Wesley Clark
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Clark
Wesley
K. Clark: I served under 8 commanders in chief. Trump doesn’t grasp the role (Connecting the Dots: Wesley Clark, West Point, NATO, U.S.
Army, Fox News, President's Commission on White House Fellowships, The Atlantic
Council of the United States, The Natural Resources Defense Council & Soros
Funding, All Networking)
The
Spokesman - Review
Tue.,
Nov. 20, 2018
By
Wesley K. Clark
Special
to the Washington Post
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/nov/20/wesley-k-clark-i-served-under-8-commanders-in-chie/
Of all
the roles of the presidency, commander in chief was perhaps the one that
candidate Donald Trump most relished. His take-charge style, his hat and
slogan, his command presence on the stage, his early experience at New York
Military Academy and his boasting that “I know more about ISIS than the
generals do” demonstrated his inclinations. And many Americans, including
service members and veterans, believed that he would be a strong and effective
commander in chief.
Yet as
president, Trump’s actions and behavior have led service members and veterans
to question whether he really understands who a commander in chief is, or what
he does.
I
served under eight presidents. I applied for West Point as President John F. Kennedy
confronted the Soviets in Berlin, went to Vietnam under President Richard Nixon
and came home on a stretcher, worked in the White House under President Gerald
Ford, and eventually retired as NATO
supreme allied commander under President Bill Clinton. I ran for the presidency
myself out of deep concern as the ill-considered Iraq War unfolded under
President George W. Bush. My heart is with the men and women in uniform, as
well as our veterans. It is that affinity that brings me to these observations.
President
Trump believes he honors and respects the military. He praises our men and
women constantly. “I don’t think anybody’s been more with the military than I
have, as a president,” he told Chris Wallace on “Fox
News
Sunday.” He has
appointed numerous generals to serve in his administration (“I have generals
that are great generals”) and gained pay raises and hikes in defense spending.
He fired the VA chief. He has a snappy salute and appreciates a good military
parade, like the one he saw in France last year. He wants to be loved,
respected and admired, no doubt.
But
there is more to being commander in chief. He commands us, but he also
represents us. The military is mission-oriented and values-based. The mission
is protecting the United States, securing our freedoms, advancing our
interests. The commander in chief sets the directions, makes the big decisions
and inspires us to carry out the mission. And in his person and character, he
represents the men and women who serve, as well as the veterans. He is actually
our chief recruiter, too. We are loyal, regardless of which party is in power
or who is in the Oval Office. We can’t be bought. We believe in selfless
service, telling truth to power, choosing the harder right over the easier
wrong. We honor noble sacrifice.
For
Trump, trouble began on several of these fronts before he was even in office.
He dismissed the service and sacrifice of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and, by
implication, all those who had suffered as prisoners of war. “He’s not a war
hero,” Trump said while campaigning in Iowa. “I like people who weren’t
captured.”
He
engaged in a back-and-forth with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, Gold Star parents
whose son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, died in combat. After Khizr Khan pointed
out in an emotional speech at the Democratic National Convention that Trump had
“sacrificed nothing, and no one,” Trump suggested that “Hillary’s script
writers” were responsible for the speech and said that Khan had “viciously
attacked” him. And there were the references to what “his” generals would do
and be. “I see my generals, generals that are going to keep us so safe,” he
said on Inauguration Day.
Didn’t
he understand that good leaders are big-hearted, that they don’t bully and
quarrel with those they outrank? And doesn’t he respect that generals are loyal
to the Constitution and chain of command – you can’t “own” them?
In the
first military operation of his tenure, which Trump personally authorized, Navy
SEAL William “Ryan” Owens was killed. Trump seemed to slough off the blame onto
his predecessor, and his own secretary of defense, retired Gen. Jim Mattis.
“Well,
this was a mission that started before I got here,” the president said on “Fox
& Friends,” referring to the Obama administration before turning on his own
team: “They explained what they wanted to do, the generals,” he said. “My
generals are the most respected that we’ve had in many decades,” he added, “and
they lost Ryan.”
Good
leaders accept responsibility, especially when things go wrong. Commanders in
chief do that.
He
apparently didn’t know how to console the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson,
killed in an ambush in Niger, and ended up in a partisan spat with a
congresswoman who had heard Trump tell Myeshia Johnson “something to the effect
that ‘he knew what he was getting into when he signed up, but I guess it hurts
anyway.’ ”
Commanders
in chief don’t do that.
Posturing
and electioneering were evident in the call for a parade in Washington, since
canceled, and the rush to deploy active-duty forces to the border to stem “an
invasion” from the south. We don’t want to be used that way.
The
president hasn’t yet visited our men and women in a combat zone – not
Afghanistan, Iraq or even along the DMZ in Korea. And last week, when he failed
to visit the U.S. cemetery at Belleau Wood in France, where so many Americans
gave their lives – it was raining, and a long drive from Paris – the criticisms
exploded. Did he not understand that the troops and veterans want the president
to see them where they work, to share in their hardships a little, and
appreciate their sacrifices and risks?
“I’ve
had an unbelievable busy schedule, and I will be doing it,” Trump said in the
Fox interview on Sunday. I was in the ops center with the 1st Infantry Division
in Vietnam, when President Nixon braved the rocket zone north of Saigon to see
the troops. Yes, even Nixon.
