Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Clark's Chess Match

General Wesley Clark, and 2004 presidential candidate, had an op-ed piece in today's USA Today. The article is entitled, "The Next Move." In it, Clark lays out his plan for Iraq. He writes:

The right approach is a coordinated diplomatic, legal, economic and security campaign drawing upon broader dialogue in the region and intensified political work inside Iraq.

Here is how to do this:

•Establish an effective, sustained shuttle diplomacy within the region.

•Form a high-level interagency diplomatic team, representing the White House and secretaries of State and Defense and led by an experienced, respected diplomat.

•Begin talks within Iraq, and with all its neighbors, based on a clear set of principles outlined by the team. The goal would be to seek the commitments necessary to achieve our aims inside Iraq and also advance U.S. interests in the region.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm understanding that our "goal" in Iraq is to bring enough stability for us to leave. I am glad that he points out our need to make it clear that we will have no permanent bases in Iraq.

Since Wes Clark has been consistently correct about what will happen next, and if anyone had listened to him---like Bush---we wouldn't be where we are today.

This Op Ed provides much to think about...very different from the vague posturing by too many others.

Donna Z

Anonymous said...

This is a broad canvass of what Wes Clark would do in detail and diplomatic skill. Too bad Dumbnuts in the WH will not heed such sage advice. This is the only strategy and one that Clark has articulated many times. It must proceed on the diplomatic (between nations), political (within Iraq) and military levels -- probably in that order.

Noel