General Wesley Clark On the Wars

July 27, 2009 | KTHV-DT | Craig O'Neill

A renewed focus on Afghanistan and an Army put on the bench in Iraq, the complexion of America's wars is changing. The former Allied Commander of NATO, and Arkansan, General Wesley Clark gives his take on where America is today.

The two-front war of the United States has changed dramatically since the election of President Obama. We're seeing forces in Iraq backing down and letting the Iraqis take over.

Afghanistan has now become the main focus of the Obama administration, with the addition of 17,000 troops, and a shakeup in the military leadership. General Wesley Clark accepted an invitation to come by Today's THV and give us his impression on the current state of affairs.

The former NATO Commander maintains that winning over the local populace is the key to America's success. He says the main focus should be on propping up the Afghans' democratic process and improving relationships with the local populace.

As for Iraq, the General says the country is still too unstable to make a prediction. However, there are encouraging signs that Iraq will be able to maintain the peace, despite a U.S. draw down.

The general also pointed out that the instability in Iran is helping the region. Iran is so concerned with its own problems, it can't disrupt the Iraqi recovery.

The General confessed to cautious optimism, but there is a lot of work to do.

General Wesley Clark on Fox News

June 20, 2009

General Wesley Clark on MSNBC

March 6, 2009

Transcription by RegNYC

Joe Scarborough: Let's go from domestic policy to foreign policy. I want to talk with former NATO Supreme Allied Commander retired General Wesley Clark. He and his group Growth Energy are calling on the EPA to raise the cap on ethanol in gasoline, a move he says would actually create new jobs. Before we go there, General, you know a heck of a lot about money, about markets. Could you talk about- Michael Kinsley worried last week in a column that even if the stimulus plan works, all this spending could increase inflation perhaps to 10, 20 percent. Are you concerned about when the economy turns around, hopefully it turns around, that we have a lot of inflationary pressures that could really be the next big crisis in this country?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Yes, I've had those thoughts. I have had those concerns, Joe. But unfortunately we're not yet quite on the brink of turning around, and as these numbers come out we seem to be in a downward spiral. So, we very badly need this stimulus package to take hold. And then I think there will be time and I, and I know, I've talked to the people who are dealing with many of these issues. They're very much aware of a subsequent potential inflationary threat, but right now the threat is not inflation. We've got to get America back to work. And if I can just use that, that's why the group I'm working with the ethanol producers in the United States are so strongly in favor of lifting the cap on ethanol in gasoline. Right now it's set at 10 percent. It should be moved to 15 percent. The scientific studies are in. It'll create 135,000 jobs. It doesn't need any special legislation or subsidy moneys beyond anything that's out there right now. It's just a matter of regulatory capping of the, of the amount of ethanol in gasoline, and we could raise it-

Joe Scarborough: General, why-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -from 10 to 15 percent.

Joe Scarborough: -why do we hear s- why do we hear so much criticism of ethanol. It's an alternative fuel source, but it seems that a lot of environmentalists don't like ethanol. A lot of people on the other side, pure capitalists don't like ethanol. They say it's just basically a big payoff to Iowa voters every four years.

General Wesley Clark, Karl Rove faceoff at Univ. of Buffalo (Video)

Debate date: September 26, 2008 | Transcript by RegNYC

Article excerpts from The Buffalo News | Jay Rey | NEWS STAFF REPORTER

It wasn’t Obama-McCain, but Western New York had a pretty good debate of its own Friday night at the University at Buffalo. On one side was Karl Rove, Republican strategist and former White House deputy chief of staff.

On the other side was retired Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark, who had sought the Democratic Party’s nomination in 2004.

The two launched this year’s Distinguished Speakers Series in Alumni Arena with a bang, by debating some of the same contentious issues the presidential candidates faced, such as the economy, a $700 billion government bailout, health care and the war in Iraq.

Each started with five minutes for opening comments on his party’s slant.

“We are blessed to be citizens of this country,” Rove said. “There is something called the American Dream and people around the world want to share in it. Never lose sight this is the greatest country in the history of the world.”

“We’re a nation in trouble,” Clark said. “We need new ideas, and we need new leadership for America.”

Links to the Video of the Debate after the Jump

General Clark appeared on NPR's "Tell Me More" program on November 7, 2008

Foreign Policy Should Top Obama's Transition Talks

President-elect Barack Obama has started putting together the team of people who will work with him in the new administration. . Yesterday, the President-elect named Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff. Obama has many challenges ahead of him when his administration begins in January.

Among Obama's first tasks will be finding solutions to America's ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and fixing a wounded economy. U.S. Army General Wesley Clark (ret.) why foreign policy should be a top priority during Obama's transitional talks.

Listen here!

(transcript pending)