Post from Wes Clark's Blog:
The Danger of Silence
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Silence.

That is what worries me. With every passing day that the administration won’t talk to Iran, we come closer to an Iranian nuclear weapon, and the time at which the decision must be made whether or not the administration will use its military option.

In today’s video blog, Jon Soltz, chairman of VoteVets.org, and I discuss the serious consequences of using military force against Iran–the impact on our men and women in uniform, U.S. influence in the region, and the stability of the Middle East.

The Bush Administration may refuse to have direct talks with Iran, but we cannot remain silent.



An attack on Iran will put additional strain on our already overextended military. It could well affect the United States’ ability to extricate our forces from Iraq, as our troops will likely face even more attacks on the ground. And there will be potential for hostilities on American embassies abroad, a hike in oil prices, and an increased likelihood of terrorist attacks wherever Hizballah has active cells. You just don’t know, and quite frankly, I don’t want us to find out.

I need you to stand with me today.

Make your voice heard. Tell George W. Bush war with Iran is not the answer. Visit StopIranWar.com and sign the petition today!

Then be sure to watch our latest video blog.

Your efforts are having an impact. The media is starting to pay attention. Democratic leaders in Washington are starting to act. But we can't rest now. We cannot remain silent.


Reader Comments
  
Re: The Danger of Silence
By Paul Thompson Mar 28th 2007 at 2:47 pm EDT
I believe an undeclared Presidential candidacy to be a form of silence.

Let's face it, popular blog or no, solid ideas or no, terrific personal history or no, the national media are not known for covering undeclared candidates. They're not good at covering declared candidates they don't view as sexy (i.e. Dennis Kucinich), either, but they do occasionally mention those candidates and their positions. About the highly-qualified undeclared, we get silence.

So c'mon, General, put up or shut up. Personally, I'm hoping for "put up". You have credentials none of the declared candidates share. Yours would be a uniquely strong voice among the blather we're now hearing.

You're absolutely right -- we can't afford silence.

Paul Thompson
Re: The M Word!
By RDillon Mar 28th 2007 at 11:01 pm EDT
If he isn't President I sure hope our next President would consider Clark for Secretary of Defense. That office definately needs respectability brought back to it and Clark would do one hell of a job.
  
War
By Democrat in New York, NY Mar 29th 2007 at 2:09 pm EDT
Unfortunately, we enter in the past 2/3 wars without the intention to win. Winning: meaning dissemination of democracy on earth. My observation is heart breaking-but we must regroup.We must decide what we are going to leave to our children.Like or not we are the leader of the free world. A fellow patriot.
  
Correct again, Wes!
By Democrat in Windham, OH Mar 29th 2007 at 10:09 pm EDT
Keep putting the country first---God knows the present administration is incompetent at that!
We are ready whenever you are, General.
Ohio4Clark08 When America needs leadership--We reach for the stars-****-four of them!
  
Avoiding War with Iraq
By Kate Mar 30th 2007 at 2:03 am EDT
Honesty would help. I wonder. Were the British sailors in Iranian or Iraqi waters when they were seized. If they were in Iranian waters I hope Tony will be straight up that they were.
Honesty here at home. Why would we be going to war? Are we the people going to demand a better answer this time? Have we got a dialog going with our Representatives and Senators so they know what we want, and don't want? When is the US going to start showing some respect for the United Nations?...for any nation for that matter and that nation's leadership?
  
Is Wes Clark in the race for President?
By Democrat in Anderson, SC Apr 4th 2007 at 8:21 pm EDT
I was wondering whether or not Wes Clark was in the Democratic race for the White House in 2008?

He would be my 3rd choice for President if he were to get into the race. I like Barack Obama best, followed by John Edwards.

Now, to respond to the post by Wes.

I agree with Wes that it would be a bad idea for us to get into it with Iran right now, because we are already tied down too much in Iraq. We should have stayed out of Iraq and kept our eye on Al Queda, and problem nations such as Iran and North Korea. But, I do think that diplomacy woudl be the best way of dealing with both Iran and North Korea. Because I don't think that those two nations really want to attack us, I just think that they may think that we want to attack them. Maybe that is why Iran wants a nuclear weapon so bad. They may be thinking that since we invaded Iraq the way we did, that we would also want to invade their country. We should make it clear to Iran and North Korea that we do not, and would not attack them unjustifiably.
  
