There have been many diaries in the past few weeks bemoaning the fact that General Clark has not thrown his hat into the "presidential race" and he is losing any chance to be taken seriously.
Excuse me, the General is one of the most serious men I have ever met in my life, I unlike most people had the chance to work for the man when he was a Colonel in charge of the Operations Group at the National Training Center st Fort Irwin, when he arrived on post most of the secretaries were all fluttered with the "movie star Colonel" they were all crushed to learn he was married. Then again when I was activated for Desert Storm, I was again sent to NTC where Brigadier General Clark was the base Commander.
My perspective of General Clark comes from being one of his subordinate Non-Commissioned Officers, I was a Staff Sergeant, I doubt if Colonel Clark even remembers me, I was one of hundreds at NTC.
The rotation for readiness deployment during Desert Storm was even a bigger mess, it was the largest rotation of Infantry Brigades sent there at once, since it was created, they had men covering the entire one thousand square miles of the base.
Yet due to his leadership, the base was capable in it's mission to train, support rations, other supplies, vehicle repair, train convoys, a remarkable under taking, and it went off pretty much flawless, that happens thru excellent leadership, not by accident.
As the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces of NATO, he led the action in Kosovo, not one soldier lost his life, primarily because it was an air war, but there have been ground forces in the country since the end of hostilities to keep the peace. Did he do everything perfectly, probably not, but the overall war was a NATO success, and he did testify in the war crimes trial of Milosivic, so he does beleive in International Law at the Hague.
But as Commander of NATO he also had other responsibilities, he made sure the American schools had the best facilities possible to educate the children of Americans stationed in Europe, recreational facilities, shopping at the PX and Commissary, more things than most Governors have to deal with.
He also had to deal with foreign heads of state and Prime Ministers, and defense ministers, he honed his diplomatic and foreign relations skills during his time there. He is a well respected American in Europe, to me that is a big plus as a President, they trust him, not because of words, but by his proven actions.
I know that when you speak to him, he doesn't pretend to listen, he absorbs it, and asks pertinent questions, he gets answers to the problems, if he doesn't know them. He is a brilliant man, and knows he does not "know" everything, but he knows how to find the best and the brightest to help him.
Eric Massa is well known in this communit and I think you all know how he feels about the Generals leadership skills.
During the 2006 election cycle the Generals WESPAC raised thousands of dollars for democratic candidates from California to Maine and from Washinton State to Florida, he did not raise money for himself for 2008, he helped the party.
Right now he is working to shape policy on this administrations plan to start a war with Iran and he is working to stop it, he spoke against the Iraq war before Congress in 2002, he has spoken on behalf of the veterans needing more help with mental health and education on return from war.
I have worked with a few men that went on to become 4 stars, none of them held a candle to Wes, he is heads above them, the term I would "follow him to hell and back" is appropriate here, in Wes's case I would. I would trust him with my kids lives in the military, if he felt they needed to do something, I would tend to trust him, not the same feelings I have about these Neocons, I have asked my son to stay away from the military while the Neocons are in charge of the military, they don't support the veterans or the military, they are objects to be used.
I will gladly support Wes's run for President, if he chooses not to run, then I will assess the others in the race, and make my decision accordingly, but it is safe to say I won't be voting for anyone but a Democrat.