November 13, 2003
LOOK, MA, AN IDEA!:
Clark Plan Would Enlist Saudis in Fighting Terror (Eric Slater, November 12, 2003, LA Times)
HANOVER, N.H. -- Democratic presidential hopeful Gen. Wesley K. Clark, criticizing President Bush's handling of the war on terror Wednesday, outlined a military-minded plan to combat terror that includes enlisting Saudi Arabian commandos in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
The General was here in town last night and offered what would appear to be the first excellent idea of the Democratic primary season: the Saudi commandos probably aren't much use, but it's a good way of putting them on the spot and helping to turn the war on terror into an Arab/Muslim cause, not just a Western one. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 13, 2003 8:08 AM
I've had the pleasure of meeting the General twice here in Arizona, and he is a very impressive candidate when you hear him directly instead of through the filtered lens of TV reporters edits or a debate system that gives inconsequential candidates equal time to the major ones.
Out of all the Democratic candidates, I think he's the only one (except maybe Lieberman) who would debate Bush on the merits of HOW to win the terror war, not whether.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at November 13, 2003 10:39 AMIf it is such a good idea and the Saudi's would go along with it, why can't the president just go ahead and do it? I'd love to see him do so, but methinks the Saudi's realise they have to keep their talent active at home. Which right now I believe is a better idea. However that wouldn't rule out having a few hotshot Saudi commandos or inteeligence people working as advisers close to the action. Who knows ... we may be doing that right now.
Posted by: genecis at November 13, 2003 1:56 PM"Hotshot Saudi commandos?" You'll forgive me if I don't fully believe there is such a thing. I'm skeptical about the whole "Saudi commando" part, let alone "hotshot."
Posted by: Timothy at November 13, 2003 3:53 PM