General Wes Clark: U.S. should reassure Syria/ Iran not threaten them

[ClarkUSA]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The key to US success in Iraq is to reassure Syria and Iran about Washington's intentions rather than trying to destabilize them, a former Democratic presidential candidate said.

Retired general Wesley Clark said President George W. Bush's approach to Syria and Iran encourages the two countries to work against US interests in Iraq and endangers already-overstretched US troops there.

"If you want to succeed in Iraq, you should isolate the battlefield. That's a basic rule of military strategy," Clark, who ran unsuccessfully for president last year and has taken a leading role among Democrats as a critic of US policy in the Middle East...

.......

Clark told lawmakers he also was concerned the administration's rhetoric would lead to the collapse of Syria's regime, saying Washington is unprepared to handle that possibility.

"We're going to destabilize at a greater rate than we can stabilize," he said. "I think this committee should be holding hearings right now on what the United States should do if Syria collapses, because that's clearly the policy."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050406/pl_afp/iraqussyriairan_050406212935

[Totally Committed]

1. Wes really stuck it to him! (n/t)

TC

[Robeson]

2. From reading that article, one of the biggest destabilizing forces in our..

...foreign policy, is the interference from people like Richard Perle. He is the epitome of perpetual war...

[paineinthearse]

3. Clark certainly put Perle in his place yesterday.

I'm sure the Syrians and Iranians are watching developments and know the rethugs will self-explode in a matter of time.

[robbedvoter]

4. Continuing his tradition of doing so....

[kevsand]

5. This makes way too much sense.

"Duh, what should we do today, Dick?"

"Oh, I don't know, George. How about if we turn Syria and Iran into as big a mess as Iraq?"

How long can Bush and Co. keep pushing policies that are so clearly and obviously counterproductive?

[Sparkly]

6. What really got me

was when Clark said, basically, "You ought to be having meetings right now to plan for what to do when Syria collapses, because that's where we're headed with the path this administration is on."

And the chair basically said, later on, "Yeah okay, good idea, we'll do that." :eyes: Then he made some snarky remark about how in honor of the General they'll call it "Freedom is Hell" or something.

The point was not to attack. Perle weaseled out of all positions, saying he doesn't advocate talking, but doesn't advocate attacking, but doesn't advocate doing nothing; similarly, the Iraq war isn't being paid for, he says it can only be paid for through taxes, but says he doesn't advocate a tax increase. :crazy: