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   <title>RAPID FIRE - Silver Bullets</title>
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   <id>tag:,2007:/14</id>
   <updated>2007-03-20T07:25:57Z</updated>
   <subtitle>Walking point for General Wesley Clark</subtitle>
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<entry>
   <title>How &quot;They&quot; Tried to Smear Wes Clark and how it didn&apos;t Work!</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/03/how_they_tried_to_smear_wes_cl.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.943</id>
   
   <published>2007-03-20T06:54:08Z</published>
   <updated>2007-03-20T07:25:57Z</updated>
   
   <summary>This is a follow post on a story that I have followed since January of this year on the attempted smear against Wes Clark by the &quot;Powers that Be&quot;. We should recall that Wes Clark dared to discuss those uncomfortable...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="08 Primary Press Smears" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="IRAN" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Swiftboats at Work!" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="139" label="AIPAC" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="54" label="Iran" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
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   <category term="217" label="Smear" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[This is a follow post on a story that I have followed since January of this year on the attempted smear against Wes Clark by the "Powers that Be".  We should recall that Wes Clark dared to discuss those uncomfortable issues that are deemed "Taboo", i.e., "Third Rail" in our politics; the powerful affects of the AIPAC lobby on our politics extending to both sides of the aisle. 

Read the three articles at the links that I have posted below to find out how Wesley Clark changed the dialogue for the better with some steadfast courage, sacrifice,  and a little help from some likemind bloggers.

<a href="http://amconmag.com/2007/2007_03_12/article.html ">Bloggers vs. the Lobby </a>
Israel’s propaganda fortress faces a surprising new challenge. 
March 12, 2007 Issue 

<a href="http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=25293">Who Is More Pro Israel? </a>
Taylor Marsh 3/17/07

<a href="http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10697">Iraq, Iran, and the Lobby </a>
Four years after the invasion of Iraq, and the War Party is still in the driver's seat 
March 17, 2007

Also see <a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/01/wes_clark_and_the_new_york_mon.html">my previous post </a>and <a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/the_new_york_sun_confirms_it_j.html">this one </a>as well for a full accounting of the events as they happened.
											



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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>What in the Tarnation is Going On?  Iran and Other Occurrences.</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/03/what_in_the_tarnation_is_going.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.935</id>
   
   <published>2007-03-13T08:22:09Z</published>
   <updated>2007-03-13T09:01:44Z</updated>
   
   <summary>While Scott Ritter puts the odds at 80% that Bush is on the warpath to Iran on Friday; this Monday’s headline read that Top House Democrats have retreated in their attempts to limit Bush’s war mongering authority against Iran. The...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="IRAN" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="91" label="Chuck Hagel" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="209" label="Debates" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="213" label="Fox News" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="215" label="Fred Thompson" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="54" label="Iran" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
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   <category term="211" label="Nevada" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="67" label="War" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[While <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NH_IRAN_RITTER_NHOL-?SITE=NHMAL&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">Scott Ritter puts the odds at 80% that Bush is on the warpath to Iran on Friday</a>; this Monday’s headline read that <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20070312-1603-us-iraq.html">Top House Democrats have retreated in their attempts to limit Bush’s war mongering authority against Iran.</a> The Dems are saying that they can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. They are currently dealing with Iraq, and can’t do both, they say. 

And in other 'not quite as important" news, (and please, don't even roll your eyes to the back of your head like I did), <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/11/politics/main2556730.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_2556730">Republican "Law & Order" actor former Senator guy  announced he was running for President today!</a> 

Meanwhile also "hot" news, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-browner-hamlin/hagel-punts-announcement-_b_43221.html">Sen. Chuck Hagel decided to announce that he wasn’t announcing his candidacy just yet</a>. Guess it took a "special" news conference for Chuck Hagel to say what Wes Clark has been saying without one all along; I need to concentrate on the policies, but haven’t said I wasn’t running. 

To be honest, so far I’m more impressed with the quiet strength and determination of General Clark's one sentence non denial then with the Senator Hagel's noisy 3 day long announcement of a New conference to be held for the purpose of a possible announcement that turned out to announce that there won’t be an announcement....... right now, anyways.

But looks like Fred (<a href="http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2007/03/11/image2556731g.jpg">mad looking White bald guy</a>) got more news coverage than Chuckie.
 
Why Am I not surprised?

Now, if you want to watch a  real prime grade A-1 presidential timber at work, see Student reporter (read real reporter) interview Wes Clark at Colgate University recently <a href="http://www.colgate.edu/DesktopDefault1.aspx?tabid=730&pgID=6013&nwID=4957">here! </a>

And last but not least, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/us/politics/10nevada.html">Nevada's Democratic party attempting to put Fox News on ignore and bowing out of the scheduled Nevada Democratic Debates</a> was a terrible decision, IMO. Not so much that it was done, but more importantly, <a href="http://dekerivers.wordpress.com/2007/03/09/thanks-to-the-leadership-of-john-edwards/">how it was done.</a> To refuse to face the enemy never works.....in fact, it normally backfires. 

<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20070311/pl_usnw/cancelled_presidential_debates_smack_of_manipulation_by__run_and_hide__candidates">Dennis Kucinich agrees with me on this</a>, and so does Bill Maher, as he clearly stated on Larry King last night. 

Our Democratic hopes and ideals are powerful and I believe, if artfully articulated, can convert even some of the most brainwashed among us. As far as propagandizing, Fox will continue(cause that's what they do; it is their reason d'etre) without being countered. How does this serve the Democratic Party? 

And further, any candidate who doesn't speak clearly and forcefully about the <a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2006/12/wes_clarks_feeling_on_media_co.html">need to reverse media conglomeration</a> doesn't need to try to have us believe that somehow we can change one news network simply by not dealing with them. The Media Giants are all pretty much the same, with ABC, CNN and MSNBC not being that much better no matter what we "want" to think at any given time. Who was chanting on the warpath going into Iraq?....it wasn't just FOX. Who legitimized the Swift Boat Vets last election? Not just Fox.

We have to get the Democratic message out to anyone with a TV...period. That's how we won election 2006. We won in FOX watching RED Districts. Howard Dean's 50 State strategy means more than just be there....it also means, communicate and let them know of the alternative! We can run, and if we run, we cannot hide!






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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Dear Amy Goodman, Wes Clark&apos;s facts on the 1999 RTS TV Station Nato Bombing are Accurate</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/03/facts_on_the_1999_rts_tv_stati.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.925</id>
   
   <published>2007-03-04T01:20:52Z</published>
   <updated>2007-03-05T00:34:49Z</updated>
   
   <summary>It does appear that the station was adequately forewarned, and it does appear that Pres. Milosovic  bears responsibility for the ultimate deaths of the 16 that died due to the NATO bombing.  Had the warnings NATO  and Gen. Clark gave been heeded, the 16  would not have perished.  </summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="2004 Primary Press Smears" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="KOSOVO &amp; Wes Clark as NATO Commander 1997-2000" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="188" label="Amy Goodman" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="194" label="Bombing" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="186" label="Democracy Now" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="190" label="Interview" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="198" label="Journalism" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="192" label="Kosovo" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
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   <category term="196" label="RTS" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[I watched <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/02/1440234">Wesley Clark's interview with Amy Goodman</a> via Democracy Now yesterday.  I enjoyed the interview so much, I was moved to write Ms. Goodman a letter.  I addressed such to: <a href="http://mail@democracynow.org">mail@democracynow.org</a>

<blockquote>
Dear Amy Goodman & the Producers of Democracy Now, 

I wanted to thank you for the interview that you conducted with General Wes Clark and recently aired on your television program. As the first 4 Star General to proudly call himself a Democrat, 
I'm encouraged that many of your viewers got to see Wes Clark answering your questions without the now routine antagonistic gotcha format often time seen. As one very closely related to members of the armed forces, I'm glad to see less blame fall on our military, and greater accountability given to our civilian leaders, who have much more say on our Foreign Policy and our ultimate action in wars.

I found Wes Clark to be refreshingly honest, even if at times I didn't totally agree with his take on certain issues. I believe that authenticity and reasoned competence are important factors required for  anyone involved in politics and discussions about war and peace. 

In reference to one of your questions posed on the NATO Bombing of the RTS Studio, I did some internet research and found Wes Clark to have answered your question truthfully. It does appear that the station was adequately forewarned, and it does appear that Pres. Milosovic  bears responsibility for the ultimate deaths of the 16 who died due to the NATO bombing. Had the warnings NATO and Gen. Clark gave been heeded, the 16 would not have perished. 

