Clark on liberal talk radio
Air America Radio - Sam Seder Show - Discussion of Iraq, using Clark's Washington Post op-ed as a framework. Clark says that we need to fulfill our responsibilities to engage in regional diplomacy, to the constitutional process, in training Iraqi forces, and in securing Iraq's borders and then leave, but he thinks that having a timeline would be counter-productive because it would become a lever to use against us and prevent us from completing our responsibilities.
Alan Colmes Show - (note: includes commercials and local radio news report) Discussion of Hurricane Katrina, Clark says we could have done more and should have, leaving 80,000 in New Orleans is unacceptable. We didn't need to go to Iraq, and the money could have been better spent in the country. Discussion of global warming - as global warming increases, we are going to see more and more situations like this with hurricanes and flooding. Hurricane Katrina itself is most likely due to global warming. Also discussion of Iraq and its constitutional process. If there was a central Sunni state, it would not be economically viable with no sea access and little oil. This is not sustainable. Interests of Iran and Saudi Arabia for their own buffer states and against each others' buffer states. First year in Iraq was wasted by Bush Administration and nothing was done. Clark draws comparison to Dayton peace process in the Balkans. Timing isn't as important as content and content isn't as important as the dialogue process. Many people could have predicted that Iraq would become an Islamic state, but Bush did not listen to these warnings. Importance of diplomatic process to bring neighbors in, they are part of the problem and need to be part of the solution. Sometimes setting a deadline is helpful, but other times timelines are counter-productive. Reiterates his "success strategy", the areas of our responsibilities and then leave. We need to change the course not "stay the course". Returning to Katrina because of a question from a caller, we have enough troops and National Guard still in the US, the problem is that they aren't being deployed when they could and should be. Discussion of Bush's vacation, most people don't get that much vacation and if the president is working, he shouldn't call it a vacation. Returning to Iraq, references to Islam in Iraq constitution OK as long as human rights and democracy. Discussion of Iraq as an elective war, Iraq was not a threat, no intelligence actually said this, it was Bush's choice to go in. Expression of his sympathy for Cindy Sheehan, Bush should have talked to her, but there are greater concerns in Iraq and responsibility not to make it worse.
