The General: Did Clark Fail to Salute? (Clarks NATO Firing)

Newsweek ^ | Feb 2, 2004 | Evan Thomas and T. Trent Gegax

[XHogPilot]

Wes Clark won a war, but ran afoul of his Pentagon masters and lost his job. (snip)

Gen. Hugh Shelton, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that Clark had been sacked as commander of NATO forces after the 1999 Balkans war because of "integrity and character issues." (snip)

What really happened? According to a knowledgeable source, Clark ran afoul of Cohen and Shelton by being less than totally forthcoming in morning conference calls during the Kosovo war in the spring of 1999. From his NATO headquarters in Brussels, Clark wanted to wage the war more aggressively, but back in the Pentagon, Cohen and Shelton were more cautious. They would give Clark instructions on, for instance, the scale of the bombing campaign. "Clark would say, 'Uh-huh, gotcha'," says NEWSWEEK's source. But then he would pick up the phone and call [British Prime Minister] Tony Blair and [Secretary of State] Madeleine [Albright]." As Clark knew full well, Blair and Albright were more hawkish than Shelton and Cohen. After talking to the State Department and NATO allies, Clark would have a different set of marching orders, says the source, who has spoken about the matter with both Cohen and Clark. "Then, about 1 o'clock, the Defense Department would hear what Clark was up to, and Cohen and Shelton would be furious (snip)

[XHogPilot]

This must be where the saying "An Army of One" originated. Failed to follow the direction of Secretary of Defense. Why is this scum drawing a retirement check? Why is he not on trial/in jail?

[Lauratealeaf]

Isn't 'scum' a little harsh?

No.

[RichardW]

Doing an "end-around" is a certain way to get fired. I'd have fired him myself and enjoyed it.

[cake_crumb]

Is this the same Newsweek that ran a fantasy article which left the reader with the impression that a poll of Democrats in New Hampshire was a national poll showing that Kerry would beat GW in the general election? Yes, it is.

[BigWaveBetty]

Isn't 'scum' a little harsh?

XHogPilot is being too kind. I believe lying, egotistical scum is more appropriate.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Clark is, in fact, scum.

He is that typical '90s Clinton-approved officer who will transgress every moral and legal boundary to grasp the next rung on the ladder.

I've served with these fellow officers and no one hates them more than I do.....

[cake_crumb]

"Why is he not on trial/in jail?"

Because he's Bill Clinton's pet general, that's why.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Brevity is the soul of wit.

[Cautor]

Idaho5412... Since Jan 25, 2004

Actually, scum is too gentle a term to describe this lying, two-faced, butt-kissing, un-American perfumed prince. That's why watching him self-immolate is great fun.

[cynicom]

Harsh? Not at all.

[cake_crumb]

"Isn't 'No' a little too brief of a response? "

No.

[rintense]

Depends on what the meaning of no is. /s

[leadpenny]

For being first in his class at West Point, Wesley can't be too smart. This story has the smell of Hillary all over it. (I know, that's not a good thought.)

He should have seen this coming.

[Jeff Chandler]

Doing an "end-around" is a certain way to get fired.

Indeed. "Back Dooring" your superiors is taboo in the private sphere and in the military.

[expatpat]

"You people always want to bomb someone. It's some kind of orgasm." Albright silenced the men in the room by remarking, "I forget what an orgasm is."

I'll bet that did silence them. Who wants to deal with the vision of Halfbright and orgasms!

[Mike Darancette]

I think Clark is now toast along with Dean.

[xzins]

Was Clark going around them? Not really. As NATO commander, Clark told NEWSWEEK, "I wore two hats."

The issue is not an issue of "who" his bosses were, but rather an issue of being a straight shooter. Apparently, Clark didn't level with Shelton. One of the 4 c's critical to any military career is CANDOR. (Courage, Competence, Commitment being the other 3.) These are drummed into every soldier, and especially into leaders.

The way Clark was playing it, his lack of Candor with Shelton and Cohen left them hanging in the wind.

[eastforker]

Alittle off topic but not realy. Concerning nuclear protocol and the football. If a sitting President decided to launch a nuke, who or what if any could stop it. Also, if one needed to be launched and the President refused, could anyone else initiate a launch. If no one here knows, where would on go to find out?