Clark in N.H. yesterday: "lack of vision at the top in this country."

NASHUA, N.H. -- Former Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark says President Bush should be pushing for words, not war, with Iran.

Clark told a firefighters' convention Wednesday that it looks like the president is lurching toward a conflict with Iran over the country's nuclear plans. He said he favors direct talks instead.

"Right now we're being led down a path to nowhere," Clark told the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire, who had gathered for the final day of their biennial convention. The group also received visits earlier in the week from Sen. John Kerry and Sen. Joseph Biden.

Clark called for a special prosecutor who would be empowered to go beyond the Justice Department in following the ramifications of the lobbying scandals that have engulfed the capitol. He said such an investigation should go from the "highest offices in Washington to wherever that network extends throughout America."

Clark emphasized the importance of improving U.S. foreign relations, including dialogue between the United States and Iran. "We need a dialogue with Iran. I'm told we had opportunities to have that dialogue," he said. "It's been rebuffed three times.

"Our homeland security starts abroad," he said. "We've got to have people that trust us and work with us. This administration hasn't done all it can do to develop that."

In speaking with reporters after his appearance, Clark did not join the chorus of critics over the nomination of Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden to head the CIA. "He's an honest man, he's a fine intelligence officer, and I'm sure he has the integrity and courage to do a great job," he said.

He dismissed concerns over Hayden's military background. "The problem is with the lack of vision at the top in this country," said Clark.

Clark also said the controversial domestic surveillance program, which Hayden has strongly supported, should be fully examined by the appropriate Congressional committees to determine whether it's within the law.

The United States needs a regional strategy for the Middle East, which would include dialogue with both Syria and Iran. "We need to be talking to people even if we disagree with them," he said.

Clark would not say if he will run in 2008, but, he said, "I haven't said I'm not going to run."

In his speech, Clark, who has been a harsh critic of the Iraq war, also recalled the early days after Sept. 11, when he says he learned of plans to invade Iraq. About a week after the attacks, he said he visited the Pentagon and was told of the Iraq plan by the generals in the joint staff who used to work for him. "I was absolutely stunned," he said.

Several months later, after the United States had begun its war in Afghanistan, Clark asked if the Iraq invasion was still the plan. He said his military contacts told him, "`Oh sir, it's worse than that. This is the memo that outlines a five-year campaign plan: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and we're going to end up in Iran.'"

"I said, `Is that a classified piece of paper?'" Clark said. "And he said, 'Oh, yes sir.' I said, 'I don't want to see it.'"

http://securingamerica.com/node/954
(there is also a video link there)

Brilliant man...and we need every brilliant and patriotic person we can get to turn around the mess we'll be left with.

I just hope we've made enough racket to toss Bush an anchor regarding his (and Cheney's and Rumsfeld's) quaint "five-year plan".

However, they may have given up on Syria and are going to go for broke by just cutting to Iran, I fear.