I am enclosing my internet research thus far as to the truth of that incident. I would suggest that you order the award winning book, "Silence on Aberdareva Street" by Zoran Janjic being discussed in several of the  articles I am linking.  
Respectfully, 
XXXXX

-------------
Author of book 'Silence in Aberdareva' claims: Milosevic sacrificed RTS employees 'Dan graf', a publisher of Belgrade,<strong> published a book with proofs that former Yugoslav  president Slobodan Milosevic sacrificed on purpose 16 employees of Radio and Television  of Serbia during NATO air strikes on our country in 1999.</strong> In the book it is further claimed that the action was carried out in cooperation with then Yugoslav Army and top officials of RTS. <strong>The aim was getting of decisive advantage in propaganda war against the international community. </strong>

Zoran Janic, the author of the book called 'Silence in Aberdareva' points out that <u>from the documents and reliable testimonies it can be concluded that NATO and even its commander in Europe General Wesley Clark had informed Milosevic on time about their intention to bomb RTS.</u> Former RTS director Dragoljub Milanovic is the only serving prison sentence for the death of 16 RTS employees, although it is obvious that several other of them knew in advance what was going to happen. 'The Army had not only the transcript of the intercepted conversation between the pilot of the combat jet that took off at Aviano, Italy, but <strong>as it turned out later on, knew about the  attack three days in advance',</strong> the author of the book says.
<a href="http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0604&L=twatch-l&D=1&O=A&P=18710">http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0604&L=twatch-l&D=1&O=A&P=18710</a>



Vesna Peric Zimonjic 
 Inter Press Service English News Wire 
05-03-2006 
BELGRADE, May 2, 2006 (IPS/GIN) -- 
A book by a Serbian journalist has again stirred controversy over the NATO bombing of the Radio Television of Serbia building in Belgrade in April 1999. Sixteen people were killed in the attack.  The book "Silence on Aberdareva Street" blames the Serbian regime then led by
Slobodan Milosevic and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for the bombing. "This was a premeditated sacrifice of 16 innocent people by the  regime, with the aim of scoring a propaganda point," author Zoran  Janjic ...
<a href="http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-122938074.html  ">http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-122938074.html  </a>
---------------
<strong>Letter to Carla Del Ponte </strong>
Jasmina Tesanovic's blog -
 28.09.2006, 18:17:22 

Dear Mrs. Del Ponte, 
 
Referring to the trial of former Serbian State officials for the crimes committed in Kosovo during the war there I want to attract you attention to the fact that these people, this criminal group, did not kill only the OTHERS, that is people of other nationalities, but also people of their own nationality, their compatriots, when it suited them. One of the particular crimes was the act of deliberately targeting 16 employees of Television Belgrade (RTS) to win the propaganda war with the West. For that crime nobody was convicted except the former RTS General manager Dragoljub Milanovic, who was sentenced to 10 years on charges of negligence, that is, he was accused of violating a governmental order about evacuation from the TV building. There is a book about the crime,  which came out in Serbia in April "Silence in Aberdareva street" which summarizes  brilliantly all the existing evidences and even offers some new evidence that the top Serbian State and Military officials of the time knowingly left the television staff to be killed since they had been informed previously about the upcoming NATO raid. 

In connection with the crime there are at least three indictees in the Hague: there is former Yugoslav Army Chief of staff, General Dragoljub Ojdanic, the Third Army Comander General Nebojsa Pavkovic and the former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, who also was a member of the Supreme Defence Council. 
 
The latter two, Pavkovic and Milutinovic, had already suggested that, under certain circumstances (and surely under pressure) they were "willing" to speak about the RTS workers’ victimization. Indications for this can be found on pages 127 and 308 (footnote No 231) of the book, writtenby Zoran Janic.In the case of Milutinovic, who was Serbian President, as well as the Supreme Defense Council member (with Milosevic and President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic) and at the same time CiviDefense Head (and thus in charge of committing the Federal Government order about the RTSbuilding evacuation), the indication that he would talk about the crime arises from his confirmed and well-known cowardliness since, after Milosevic's fall, he offered the new authorities his cooperation swearing to be loyal. During the Kosovo war, in Milutinovic’s office had been where he and other officials coordinated the propaganda war for several months (pages 258-260). His guilt regarding the RTS staff victimization was written about in the book on pages 30, 197 (at the end of the footnote No 150) 212, 253 i 254, 258-260, 309 i 314-316, including the whole last chapter of the book "Silence in Aberdareva street".  

Dear Mrs. Del Ponte, these families are grateful for your readiness to help in our fight for thetruth about the concrete crime committed by the Serbian State officials, the crime in which (according to the book) all the key Milosevic criminal state institutions, including army and secret police, were involved. I believe that the crime, committed on their compatriots, can also be brought under the category of war crimes. If not, then the investigation, although restricted (moguæi dodatak: as it may be), would force Pavkovic, Milutinovic and the former head of the Secret police Jovica Stanisic to admit some new facts about the circumstances of the crime. In this case they have nothing to lose since their boss is dead. 

On the other side, the Serbian Special Court for organized crime, if it agreed to deal with the RTScase, according to the evidence provided in the book "Silence in Aberdareva street", would losepretexts for not having grounds for carrying out a proper investigation. In such a proper investigation, its findings would be that the former Serbian State officals were guilty of a premeditated act of murder. Since the victims are Serbs, rather thanmembers of the other nationalities, it would be an opportunity to talk about Milosevic and his companions as killers. May be this would bea step towards reconsidering the Serbs’ own guilt. 

Yours sincerely,
 Zanka Stojanovic 
( in the names of the victims families) 
<a href="http://blog.b92.net/node/2309 ">http://blog.b92.net/node/2309 </a> also at <a href="http://www.blogodak.com/2006/09/page3 ">http://www.blogodak.com/2006/09/page3 </a>
------------------
<strong>Award for Book "Silence in Aberdareva Street"</strong> 
[Wed, 25/10/2006 | 
(Danas, p.1/October 24, 2006) ]
The award Dusan Boagavac which the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) <strong>grants for journalist ethic and courage was given to Zoran Janic, a journalist and publicist, for the book "Silence in Aberdareva Street". </strong>The award will be presented on 26 October, on the NUNS premises. 
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/yow8fo  ">http://tinyurl.com/yow8fo  </a>
----------------------

<strong>Serbian authorities were informed about RTS bombing beforehand </strong>
Belgrade, 16:11 
<strong>Recently deceased Serbian and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic had deliberately sacrificed 16 journalists killed in the building of the National Broadcaster RTS during NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. </strong>This is stated inthe book "Aberdar's Silence" authored by Zoran Janic and issued by Belgrade-based publishing house "Dan Grafa". <strong>The book contains evidence accounts on the involvement of the, then, top Serbian officials, SCG Army and RTS executives in the bombing of the building, aimed at winning the propaganda war against the International Community.</strong> The book cites official records dating a few days prior to the attack, such is "the death toll would be acceptable with respect to the achieved propaganda effect." <strong>"The documents and confirmed witnesses' testimonies leave no doubt that the Commander of Allied Forces for Europe, General Wesley Clark had notified Milosevic in due time on NATO's intention tobomb the building of RTS", reads Janic's book. </strong> 

 "The top men in RTS were Milosevic's closest aides. During the attack, they were hiding in the vicinity of the RTS building, in order to appear at the scene immediately after the blast and broadcast the material which was to deliver the final blow to the international community", the book further says. 
 
