Wesley Clark, a Key Figure in Demonstrating Creative Leadership in Georgia

The Georgian and Russian incursions in Georgia require clear, unequivocal, creative and continuing responses from Barack Obama to assure voters that an Obama administration will be responsive and responsible when international crises erupt.

Fortunately, Senator Obama has General Wesley K. Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and the military leader during the Kosovo conflict, as an unwavering supporter whose experience and leadership in eastern Europe is recognized by European leaders and by the American people. General Clark should be actively engaged in devising the detailed policy recommendations that the Obama campaign must make now and continue to make in the future as the combustible situation on the ground in Georgia evolves.

It is clear that the United States should not threaten the use of force in this conflict. Instead, as Senator Obama has suggested, independent observers should be dispatched to ascertain the conditions on the ground in Georgia and the dissident regions and to seek a resolution of the conflict.

General Clark knows that in a 21st century Europe made transnational in pursuit of trade and commerce, the 19th century solutions to which Russia is prone have no place. Russia should, and can, enter the mainstream of a Europe held together more by economics than national identities. It is to that goal that American policy should be directed and not to the bellicose attitudes and statements of the Bush administration and its supporters.

But somebody with the knowledge, experience and broad international influence has to move the idea of a resolution in Georgia to a reality.

That man is Wesley Clark.

Comments

[MaryM23]

Why has the Obama campaign informed Wesley Clark that he is not welcome at the Democratic Convention, that his services are not required? From what I've read, the campaign contacted him this week and told him not to come. There's something rather strange about this.

[MagisterLudi]

Nothing strange about if you followed the news. When Clark freelanced on attacking McCain ( "riding" in an fighter plane is no accomplishment) O--b-ama swiftly disowned him. I guess it still stands.

[khargushoghli]

Clark is just the guy to deal with the problem of an ethnic break-away province being attacked by the central government.
See under Kosovo.
Oh, wait. We were on the side of the break-away province on that one and pummeled the central government.
Like... the... Russians... did... in ... Georgia...

[DonnaZ]

I love listening to the General. I always learn something as opposed to the usual political drivel. During his latest interviews, Clark took his listeners through a verbal tour of the region. He is absolutely correct: Europe and the US must form a united front to avoid further confrontation and usher in a new paradigm. Clark is excellent on foreign policy and on Eastern Europe, he's among a handful of people who could called "expert." Clark just did a wonder phone interview with Combs.

Will the Dems. listen to Clark? Ha!

[Rider]

Yes. He definitely was a problem to the ethnic cleansers, Milosevic, Karadzic, and Mladic (pending).

[guitrock]

If anyone heard General Clark on the Rachel Maddow show or Neil Cavuto, he or she would know you are right. Getting the Democrats to listen to him is another matter. When Clark tried to expose John McCain's lack of expertise in the foreign policy arena, the Democrats came to McCain's defense and denounced Clark. Meanwhile, McCain continues to mock Obama's lack of experience and ignorance of foreign policy, while at the same time enjoying the homage paid to him by Democrats. Obama can either get Clark to formulate an intelligent response to the Georgia crisis, or he can continue his "strategy" to concede the national security credentials to McCain. We'll have to wait on his response.

[mostlybluedot]

You're right. so far BO has not entered into this thing very far. He has ceded the ground to McCain - who I think is a complete screw up. Nevertheless, unless BO gets into this thing with a position he loses by default. Clark gives him credibility. If McCain can send Snoop Dog and Howdy Duddy to Tiplisi maybe BO can offer some sanity via Clark. Maybe he can say something like Bush and McCain should slow down the rhetoric before they really put their foot in theri mouths. They are so fast to blame Russia.

[Gma11]

Right on!!

Yesterday, Wes had an excellent phone interview with Neil Cavuto on this topic:

http://securingamerica.com/

[MagisterLudi]

Gen Clark told then President of Yugoslavia: " ... and if they tell me to bomb you, I gonna bomb you good."

Frontline:I know this is speculation, but if Milosevic hadn't buckled on June 1..., what would your advice have been?
Clark: I have no doubt that the alliance would have moved toward the commitment of ground forces. That would have been my advice.

Source: Frontline interview.

Thank you Gen. Clark. Russians are now following your battle plan in Ossetia.

[MagisterLudi]

With due respect Gen, Clark was part of the problem in Kosovo, not part of a solution.

[xkenx]

How disingenuous of you to throw out that comment. How 'bout explaining so that knowledgeable folks can respond to your attempted swiftboating of General Clark.

[RRK70]

Ludi cannot explain it because he does not have one. The NeoCon agenda is, and always has been a bankrupt. Unfortunately they had to drag the rest of the nation down with them.

[MagisterLudi]

Swiftboating?! I posted a verifiable copy of Clark's interview. With verbatim quotes. Have trouble with truth much?