Bush Must Go
By Wanjala Apr 10th 2007 at 6:55 am EDT
I am really support that Bush must stop to attack Iran and Iraq to remove Troops and after that he should come back for discussing. Bush has misuse the properties for America and many soldiers died due to neglected President Bush. Instead to support developing countries to fighting against disease, Hunger, poverty, and even to uplift their live of the people. Bush has used alot billions in Iraq and i hope Democratic party we are behind do support them. I am african but i normally be painful the way Iraq innocent people suffering and even American. I am going to fasting due to that situation.Let us be working together and remove Bush without any enforce.Democratic Party i request you to visit africans countries to see their suggestion. They are against to President Bush.
  
I have said it before and I will say it again it is time for change
By Adam Apr 30th 2007 at 3:50 pm EDT
Today we see many things and one is a president, who in military terms, has gone AWOL. He fired Gen. Abiziad because he told the president that no more troops are needed in Iraq and that a "surge" in troops would only lead to more problems. Our president refuses to listen to congress and according to him believes strongly that "Politicians have no say in what generals do." This has lead to battle within the Congressional and Executive halls and thus we see the effects on national television. After the vietnam war the communist leader told U.S Media that they actually watched CNN and knew the situation in the country with the protesters so on so forth. He said that this gave hope to his men and thus actually caused an increase in soldiers. Today public media has far advanced and even now I have no doubt that Osama bin Laden, Al-Sadr and other top terrorist group leaders are watching the current battle between the foundations of our government. With the ever increasing doom of a war with Iran or North Korea we see and come to a fast realization. The war will not only shake the foundations of your children or my children in the future but it will shake the foundations of my great grand-children. War with Iran or North Korea is something that we must try to stop at all costs. I feel as a future soldier of this nation that we need to one get out of this civil war or "Sectarian war" as president Bush calls and continue with diplomatic relations with Iran and North Korea with the assistance of other Middle eastern nations and the friends of those nations in question. Unfortunately at this point in time the United Nations is not strong enough to help us with these problems. Economic Sanctions will not work on the two countries in question it will only mass genocide by the people of those nations for the little food that will exist. Since the dictator or "elected" president holds most of the food as it is. Also an invasion of Iran would cause problems for our boys in other countries were we have posts and embassies. With the invasion of Iran, several terrorist cells would use it as a reason to join their cause thus causing a spike in terrorist recruitment. Gen. Clark is right when he says that we cannot remain silent. For the past eight years we have been silent and because of this we are in the end the reason we have almost 4000 dead soldiers. We blame the administration, but our elected officials gave the go ahead for mass invasion of the Iraqi country. Since then we have learned from our mistakes and because of that we must make sure that peaceful negotiations continue with N. Korea and Iran. As individuals we can make a difference but as a group and as a nation we can change not only the lives of ourselves but our children and the future of America.
  
Thank you sir.
By Amanda May 11th 2007 at 10:01 am EDT
General Clark,

Thank you for this post. I am very worried about the parallel precursors to the Iraq war we are seeing now with Iran. My first post was about this, and I included 2 videos with Scott Ridder speaking of this very situation. I hope more Americans wake up about this. Thank you also for the link to the petition against going to war with Iran as a first resort, which I was proud to sign. I still wonder how much damage this President and his administration can do in the next year and few months.


And I would love to see you make a run for President again in 2008.
  
Time's ticking...
By Patriotic08 May 11th 2007 at 6:07 pm EDT
Silence, worries me too Mr. Clark. It's time to start: listening and sharing our objectives if we want to co-existence with Iran, or exist at all.

To me, building any sort of weaponry to potentially use against another nation is a sign of fear. We need to extinguish the fear by extending a hand and not fueling the fire.
Re: Time's ticking...
By Ed Strinko Aug 15th 2007 at 11:03 am EDT
General Clark:
Thank you for your service to your country and your sharp preceptions. Silence? Yes, can we hear more from you? For example, speaking out for the candidate you like best. In other words, end your silence and endorse a candidate. Surely that candidate would be Joe Biden.
  
T
By !!!!a Blue Pages - Save Environment and $! Jan 22nd 2008 at 7:18 pm EST
I thing you right!