 Besides Dragoljub Milanovic, the general director of RTS at the time, who is the only convicted thus far, his assistant Jovan Ristic, RTS Secretary Dusan Jakovljevic, and editors MiloradKomrakov, Tatjana Lenard and Dusan Vojvodic had information of the imminent attack, the book reads. <strong>"The Army knew about the impending attack three days ahead",</strong> Janic alleges in his book. He quotes a man,  claiming he had witnessed a conversation between Slobodan Milosevic's son Marko and Major-General Aleksandar Bakocevic, which took place in a restaurant in Pozaravec a day ahead of the attack. According to his source, <strong>the interlocutors agreed that "the number of victims would be acceptable comparing with the propaganda effect", </strong>reads "Aberdar's Silence". 
 Makfax Independent News Agency 
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/28zbfz  ">http://tinyurl.com/28zbfz  </a>
<em>(I located this last article a while ago, but the link is no longer active. I have inquired with the reporting news agency about securing a "PDF" of the original article)</em>
--------------------------------

<em>The best books in Serbia today are being written in our courts. Our transcripts may be our only real literature. It is sure that "Legija," that hero of the criminal underground, is writing his own books. His third publication was heavily promoted at the recent book-fair in Belgrade. I've yet to read this masterpiece of his, but I know that it sold like crazy. It certainly outsold, by far, <strong>a prize-winning, factual book by an actual Serbian journalist Zoran Janic, which detailed a sinister war crime by Milosevic, in which that recently-deceased dictator, as one part of his gaudy panoply of war-crimes, sent sixteen Serbian TV technicians to meet their certain doom in a building bombed by NATO.</strong>
</em>
<a href="http://cobrapost.com/documents/lstars.htm">http://cobrapost.com/documents/lstars.htm</a> 
</blockquote>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>The Levin Amendment- The Resolution that Wes Clark was &quot;For&quot;!</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/03/the_levin_amendment_the_resolu.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.926</id>
   
   <published>2007-03-03T04:38:40Z</published>
   <updated>2007-03-04T08:14:03Z</updated>
   
   <summary>on October 10, 2002.  Clark favored  and pushed for the Levin Amendment, the only resolution offered that confined Bush to going to the United Nations to appeal to the U.N. the need for a possible use of force in Iraq. </summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="IRAQ 2002-2003" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Primary Campaign 2004" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="War In Iraq - 2007 to current" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="98" label="2002" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="200" label="Christopher Dodd" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="102" label="Hillary Clinton" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="52" label="Iraq" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
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      <![CDATA[Wes Clark was "for" an Iraq resolution, it just happens that it wasn't the one passed in the Senate on October 10, 2002.  Clark favored and pushed for the Levin Amendment, the only resolution offered that confined Bush to going to the United Nations to appeal to the U.N. the need for a possible use of force in Iraq.  If the President couldn't get what he wanted from the United Nations, he was to return to the Congress prior to taking further action. In other words, the Levin Amendment was not a Carte Blanche to wage war.  Instead it was a road map that pointed first to the U.N., and if unable to persuade them, Bush was to come back for a second authorization from Congress to use unilateral force. 

The Levin Amendment was the Resolution that would have dramatically slowed our march into an elective war that we didn't need to fight aka, the Biggest Strategic Blunder in American History.

Sen. Chafee, the Rhode Island Senator, the lone Republican to have voted against the Lieberman IWR , and  who was defeated in his 2006 re-election bid wrote a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/opinion/01chafee.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin">scathing Op-Ed in the NYT </a>recently asking why Senators who were "sorry"  about their "mistaken" vote hadn't bothered to vote for the Levin Amendment if they only "wanted" to give Bush the authority to work through the U.N.?

Just check out what <a href="http://www.epic-usa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=102 ">EPIC was stating just a day before </a>the 2002 Iraq War Resolution vote!

]]>
      <![CDATA[Senators Clinton, Edwards (co-sponsor of the Lieberman Iraq War Resolution), Biden and Dodd are all  in one way or another "sorry" for their vote.  Yet they all voted against the Levin Amendment, but for Lieberman's Iraq War Resolution. 

The majority of Senators who courageously voted against Lieberman's Iraq War Resolution are the same ones who voted "for" the Levin Amendment.

Confused? 

Well follow the very interesting conversation that ensued on Democratic Underground in reference to the Levin Admendment <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3140690">here</a>.  It will provide all of the information you need to know to understand that those who are sorry now are not telling it like it is.  

Too bad!  A sincere Mea Culpa dealing with the true reasons why these politicians voted as they did would have been much more appreciated than a "Cover me Ass" excuse....which is really all that their words add up to at the end...and yes, especially you <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111101623.html">Mr. John Edwards.  Apologizing 3 years after-the-fact</a> and stating that you were misled is really incredible.  You co-sponsored the doggone Lieberman bill! Geeze!

<strong>also read:</strong>
<a href=" http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/01/dissecting_nagourneys_nyt_arti.html">"Clark Says He Would Have Voted for War "- Dissecting Adam Nagourney's '03 NYT article</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2006/12/what_wes_clark_said_prior_to_t.html">What Wes Clark said prior to The Iraq War</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2006/12/the_iraq_war_resolution_did_cl.html">The Iraq War Resolution - Did Clark support "a" resolution or "the" resolution?</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/01/mining_and_finding_prescient_g.html">Mining and finding Prescient Gems-Clark's 2002 Iraq Congressional Testimony</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/01/wes_clark_on_charlie_rose_on_s.html">Wes Clark in '08! Why Supporting someone who was Right on Iraq in 2002 makes sense.</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/clarks_2002_congressional_test.html">Clark's 2002 Congressional Testimony - Youtube w/t Transcript</a>
]]>
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>One Stop Shop - Get outfitted to Stop War in Iran!</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/03/one_stop_shop_get_outfitted_to.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.911</id>
   
   <published>2007-03-01T15:04:29Z</published>
   <updated>2007-03-01T07:47:25Z</updated>
   
   <summary>&quot;WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER!&quot;</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="IRAN" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="54" label="Iran" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="179" label="Jon Soltz" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="182" label="politics" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="184" label="Seymour Hersh" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="177" label="stopiranwar.com" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="181" label="votevets.org" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="66" label="war" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[There's been <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=stopiranwar.com&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&pwst=1&start=0&sa=N">a lot of buzz about the new website </a>created by <a href="http://securingamerica.com/">Gen. Wes Clark </a>and Jon Soltz (<a href="http://www.votevets.org/">founder of VoteVets.org</a>) to assist us ordinary patriots stop a War BEFORE it happens!

According <a href="http://www.whatsnextblog.com/archives/2007/02/the_way_that_politicians_and.asp">to some</a>, it's a cutting edge campaign!  
It's the tools, stupid!

I watched this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN6IwFsJk2U">YouTube video </a>in which Wes and Jon officially launched their campaign to Stop the War in Iran! I found it via the http://www.stopiranwar.com/ site <a href="http://www.stopiranwar.com/?page_id=16">here</a>

In addition, the <a href="http://www.stopiranwar.com/?page_id=11">radio interviews </a>that Clark and Soltz are doing are kept on the stopiranwar.com site.

I encourage everyone to also read Sy Hersh's excellent article, <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060417fa_fact">The Iran Plans  </a>.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Hersh">SEYMOUR HERSH</a> writes, 
<blockquote> <em>"The Bush Administration, while publicly advocating diplomacy in order to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon, has increased clandestine activities inside Iran and intensified planning for a possible major air attack. 
<>
There is a growing conviction among members of the United States military, and in the international community, that President Bush’s ultimate goal in the nuclear confrontation with Iran is regime change.
<>
A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was “absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get the bomb” if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do “what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do,” and “that saving Iran is going to be his legacy.” </em></blockquote>

It's a long article, none of it too comforting!  In fact, it's hella scary, which is why we need to stop this mess before it becomes a reality! I do not underestimate George Bush and his press.  Not for even one millisecond!

<strong>Order your button, your bumper sticker, or whatever!</strong> <a href="http://stopiranwar.runwesrun.org/">here</a>!  

Also available, <a href="http://stopiranwar.runwesrun.org/downloads.asp ">stopIranWar artwork to download</a>:

Here's my new button! 
<pre><p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px" src="http://wesforpres.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/iraq_iran-button.gif" alt="" width="200" height="200" /></p></pre>

<u><strong>Also watch this </strong></u><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nch43wy8Zb8&mode=related&search=">YouTube Video </a>from David Alterman in response to those who would smear Wes Clark in order to squelch his quest to stop War in Iran.  

So what are you waiting for?  
do your part and then some! <pre><img src="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/images/patriot.gif" alt="" width="32" height="28" /></pre>

<em> "WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER!" </em>
<pre><img style="width: 277px; height: 225px" src="http://images.cafepress.com/product/111456414v1_240x240_Front.jpg" alt="" width="277" height="225" /></pre>



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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>&quot;Hit Men&quot; - Political Satire....or is it?</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/hit_men_well_done_satireor_is.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.902</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-25T15:21:24Z</published>
   <updated>2007-02-25T09:07:19Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Check it out! You&apos;ll be glad you did! You will recognize some in the supporting cast, including Gen. Wes Clark. Consider it a little Pre-Oscar Celebration! Kudos to the actors, the director and the writer(s) - Watch HIT MEN here...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="173" label="ad" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="171" label="advertising" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="172" label="polsters" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="175" label="YouTube" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[Check it out! You'll be glad you did!

You will recognize some in the supporting cast, including Gen. Wes Clark. 

Consider it a little Pre-Oscar Celebration!

