Swett: Clark Knew Facts of Iraq Resolution

[drfemoe]

--snips--
WASHINGTON - One-time House candidate Katrina Swett said Friday that Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark appeared completely familiar with the Iraq resolution when he advised her to support it.
...
Clark, a retired Army general, now says he would not have voted for the resolution that authorized President Bush to launch military strikes against Iraq. But that's not what he said a year ago as Congress was debating the issue.
...
On Wednesday, Clark pleaded ignorance when the Boston Globe asked why he said a year ago that he would have voted for the resolution and advised Swett to do the same.
...
"At that time, frankly, he spoke with great knowledge about Iraq and the upcoming vote," she said. "My impression is that he knew more about it than most of us."
--end snips--

Oh he did know more .. read his book. ..

[RuB]

1. CIA intelligence was flaw pre Iraq war. The question is not Clark

giving an opinion based on that intelligence but who skewed the intelligence that pushed the policymakers to agree giving an idiot full authority to send our sons and daughters in harms way. Unless your saying Clark was beamed intelligence not privy by anyone else except a few? The question is really whether Iraq was an imminent threat to the American people. I have no problem with someone changing their minds either, but the Lieberman's please don't be like the idiot Bushie and keep telling me you made the right decision and expect me to vote for you! I consider myself a reasonable Democrat and I was perfectly happy with Wesley Clark last night.

[CMT]

2. there is a bit of a credibility gap between what Clark

says he would have done and what he advised Swett to do. What he said the day after he got in the race "I would have supported the resolution" and the swift denial he issued the following day after it appeared his campaign got off track.

I consider only Kucinich, Dean, Sharpton, and Braun the only real candidates who steadfastly opposed the Iraqi resolution because there has been too many questions regarding Clark's stand.

[DemCam]

3. All out of context..........as usual with the media...

Too bad we believe it. I'm sure the same thing has been done to your candidate.

[annxburns]

4. Clark wrote this last year .....

.... (don't know why he hasn't sent it out)

http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/10/timep.iraq.viewpoints.tm/

[KittyWampus]

6. How Do You Know Swett Is Accurate?

Why would you take someone's word for it... when she is working for Lieberman... who seems to be obsessed with attacking Clark?

[CMT]

7. I don't know who she is working for

but the thing is that Clark has not denied advising Swett to vote for the resolution. He now says he didn't know everything that was in the resolution which may be the case, but then if that is the case, he probably shouldn't have advised her to vote for it. I'm not absolving Swett either, she should have done research as well and come to independently.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[democratreformed]

8. Here is a link

to statements made by General Clark to the Senate Armed Services Committee in September 2002:

http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/HearingsPreparedstatements/sasc-clark-092302.htm

[kang]

9. Thanks good link

I think that really explains a tough position to hold. He was w/the Admin. part of the way, but not on the key areas that they failed to follow through on.

I think this Iraq resolution and other business is just plain stupid. It's going to paint all Democrats as Monday morning QB's w/no plans on how to fix things of their own. If we get caught up on pointing out who said what and trying to take credit for things like a bunch of brown-nosers kissing up to the teacher, we'll look ridiculous to voters.

It would be in the interest of Dean to move beyond this issue as fast as possible and talk about other foreign policy ideas (if he hasn't laid them out already...haven't heard anything). Otherwise, he'll be seen as a great critic, but somewhat lacking in leadership and failing to offer solid foreign policy/nat'l security solutions.

As for Clark, his health care speech this week and nat'l security one next week will help lay out his vision for the country. BUT he's got to mention these things during the debate and be a little more free and loose. Remember to tie everything back to his own policy ideas and campaign theme.