Clark says he would avoid pre-emptive strikes

[PSU84]

The Telegraph Nashua, NH Friday, December 05, 2003

Clark says he would avoid pre-emptive strikes

By KEVIN LANDRIGAN Telegraph Staff [email protected]

NASHUA - Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark said Thursday that it's presumptuous for any challenger to estimate the proper American troop levels in Iraq or when the post-war occupation could precisely end in Iraq. "You can't prescribe definitive timelines from the continental United States. It's what they did in Bosnia. It shouldn't be done here," Clark told reporters after speaking at Daniel Webster College.

Clark, a four-star general who served as NATO commander during the war in Kosovo, said none of the Democratic candidates can make informed estimates without visiting Iraq and meeting with American military leaders. "I am not going to prescribe a political answer that doesn't have the basis to be justified," he said.

During his speech, Clark issued a stinging critique of the Bush foreign policy, founded after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, on the new doctrine to strike first against terrorists or nations known to be harboring them. "I think my first act is to put the pre-emptive strike doctrine into the shredder," Clark said to applause from a crowd of more than 150 jammed into the college's lounge.

Clark got emotional after lashing out at Bush's failure to publicly meet with the families of the more than 400 soldiers who have been killed in Iraq. "He will go to a dozen fund-raisers for re-election, but he won't go to one home and put his arms around a mother who has lost a child and that's wrong," Clark said, his eyes welling up with tears.

http://www.nhprimary.com/stories/12-2003/120503-clarkpreemptive.htm

[teevee]

1. wow

this man needs to be our next president

[wtmusic]

2. Misleading title

'I think my first act is to put the pre-emptive strike doctrine into the shredder'.

That's a little bit stronger than 'avoid'. Big difference.

[xultar]

3. True, Thanks for the post. n/t

[LuminousX]

4. HUGE difference

I was coming in here to rip Clark a new one regarding a shoddy policy statement, but the story makes it crystal clear, preemptive warfare isn't in the cards.

[jmaier]

5. Policy pledge of beauty

If you haven't taken a minute to read Wes Clark's 10-point pledge, you really should -- no matter which candidate you support. It really is the definitive statement on how we should conduct our foreigh affairs.

http://www.clark04.com/issues/10pledges/

[phillybri]

6. Kick for the "10 Pledges"

:kick:

[TacticalPeek]

7. Got that right.

'Clark Preempts Preemptive Strikes'

There, that's better.

:)