From HuffPo -- Gen. Clark: McCain Is "Untested And Untried" On National Security

Gen. Clark: McCain Is "Untested And Untried" On National Security

On Tuesday, Sen. Kent Conrad revealed that Sen. Barack Obama is including "former top military leaders" among the approximately two dozen names currently rattling around in a not-so-short vice presidential short list.

Such figures don't come much more "top" in either political party than retired four-star General Wes Clark, the former Supreme Allied Commander Europe for NATO during the Kosovo War. After a late entry into the Democratic 2004 presidential race, in which he won the Oklahoma primary and finished second in three other contests, Clark turned himself into a popular surrogate on the stump for Democratic congressional candidates during the midterm elections.

Relatively new to partisan politics, he seems to have taken to the enterprise with gusto. As an early backer of Sen. Hillary Clinton, Clark traveled in the last year to Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, Indiana and South Dakota. But even now that the spouse of his former Commander in Chief is out of the race, Clark isn't done for the season. In an email pitch to his nationwide network of supporters last week, Clark urged party unity and described the call to elect Obama as a "critical mission."

In a wide-ranging interview with The Huffington Post, Clark offered opinions on the current state of American foreign policy, the Democrats' emergence as a more "full-service" party on security issues, and -- lest anyone doubt his potential use as a running mate for Obama -- the shortcomings of Sen. John McCain.

"I know he's trying to get traction by seeking to play to what he thinks is his strong suit of national security," Clark said of McCain while speaking from his office in Little Rock, Arkansas. "The truth is that, in national security terms, he's largely untested and untried. He's never been responsible for policy formulation. He's never had leadership in a crisis, or in anything larger than his own element on an aircraft carrier or [in managing] his own congressional staff. It's not clear that this is going to be the strong suit that he thinks it is."

Resume aside, though, Clark also took issue with the Arizona Republican's instincts on national security. "McCain's weakness is that he's always been for the use of force, force and more force. In my experience, the only time to use force is as a last resort. ... When he talks about throwing Russia out of the G8 and makes ditties about bombing Iran, he betrays a disrespect for the office of the presidency."

* * *

Clark also said Democrats are making progress in becoming a "full-service party" that can compete on security concerns as well as domestic issues. "Republicans like to focus on the threat, on fear, on insecurities. It's what motivates their base," he said. "As Democrats, we focus on hope and possibilities in the future. So the two parties are asymmetrical. And because the two parties are different, it makes the national security [issue] play differently to both parties. But I think we have to point out the failures and shortcomings of the current approach. In the foreign policy arena, John McCain has pretty much bought the central thrust of the Bush administration's foreign policies: relying on threat and bluster [and] isolating people we don't agree with instead of engaging them."

Still, Clark says Democrats can't afford to be branded as unwilling to use force. "My take is that Senator Obama has been very clear ... As he said in his recent appearance before AIPAC, he is strongly committed to America's allies. And it would be a mistake for anyone to assume he won't use force when it's necessary and appropriate. ... I think it's a question of whether you believe all intercourse with an enemy must end in conflict or not."

Citing the issue of Iran's nuclear program, Clark suggested a prime window of opportunity may have been missed early in the Bush presidency, before the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "I think Iran has come out of the Bush administration as a much stronger power," he said. "First of all, we eliminated the primary blocking force to their west in Iraq. Secondly, we have been ineffective in using the broader tools of U.S. diplomacy and moral suasion in the region -- and that's allowed Iran to capture Hamas, displace Fatah and strengthen [its] grip on Hezbollah. ... Without effective diplomatic engagement of Iran, we've allowed them to pursue a nuclear program that is likely aimed at achieving nuclear weapons. But we've refused to sit down and talk to them about it. ... I still favor an effort to engage Iran, but the clock is ticking on their probable nuclear program. This makes everything much more complicated and difficult now.

"I think that there was a window [for diplomacy]. Maybe two or three windows of opportunity. They might or might not have been fruitful. There are never any guarantees with diplomacy. But there are never any guarantees with force, either. John McCain should know that. He and I, along with many others, were caught up in an inconclusive war in southeast Asia."

* * *
Still, for all of Clark's authority on defense issues and his willingness to go after McCain, some observers remain skeptical of his potential usefulness to Obama in the vice presidential slot. An unsteady first impression with the press in 2003 provided enough fodder for doubts that linger to this day regarding Clark's effectiveness as a campaigner.

