Clark-Ogata discussion on CSpan2 Sat. 3:30PM

[CarolNYC]

I know this has been mentioned in other threads so I hope it's OK I start a new thread about it...but, really, if anyone is interested at all in trying to find out what us Clark supporters see in this guy, or are just curious about Wes Clark and what he's about, try to catch this. It will give you tons more insight than those little sound bite interview pieces you usually see on TV. Thanks!

On Saturday, March 26 at 3:30 pm
The Turbulent Decade: Confronting the Refugee Crises of the 1990s
Sadako Ogata, Gen. Wesley Clark, Dana Priest

Description: From the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, a panel discussion on the world refugee situation during the 1990s. The panel was held in conjunction with the release of former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata's new book, "The Turbulent Decade: Confronting the Refugee Crises of the 1990s." With Ms. Ogata on the panel is former Nato Supreme Allied Commander of Europe Gen. Wesley Clark. Gen. Clark worked closely with Ms. Ogata when both were high-ranking officials during the crisis in Kosovo in the early 1990s. The discussants also address the current global climate and the potential for future refugees. The panel is moderated by Washington Post staff writer Dana Priest.

Author Bio: Sadako Ogata was the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1991 to 2000. Ms. Ogata currently serves as president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Tokyo.

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company 500 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10110

http://www.booktv.org/General/index.asp?segID=5592&schedID=338

[TacticalPeek]

1. Kick

:kick:

[Totally Committed]

2. This discussion was amazing...

I defy anyone to watch this and then say Wes lacks "experience", "gravitas", or anything he needs to be POTUS.

His wisdom, compassion, and humanity is evident, as well as his knowlege of the subject covered.

I will be watching... Hope everyone does!

TC

[Jai4WKC08]

4. Dr Ogata is likewise impressive

And her genuine respect, even affection for "Wesley" (as she calls him) is obvious. And mutual.

Her credentials are impeccable as well. As UN High Commissioner for Refugee Relief, she knows the problems, the players, what's needed to make things happen and what's often not possible to accomplish.

If BushCo keeps pushing their imperialistic agenda on the world, as I have no doubt they intend to try, aid to refugees will only become more important and more and more of them are created. And the mission is gonna fall largely on the back of the UN because this US administration isn't gonna care enough to plan for refugees, much less expend resources to help them.

Today's 3:30 C-SPAN2/BookTV event is an important discussion for all of us to watch, regardless of how we might feel about Wes Clark. the war in the Balkans, or the UN. The problem exists; Clark and Ogata are two people who've dealt with it before and have much to say about what it will involve in the future.

[CarolNYC]

32. Well, I hope some of the Clark detractors

took some time off from detracting to catch at least some this...I hope some non-detractors who simply aren't really familiar with the General did so as well.

Call me a hero worshipper if you must but I thought he was wonderful. I do really love him in a forum like this.

I really liked Sadako as well and, yes, the mutual respect between the two was nice to see. I like Dana Priest also. I saw Gen Clark in moderated discussion with Priest shortly after he dropped out of the primaries. They have a deep mutual respect also. I remember walking out of the event and hearing all of these elderly women in the audience murmuring about how "brilliant" Gen Clark was. The book signing after that event was sweet, too, as there was a huge line for General Clark and a much shorter one for Dana and Wes kept directing people over to meet and talk to Dana also....but that's going way off on a tangent that has nothing to do with this show.

I did like the "if you were President" moment and also Gen Clark's very detailed and involved answer to the question about NATO. Well worth watching.

If you missed it on Book TV, catch it at www.u-wes-a.com.

[Sparkly]

3. Thank you!!

I'll make it a point to watch.

[judy from nj]

5. I am looking forward to it

I missed the one on Monday at 6:40, so I'm very glad it is on again. Thanks for letting us know it is on.

[ICantBelieve]

6. I was there!

It was fantastic. It's defintely worth watching, particularly if you're afraid of General Clark's military background. If you watch the way he and Ms. Ogata interact, you can see the immense mutual respect they have for each other.

[Totally Committed]

8. ICB... you are so lucky!

I would love to have been there. I agree about Wes and Ms. Ogata. There was such respect, and a true give-and-take of not only experience, but knowlege.

TC

[MollyStark]

7. It looks like Clark will make a great Secretary of Defense

I hope he is seriously considered the next time we have a democratic party president.

[Jai4WKC08]

9. I sure hope we have a Democratic President

over a year before Clark is eligible to be Secretary of Defense! (May 2010)

If we Dems don't get smart about how much the average voter cares about national security (to include economic security, as Clark repeatedly makes the case), I despair we may not have another for a long long time.

Why you would want to limit a man of Clark's experience to running the military is beyond me, but a topic for another day.

[MollyStark]

23. Clearly the military is his only experience

It is all he talks about. Even the jobs he has had since he left the military have been about the military or national security.

If he is running for something in 2008 it is clear that position is SOD.

[dogman]

24. Clearly you know not what you speak.

You should go and research the facts. You would have credibility if you did not just spread disinformation. We have the GOP for that.

[MollyStark]

27. If you have a problem with what I said, prove me wrong

I have spread no disinformation and I am not GOP. So please get specific with exactly what disinformation you are talking about.

[dogman]

28. He is not eligible for SOD in '08.

He is an investment banker. He has been an active Democratic fundraiser. He is the board chair for City Year Little Rock.