Kudos to the actors, the director and the writer(s) - 

<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=4LG79hp1ooc"><strong><u>Watch HIT MEN here</u></strong></a>
<pre><img style="width: 130px; height: 97px" src="http://sjl-static15.sjl.youtube.com/vi/4LG79hp1ooc/2.jpg" alt="" width="130" height="97" /><a href="http://sjl-static15.sjl.youtube.com/vi/4LG79hp1ooc/2.jpg"></a></pre>

]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Too Late for Iraq, but In Time for Iran</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/too_late_for_iraq_but_on_time.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.901</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-25T15:03:52Z</published>
   <updated>2007-02-25T08:20:32Z</updated>
   
   <summary>For those who long ago tuned out the Anna Nicole Smith tabloid case and/or the “much to do about nothing” Clinton and Obama fest, and are actively following what is going in reference to the President’s plans on what to...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="IRAN" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Iran, Darfur, and Rwanda" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="54" label="Iran" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="52" label="Iraq" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[For those who long ago tuned out the Anna Nicole Smith tabloid case and/or the “much to do about nothing”  Clinton and Obama fest, and are actively following what is going in reference to the<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article703548.ece"> President’s plans on what to do about Iran</a>, there are some significant items  being reported!

Apparently, according to the <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fmain.jhtml%3Fxml%3D%2Fnews%2F2007%2F02%2F24%2Fwiran24.xml">U.K. Telegraph</a>, preparations are being made for Israel to launch air attacks on Iran.  I don’t know if this is true, but I do know that it’s damn scary! 

Meanwhile the Sunday Times is reporting that <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1434540.ece"> U.S. Generals are threatening to quit, if America attacks Iran. </a>

In 2002, we, the people were late on the issue of preventing a war. <a href="http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us/">The Iraq War Resolution passed in October</a>; we didn't <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_15%2C_2003_anti-war_protest">take to the streets by the thousands </a>till way too late. Had we been  galvanized in larger numbers prior to October, we could have made a difference. As it were, we didn't realize how terrible it would all turn out. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111101623.html">Some even took years to "get it"</a>. Well now, we all should know.

Gen. Wes <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3124002">Clark took the lead on this long ago</a>, and having someone up front who recognizes dangers before they become dangerous is the best kind of leader.

Like IndianaGreen, a poster on Democratic Underground, <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2743718&mesg_id=2744712">wisely remarked</a>, <em> <strong>“ When someone as level headed as Wes Clark pushes the alarm button about a war on Iran, he got my attention.” </strong></em> 

<a href="http://securingamerica.com/">Wes Clark</a> and <a href="http://www.votevets.org/">VoteVets.org’s </a>new website  <a href="http://www.stopiranwar.com/">http://www.stopiranwar.com/</a>  has <a href="http://www.stopiranwar.com/?page_id=5">handy letter writing tools</a> to write to your Congressional Representatives, and both the national and the local press. I utilized these tools to send many newspaper editors my thoughts on this Iran/boogeyman to bomb scenario that is being marketed to the American people. I can’t post my letters here just yet, because letters published elsewhere on the internet are normally rejected by staff members selecting letters to be printed. Guess they use “google”?

And so I hope that whomever is reading this has already sent their letter to Pres. Bush, their congressional members, and the media on this issue.  It may be one of the most important thing you do.  Don’t delay taking action, because timing is everything.  The corporate media must cover this issue, and not just from the perspective of the administration. 

And remember that the bottomline message has got to be that <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/23/105558/719">“War is not the Answer”. </a>

<u><strong>RECOMMENDED READING: </strong></u>
Clark vs the Neocons on Iran
<a href="http://www.aleftturnforclark.com/2007/02/clark_vs_the_neocons_on_iran.html">http://www.aleftturnforclark.com/2007/02/clark_vs_the_neocons_on_iran.html</a>

War is NOT the answer: Israeli flyover plans?
<a href="http://www.awesclarkdemocrat.com/2007/02/war_is_not_the_answer.htm">http://www.awesclarkdemocrat.com/2007/02/war_is_not_the_answer.htm</a>

WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER - We won't get fooled again
<a href="http://www.moderatingthemadness.com/2007/02/war_is_not_the_answer_we_wont.html">http://www.moderatingthemadness.com/2007/02/war_is_not_the_answer_we_wont.html</a>

General Wes Clark: Fighting the War on Iran While Other Democrats Just Fight Each Other
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-boyce/general-wes-clark-fighti_b_41833.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-boyce/general-wes-clark-fighti_b_41833.html</a>

You can also listen to the Wes Clark's recent interview on Ed Schultz show <a href="http://www.mediamax.com/securingamerica/Hosted/public/EdSchultz_070222.mp3">here</a>

and the excellent Bog Radio Interview with both Wes Clark and VoteVets.org's founder Jon Stoltz <a href="http://www.mediamax.com/securingamerica/Hosted/public/BlogTalkHL070222.mp3">here</a>.]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Join the Wes Clark and VoteVets.org  campaign to  &quot;Stop the War In IRAN&quot;</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/join_the_wes_clark_and_votevet.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.895</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-22T00:41:11Z</published>
   <updated>2007-02-22T00:56:32Z</updated>
   
   <summary> STOP PREVENTATIVE WAR BY TAKING PREVENTATIVE ACTION NOW! Just do it! Click on it and go!...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="IRAN" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="147" label="Bush" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="54" label="Iran" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="170" label="VoteVets" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="67" label="War" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[<strong> <em>STOP PREVENTATIVE WAR BY TAKING PREVENTATIVE ACTION NOW! </em></strong>
Just do it! 

Click on it and go!
<a href="http://ga4.org/campaign/stopiranwar"><img src="http://www.stopiranwar.com/images/stopiranwar.jpg" border="0" alt="Stop the Iran War" /></a> 

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   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Rwanda - General Clark&apos;s involvement</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/rwanda_general_clarks_involvem.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.891</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-21T08:00:15Z</published>
   <updated>2007-02-25T08:54:46Z</updated>
   
   <summary>If you go here, you&apos;ll get a more fully sourced synopsis on Wes Clark&apos;s involvement in attempting to get Washington to respond to the terrible genocide as it was happening in Rwanda. Rwanda.... On a more practical level, we need...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Iran, Darfur, and Rwanda" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="KOSOVO &amp; Wes Clark as NATO Commander 1997-2000" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="RWANDA" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="166" label="Clinton" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="156" label="genocide" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="164" label="Rwanda" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="168" label="Samantha Power" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[If you go <a href="http://journals.democraticunderground.com/FrenchieCat/86">here</a>, you'll get a more fully sourced synopsis on Wes Clark's involvement in attempting to get Washington to respond to the terrible genocide as it was happening in Rwanda.

<blockquote><a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/04/03/edbryer_ed3_.php"><strong>Rwanda....</strong> </a>
On a more practical level, we need to see the provision of forces and resources on the ground that were so tragically lacking in Rwanda. Throughout the three months of slaughter, from April to June 1994, there were ample opportunities for a relatively small, well-trained force to intervene and stop genocide in its tracks. There were many proposals — <u><em>not least from U.S. General Wesley Clark, who presented a plan for a small force to establish corridors of escape. </em></u></blockquote>

<a href="http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20031006&s=ackerman100603">This article</a>, referring to Wes Clark's frustration:
<blockquote>Throughout the '90s, he bridled at U.S. inaction, particularly in Rwanda, where rampaging Hutu militiamen murdered 800,000 Tutsi in 100 days. The response from Washington was worse than nothing: Secretary of State Warren Christopher urged a "full, orderly withdrawal" of U.N. peacekeepers, lest the United States be called upon to relieve the rump force, a prospect the Pentagon adamantly opposed. <u>Clark, then Shalikashvili's policy director, was ashamed. </u>He later observed to author Samantha Power, "The Pentagon is always going to be the last to want to intervene." In Waging Modern War, <u>Clark implies that the military dishonored itself "when we stood by as nearly a million Africans were hacked to death.</u>" </blockquote>

and I'll sadly leave you with this excerpt from a <a href="http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2003/030801_mfe_clark_4.html">2003 Esquire interview </a>with General Clark to echo in your hearts:

<blockquote><em>The United States, however, wouldn't invade Rwanda, although Clark pushed his mentor, General John Shalikashvili, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, to push for an intervention. Shalikashvili declined after Clark told him twenty thousand troops would be required, and as Clark says now, "I watched as we stood by as eight hundred thousand people were hacked to death by machete." </em>
</blockquote>

]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Clark&apos;s 2002 Congressional Testimony - Youtube w/t Transcript</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/clarks_2002_congressional_test.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.890</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-21T07:20:52Z</published>
   <updated>2007-03-04T06:06:33Z</updated>
   
   <summary>I located an excellent post on Democratic Underground by Clark Supporter, Westcott. It provides both the transcripts and Video Testimony that General Clark gave to Congress back in September of 2002. It&apos;s priceless! Go here and see what I mean!...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="IRAQ 2002-2003" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="98" label="2002" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="160" label="Congress" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="52" label="Iraq" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="162" label="Testimony" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[I located an excellent post on Democratic Underground by Clark Supporter, Westcott.

