Wulsin rally raises alternate Iraq strategy

November 5, 2006
By Howard Wilkinson | STAFF WRITER | from Political Notebook Cincinatti.com

Clark: "Send a team in and talk to every country in the region, even those who don't agree with us, and listen to what they have to say. Really listen."

Wesley Clark, the retired four-star general and former presidential candidate, campaigned for Democratic congressional candidate Victoria Wulsin in Pleasant Ridge on Saturday, with a message for the commander-in-chief.

"President Bush has been out there saying Democrats don't have a plan in Iraq," Clark told about 60 Wulsin supporters squeezed into a small meeting room at the VFW on Montgomery Road.

"Hey, Mr. President," Clark said. "Right here. I'll tell you what the plan is."

The U.S. policy in Iraq is "failing," the former NATO commander said, but there is a course of action that would work:

"Send a team in and talk to every country in the region, even those who don't agree with us, and listen to what they have to say. Really listen.

"Do the same thing in Iraq. Give them some carrots and give them sticks. Make it clear to them that they must run their own country. And make it clear to them that there will be no permanent American bases in Iraq."

Clark argued that unless the Bush administration changes course in Iraq, the end result will "almost certainly be an anti-American government in Iraq."

When a member of the Wulsin crowd, wearing a "Clark for President '04" button, asked whether the retired general planned to run for the Democratic presidential nomination two years from now, Clark was noncommittal.

"I haven't said I won't," Clark said. "But this is not about '08. We have to win back this Congress right now. This is the most important election."

Gen. Clark to President Bush: Ten-hut!

November 4, 2006
By Howard Wilkinson | STAFF WRITER | from Politics Extra | Cincinnati.Com

Clark: "President Bush has been out there saying Democrats don't have a plan in Iraq. Hey, Mr. President, Right here. I'll tell you what the plan is."

Wesley Clark, the retired four-star general and former presidential candidate, campaigned for Democratic congressional candidate Victoria Wulsin in Pleasant Ridge Saturday morning, with a message for the commander-in-chief.

"President Bush has been out there saying Democrats don't have a plan in Iraq,'' Clark told about 60 Wulsin supporters squeezed into a small meeting room at the VFW on Montgomery road.

"Hey, Mr. President,'' Clark said. "Right here. I'll tell you what the plan is."

The U.S. policy in Iraq is "failing," the former NATO commander said, but there is a course of action that would work:

"Send a team in and talk to every country in the region, even those who don't agree with us and listen to what they have to say. Really listen.

"Do the same thing in Iraq. Give them some carrots and give them sticks. Make it clear to them that they must run their own country. And make it clear to them that there will be no permanent American bases in Iraq.''

When a member of the crowd, wearing a "Clark for President '04" button, asked if the retired general planned to run for the Democratic presidential nomination two years from now, Clark was noncommittal.

"I haven't said I won,'t,'' Clark said. "But this is not about '08. We have win back this Congress right now. This is the most important election."