"We Must Understand the Islamic Perspective" -- CLARK

What’s the buzz with Gen. Wesley Clark? A journalist from the Wall Street Journal said this week that his wife — also a journalist — had left her job to work for Gen. Wesley Clark. A writer at the Los Angeles Times said yesterday he didn’t like him when he was a general and didn’t like him now as a presidential candidate. Why? “Because he’s arrogant.” But some think that’s what’s needed for a man to be called a ‘perfect model officer,’ and be a presidential contender.

So, what’s the deal with the general? To get an idea, this correspondent attended yesterday’s Military Reporters & Editors’ annual conference — the largest post-war gathering of journalists who participated in the US military’s embed program — where Gen. Wesley Clark was keynote speaker.

Facing the audience of reporters, Gen. Clark recalled the first journalist he met over 20 years ago. “It was winter, in the middle of a snowstorm, and I put him in a tent without tent.” He paused: “I never liked the way that story turned out.”

<...>

Questioned on if he thought this administration targeted Al-Jazeera in Afghanistan and Iraq, Clark said: “There is a legitimate difference of opinion between the way we see the problems in the Middle East and the Islamic perspective. One of the most important things we must understand is their perspective and their view of the facts. And, I’m generally against the muzzling of the media.”

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=33074&d=5&m=10&y=2003

DTH

What he says is 100% true, but watch the faux media rip him to shreads because he's now a "terrorist sympathizer...."

:-(

Clark's been a great addition to this primary.

For the record: Active support of Kucinich, Dean and ABB

A candidate should speak his or her mind completely.

I just worry though about the Goreing that Clark is about to recieve. I hope he can combat it more effectively than Dukakis and Gore did.

That headline is red meat that can easily be spun as appeasement by the media or his opponents.

I thought the rest was right-on.

what are the pictures....they are very interesting...like I know what I'm looking at, but don't know. Who is the artist?

The picture on the left is an olivine gabbro as seen through a petrographic microscope. The center and right are pictures of micaceous granites as seen through a petrographic microscope.

...is not one I'd want running for president as a Democrat.

No other Democratic candidate can make a statement such as this and remain viable...but Clark can - and will. He is going to make a tremendous contribution to this race whether he becomes the nominee or not...btw I am a confirmed Dean supporter.

I've seen them end up wondering how their head got on that platter in their hands.

:)

is a given.

Do you think that just anybody runs for the office of President of the United States?

Of course, they're all arrogant!! That's always going to be true. People run for President because they think they can do the job better than whoever is in charge.

There's nothing wrong with a bit of arrogance in that part. The problem with arrogance is if once you get in you won't listen to anybody else from any other country, that's stupid arrogance.

“There is a legitimate difference of opinion between the way we see the problems in the Middle East and the Islamic perspective. One of the most important things we must understand is their perspective and their view of the facts."

THIS WAS THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE TO BOMBING THE SHIT OUT OF THE MUSLIM WORLD AFTER 9-11. And the correct one.
I know it would have been difficult to do, but as I watched on 9-11 I realized: "Boy the USA is gonna have to eat this one". Then I thought "Some chance!". Not with the cowboys in DC.


We MUST understand these people. We, the 5% of the world's population.

Oh my Gawd! An arrogant politician! An Arrogant General. What a fucking anomally!

:eyes:

I don't think any other candidate either could or would say this. Whether he is nominated or not it is good that someone is saying this.

Don

Why is it "not good" that someone is saying this? THIS is what needs to be said. This is what diplomacy is about--trying to understand the difference in thinking between you and your neighbor.

The "us" and "them" approach with US being right and THEM being wrong is not working, clearly. Look at Israel and Palestine. Is that the kind of relationship the US needs with the entire Middle East?

Of course we have to try to understand why they think the way they do and why so many are unhappy with the US. That's not saying we have to change to be the way the Arab community wants us to be but rather we have to address the concerns and issues they have with the US through dialogue.

This, in my opinion, is EXACTLY what a democratic candidate should be saying.

"Whether he is nominated or not it is good that someone is saying this."

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Once I get past this sincerity/credibility issue I have with you. Completely isolate/alienate yourself from Bushco/PNAC/Likud in repeated public statements that you can't rescind and I'm yours.

During the height of the French bashing, when none save the likes of Molly Ivins came to the defense of the French and French Culture, when every Democratic candidate was silent on the Freedom Fries issue or the statements by Republican Congressmen that the French language was dead and their culture impoverished, when no Congressmen or women on either side of the aisle objected to eliminating all French words in the menu in the White House cafeteria, Clark had the utter arrogance and audicity to speak his mind, whatever anyone thought of him. Here's what he was quoted as saying about the hated French:

From the Washington Post, March 12, 2003:

“…Clark says America's relations with its traditional allies can be repaired. France, he says, is the country most like the United States. "They have a worldview, they have a lot of pride. France and Texas, they're two sides of the same coin." It's the job of statesmen to build bridges, Clark says…”

That might bring the Muslim American voters into the dem camp.