It provides both the transcripts and Video Testimony that General Clark gave to Congress back in September of 2002. 

It's priceless! 

Go <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3122718">here </a>and see what I mean! 

<pre><img style="width: 132px; height: 102px" src="http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q66/wkcmedia/sasc/07.jpg" alt="" width="132" height="102" /></pre>


<strong>also read:</strong>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2006/12/what_wes_clark_said_prior_to_t.html">What Wes Clark said prior to The Iraq War</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2006/12/the_iraq_war_resolution_did_cl.html">The Iraq War Resolution - Did Clark support "a" resolution or "the" resolution?</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/01/mining_and_finding_prescient_g.html">Mining and finding Prescient Gems-Clark's 2002 Iraq Congressional Testimony</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/01/wes_clark_on_charlie_rose_on_s.html">Wes Clark in '08! Why Supporting someone who was Right on Iraq in 2002 makes sense.</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/clarks_2002_congressional_test.html">Clark's 2002 Congressional Testimony - Youtube w/t Transcript</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/03/the_levin_amendment_the_resolu.html">The Levin Amendment- The Resolution that Wes Clark was "For"! </a>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>General Clark &apos;s work on behalf of Darfur; a current Genocide</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/clark_s_work_on_darfur_a_curre.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.889</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-21T05:59:54Z</published>
   <updated>2007-02-21T07:14:02Z</updated>
   
   <summary>As General Wesley Clark was actively concerned about the needless deaths of thousands of innocent victims in Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo (the last which was prevented to great measure thanks to the General), Clark is equally deeply troubled about what...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="DARFUR" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Iran, Darfur, and Rwanda" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="155" label="Darfur" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="156" label="genocide" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="158" label="Sudan" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[As General Wesley Clark was actively concerned about the needless deaths of thousands of innocent victims in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide">Rwanda</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_Genocide">Bosnia</a> and <a href="http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/Kosovo/Kosovo-index.htm">Kosovo</a> (the last which was prevented to great measure thanks to the General),  Clark is equally deeply troubled about what is currently happening in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darfur_conflict">Darfur</a>.  

This particular round of genocide isn't new.  It has been going on for quite a few years now.  

Wes Clark was one of the early leaders in bringing Darfur to the attention of Americans.  Using his voice, well known for ringing the alarm bell on such matters, Wes Clark brought the problem to the forefront shortly after it came to a head.  That was back in 2004.  Certainly since, Darfur has become a cause celebre with celebrities such as <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/story?id=1907005">George Clooney </a>and <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1185087,00.html">Angelina Jolie </a>bringing much needed attention to the cause of stopping the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

Needless to say, General Wesley Clark, as usual, was ahead of the curve and in front of the times.  Tragically, the genocide continues to this date.

Wes Clark advocates for swift intervention to the deaf ears of the Bush Administration. They say that they understand that Darfur is a pressing genocide, but they drag their feet.  Clark recommends International humanitarian intervention via the UN and possibly NATO.  

You can locate the articles and radio interviews that the General has done on the subject of Darfur dating back to 2004 through the present <a href="http://securingamerica.com/taxonomy/term/59">Here.</a> 

]]>
      <![CDATA[<blockquote>
<a href="http://www.oxfam.org/en/news/pressreleases2006/oped060310_AMIS">In Darfur, time is running out </a>  

By Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director, Oxfam International

It is now nearly three years since newspapers and televisions were first filled with images of the violence and mass displacements in Darfur. Yet today nearly two million people remain in camps, over a million more are dependent on humanitarian aid, and civilians face daily threats of violence.

In recent months, security in Darfur has deteriorated to such an extent that the situation is as bad as ever before. This Friday, African Union (AU) ministers have an extraordinary opportunity to renew hope for Darfur by making the protection of civilians its foremost priority and calling for increased resources and an expanded mandate for the AMIS, the AU’s peacekeeping mission in Sudan.

As the African Union meets to decide AMIS’ future, at the top of the agenda is a possible handover to a UN intervention force. The UN has already begun preparing but African governments remain undecided. Either way, it is unlikely that a UN force will be in place before 2007 and while the handover debate rages, the urgent protection needs of more than three million civilians are in danger of being overlooked.

The conflict will not be put on hold for the next nine months. Irrespective of any future UN involvement, AMIS needs more troops, more funding and a stronger mandate, and it needs them now.

AMIS has done an admirable job in extremely difficult circumstances. Many of the enormous camps for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) – some the size of small cities – are now relatively secure thanks in large part to the AU presence. In camps such as Kalma in south Darfur, thousands of women are now able to go out and collect much needed firewood under the watch of AU patrols. To do so before the arrival of the patrols was risking assault, or worse, death.

But outside these camps, and in areas where the AU force is not present, people cannot move around without fear of harassment and attack. Villagers – many unable to reach camps because the journey is too dangerous – live in perpetual fear. For those fortunate enough to make it to the camps, they wish for the day they can return to their villages – a sign that the conflict would be coming to an end. But for the moment the insecurity makes any talk of returning home an impossible dream.

Darfur, a region the size of Texas, is one of the least developed regions of Africa and is now experiencing what the UN has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. And yet the AU is expected to keep more than three million civilians safe with fewer than 7,000 poorly equipped troops.

Even successful initiatives such as the firewood patrols have been limited. In most camps, the AU does not have the capability to undertake patrols day and night, so after dark displaced people are once again exposed to danger.

Humanitarian access, upon which half the population in Darfur is dependent, has also been affected by the failure to stem the violence. Half of Oxfam’s programs now have to be accessed by air because roads are too insecure.


The most urgent priority is to equip AMIS with a proactive, robust mandate that prioritizes civilian protection and allows AMIS greater flexibility to implement it. The Darfur context is much more complex, insecure and unpredictable than that in which the current defensive mandate was agreed in late 2004.

To effectively protect civilians the AU will also need a much larger, stronger force. At a bare minimum it needs enough troops to enable a 24-hour, 7 days a week presence in the camps.   Top UN officials have spoken of a UN force needing up to 20,000 troops. There is no reason why the AU should have to make do with any less.

The international community has a vital role to play in this. While countries such as Rwanda, Nigeria and South Africa have contributed significant numbers of personnel, AMIS is reliant on international funding and a donor conference is planned before the end of the month.

In the meantime however, the AU should call for the mandate to be strengthened and should voluntarily provide troops to staff the mission, while international donors provide increased funds with which to implement this expansion. Britain recently pledged a further £20 million to the AU force, but more will be needed if a difference is really to be made.

Amid all the talk of handing over to the UN, international governments are in danger of adopting an attitude of winding down the AU mission. This must not be allowed to happen. The coming months are crucial for Darfur: without immediately strengthening AMIS the situation on the ground could plummet new depths.

Equipping AMIS with more funds and a strengthened mandate would send a clear message to the displaced millions that their immediate safety is our foremost concern. It would also tell warring parties that the continued violence is not acceptable. On the other hand, maintaining AMIS in its present form – under-funded, ill-equipped and lacking sufficient personnel – is effectively telling millions of civilians that their suffering is going to get even worse.

