the highest office in the land depending on which levels you've served at in the Armed Forces. John McCain as a young officer demonstrated courage and character, but the service as President is about judgement. And the experience that he had as a fighter pilot isn't the same as having been at the highest levels of the military and having to make- work with the President and other heads of state and make those kinds of life or death decisions about national strategic issues.

You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkReBAQOYh4

June 30, 2008

Transcription by Melange

Dan Abrams: Breaking tonight, General Wesley Clark is with us live for his first interview since he ignited a major controversy yesterday by questioning the relevance of John McCain's military service as a POW in Vietnam. The question: how significant is it in this campaign? The McCain camp jumped on the comments by Clark, who's now an Obama supporter, linking them to Obama's campaign saying quote, "Obama's words don't really match up with the way he is running the campaign." Joining me now is General Wesley Clark. General Clark, thanks very much uh, for joining us. We appreciate it. Now, you set off quite a firestorm here with both McCain and Obama coming out and rejecting your comments. First let me play the comments at issue from CBS yesterday.

<Video Clip>
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war. He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in Air…in the Navy that he commanded, it wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when diplomats come in and say, 'I don't know whether we're going to be able to get this point through or not. Do you want to take the risk? What about your reputation? How do we handle it publicly'

Bob Schieffer: Well
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He hasn't made those calls, Bob.

Bob Schieffer: Well, well, General, maybe…

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: So…

Bob Schieffer: Could I just interrupt you. If…
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Sure.
Bob Schieffer: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be President.
<end Video Clip>

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UPDATED with Transcript


Bob Schieffer: With us now from Little Rock, Arkansas Retired General Wesley Clark. He was for Hillary Clinton during the primaries. Once Hillary was out of it, he announced that he was supporting Barack Obama. And let's get right to it here, General. You heard what Senator Lieberman said. He said that Barack Obama is simply more ready to be President than, than Barack Obama. (sic)

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I think Bar- I think Joe has it exactly backwards here. I think being President is, is about having good judgment. It's about the ability to communicate. As one of the great Presidential historians Richard Newsted said, "The greatest power of the Presidency is the power to persuade." And what Barack Obama brings is incredible communication skills, proven judgment. You look at his meteoric rise in politics, and you see a guy who deals with people well, who understands issues, who brings people together and who has good judgment in moving forward. And I think what we need to do, Bob, is we need to stop talking about the old politics of left and right, and we need to pull together and move the country forward. And I think that's what Barack Obama will do for America.

Barack Obama will bring the change our country so desperately needs -- while John McCain is offering 4 more years of Bush. Join me in supporting Barack Obama for President. Click here to donate to his campaign today!

This year, we're facing the most important election in a generation. As Americans, we must ask ourselves which candidate will bring about the change our country so desperately needs. In my opinion, Barack Obama is the only candidate with the judgment to move our country forward.

The disastrous consequences of George W. Bush's poor judgment over these last 7½ years are all too apparent. Now, John McCain is offering 4 more years of Bush -- while Barack Obama offers the change in direction our country so desperately needs.

Barack had the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq before it began, and he is ready to bring our troops home and end the occupation of Iraq in a responsible way. John McCain has said that American troops should be willing to stay in Iraq for 100 years.

Barack will engage in the diplomacy that is necessary to bring stability to the Middle East. Just like George Bush, John McCain repeatedly resorts to saber-rattling and threats about invading Iran while revealing a startling ignorance of the basic issues that define the politics of the region.

Barack knows we have to invest in renewable energy to end America's dependence on foreign oil and fight global warming. And like George Bush, John McCain is in the pocket of big oil.

It's about judgment -- and I think the answer is clear.

Join me today. Support Barack Obama's campaign for change by making a contribution before the June 30 deadline!

http://www.actblue.com/page/clark4obama

While I respect John McCain's service, I know exactly what he stands for -- Bush's third term. And in national security terms, John McCain is largely untested and untried. He's never been responsible for policy formulation. John McCain is calculating that he will use the national security debate to his advantage. He's wrong.

Like Bush, McCain has always been for the use of force, force, and more force. In my experience, the only time to use force is as a last resort. When John McCain talks about throwing Russia out of the G8 and makes irresponsible comments about bombing Iran, he reveals his own disrespect for the office of the presidency.

And while he's all too willing to continue putting our troops in harm's way, John McCain initially refused to support providing benefits like the new GI Bill to our veterans because he believes that providing good education opportunities to our troops will hurt retention. That's ridiculous.

We need new leadership in the White House -- not George Bush's third term. Join me in supporting Barack Obama's campaign before the June 30th deadline!

http://www.actblue.com/page/clark4obama

Last week I sat down with Barack Obama. I know he's the right person to lead our country forward. Now we need to come together and support his campaign for change.

As I see the sacrifices our troops and their families make every day; as I see Americans buckling under the weight of record high gas prices; and as I see families struggling with sky rocketing health care costs, I know this:

We simply can't afford another 4 years of the McCain-Bush-Cheney agenda.

We must change the course of our country's future. We must elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States. Contribute today!

http://www.actblue.com/page/clark4obama

Thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

P.S. The June 30th fundraising deadline is only 5 days away. It's a critical milepost where the press and the pundits will be looking at the strength of Barack Obama's grassroots-powered campaign against John McCain's lobbyist-powered campaign. Let's show America that Barack Obama has the strength, the momentum, and the resources to win this November. Contribute to Barack's campaign today!