Letter from Wes Clark and Vote Vets about their new ad...Stop the Escalation

[CarolNYC]

Just got this in my mailbox:

Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,

For too many years, those of us who advocate a responsible use of our military, and thus have spoken against the President's failed Iraq policy, have been falsely tagged as against the troops by the Bush Administration, neo-conservatives, and their cronies. Today, that all changes.

VoteVets.org, the leading political group of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, is launching a television advertisement that makes it crystal clear - opposing the President's escalation of the war in Iraq means you are supporting the troops. VoteVets.org is joining organizations such as MoveOn.org, SEIU (Service Employees International Union), and Center for America Progress as founding members of Americans Against Escalation in Iraq. I am proud to say that I am an active Board of Advisors Member to VoteVets.org, and even prouder of how they are taking up the fight and leading the way in opposing the President's folly.

Watch the ad - Keep the ad on the air

The President's new so-called plan for Iraq amounts to nothing more than "Stay the Course," a futile exercise akin to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

More than 20,000 troops are being sent into harm's way for a mission that is not achievable by military power alone. Changing our approach in Iraq must go hand in hand with fixing a regional strategy that has been an abject failure. As I noted in my USA Today op-ed published in November, much of which was picked up by the non-partisan Iraq Study Group when it came out against an escalation of the war, what is needed now is more diplomacy that brings all the players to the table, including our enemies. Absent of this, the President is sending the troops needlessly into harm's way. That's not how you support the military and its members.

VoteVets.org is backing up the launch of their ad with a two-day, seven-city tour, to pressure those Senators who are on the fence regarding escalation to oppose the President's plan and change the strategy in Iraq. These young veterans are not just content to buy air time - they are taking the fight to Senators' home turf and making them answer the question, "Are you with the President, or are you with the troops?"

Watch the ad - Keep the ad on the air

My friend Max Cleland said of VoteVets.org, "These are the young turks of the veterans world, a counterweight to the hard-core radical right... They are a powerful force in this guerilla war for the moral high ground of who really represents America's vets."

I couldn't agree more. This is the group leading the way for policies that truly support our troops and veterans, and I ask you, if your friends and family aren't members, please ask them to join me in supporting VoteVets.org.

Thank you for your support,

Wes Clark

P.S. If you haven't yet viewed the new ad, see it here (www.votevets.org), and be sure to send it to all of your family and friends.

Sounds like a good cause to me...

[blm]

1. Already on it - this ad was great.

Kudos to our vets still fighting the honest fight.

[saltpoint]

2. A president of the United States should not have to be told by

anyone that a troop escalation in Iraq is a goddamned stupid idea.

In this case, an extremely well-qualified man has to do the president's job for him. Kudos to Clark for standing up and being an adult willing to lead when the "elected" leader can't or won't, but if Clark is doing a significant part of Bush's job I believe he is owed a significant percentage of Bush's salary.

Many strong Democrats -- 08 candidates, 04 candidates, 00 candidate, and many others -- have been the leaders and adults these last 6 years.

If Bush and Cheney won't lead, they should be replaced earlier than November of 08.

I don't think many of us would miss them.

Thanks to General Clark for helping to bring pressure to bear for a negoatiated, diplomatic peace in Iraq.

[Adelante]

3. On the one hand...

Whoa, that is extremely powerful.

Shit :cry:

[CarolNYC]

4. It's up on the General's blog...

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/10760

And HuffPo as well:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gen-wesley-clark/taking-on-the-escalation-_b_39898.html

I do love these guys...

[lyonn]

5. Wars and the consequences and how Clark views the issue

The man has been there and done that! He knows what he is talking about. bushco has never even got close to a war. America is facing a crucial moment in history. We have already screwed up by invading a country that wasn't a threat, our govt. has ignorantly given orders to the military on how to fight. War drums are beating for Iran. Our economy won't mean sh-t if we lose our credibility in the world by being the world's bully.

Clark speaks, I listen. Why is there so little media time for him so that All can hear what he has to say?

With the info that I now have, my 08 choice is: Clarke and Dodd.

I was pissed off when Dean lost and now it appears my favorite is going to be trashed before he gets a running start.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Don't fret, and hold tight......Iowa and Nevada caucuses will

look at the candidates closely unlike the media has.

Hillary Clinton was reported to have stated the following while in Iowa the other day:
Democrats should nominate someone that can inspire trust when it comes to National Security because, she says, Republicans will put up a strong candidate of their own"
--KRNV News 4 (1/27/07)

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. That left me speechless, literally

If you view this ad you will know what I mean. All the words I looked for to use to respond to it suddenly took on a tragic meaning, which is exactly the point of this ad. I wanted to call it hard hitting, I wanted to say it floored me. I knew if I said that it packed a punch it would be an ugly play on words that I never intended to play with. What can I say? It is painful to watch that ad, but it is supposed to be painful to watch that Ad.