ContactFor more information, please contact:
Caroline Green at Oxfam in Washington DC
work +1 202 496 1174, mobile +1 202 321 7858
 </blockquote>

Websites of Organizations involved in helping the displaced in Darfur:
Wes Clark is a board member of this <a href="http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=3060&l=1">group here</a>:	
as a Vice Chair -- of which George Soros is a chairman.
Also: 
<a href="http://www.timetoprotect.org/">http://www.timetoprotect.org/</a>
<a href="http://platform.blogs.com/passionofthepresent/">http://platform.blogs.com/passionofthepresent/</a>
<a href="http://www.savedarfur.org/">http://www.savedarfur.org/</a>
<a href="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/">http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/</a>




]]>
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Iran, Bush and War -- All Too Close For Comfort.</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/possible_war_with_iran_is_just.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.884</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-13T09:24:35Z</published>
   <updated>2007-02-21T07:17:39Z</updated>
   
   <summary>General Wes Clark, a highly trained strategist and a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2008, writes that the current President is fighting a political war on two fronts right here at home; Bush is seeking to get his Iraq surge...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="IRAN" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Iran, Darfur, and Rwanda" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="147" label="Bush" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="151" label="Diplomacy" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="54" label="Iran" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="153" label="Negotiate" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="149" label="President" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[<p>General Wes Clark, a highly trained strategist and a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2008,<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/12/122254/478"> writes</a> that the current President is fighting a political war on two fronts right here at home; Bush is seeking to get his Iraq surge on, and at the same time <strong><em>&quot;ratcheting up the pressure on Iran&quot;</em></strong>. </p><p>The General lists the military and public relations build up against Iran and sums up Bush’s steps thus far:</p><p><em><strong>&quot;A second aircraft carrier battle group (with Newsweek reporting a third group likely to follow), Patriot missiles to protect our allies, arresting Iranian personnel in Iraq, releasing additional information about Iranian involvement, appointing a Navy Admiral to command forces in the region....<font size="2">&quot;</font></strong></em></p><p>Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen the footage of the &quot;Iranian&quot; weapons &quot;found&quot; in Iraq at least 10 times starting Sunday. Considering I barely watch television news, this certain footage has been seen by many more than enough times, leaving us to think, ok, we get the picture-- But do we really? I don&#39;t know if enough of us realize how reminiscent this is of the prior PR sales job so many bought into just a few short years ago.  General Clark and I agree; it is absolutely the last thing we need now.</p><p>So why is the temperature being raised all of the sudden? And why does this have the feel of a 2002 deja vu?</p><p>Here&#39;s one answer as stated by the General, <strong><em>&quot;I believe some in the Administration have seen this confrontation as inevitable - or have sought it - since late 2001. At that time a Pentagon general held up to me a Defense memorandum which he described as a five year road map to the conflict. But surely we have learned by now that, particularly in this region, force and the threats of force should be the last, last, last resort.<font size="2">&quot;</font></em></strong></p><p>And According to Clark, <strong><em>&quot;the President&#39;s recent actions give the US little additional leverage to engage and dissuade Iran, and, more than likely, simply accelerate a dangerous slide into war.&quot; </em></strong></p><p>Well, I certainly have learned that force and threats will get us nowhere but mired into costly and deadly quicksand, something we are already caught up in. But has the administration learned this? Because to hear them talking, it doesn’t appear so, and this has been all the while General Clark has advocated this direct approach to diplomacy,  long before it was ever suggested by a Baker Commission!  Coincidently, It wasn't until yesterday that the President&#39;s finally made some casual cavalier pronouncements of feigned interest in &quot;diplomacy&quot;, because in reality, the administration has consistently turned its nose up at the mere mention of talks, negotiations, discussion, or any other diplomatic suggestions. It is as though they are fearful of legitimizing the accurate notion that  talks with Iran are way overdue. </p><p>And of that apparent lack of the President’s willingness to &quot;engage&quot;Iran, Clark asks:</p><p><strong><em>But, cannot the world&#39;s most powerful nation deign speak to the resentful and scheming regional power that is Iran? Can we not speak of the interests of others, work to establish a sustained dialogue, and seek to benefit the people of Iran and the region? Could not such a dialogue, properly conducted, begin a process that could, over time, help realign hardened attitudes and polarizing views within the region? And isn&#39;t it easier to undertake such a dialogue now, before more die, and more martyrs are created to feed extremist passions? And, finally, if every effort should fail, before we take military action, don&#39;t we at least want the moral, legal and political &quot;high ground&quot; of knowing we did everything possible to avert it?&quot;</em></strong></p><p>Short answer; Doh.....Ye-ah! </p><p>So here’s my shorthanded advise to the Bush Administration: </p><ul><li>First stop the pitiful swaggering cowboy threats</li><li>Then let the big mouths pundits and hardnosed tough guys and gals in congress know that they need to chill for a bit, because this is no game. </li><li>Now, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and move your shoulders up and down slowly.</li><li>Open your mouth and beg Wes Clark to accept the position to head a team of his own choosing to get the hard diplomacy done. </li><li>Once Wes Clark & Co. smooths out the rough edges and gets a productive dialogue going, then let the political vultures swoop in to claim the ultimate credit. </li></ul><p>Now that might be the smartest strategic move this President ever makes in his political life. Just don&#39;t hold your breath. Bush simply isn&#39;t that smart, and hasn't indicated that he is ready to choose peace over confrontation; quiet negotiations over loud bravado.</p><p>But very seriously, we really can&#39;t afford to wait till election 2008 before getting some kind of dialogue going with Iran. This diplomacy needs to happen now, before there’s some kind of &quot;international&quot; incident. But sadly, the way this Administration is building a case that Iran is the enemy (as though we needed anymore of those) is dangerous, frightening and simply unwise. Because as General Clark puts it, <em><strong>&quot;wouldn&#39;t want to be branding people as enemies too soon. That was one of Bush&#39;s many mistakes. Iran is a nation we have many disagreements with...and that&#39;s why we should be discussing, not sabre rattling.&quot;</strong></em></p><p>Because even having to think of waging more wars-- well.....that’s an insanity just too close for comfort.</p>

PS. Want to know and learn more? <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/12/122254/478">Read Clark's entire relevant diary</a>; the questions and the answers.  Makes one wish Bush could at least figure out how to use the Internet(s)! 

Also see: 
<a href="http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/02/the_year_of_ira.html">"The Year of Iran": Can The People Be Fooled Twice?</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/wes_clark_on_iran_information.html">INFO GALORE! Wes Clark on Iran In Clark's own words</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/01/iran_and_us_politics_the_good.html">IRAN and U.S. Politics - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly</a>
<a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/maxine_waters_on_hardball_wes.html">Maxine WATERS on Hardball- Wes CLARK has been warning Congress on BUSH & IRAN</a>
<a href="http://www.aleftturnforclark.com/2007/02/clark_vs_the_neocons_on_iran.html#more">Clark vs the Neocons on Iran</a>
<a href="http://www.aleftturnforclark.com/2007/02/our_canary_in_a_neocon_coal_mi.html">Our Canary in a Neocon Coal Mine</a>
<a href="http://www.awesclarkdemocrat.com/2007/02/general_clark_blogging_on_iran.htm">General Clark blogging on Iran today</a>]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>Maxine WATERS on Hardball- Wes CLARK has been warning Congress on BUSH &amp; IRAN</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/maxine_waters_on_hardball_wes.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.875</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-08T09:16:45Z</published>
   <updated>2007-02-21T07:18:17Z</updated>
   
   <summary>According to Maxine Waters on Hardball today, Wes Clark has been warning the Congress on Bush&apos;s push towards Iran for some time. Watch the video 30 Second Advertisement shows first. Maxine Waters comes on at 7:17 Talks about Iran and...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="IRAN" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Iran, Darfur, and Rwanda" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="143" label="Hardball" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="54" label="Iran" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[According to Maxine Waters on Hardball today, Wes Clark has been warning the Congress on Bush's push towards Iran for some time. 

Watch <a href="http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?f=00&g=100d1b29-b00e-4078-a9b7-6e66af6eacfd&p=Source_Hardball&t=c1150&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/&fg=">the video</a>
30 Second Advertisement shows first.
Maxine Waters comes on at 7:17 
Talks about Iran and Wes at 8:00.

Love that Maxine! She's a stand up Representative, part of the Black Congressional Caucus, progressive as heck,  and discusses with Chris Matthews in direct terms what she thinks on the issues of Iraq and Iran.