It's clear that the former general, who studiously avoids any chatter about the current veepstakes, is keen to note his "learning curve" as a politician and his work ethic as a surrogate, citing the dozens of congressional candidates who requested his assistance in 2006. A source at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee confirmed that work ethic, saying that Clark has done everything that's been asked of him -- from voicing robo-calls to mining his email list for donations to making those personal appearances. "I don't want to brag on myself," Clark said, "but we got into places where no other Democratic spokesmen were invited."

Clark also suggested those travels have been good for his own political education. "You have to learn how to run for elective office, no matter where you've had responsible positions before. You have to learn how to hit the pitch. I think I had a pretty good learning curve in my run for office. By the time I was campaigning in January, I was doing very well. But you don't do it overnight."

When asked, Clark reports a feeling of contentment with his work in the private sector. Joined with the opportunity to comment on current affairs, he rightly deems it "a full life." But even Clark admits he doesn't have everything. "I miss my friends in the military. You know, the camaraderie," he said.

Perhaps he'll have the opportunity to reenlist for one more campaign.

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A well-known Clarkie friend forwarded this article to me overnight. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!

http://tinyurl.com/58jpm5

General Clark we salute you!

WES FOR VP!

"The citizen who sees his society's democratic clothes being worn out and does not cry out is not a patriot but a traitor." -- Mark Twain

hummingbird4015 a fellow Clarkie wrote a terrific DK diary about this HuffPo piece just now with a poll on Wes for VEEP:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/11/114542/412/966/533978#c16

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/10/184352/783/290/533629
yesterday on Wes Clark for VP

(I just noticed it)

If this is the Hummingbird I think it is, it's great to know she's still around and writing. She's a great, great writer.

Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!

...with the voting public is that one is going to be 'perceived' as the experienced one in national security (unless the Democratic candidate does a smart thing and chooses someone EXTREMELY well-qualified in that area as his VP)

The current state (assuming that we take Wes' argument at face value) is that both candidates for President are "untested and untried" in national security - great choice we are left with.

Experience without wisdom is highly overrated. If one was voting on experience we'd hire the Bush Cabal again (not Bush himself, but the people he surrounded himself with were one of the most experienced teams ever in an administration).

Leadership means lifting people up. --Wes Clark

What good is experience with bad judgement?

But only one candidate is running on experience. If Obama and McCain are hit equally by the "untested and untried" meme, it is McCain that takes the damage. It turns the contest into one of ideas, judgment and temperament instead of experience. On that field, we win.

----
McCain on Social Security. McCain on kid's health care.

there was a similar comment on DK and I'm "borrowing" my response to it to respond to your comment Defoliate Bush:

Military officers are tested on the execution of military strategy and tactics. It may be one of the toughest real life tests there are.

But military leaders take their orders from the civilian leadership which is where non ideological good judgement, common sense, and respect for those who serve this country and innocent civilians is key to whether our power is used constructively for good or as in the case of BUSHCO makes us less safe, despised around the world, and robs the taxpayers for the gain of crony no-bid contracts.

Barack Obama and Wes Clark, I think, share the philosophical point of view that the constitution and the rule of law give us legitimacy. That in turn is more important to our security than our military power.

Since Wes Clark is philosophically in tune with Barack Obama, what he offers Barack, more than any other VP IMO, is that he's been to war, is a four star general and former SACEUR (which is the military equivalent of being CEO of a fortune 500 company) and when he agrees with Barack that Iraq was an unnecessary war it carries a lot of weight reinforcing a counter argument to the ideological fear mongering of the neocons.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/11/114542/412

;-)

If there was a way to give you back that part you miss most - I'm pretty sure most of us would move heaven and earth to make it happen.

Kelly

"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers

I call designated bragger.
I'll need some help of course.

but you're head braggart, k?

;-)

"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers

You could start by recommending and leaving comments on this diary at Kos.

already saw and recommended hummingbird's well written diary. Thanks anyway.

"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers

to being VP, either. But thanks. I was referring to missing his friends in the military and the camaraderie and maybe one more chance to reenlist, perhaps at the Pentagon.

but relative to the kos post, he'd have to get a waiver or wait til 2010. But it would be great for him to beomce SecDef (assuming he wanted it).

"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers

"betrays a disrespect for the office of the presidency"

This is Clark at his best. An analysis based on facts and coming from one who knows what he is talking about. Clark was one of the only people to put out an anti-Lieberman ad when Lieberman lost the Democratic primary. He went on the stump with John Kerry and declared Bush an incompetent commander-in-chief. He said that his new patriotism was not that of George Bush, that is, dressing up in a flight suit for a photo-op and prancing on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Now he's using his vast military and foreign policy expertise to declare that John McCain is not who he thinks he is, i.e., a wizard on foreign policy and national security.