[LandOLincoln]

30. You claim his experience is "strictly military." Let's see about that.

Off the top of my head:

1. He graduated first in his class from West Point in 1966 (after turning down scholarships to Harvard and Yale).

2. From 1966 to 1968 he was a Rhodes scholar and has a Masters' degrees from Oxford in economics, philosophy and political science.

3. Post Vietnam, he taught in the Social Sciences Department at West Point as an associate professor.

4. He was a White House fellow in the mid-70s, assigned to the Office of Management and Budget.

5. As Director for Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), The Joint Staff,
in the mid-90s he worked with then-U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke on the Dayton Accords.

6. He had Head of State status as NATO Supreme Allied Commander and dealt regularly with Blair, Chirac, Schroeder et al. on an equal basis.

This is not a good ol' boy in the Tommy Franks mode, but a soldier/scholar/statesman, an intellectual and diplomat who could step into the presidency without missing a beat.

[Jai4WKC08]

29. You are grossly uninformed

No, it's not all he talks about. And no, not all the jobs he's had since he retired have been about the military. But I'm not referring to jobs he's had since.

Clark has a Masters degree from Oxford in economics, philosophy and politics. He was later a college professor of economics, altho he also taught classes in philosopy and other social sciences. Perhaps you think that West Point has different or lesser standards of scholarship than other Ivy League-level institutions? You would be mistaken.

Clark worked in the Office of Management and Budget for a year, and was not assigned to military-related issues. During that same time, he was also on the committee that built the Vietnam Memorial.

As commander of Ft Irwin, a "city" in the state of California, he was responsible for the whole range of human services that any civilian mayor would encounter. Education (both K-12 in accordance with CA law, and college programs for assigned military and their spouses), healthcare, housing and other facilities, infrastructure, labor management and equal opportunity for his civilian work force, environmental protection compliance, and a whole lot more.

While assigned as the J3 (Strategic Plans Officer) in the Pentagon, he was detached to Holbrooke's team to negotiate the Dayton Peace Accord. So he was essentially working for the State Dept, directly responsible for hands-on negotiations.

As a regional commander-in-chief, first for Southern Command (Latin America), then later in European Command (Europe, but most of Africa and parts of Asia), he also worked directly with heads of state for the countries within his area of responsibility, concurrently providing all those same human services to the American communities, military and civilian, as he had Ft Irwin except more on the level of state governor, but spread throughout some 93 countries over three continents.

As NATO Supreme Allied Commander, he worked a great many issues that encompassed more than the military. It's really more of a political job than a military one. As the C-SPAN program this thread is about somewhat illustrates. The SACEUR is afforded head of state status by treaty precisely because of the need to communicate directly with other heads of state. Not their militaries, not even their Ministries of Defense.

Finally, how on earth could it be "clear" he's running for SOD when he's not even eligible? That's just silly.

[Mz Pip]

10. He can be SOD

He would have had to be out of the military for 10 years, though. Not sure when he retired. 2008 may be too soon.

I'd like to see his president or Secretary of State. Fat chance it will happen but one can hope.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[checks-n-balances]

11. Many thanks for the heads up - can't wait to see it!

Wes Clark ROCKS!!! :yourock:

You Go, General!!! :bounce:

[capi888]

12. Thanks for the Info...

Don't want to miss this one...Heard it was great!

[joanski01]

13. Thanks for the info.

I will be watching. I love Wes Clark. It would be so nice to have an intelligent president again.

[Totally Committed]

14. It's on now!

[ZootSuitGringo]

15. Thanks,

and Am watching.

[paineinthearse]

16. Link to other CSPAN weekend programs

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=320x121

Thanks for starting this, it is very important.

[TacticalPeek]

17. TV could be a force for good.

A great deal of information about the US government and foreign affairs over the last decade is being conveyed in this program. Civilly. Without annoying interruptions.

Clark, as he has said, has forgotten more about foreign policy than President AWOL has ever bothered to learn.

[Pithy Cherub]

18. Excellent Forum!

Loved the little quip about the film Hotel rwanda. He was very candid about what happens in the Defence policy apparatus. Love the breadth of knowledge and intellect he displays.

[ICantBelieve]

19. Oh, I love this part! n/t

Of course, there are many parts of this I loved.

[ICantBelieve]

20. He's about to talk about NATO!!!

This is one of the best parts. Really, he does an excellent job here. He gets up on a soapbox. Watch it!!!

[dogman]

21. "let's imagine for a moment that you were President"

If only.

[judy from nj]

22. He explains the need for International Organizations

Democrats always look wimpy explaining their foreign policy. Wes on the other hand always looks strong and explains an "internationalist" foreign policy in such a way that people can see that it is in our national interest. I love his description of NATO and its importance. I also loved it when he told Mrs. Ogada that reading his book "made his blood boil" about the obstacles she faced.

[Silverhair]

26. Yes. He explains the need for international support

in a way that doesn't look weak. Not like we would be asking for permission.

[Totally Committed]

25. Outstanding! (eom)

TC

[ZootSuitGringo]

31. I Enjoyed listening and watching this program enormously!

I like the fact that Clark communicates so naturally and that his character shines through in this type of setting. He really is a very earnest and humble man. That comes through loud and clear, and is refreshing for a change of the "politicians" that are all "me, me, me".

[haymoms]

33. Self-less not self-ish

I think this is the one trait that so defines Clark as different than other politicians.