]]>
      
   </content>
</entry>
<entry>
   <title>The New York SUN, AP, and The Forward confirms it- JONAH GOLDBERG is just Wrong or is in Denial or is just plain LYING!</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/the_new_york_sun_confirms_it_j.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.862</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-05T19:53:03Z</published>
   <updated>2007-02-21T07:18:42Z</updated>
   
   <summary>An article by New York Sun proves that Goldberg is wrong in his latest column; The N.Y. Sun says some New York Money People are buying influence from Democratic Politicians; and Iran has everything to do with everything! The Forward...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="08 Primary Press Smears" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="IRAN" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Iran, Darfur, and Rwanda" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
         <category term="Swiftboats at Work!" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="139" label="AIPAC" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="54" label="Iran" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="135" label="Jonah Goldberg" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="137" label="Lobby" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="45" label="Oppo" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[<p><strong>An article by New York Sun proves that Goldberg is wrong in his latest column;  The N.Y. Sun says some New York Money People are buying influence  from Democratic Politicians; and Iran has everything to do with everything! The Forward and the Associated Press also confirms this</strong> </p><p>If you&#39;ve read the Goldberg &quot;opinion&quot;, know that <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg1feb01,0,2400794.column?coll=la-opinion-columnists ">Jonah Golberg's column </a>of wrongness is syndicated....meaning it will be fanned across the nation and perpetuates nothing more than a lie. When you <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=jonah+goldberg%2C+wes+clark%2C+money+people&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8">google</a>, one can see where it is going; to every right leaning publication in the nation, and I guess the L.A. Times (they sure are a changin'). 
</p><p><strong>The N.Y. Sun published an article on Feb 1st which negates Goldberg</strong>&#39;s nasty column out to slam Wes Clark and Matthew Yglesias, in where he states that neither Clark nor Yglesias have proven that there is a connection between AIPAC, New York Contributions, and the Iran Stance taken by some Dem and GOP politicians. </p>
Goldberg ignorantly states, <blockquote> <strong><em<u>"there is zero evidence to back up Yglesias' statement that "major Jewish organizations are pushing the country into war" with Iran."</u> </em></strong></blockquote>
So Jonah Goldberg is accusing not only Gen. Clark and Mr. Yglesias of statements without evidence, but also the N.Y. Sun, AP and now The Forward of speaking and printing information that isn't true!  Yeah....OK, what-E-ver!  Who's next?
<p>The sentences below are taken directly from the New York Sun and negates Goldberg&#39;s assertions by making statements<strong> very matter of fact</strong>: <a href="http://www.nysun.com/article/47843">http://www.nysun.com/article/47843</a> (see page 2)</p><blockquote><p> <u>&quot;<strong>New York is the ATM for American politicians</strong>. Large amounts of <strong>money come from the Jewish community</strong>,&quot;</u> he said. <strong>&quot;<u>If you&#39;re running for president and you want dollars</u> from that group</strong>, you need to show that you&#39;re interested in the issue that matters most to them.&quot; </p><p><u>Mrs. Clinton, who has opted out of the public campaign financing system, has tapped into the <strong>circuit of influential Jewish donors</strong> </u>for years and has strong support in the community. <u>A spokesman for <strong>Aipac</strong></u>, Joshua Block, said yesterday that the senator and former <u>first lady has &quot;an extremely consistent and strong record of <strong>support on issues that are important to the pro- Israel community. </strong></u></p><p>Indeed, <u><strong>how to deal with Iran</strong> is likely to be the next majority foreign policy conundrum</u> the <strong><u>2008 presidential candidates</u></strong> face. While <u>Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Clinton have different positions on how to deal with the Iraq war, each has used <strong>harsh language on Iran</strong>.</u> </p></blockquote><p align="left">The Neoconservative N.Y. Sun is very explicit in confirming connections that  Mr. Goldberg maintain don&#39;t  exist, (and certainly the N.Y. Sun says much more than anything Gen. Clark or Matthew Yglesias might have ever said which has been exaggerated to an absurd degree by the hate merchants passing the story from one to another). In fact, the N.Y. Sun leaves nothing to the imagination.</p><p align="left">Someone needs to point this out to Mr. Goldberg&#39;s editors ASAP, because it appears that they are paying good money for trash liners. The New York Sun is a Neoconservative publication, and so if Wes Clark can have the ADL come after him, and the Republican Jewish Coalition take out an ad asking for an apology from Wes <a href="http://www.rjchq.org/News.asp?FormMode=Detail&amp;ID=1204">http://www.rjchq.org/News.asp?FormMode=Detail&amp;ID=1204</a> , then the N.Y. Sun should be boycotted by ADL, RJC and everyone in between, OR it means that saying &quot;Money People&quot; is only harmful to those the media determines that it should harm. </p><p align="left">So are Republican leaning publications like the New York SUN also Anti-Semite? Or is  there is a double standard and this snowball rolling down the mountain towards Wes  is nothing more than a smear campaign being ignited by the &quot;Hate&quot; merchants who are eager to sell anti-semitism at any price to quiet critics who speak against our march to war against Iran?</p><p align="left">Here&#39;s a sharp analysis of my point written by Glenn Greenwald.... exposing the hypocrisy specifically of Wes&#39; treatment:    <a href="http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2007/02/enforced-orthodoxies-and-iran.html">http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2007/02/enforced-orthodoxies-and-iran.html</a></p><p align="left">In addition, Goldberg and other distractors do not ever point out that the ADL accepted Wes&#39; explanation, nor do they mention the letter that states this. <a href="http://jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=6382" target="_blank"><font color="#006699">http://jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=6382</font></a></p><p align="left">

<blockquote><p><strong>Meanwhile, the New York Sun</strong>--hardly a hotbed of anti-Semitism--<u>recently reported that leading Democratic presidential contenders have been reluctant to speak out against war with Iran for fear of angering &quot;pro-Israel&quot; lobbying groups in New York (even though the vast majority of Jewish-Americans don&#39;t appear to favor such a war).</u> According to the New York Post, Hillary Clinton &quot;drew grumbles&quot; at an AIPAC dinner &quot;when she encouraged &#39;engaging&#39; with Iran before taking stronger action to keep it nuke-free.&quot; <strong><u>Of course, Wes Clark and Matt Yglesias were accused of anti-Semitism and compared to Charles Lindbergh when they pointed out this state of affairs. I wonder if the Sun will get the same treatment... <em> </em></u></strong></p><p>

I'm also curious to know why it's always and everywhere considered "pro-Israel" to support military strikes that won't, in all likelihood, destroy Iran's nuclear program, but will, in all likelihood, destroy international support for sanctions on the country, entrench the more radical factions in Tehran, and make future conflicts in the Middle East more, rather than less, likely. As if opponents of such a thing are "anti-Israel.")
<a href="http://www.tnr.com/blog/theplank?pid=77751">http://www.tnr.com/blog/theplank?pid=77751</a>
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</blockquote>

and linking to the above is <a href="http://www.matthewyglesias.com/archives/2007/02/popping_up_everywhere/">this:</a> 

<p>Also see item by Jewschool-</p><p><a href="http://jewschool.com/2007/02/05/running-with-the-nuclear-football/" title="The Jewschool weights with some details ">The Jewschool weights with some details </a>on the ongoing debate.  The one that Goldberg believes there is no evidence of whatsoever! </p><p>by Mobius</p><p> February 5th, 2007</p><p><strong>The <a href="http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/02/03/news/doc45c356819226f120628943.txt" title="AP reports">AP reports</a>:</strong></p><blockquote><p> Calling Iran a danger to the U.S. and one of Israel’s greatest threats, <u><strong>Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said</strong></u> Thursday that “no option can be taken off the table” when dealing with that nation. “<strong><u>U.S. policy must be clear and unequivocal: We cannot, we should not, we must not permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons,”</u></strong> <u><strong>Clinton told a crowd of Israel supporters.</strong></u> “In dealing with this threat … no option can be taken off the table.” </p></blockquote>
<strong>add this line that is in the AP article---and well...you get the picture!</strong>
<blockquote> "<u>Clinton, D-N.Y., spoke at a Manhattan dinner held by the nation's largest pro-Israel lobbying group,</u> the American Israel Public Affairs Committee." </blockquote>

<p><strong>And  <a href="http://www.forward.com/articles/groups-fear-public-backlash-over-iran/" title="The Forward">The Forward</a>:</strong> </p><blockquote><p><strong><u>While Jewish communal leaders focus most of their current lobbying efforts on pressing the United States to take a tough line against Iran and its nuclear program</u></strong>, some are privately voicing fears that they will be accused of driving America into a war with the regime in Tehran. […] In warning of possible scapegoating, insiders point to the experience of the Iraq War. Since the initial invasion in 2003, antiwar groups have charged, with growing vehemence, that the war was promoted by Jewish groups acting in Israel’s interest — even though the invasion enjoyed bipartisan backing and popular support, and was not at the top of most Jewish organizations’ agendas. The Iraq backlash prompted former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to order in 2005 that his ministers keep a low profile on Iran. Now, however, <u><strong>Jewish groups are indeed playing a lead role in pressing for a hard line on Iran.</strong></u> </p></blockquote>
<strong>BINGO!</strong>
<p>read more <a href="http://jewschool.com/2007/02/05/running-with-the-nuclear-football/" title="here">here</a>

A comment I picked up online tells it better than I do!
Submitted by Nick Kelly on February 5, 2007 - 10:25pm.
<blockquote><em>"That quote in The Sun is attributed to"...a former Clinton Democratic political consultant who worked on President Clinton's re-election campaign, Hank Sheinkopf, noted that the Aipac dinner always draws a parade of politicians.

