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General Wesley Clark on Rumsfeld and Bush |
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General Wesley Clark on Fox News
April 15, 2006
Transcription by Melange
Jamie Colby: Thanks for being with us. Let me ask you first, is it appropriate for a former general to comment on the Defense Secretary's performance when we're at war?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Of course it's appropriate. In fact, it's more than appropriate. It's their responsibility to provide the access to the American public to military information and ideas. Not disclose classified information but to give their honest opinion. If called on or to volunteer it - that's a democracy and they have some specialized information and it's a good thing that they share it.
Jamie Colby: Well as a former general as well, what is your take on Secretary Rumsfeld's leadership?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I ran for president in 2004 because I felt that the administration's entire direction of policy with regard to the war on terror was a mistake. We should have fought in Afghanistan and finished off Osama bin Laden. The war in Iraq was unnecessary. Secretary Rumsfeld was the officer in charge as the Secretary of Defense. He's the number 2 in the chain of command to the president and I believe Secretary Rumsfeld hasn't done an adequate job. He should go.
Jamie Colby: When you look at the position of number 2, can you put into perspective the need to follow the orders of the commander in chief versus the ability to present a different strategy?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well certainly. I mean, I ran to be president of the United States because I thought the commander in chief should be replaced. Ultimately he's the person responsible. The American people didn't understand how bad the situation was in the election of 2004. Now these generals are taking it upon themselves to speak out on behalf of people who are still in the army. They're relating their experiences and they feel like they haven't…that people in uniform were not listened to. That we didn't go in with enough troops; we didn't have the right approach for the inter-agency; we don't have a policy process to reinforce the military efforts with diplomatic efforts in the regions. All of these things ultimately come back to the president but his right hand man is Don Rumsfeld.
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Jamie Colby: And is this an appropriate time for that with our soldiers in combat?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think that it's more than an appropriate time. This country needed a better policy from the 2001 period on. We should have stayed in Afghanistan and finished it. Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney wanted us to go to Iraq. It had no connection to the war on terror. They pressed for this, they pressed for open warfare before the diplomacy was finished. It was a tragic mistake. It's a strategic blunder. It was wrong and the American people just didn't understand it or they wouldn't have reelected George Bush. They did…reelect him. Now these officers are saying 'at least give us somebody in the military chain of command who will listen.' That's why Secretary Rumsfeld has lost their confidence. He's made bad policy choices. It's time for new leadership.
Jamie Colby: Alright, General Wesley Clark on the phone from Arkansas. Thanks for being with us and for weighing in on something that was the talk of…not only on the air but certainly in Washington this week. Thank you so much.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you.
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http://zfacts.com/p/353.html | 01/18/12 07:26 GMT
Modified: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 23:01:03 GMT
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