Thank God for the work of votevets.org They are there when our nation needs them once again.

[FrenchieCat]

8. But notice that House posts are still more popular than taking

keeping this thread kicked...which is what I'm doing with this post! ;)

[CarolNYC]

9. Yeah, who the hell cares about

Iraq troop escalation or the push toward a military confrontation with Iran with you've got houses to discuss....and discussions about the houses to discuss as well. Something's got to fall off the radar. Why not Iran and Iran? :eyes:

[FrenchieCat]

10. I guess one can tell the priorities of any group by looking at its reflection.....

right?

[Cameron27]

11. Thank you for getting the word out General.

Votevets always produces hard hitting, straight to the heart messages, and this one was extremely powerful; no one can speak more truthfully about the brutality of this immoral war.

Keep cracking the whip Wes, you're the BEST!

[glitch]

12. Awesome ad! K & R thanks for posting nt

[Wesin04]

13. Kudos to VoteVets.org and to Wes Clark

This is the kind of ad that needs to be shown everywhere. I appreciate the effort that the individuals at VoteVets.org have put into creating these messages, and to leaders like Wes Clark who sits on their board and who uses his powerful voice to bring this message to the country.:patriot:

[PresidentObama]

14. Very powerful advertisement.

Glad to see Clark is on board :patriot:

[Timbuk3]

15. I have a question

If, as so many wingnuts (McCain and Lieberman) are telling us, "failure in Iraq would be a catastrophe", and...

If, as the "surge" supporters keep telling us, "this is Iraq's last chance"...

Well sir...

What happens if this "last chance" doesn't work out?

Do we go with "another last chance" after another until the "last chance" that we went with last ends up being a lasting last chance?

Or are we just forestalling a catastrophe?

[lyonn]

22. Good question, "last chance"? Then what?

They will play this gig along for as long as the press will help prop up the surge. For instance, they will say that "it is working and we just need more time. Remember how bush and cheney are very optimistic and delusional people.

[Texas_Kat]

16. General Clark never lets up

If you look up "determination" in Webster's, there's a photo of Wes Clark next to the word.

Clark will never rest until Bush, Inc. lets go of it's delusions.

[Tom Rinaldo]

17. Kos put this Ad on his front page

There is a whole lot more discussion about it there than there is here. I'm glad someone is paying attention to what really matters.

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. Of course this Ad goes to the heart of the issue

What does "Support Our Troops" really mean? This Ad opposes sending more men and women off to war to be maimed, to bleed and die, with no committment on the part of the Government that ships them into danger's way to face the real regional issues supporting and escalating a widening dynamic of conflict.

Rather this Administration does the opposite. It continues to shout "Bring it On" at Iran with macho posturing, while no diplomatic initiative is left unscorned. No, no one can make George Bush back down, as he lectures from the security of his White House, from a show down with his proclaimed "bad guys" in the world. They can't get at him personally, all they can do is blow up our soldiers in response to Bush's continuing arrogance.

[FrenchieCat]

19. why am I not surprised that Kos would have more interest in this

war matter? :shrug:

[CarolNYC]

20. Kudos to Markos

You mean it's not getting drowned out by 300 million threads about the Edwards' house and about how awful it is that there are all of these threads about the Edwards' house?!?!

Kudos to Markos and the kossacks for caring about something that actually matters. :thumbsup:

[dogman]

21. Veterans with a purpose.

Unlike the many Vet Orgs. that are interested in running social clubs.

[judy from nj]

23. WOW

The Vote vets put out the best ads I have seen. This is really effective. Thanks Wes Clark for helping to spread the word.

[CarolNYC]

24. It's on Crooks and Liars here...

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/29/votevets-creates-new-stop-escalation-ad/

VoteVets Creates New “Stop Escalation” Ad
By: Nicole Belle on Monday, January 29th, 2007 at 2:14 PM - PST

…and it's a doozy. Gen. Wes Clark will be pushing this ad along with VoteVets in the home states of the six Republicans on Foreign Relations Committee that voted against the Levin/Biden/Hagel resolution.

Smart of them to target these states, I think.

[Donna Zen]

25. Digging out my credit card

This ad pulls no punches. Whew!

Confession: I haven't read the "house" threads. I guess I'm missing all the earth shaking developments in the world.