"New York is the ATM for American politicians. Large amounts of money come from the Jewish community," he said. "If you're running for president and you want dollars from that group, you need to show that you're interested in the issue that matters most to them."

<a href="http://www.nysun.com/article/47843?page_no=2">http://www.nysun.com/article/47843?page_no=2</a>

<strong>I googled Mr. Sheinkopf. I suppose those who know him will consider it an understatement to observe that it doesn't appear likely that he is an anti-semite.</strong>
<u>So, the substance of what Wes said is now confirmed by a very knowledgeable source who is not likely to be anti-semitic,</u> and Wes was previously said not to be anti-semitic himself by none other than Abe Foxman, the President of the anti-defamation league.

Therefore, all the articles, newspapers and blogs that are insinuating that Wes Clark is anti-semitic are --- I do hope Jonah Goldberg won't mind me borrowing his expression --- "blowhards"-Nick Kelly</em> 
</blockquote>

Interestesting debate <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/5/2209/98648">here.</a>

So here&#39;s your chance to walk point for the General</em>  Write multiple letters to the Editors for each google hit you find  Contact info of some of the Hate Merchants selling politics of personal destruction</u></p><blockquote><p align="left">Rosner - <a href="mailto:rosner@haaretz.co.il">rosner@haaretz.co.il</a> </p><p align="left">Goldberg - <a href="mailto:JonahNRO@aol.com">JonahNRO@aol.com</a></p><p align="left">National Review LTE - <a href="mailto:letters@nationalreview.com">letters@nationalreview.com</a> </p><p align="left">L.A. Times - <a href="mailto:letters@latimes.com">letters@latimes.com</a></p><p align="left">Salt Lake Tribune - <font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="mailto:letters@sltrib.com">letters@sltrib.com</a></font></p></blockquote><p align="left">
We need letters to go out NOW in response to the Goldberg column! 

<strong>SO LET&#39;S DROP WHAT  WE ARE DOING, LET&#39;S GET SETTLED IN , AND LET&#39;S WALK POINTS FOR THE GENERAL - I BELIEVE THAT HE DESERVES IT -

DEBATE  IS DEMOCRATIC, DISSENT IS PATRIOTIC AND SILENCE IS BETRAYAL!</strong>  </p><p align="left">&#160;</p><p align="left">&#160;</p>
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<entry>
   <title>Sandwiched between OBAMA &amp; EDWARDS, WES CLARK soldiers on at the DNC Winter Meeting unfazed.</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/2007/02/sandwiched_between_obama_edwar.html" />
   <id>tag:www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com,2007://14.856</id>
   
   <published>2007-02-03T18:17:48Z</published>
   <updated>2007-02-03T21:08:23Z</updated>
   
   <summary>I&apos;m giving the General a great big salute. The man has balls the size of Mt. Rushmore, IMO! The General walked into the DNC Winter Meeting as an undeclared candidate to Johnny Cash&apos;s &quot;I Won&apos;t Back Down&quot; and does the...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Catherine Mc</name>
      <uri>http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com</uri>
   </author>
         <category term="Election 2008" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
   
   <category term="125" label="DNC" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="43" label="Media" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="126" label="speech" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   <category term="49" label="Wesley Clark" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/">
      <![CDATA[I'm giving the General a great big salute.  The man has balls the size of Mt. Rushmore, IMO! 

The General walked into the DNC Winter Meeting as an undeclared candidate to <a href="http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/cash-johnny/i-wont-back-down-750.html">Johnny Cash's "I Won't Back Down"</a> and does the job he came to do against CW  calculated odds! 

Here's the set up;

Wes Clark was scheduled to speak in between two of what the media has consistently labeled as the greatest political orators of our current times; Barak Obama and John Edwards.  

Sen. Barak Obama educated as an attorney, became a top Presidential contender based on, among other things, a single speech he gave at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.  With his rich baritone voice, Barak offers an effective rhythm and cadence reminiscent of a preacher/scholar with an unconventional approach to the subject of politics.  Barak is simply a natural. 

John Edwards, billed as a politician who can talk owls out of a tree since his single speech the “Two Americas", was highly touted during the 2004 Primary campaign as a great speaker.   On the strength of his one speech describing the state of poverty here in the United states, Edwards became a top 2004 primary contender and was later selected by popular demand as the Vice Presidential candidate by John Kerry, then the nominee.  

Edwards is one who can pump a crowd up with his Trial Attorney manner of setting up a jury.  He'll tell his crowd what they want to hear, and in that respect appears to have an innate quality to understand what that something is.  Former Sen. Edwards is a trained public speaker, and effective speechifying is one of the major tools that allowed him to earn his personal fortune which in turn provided him with the ability to go forth into politics.

.....and so, we find in the billing of the DNC Winter meeting, sandwiched between two speaking legends,  a non politician who the media had quickly  labeled "not ready for primetime" during his initial foray into elective politics.  It is, in fact, this specific meme that greatly hampered Clark during the 2004 primaries; the media had pre-labeled him and used the tag whenever it wanted to discourage those who might have been curious about the Democratic General.  It should be said that Wes Clark still ended up <a href="http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/primary_campaign_2004/">doing rather well in those primaries </a>despite the odds.  

Gen. Clark background was initially that of a lifelong soldier trained to give orders.  It can be said that Clark's diplomatic abilities to quietly converse with both world allies and adversaries at a negotiating table also didn't necessarily prepare him for the job of political orator.  This art was a new challenge to be learned on the fly just a few short years ago. 

The General's early classical debate training at Wes Point did prepare him for a formal and non personal manner of speaking but not that of a politician.  This training must have been of some help but could not be a substitute to compete with the likes of lifelong courtroom attorneys and seasoned politicians. Clark learned to persuade based on providing facts and information; not based on arousing and agitating via emotional public appeals.

The DNC line-up for the 2007 Winter Meeting, instead of having the 3 top contenders (Obama, Edwards and Hillary) back to back in order to contrast and compare, chose to insert Wes Clark between two of them. There are some of his supporters who looked upon his placement on the speech roster as a great testament to Clark's abilities.  Personally, I looked at it as a possible set up to benefit the two speakers that he was placed smack dab in the middle of.  Obama being easily the most difficult speaker to follow, and Edwards, who would need a break between himself and Obama as to not provide the contrast that might sell him short (as Edwards speaking feats have never been thought of as consistent following his disappointing 2004 Dem Primary convention performance). 

In addition, the roster listed Kucinich going before Hillary, providing her with a big ass break, IMO, as Kucinich's speaking style does not arouse in a way remotely close to that of either Obama or Edwards.

So me...I take my hat off to Wes Clark who did not flinch or hesitate.  The man, undeterred, walked in, performed his duty very effectively, and walked out. He did not receive any standing Os...but then, he wasn't telling the crowd to stand up either....and he hadn't been touted by the media for months and months as a contender, let alone in the top tier.

And so I ask that you attempt this exercise; isolate Clark's speech away from where it was inserted, and see what you truly think.  I consider this speech as an introduction as to who Clark is, aimed at those uninformed voters who never really got to know the General.  It is a speech that covers for a large length the seriousness of war and what it truly means.  Certainly, I didn't find it to be one of his better speeches in certain respects. I have heard him throw out much more "red meat" and convey domestic policy issues at other venues.  This speech was much more quiet and reflective.  The usually humble public servant spoke of himself and his accomplishments more than he had in the past.  Certainly the speech’s length didn't enable him to list all that he has done that would have given meaningful insight as to why he should run (something the others are not handicapped with, as the media has already talked of the qualities to death). 

Personally, I found Wes Clark to be no lightweight in this self taught art of political speech giving.  Instead, I believe that, along with the other long list of valuable attributes that he offers (that others can't) as a presidential candidate, Wes Clark clearly showed to anyone who was listening that he is indeed ready for primetime along with the political current crème de la crème front running crop. 

Watch the speech here.... <a href="http://securingamerica.com/">http://securingamerica.com/</a>

<u>Lyrics to:</u>
<blockquote><strong> I Won't Back Down</strong>

Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down

Verse 2
Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down

Chorus
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground and I won't back down

Verse 3
Well I know what's right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I stand my ground and I won't back down

Chorus
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground and I won't back down
No I won't back down.
<a href="http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/cash-johnny/i-wont-back-down-750.html">http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/cash-johnny/i-wont-back-down-750.html</a>
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