Reply #157: Oh puh-lease

[Jai4WKC08]

The bullshit lies about Clark and his position on the IWR have been put to bed a million times. You've made it clear by posting them over and over that don't want to accept the truth, so I'm not gonna beat that dead horse again.

But as a veteran, I want to address your last line: "So many in the military have personal issues with General Clark." It was the attack Edwards released thru his press secretary, but it's a lie. You can count on one hand the number of military officers who criticized Clark based first-hand knowledge and on an attribution basis. One (Shelton) was shilling for Edwards, and refused to say one word more against him after that little fact was revealed. One was a rather undistinguished (so much so I can't remember his name) 3-star who was passed over for promotion because the job in Panama went to Clark. The third one (Franks) is a die-hard Repub who endorsed Bush, and the other (Funk) was his good buddy and probably a Repub as well. When the truth came out about Shelton, Schwartzkopf immediately retracted what he said, saying it was based completely on Shelton and that he never knew Clark. Finally, there was an Air Force four-star whose name escapes me but who endorsed Dean and then Kerry, but he had to admit he never knew Clark either; he had retired many years before Clark moved to the Joint Staff.

You think the Repubs can't dig up four people out of anyone's background to say whatever the RNC tells 'em to? Especially when they get help from other Democrats?

I could give you quotes from dozens of generals who did know Clark, liked him just fine, and didn't mind saying so on the record. Just from memory ('cause frankly, you're not worth the effort to dig up old sources): McAffrey, with whom he served in DC, called him a national treasure. Shalikashvili, who was his boss for four years, had nothing but praise. Colin Powell, when pressed, had to admit Clark is "one of the finest officer I've ever known." Jimmy Johnson, one of a handful of black 4-star contemporaries, endorsed and campaigned with him. Of the twelve generals who appeared for Kerry at the convention, almost half of 'em had endorsed Clark first. Shelton was certainly nowhere to be seen.

There are lots more, but I prefer the endorsements of the ordinary soldiers--the enlisted, NCOs and junior officers--who never make the newsprint or airwaves. They're the ones who felt the effects of Clark's leadership up close and personal, many in combat, and they literally flocked to Clark's campaign. And they'll be back if he decides to run again.