On July 12th, 2007 Gen. Wesley Clark, the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, testified to the House Armed Services’ Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. His insightful and intelligent testimony proves there is still a place for reason in U.S. foreign policymaking.
A few highlights:
The deeper truth is that we are engaged in a civil war inside Iraq aided and abetted by outside powers. It is not at all clear that the “surge” will, even were it to succeed in reducing the violence, bring this war to a successful conclusion. We are playing on others “home court.” They own porous borders, language skills, long term relationships inside Iraq, and sufficient means to ratchet-up resistance and encourage divisiveness when and where it suits their purpose.
In the case of Iraq, these tendencies are exacerbated by the competitive struggle between Iran and its Shia surrogates, and the Saudi and Jordanian support for the Sunni’s. The Iraqi government itself lacks the legitimacy and capability to resolve this struggle, whatever its “legality.” And so, no matter the vicissitudes in civilian deaths, or car-bombings, or disappearances in Baghdad, the underlying dynamics of the struggle continue. This Administration has refused to address their strategic causes and has left our brave soldiers and Marines hostage to a regional power struggle.
For this reason, I believe the time has come for the Congress to demand that the Administration begin the redeployment of American ground forces and state publicly and clearly that there will be no permanent US bases in Iraq. At best, this underscores the seriousness of the American people and helps incentivize Iraqi leaders themselves work to stop the conflict through suitable dialogue and compromise. Thus far, this has been notably lacking among the Iraqi’s. At the very least, the redeployment will provide immediate relief for overstretched US ground forces.
The hour is late, but not yet too late, to leave behind an integral, developing, and stable Iraq. But it is also true that the Administration has demonstrated its incompetence in designing and carrying out a strategy for success.
14 Comments
+ at 2:26 pm
The deeper truth is that we are engaged in a civil war inside Iraq aided and abetted by outside powers. It is not at all clear that the “surge” will, even were it to succeed in reducing the violence, bring this war to a successful conclusion.
Good.
Someone needed to say and now Wes Clark has.
Bush is a failed leader and his surge has only resulted in more deaths – both on the American and Iraqi side. To think dumping more U.S. soldiers into a civil war will somehow translate into an end to the sectarian violence is naive and stupid.
+ at 3:10 pm
I don’t know how much more clear Gen. Clark can be. In fact, even George Bush should be able to wrap his pitiful brain around his assessment of the situation in Iraq. Let’s hope the members of the House Armed Services’ Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee are listening.
+ at 5:20 pm
Yes, thank goodness someone of Wesley Clark’s stature has laid this disaster out plain as day. No more senseless loss of American lives sacrificed for a sham war for oil.
+ at 7:23 pm
Clark speaks the truth! If only the Bush administration would do the same…
+ at 8:15 pm
Wes Clark is intriguing. It’s been so long since we were told the truth by an informed man, not on the neocon’s payroll, that it’s refreshing.
+ at 10:13 pm
Clark lays it out so clearly. Are any of our potential next presidents listening? Are any of our current electeds listening?
I am still waiting for Clark to declare. The fact that he made a point to let it be known to the HASC committee that he hasn’t said he’s not running gives me renewed hope.
Run, Wes, Run!
+ at 10:19 pm
What is Clark’s game?
Is he planning to enter the ‘08 race as a democrat or is he waiting to be asked to be a VP?
He certainly appears to have the gravitas to be a front runner. He would also be useful to Clinton or Obama as a second in command.
+ at 10:36 pm
I have listened to the whole audio and read the transcript. Wes Clark is the only one who is unafraid to speak the truth about Iraq as he has from the beginning.
I hope he runs. He has repeated often, and even at HASC, that he hasn’t said he won’t and I’m waiting. But he has said often that he doesn’t want his message to become politicized, and he is trying to message Congress and Americans about how critical it is to change the course, stop talking tactics and start talking real strategy. He outlines in the hearing a strategy.
America deserves a leader who doesn’t treat us as co-dependent children, and he would be a leader we can trust. We live in critical times. He’s not afraid to tell us just how critical, and he has solutions. I urge all to read the HASC transcripts. If you listen to the hearing you will hear the concern in his voice.
+ at 12:02 am
Mark1988 – Clark’s game is salvaging what’s left of our country. He sees too many critical things that have to be dealt with right now, and has said many times that once he declares he’s a candidate, everything he says will be painted as political posturing.
He’s pretty brilliant and will know if/when to get in. Until he says he’s not running, I am happy to wait. The only one of the current candidates I feel comfortable supporting is Kucinich, and we all know how that’s going to turn out…
+ at 5:44 am
Clark is better than Hillary Clinton but he’s no Al Gore. I too will wait to see what our nation’s former Vice President decides to do in September or October, then I will either support Gore or look to another candidate to volunteer for and donate money to. All I know is it’s anyone but Hillary.
+ at 11:07 am
feminazi,
Wesley Clark will be a GREAT President. Clark’s intelligence and experience spans many subjects and issues including global warming. General Clark takes a back seat to no one. Further examination of Clark’s resume bears this fact.
If he can win the Democratic Party nomination, he will run away with the general election.
+ at 11:59 am
Where has he said he’s running? I haven’t seen anything in print.
+ at 3:54 pm
He ran in 2004, but has not even hinted at a run in 2008. Were he to run, and Gore not to run, I’d support him over Hillary or Obama.
+ at 1:47 am
TomCat, General Clark has repeatedly hinted at a 2008 run. Most of the time when he’s interviewed he’s asked, and he says ‘I haven’t said I won’t,’ which sounds like a hint to me. He’s also said that he ‘thinks about it every day.’ References available at securingamerica dot com.