Defending Wes Clark
The controversy over my colleague General Wesley Clark's comments on John McCain have generated a lot of media comment, much of it negative. I have known General Clark for many years: we served in the same Army and for the same country. He's a patriot. So to suppose that somehow Wesley Clark would denigrate John McCain's service to his country, while praising his bravery during the time that Senator McCain spent in an enemy prison, is absolutely ludicrous. So let's check the facts.
On CBS's Face the Nation, General Clark said that he believed John McCain was "untried and untested." Journalist Bob Schieffer asked him to explain what he meant. How could Clark make such a claim when "you're talking about somebody who was a prisoner of war? He was a squadron commander of the largest squadron in the Navy. He's been on the Senate Armed Services Committee for many years. How can you say that John McCain is un-untested and untried?" And here's General Clark's answer:
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 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.
As a retired military officer and a soldier who served his country for over thirty years, I can tell you that there's nothing in what Wes Clark said with which I disagree. He has not only stated the facts, he knows something about them. John McCain was a prisoner of war, an officer who served as a squadron commander, and has been and is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. John McCain can put his service to country up against anyone's. But General Clark has served also -- and with great courage: he was wounded four times in Vietnam -- and like John McCain, he has met and seen the enemy.
Is what Wesley Clark said true? Let's check some other facts: John McCain made claims about progress in security by walking through the streets of Baghdad. But as I recall, he was protected by at least a platoon of American soldiers and helicopters lying overhead. In matters of national security, as General Clark pointed out, "it's a matter of understanding risk," and it's "gauging your opponents;" and it's also a "matter of being held accountable."
So I too honor John McCain. And, like General Clark, I acknowledge his sacrifice for his country. But being a prisoner of the Vietnamese and serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee does not automatically qualify one for the position of Commander-in-Chief -- understanding risks, gauging your opponents and being held accountable does. We must end this glib obeisance to sacrifice and ask deeper questions: is a man who sings "bomb, bomb, bomb ... bomb, bomb Iran" a man who understands risks? Is a man who says that we must keep our troops in Iraq until we achieve an ill-defined "victory" really know how to gauge America's opponents. If we want to hold people accountable, then let's stand behind my friend Wes Clark -- and hold John McCain accountable for what he's said.
Oh, and one more thing: today President Bush signed the GI Bill -- which Senator Barack Obama has unstintingly supported. The bill will spend $63 billion over ten years for increased college aid for military service members and veterans who served after September 11, 2001. Good judgment?
John McCain opposed it.
Lt. General Robert G. Gard Jr. (USA, Ret.) is the steering committee chairman of Vets for Obama. Visit their official site or join them on Facebook.
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I agree, and I hope that General Clark does not back down. The man who suffered torture and is now running for president says it is ok to torture (and be tortured?).
I agree with your assessment. Unfortunately, we have been conditioned (brainwashed) into placing more importance on symbols measuring one's patriotism, i.e., flag pins, bumper stickers and not speaking ill will of our veterans, regardless. I too have wondered what is it that McCain gained in terms of being a leader or a presidential candidate being locked up in a Vietnam cage, as horrible as that imprisonment was! I truly appreciate his sacrifice but I fail to see how that makes him more qualified?
However, not withstanding the truism in your assessment, this argument about McCain's questionable qualifications is a non-starter. It's equivalent to talking against god and religion. Wes will be paying the price from all of those who want to appear to be more patriotic than he, be criticizing his statement. It's crazy!
What you say is so obviously true, it makes Obama look stupid in his repudiation of Clark's comments.
Good watch and the truth shall set you free. God bless you
What John McCain did or did not do in his career is not really an issue.
What we do know is that he will continue down the same destructive path taken by George Biush and
his neo con supporters.
We as a people cannot let that happen ,do not vbote for McCain.
Sir, you are erudite.
So McCain is "untried and untested." Right. If only McCain had Obama's depth of experience. Keep up the great work, Obama supporters!
However, McCain's "depth" of experience has lead him to be wrong about the Iraq War, Iran, the GI Bill, etc. While Obama may not have the military experience he had the judgment to see the Iraq War for what it was and spoke out against it when 70% of the country thought it would be a good idea. I'll take judgment over experience that leads to the wrong decisions any day.
Bingo!
It is legitimate to question both Obama's and McCain's past and what has prepared them to the job of commander in chief. Indeed, inform us what prepared John McCain? ... he seems to put forward that his experience as POW is enough. General Clark was right; that's not enough.
What planet do you live on? He scarcely talks about his POW experience and has never suggested that it's "enough."
8 years ago, I would have voted for Mccain. He's lost ground mentaly and physicaly sense than. Also if he ran on his military record than as he is now, I would have had second thoughts. I always thought of him as a maverick, as he'd vote what was best for the people. But sense this war, It's like he's sunk his teeth into it and can't let it go! If he'd ask me, I'd told him to run on the maverick name and not his military record! I can't say that graduated almost last in you class shows much ambition to learn and advance in the military, you would you! I feel he graduated and got a squadron leader after that bad performance only because he had a important father who got it for him. I respect his service, and I feel bad he was a POW. But the trueth is he shouldn't have been flying. He wasn't a good pilot and a darn poor military student! He just didn't think any one would have the guts and stand up to the plate and question the military experience he claimed to have, that would make him a better President than Obama.
Are you referring to the Keating 5 episode experience?
Maybe the reversal on abortion experience?
Perhaps the McCain-Feingold GI bill McCain created and later rejected?
Or are you talking about this Bush-Lieberman-McCain monster experience?
McCain is just another neocon, with an imperial mindset to control the world's people and their land resources. He is just another warmonger who has sold his soul to the US war machine and other special interests. ---What a macho man!
With all of McCain's so-called experience, he still supports the Iraq debacle and jokes about bombing Iran. Point me to one single interview with McCain where he demonstrates his thorough knowledge of ANY aspect of foreign affairs or the economy. You can't, because it doesn't exist.
Obama, on the other hand can speak at length because he does his homework with some exceptional foreign policy advisors. He could not be more right about the real war being in Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Read Ahmad Rashid's book "Descent Into Chaos" for some perspective.) McCain has no knowledge of the subject and nothing but neo-con retreads on his staff.
As a defense contractor in San Diego I met McCain many times because he was regularly making the rounds raising money for the rethugs. The man is a legend in his own mind. He would be a complete disaster as POTUS.
amen no more wars..stupid men always fighting
Is a man who has no plan to raise the money for an endless venture in Iraq, nor plan to improve our faltering military preparedness around the world, while tying the nation to commitments as a result ultimately doomed to the kinds of failures we have seen for the past seven years really someone to whom the nation should cede as the best for the security turf?
If military service makes you qualified to be president then why didn't Gomer Pyle give it a shot?
HoneyBearKelly: Thanks for the chuckle!
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