Published: September 24, 2006 11:45 pm      

Clark tough on Bush at rally

Tells state Dems to prepare for election

FRANKFORT — Retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark said President George W. Bush “was derelict in his duty as commander in chief” in not anticipating attacks on this country by al-Qaida and “the Republicans have got us stuck in a mess” in Iraq “and they don’t have a way out.”

The former supreme allied commander of NATO, who directed the air war over Kosovo during the Clinton administration, appeared before a gathering of Democrat faithful at state party headquarters Sunday as part of his two-day visit to Kentucky to campaign on behalf of Democrat congressional candidates.

He wasn’t shy about criticizing the conduct of the war in Iraq or the war on terrorism, contending President Bill Clinton personally warned Bush about the threat posed by Osama bin Laden when Bush became president.

“And for eight months, President Bush did nothing,” Clark told the crowd. “No plan. No action. No diplomacy. No intelligence. I think Bush was derelict in his duty as commander in chief.”

Clark, who was twice stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky during his 38-year military career during which he rose to the rank of four star general, said people such as Mike Weaver, the Democrat running against incumbent Republican Rep. Ron Lewis in the Second Congressional District, are needed in Congress to provide accountability for the conduct of the war.

“This is a guy who will ask the tough questions,” Clark said. “He will demand answers, and he will make sure American remains safe, strong and secure.”

Clark said the United States must put more pressure on militia forces in Iraq and make it clear to the Iranians they must stay out of Iraq, but he said the army is too strained to deploy more troops to Iraq.

“Ultimately, Iraq is a political problem,” Clark said. “It is not going to be solved by military force. These people have to get along with each other. All our troops are doing is holding the lid on right now.”

Clark said the troubled Middle East requires a three-part approach to problems: diplomacy in the region, stronger political cooperation with the Iraqi government and more effective military action on the ground.

He said he doesn’t like to talk about time tables “but I do think its time to start looking at making some moves, whether it’s a constabulary over there or foreign troops in there to help us from other Arab countries.” And he said the country needs a “plan to track down and eliminate Osama bin Laden.”

Clark, who ran in the 2004 Democrat primaries for president, said he had made no decision about whether he might run again in 2008. He said the 2006 elections are more important right now, calling them a battle for the “heart and soul of the country.”

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort.