Wes Clark: on US Troops: "...we've got more to do elsewhere"

[Left Coast Lynn]

WESLEY CLARK

If the Haditha reports are true, there can be no excuse. Not stress. Not anger. Not frustration. But this incident raises more disturbing questions. Have there been other such incidents? Does it indicate progressive decay in the standards of discipline in our forces? On top of Abu Ghraib, what moral authority do our forces retain? Can we recover our standing in the eyes of the Iraqis? And what will the ramifications of this incident be for U.S. power worldwide?

In war, terrible fears and passions are unleashed, with often unpredictable consequences. But military leaders know this--and they are charged with accomplishing the mission and protecting the troops, all without sacrificing our values. They'll do their best, even to accomplish the impossible. It's up to our political leaders to task them and give them the resources and to know and respect our limitations. And so Haditha must be a clear warning to the politicos: the window for effective U.S. action is almost closed; don't break our forces trying to salvage a failing mission when we've got more to do elsewhere.

Clark, a retired four-star general and former NATO commander, heads the political-action committee WesPAC

"Catherine Grunden, WesPAC" <[e-mail]>

[Kagemusha]

1. What's this "more to do elsewhere" that Clark refers to?

Where ELSE are US troops going to be going instead here, if that's a valid question?

[Left Coast Lynn]

3. Heh

Good catch. Headline changed to reflect your point.

[phillysuse]

4. Where Clark might use troops

Maybe he would try to stop genocide in Darfur.

He was not in a position to stop the genocide in Rwanda but he was able to stop the genocide of the Muslim Kosovar Albanians.

[Blue State Bandit]

5. Back to the Afghanistan/Pakistan border to do the job we all pretty much

agreed on in the first place. Kill or capture bin Laden, and shut down the al-Qaeda network.

Joe Scarborogh sighted some poll stating that 68% think that America Can win the war. I've never doubted America's ability to win, just BushCo.'s ability to do it.

What we need is a President and Congressional leadership that would fight for American's, and not just the ones who can donate $100,000+ cash and prizes. Not to mention those who have a "Pinkie and the Brain" mentality.

Wes Clark had me from Kosovo.

I prefer him for the top job, but any president that would pick Clark for the big three (State, Defense, or VP) would convince me unequivocally of America's ability to be great again... oh yeah, and win the War on Terror.

[madokie]

2. I can hardly wait until he is our Secretary of State

I just have to smile when I hear or see him