Text of Democratic Radio Address 5/8/04 re Iraq

[Adelante]

Democratic Radio Address to the Nation by Wesley Clark


May 12, 2004

For Immediate Release


Good Morning. This is General Wesley Clark, United States Army retired

This week the world has been shocked and angered, and America’s moral leadership’s been undercut, by the terrible pictures of a small number of our US military people abusing Iraqi prisoners

The President apologized; he’s recognized and stated that these acts were 'stains on our honor'. And it’s right that he’s done so.

But apologies are not enough. These criminal acts of abuse must be investigated fully and those responsible must be held accountable under law. We must fix our training and procedures so this cannot happen again. Amends must be made to Iraqis who suffered these humiliations through real and symbolic gestures, such as the dismantling of Abu Ghraib prison itself.

The issues at stake here go to the very heart of the American mission in Iraq. For, by our own claims, we’re different. We came to liberate, not to occupy. We came to 'free', not to imprison. With our character, we don't torture, or maim, or coerce. And if the mission was endangered by the prospects of our use of heavy force against insurgents in Fallujah and Najaf – and it was so endangered. It is no less endangered by the loss of credibility caused by the misconduct of a few American soldiers. This is a mission in trouble.

At this time, my thoughts go out to our soldiers, our Marines, their families. Because they've served so courageously and so well. And at great cost. Over 700 have died; more than 4,000 have been wounded. And just this week the Administration announced that it must keep 135,000 troops in Iraq through 2005. What this means is repetitive tours, repetitive family separations and more fears that one's husband, or wife, or child, won't make it safely home.

We owe the men and women in the Armed Forces a tremendous debt of gratitude. But we also owe them the proper equipment – the armored vests, the armored vehicles, the radios that they need so they can do the job safely. Yet, more than a year after the President sent them into battle, they still don't have this equipment. Some 200 lives might have been spared had they had the protective gear and armored equipment that the mission actually requires. 200 Lives. It’s an inexcusable loss. The Bush Administration should have addressed this issue long ago. It must do so immediately.

But the larger picture is also disturbing. Our President took us to war with exaggerated, hyped intelligence. He took us to war in Iraq without an imminent threat to our country. He took us to war before all the diplomatic options were exhausted. He took us to war before our allies were fully on board, and before we had a realistic plan or adequate forces to deal with what would happen after we reached Baghdad. And all of this campaign was a distraction from our pursuit of Osama bin Laden, who was after all our real enemy.

The truth is President Bush has made mistake after mistake as Commander-in-Chief, taking us first into a war we didn't have to fight alone and under false pretenses and now managing it so poorly.

The mission itself in danger as the self-imposed June 30th deadline for transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis approaches. If we’re to prevent Iraq from becoming a failed state that breeds new terrorists, America must change course. Enough of the unilateralism and over reliance on the men and women in uniform. We must bring in our allies, give them a seat at the decision making table and together create an international organization to provide economic and political assistance as Iraqis form their own government. The United States must not bear so much of the burden. And we’re unlikely to succeed if we continue to do so.

With new American leadership we can gain real help from our NATO allies - and from countries in the region. With their help, we can create the conditions for free and fair elections, transition to a secure and free Iraq, and bring home much of our military.

My fellow Americans this is an election year. It is our duty as citizens to use the power of the vote and hold accountable our President. I believe we need new leadership in America to keep us safe at home, to win the war on terror and to regain respect for America abroad.

Thank you.

Source: John Kerry for President

Note to Mods: Kerry press release, not copyrighted.

[goclark]

1. You Go Wes!! Luv Ya

[Imalittleteapot]

2. The correct words at the correct time.

Note: I didn't say right. Great address Wes.
:yourock:

[OKNancy]

3. Thanks for posting

I had to go to work this morning and didn't hear it. Good to hear that Clark is as strong as ever.

[Paradise]

4. Great! Thanks WesDem. I've been searching for it and you found it. :) n/t

[Spazito]

5. Wes Clark has a soothing voice, it gives one a sense of ...

comfort, a sense that he would make things right. I thought the radio address hit all the right points which, given it is Wes Clark, it doesn't surprise me.

[KittyWampus]

6. Thanks For The Thread!

Good to know Wes is contributing yet again the the Country and the Democratic Party.

[Adelante]

7. Sign the Petition

Call on the White House to increase troop protection in Iraq and Afghanistan

Sign the petition


To: President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld


As Americans, we all stand united with respect and admiration for our men and women in uniform. But after recent reports from the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are concerned that our troops are not receiving the kind of unconditional support they deserve.

We call on you to immediately provide maximum protection for our troops under fire in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to end any delays in maximizing their personal safety as they put their lives on the line, every day, for us.

Specifically:

We call on you to provide an immediate status report to Congress and the American people, detailing the most significant types of threats to the personal safety of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the actions that must be taken to immediately mitigate these kinds of dangers, including providing armored vehicles, personal protective gear, medical care, or any other remedy.

We then call on you to provide an emergency appropriation request to Congress for any and all funds necessary to provide our troops with every form of protection for their safety, as identified in the status report.

We believe that every American, presented with a comprehensive status report and call for action, will stand behind our men and women in uniform, in a spirit of patriotism and shared sacrifice, and will support any immediate and extraordinary measures to identify and eliminate any threat to their personal safety that can be promptly remedied through bipartisan executive and legislative action.

SIGN HERE!!

