Clark on the 30,000 increase in troops: temporary measure, marginal military advantage

[Clarkie1]

Will NOT solve the problem which is political, not military.


Diane Rehm: How would you react to that, General Clark, increasing troops now?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I think, I think first of all, it's a temporary measure. Secondly, I think you'll probably get some results on the ground.

Diane Rehm: What would it accomplish?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think you'll get more patrols on the streets of Baghdad. I think you'll get more snipers on rooftops. I think you'll get more roadblocks. I think it'll be more difficult for militias to move. I think you'll be able to occupy certain areas for longer without having to pull the troops back. In other words, I think you'll get some marginal military advantages. If the major problem is political not military, the question is: What is the President going to do to gain the political initiative? He's met with Maliki. He's met with Hakim. He's now meeting with the Sunni leader. What's going to emerge from that? Is there going to be a political strategic consensus? That's what's going to determine our success or failure in Iraq.

<snip>

Diane Rehm: Hasn't- haven't the Generals in Afghanistan also asked for more troops, General Clark.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Certainly, and Generals can usually need- use more troops, and you know, this mission in Iraq has been woefully short from the beginning, not to take out Saddam's military, but to do the follow-on job of taking care of the country and establishing authority and preventing civil disturbances and other things. From the beginning we've been short troops. I've, I, I've, I like Jack Keane. He's a great guy. I welcome his proposal. I, I can't, I want, I want to see it, but all that said and done, we must not forget we're dealing with opposing forces. It's not that the United States is modeling clay, and somebody says, 'Well, let's just put a little more, one more pound of clay, and I, I'm sure we can build this statue the right height.' There are other people out there who don't want us to build that statue. When we add clay, they take away clay. When we form it one way, they pull it out another way. I'm talking about Iran and Syria and other forces. We're operating against resistance. That resistance takes many forms. It takes the forms of blackmail, threat, intimidation, education, money, weapons, technology, and if you stand back and look at the mission thus far, what's, what stands out is a persistent underestimation of the opposition - their resourcefulness, their dedication, their ability to mobilize and embed in the population. And so, what my concern is not the troop level, but what is the program-

Diane Rehm: Mm hm.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -the administration's going to undertake-

Diane Rehm: Mm hm.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -to bring this to a successful conclusion.

http://securingamerica.com/node/2030