Clark's approach is exactly what the Democrats need to win in November. Take truth to power, and have the credentials and gravamen to back up what you say. I would love to see him in the next administration in a high position, preferably vice-president. I've said many times: America needs Wes Clark.

I stopped going into the Huffington Post. They were as one sided in the past 7 months (pro-Obama) as FOX was in 2004 being pro-Bush W.

BO's experience in military and foreign policy is lacking too - more so. He definitely needs someone with a tremendous amount of military and foreign policy experience to guide him.

Still, it was an extremely interesting article to read. I love to read what Wes has to say about the military and foreign policy. My heartrate begins to slow down and I exhale with some relief.

Thanks Kat for posting that article.

this isn't a cut & paste job from an interview Wes had several months ago. I agree with him and I could be wrong, but some things seem eerily similar. Can this be clarified?

We're electing the President of the United States, not some g.d. prom king.

The interview I was recalling was in the National Review in March of this year. Wasn't in depth like this one was, but similar in tone.

We're electing the President of the United States, not some g.d. prom king.

But I double checked to make sure it was current.

This is Wes at his finest....tough, pragmatic, well spoken & experienced.
Just a brilliant article here.

don't know if it's been posted there or not already, probably has but another posting couldn't hurt.

The VP is going to be a tough call. Obviously (in my view anyway) Wes is the ideal VP (if he wants to help fight the fight in that role) except for one thing.

Gender. It really is time we have a woman on the ticket. Of course, we did with Mondale but given the current political environment I think a woman on the ticket would send a positive message. So, if I were on the VP committee I'd be torn. I'd say go with Clark in the end, but Kathleen Sebelius, as Clark stated last week, would be a great choice too but for different reasons.

This is a really tough call, because you can't "have your cake and eat it too," so to speak.

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" - Whoever said it, it's true.

I'm SO HAPPY to read Wes' comments on matters of the day, and he framed dems v. mcC SO WELL; Perfect.

I want to see WES in a Dem admin, but not sure VP is it; too 'political,' maybe.

National Security Advisor is my 'thing' for him.

what Wes would have said if they asked him about Obama's foreign policy credentials. Would have been a most interesting answer, since Wes has always had a guideline of NEVER to speak ill of a fellow democrat.

Right now - none of the above.

the most important foreign policy credentials are good judgment and a philosophical belief in constructive engagement and diplomacy with both friend and foe, as well as a belief that force should only be used as a last resort. Clark stated in the article the main thing Obama has to do is make clear he will use force if necessary, given that framework.

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" - Whoever said it, it's true.

I think he would have stressed Clinton's experience in the Balkans, in the White House, etc. That said, it's clear from the article that Clark believes McCain's kind of foreign policy "experience" doesn't translate into sound policy and McCain's philosophical framework is not one Clark shares. Democrats, Clark and Obama included, are generally on the same page when it comes to foreign policy. If there was any doubt (I don't believe there ever was) Clark made that fact forcefully and explicitly clear in this article.

As he says, we have a "critical mission." General Clark does not use such terms lightly.

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" - Whoever said it, it's true.

I would like to have heard what Wes would have said about BARACK OBAMA's military and foreign policy CREDENTIALS 2 months ago.

I keep hearing in my head the words he told a fellow Clarkie (I can't remember which one and I may not have the exact words, but close enough) "KEEP FIGHTING - DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT!"

Neither Clinton nor Obama have foreign policy and military credentials on the level of Clark. For military credentials they both have 0. I don't get the point you are trying to make? Is there a point to your question?

As for, "keep fighting, don't give up the fight!" that's putting a Democrat in the White House. Clark recently posted a blog thanking BOTH Obama and Clinton supporters for their work. I do hope you will not give up the fight.

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" - Whoever said it, it's true.

Here's what I thought Tega meant: If Clark had weighed in two months ago while Clinton and Obama were still knocking heads, he might have said something negative about Obama's experience in these matters, and it might have helped Clinton more. Now that the primaries are over, he can't exactly slam Obama.

The problem with this thinking, though, is that Clark just doesn't go negative against other Democrats. His style is simply to change the subject. Rather than hitting Obama on his lack of experience, he simply would have touted Clinton's experience and let listeners fill in the blanks.

Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!

he just felt a little more positively about Clinton. Clark said at one point that he "liked" Obama.

There's a big difference between a primary and a general election. Clearly Clark believes Obama has better national security/foreign policy credentials than McCain, or he wouldn't call electing Obama to the White House a "critical mission."

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" - Whoever said it, it's true.