[BootinUp]

10. For our troops, please sign this everybody

It will only take you a minute, it could help save some troops in the future. Thanks.

[scarletwoman]

18. No way! The only petition I'll sign is one calling for ALL TROOPS OUT NOW!

The OCCUPATION is the problem! More troops is NOT the solution!

U.S. out of Iraq NOW!

sw

[Adelante]

24. You did not read it

The petition calls for protective gear for the troops who are already there; armored vehicles, personal protective gear, and medical care.

[scarletwoman]

26. The only protective gear they need are C-130's to get them out of there.

I read the petition. I don't agree with it.

The only reason they would need more personal protective gear and armored vehicles is if they are continuing combat operations. I do not agree with continuing combat operations - PERIOD.

I hope I've made myself clear.

sw

[Adelante]

27. Okay, then

:)

[Kanary]

20. Nope, not signing a petition for more troops, more war, same/same

What will "save the troops" is BRINGING THEM HOME.

Kanary

[Adelante]

25. You did not read it, either, Kanary nt

[Kanary]

28. So, you're sitting here next to me, watching me?

Or, you have a spy camera on me?

Wow...... good to know you're psychic.

Kanary

[Adelante]

29. From the content of your post

It seemed as if you had not read the content of the petition since once had nothing to do with the other.

Yeah, I'm psychic :eyes:

[Kanary]

30. I disagree with the petition.

So, as the good people of DU would say...

Deal with it.

I never used to talk to people that way. But, I'm fed up to here with all this crap about telling me what I read or didn't read, and feeling so free to judge me and tell me off. I'm sick unto death with all this fighting each other, when this is the time we should be coming together. No wonder we keep losing.

So, I disagree with the petition.

Deal with it.

Kanary

[Adelante]

31. No problem with your disagreeing with the petition

No problem with your not signing it.

[BootinUp]

8. BLAM! That was awesome

I'll definitely check out the audio later at the WesPac site. Thanks Jersey. :hug:

[swinney]

9. Kerry has experience and is strong

But I am beginning to long for someone with charisma and charm like Clark or mean as a pit bull like Dean.

Conservative smear artists have their one line-flip flop

like credibility gap.

they will get it all over the news over and over and over.

Kerry will not tell them to go to hell. Gore gored gore.

Issues issues issues let us talk issues. at the same time they smeared him every day and would not talk issues.

Bush cannot talk issues without lying. Will Kerry shine the light on him over and over.

Kerry needs four great positives that Bush cannot counter.
Education-Health Care-Middle Class not a one tier income-wealth society-caring for least amongst thee.

Throw the teachings of Jesus in Bush face.

meanmeanmean

[bobbieinok]

11. voted for Wes, so don't get me wrong - where's demand for punishment

as far up the chain of command as necessary??? not just a few 'bad eggs'????

[BootinUp]

12. Well he calls for a full

investigation. I am sure he would support punishment of all those found responsible. Its kinda premature to name names.

[revcarol]

19. No U. S. troops, international control, no contracts as rewards for

sending troops.(Unlike Kerry, page 2 of his Iraq statement, in which countries who send troops would gewt contracts (SPOILS), WE PAY FOR WHAT WE BROKE,Iraqis decide how they want to spend their oil money and who they want to give oil contracts to, elections within 90 days.

Need more?

EDIT: This was an answer to #17.

[BootinUp]

32. You had your say

I wish you would start your own thread to say it.

[Kanary]

33. So much for "free speech"

Hey, we're called all kinds of names, so we're speaking up.

You expected only those who completely agree to come congratulate the petition?

Kanary

[BootinUp]

35. talk to yourself, I'm through

[revcarol]

13. Stay in Iraq. "We" (Bush) just did it wrong.

It can be fixed. We can get (non-Arab, non-Muslim) NATO to help us.


BUNCH OF CRAP.:puke:

[BootinUp]

17. From the cut and run crowd I guess

Wes Clark's plan always called for internationalization, and the troops would be put under NATO control.

What is your solution exactly?

[Kanary]

21. "Cut and run"

Nice Bushwa phrase.

[BootinUp]

22. I think I was just called a freeper

:eyes:

The phrase is not owned by anybody. And using it does not imply I support the current administrations policies. Thanks for your input.

[Kanary]

23. I said it's Bushwa's words.

That's been his mantra.

So, wouldn't it be the friendly thing to not paint fellow Dems with that phrase?

You can accept the rest of us and our views, and include us, or ..........

But, then, don't keep expecting to "get out the vote" if your option is to isolate those who see it differently from you.

I get just as tired of the damned name-calling.

Kanary

[BootinUp]

34. It was my words

and I know what they meant and you know what they meant. You disagree with Kerry's plan for Iraq. Fine. Next time can you start your own thread? I think you went off topic for this one.

[LandOLincoln]

37. Their solution? A wholesale and immediate change

in human nature.

Good luck.

In the meantime, those of us who live in the real world will continue to seek real world solutions.

And yes, of course I'll sign the petition.

[kaitykaity]

14. Any audio of this anywhere?

I missed it, but would love to listen to it. (I tried to
get into the wespac2004 site and it just sat there with
a blank screen and nada.

Wonk?

[BootinUp]

15. It works for me, you might need Windows Media Player 9

You tried the link on the lower left?

[kaitykaity]

36. The web site itself wouldn't come up.

It just sat there partially loaded. :shrug:

[Ivote]

16. That's My General

Way to go!