But if
Trump struggles with his role’s rites and rituals, there are deeper issues with
his command. His blustering and combative diplomacy on Korea, cozying up with a
potential adversary who has consistently worked to undermine the United States,
and his pattern of insulting friends and disrupting allies are all deeply
unsettling to the middle-grade and senior officers who plan and execute U.S.
policy. They need steady, consistent, reliable leadership. The bobbing and
weaving may work in a small family office, but he is now leading one of the
largest, most structured organizations in the world – and certainly the most
powerful. It needs a steady hand, not just at secretary of defense, but also at
the very top.
What
actually drives Trump’s policies and actions as commander in chief? On what
basis does he make the decisions that could separate us from our families, and
send us to war? By all reports he doesn’t like to read, doesn’t suffer long
briefings, doesn’t want to study, doesn’t seem to want much of the experience
of the generals closest to him.
We
honor the chain of command, so we trust him with the most central issues of our
time: war, peace, the nuclear button. But Russia is still bullying, North Korea
is still polishing up its nuclear force, China is strengthening its position in
the South China Sea, and Iran and the Islamic State are still there in the
Middle East, while our oldest allies are cringing and disheartened.
In his
campaign, Trump promised that only he knew how to lead America. In the field of
national security the jury is still out.
– Wesley
K. Clark is
a former NATO supreme allied commander. The retired general is a Centennial
Fellow at Georgetown and a senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for
International Relations.
Connecting
the Dots:
William H. Draper Jr. was a U.S. ambassador for the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and William H. Draper
III’s father.
William H.
Draper III is William H. Draper Jr’s son and was a
director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
Wesley K. Clark was
the supreme allied commander – Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and is a director at the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
Robert E. Hunter was
a U.S. ambassador for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and
is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
Norman W. Ray was
the assistant secretary general for the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and a director at the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
James L. Jones
Jr. was supreme allied commander - Europe for the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the national security adviser for
the Barack Obama administration and is a director at the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
George A. Joulwan was
the supreme allied commander for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in
Europe and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States
(think tank).
R. Nicholas Burns was
a U.S. permanent representative for the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and is a director at the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
Andrew
Goodpaster was a supreme allied commander Europe for the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the chairman for
the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
James G.
Stavridis was a supreme allied commander Europe for the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and is a director at
the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open
Society Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to
Promote Open Society.
Wesley K. Clark is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), was the supreme allied commander – Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and applied for the U.S. Military Academy (West Point).
George A. Joulwan was a professor at the U.S. Military Academy
(West Point) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the
United States (think tank).
Andrew
Goodpaster was a superintendent for the U.S. Military Academy
(West Point) and a chairman for the Atlantic Council of the United
States (think tank).
Daniel W.
Christman was a superintendent for the U.S. Military Academy
(West Point) and a director at the Atlantic Council of the United
States (think tank).
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open
Society Foundations.
Wesley K. Clark is
a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank),
was the supreme allied commander – Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), applied for the U.S. Military Academy (West
Point) and a general in the U.S. Army.
George A. Joulwan was
a general in the U.S. Army and is a director at the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
Barry R.
McCaffrey was a general in the U.S. Army and a
director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
Robert W.
RisCassi was a general in the U.S. Army and a
director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
Carl E. Vuono was
a general in the U.S. Army and is a director at the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
Eric K. Shinseki was
a general in the U.S. Army, the secretary at the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs for the Barack Obama
administration and a director at the Atlantic Council of the
United States (think tank).
Togo D. West Jr. is
the secretary for the U.S. Army, the secretary at the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, the general counsel for the U.S.
Department of Defense and a director at the Atlantic Council
of the United States (think tank).
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open
Society Foundations and a board member at the International Crisis
Group.
Wesley K. Clark is
a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank),
was a board member at the International Crisis Group, the supreme
allied commander – Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
applied for the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), a general in
the U.S. Army and a commissioner for the President's
Commission on White House Fellowships.
Maya Lin was a
commissioner for the President's Commission on White House Fellowships
and is an honorary trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Natural
Resources Defense Council, the Atlantic Council of the United
States (think tank), and the Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace (think tank).
George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open
Society Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to
Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Natural
Resources Defense Council.
Leonardo DiCaprio is
a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and a board
member for Global Green USA.
J. Robert Kerrey was
a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and is a
council of advisors’ member for Global Green USA.
Robert Redford is
a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and an honorary
board member for Green Cross International.
Global Green USA is
the US affiliate for Green Cross International.
Mikhail Gorbachev was
the founder for the Green Cross International, the president of
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a general secretary
for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and an advisory board
member for the Wheelchair Foundation.
Anna Eleanor
Roosevelt was an advisory board member for the Wheelchair
Foundation and the chair for the Roosevelt Institute.
Jonathan Soros is a senior fellow at
the Roosevelt Institute, George Soros’s son and
was the vice chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
George Soros is Jonathan Soros’s father, the
founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and
was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Roosevelt Institute.
Katrina vanden Heuvel was a governor for the Roosevelt
Institute, is a director at the Roosevelt Institute, the editor
& publisher for The Nation and married to Stephen F.
Cohen.
Stephen F. Cohen is
a contributing editor for The Nation, married to Katrina
vanden Heuvel and was a friend of Mikhail Gorbachev.
Tom Hayden is
an editorial board member for The Nation and was married to Jane
Fonda A.K.A. Hanoi Jane.
Jane Fonda Jane
Fonda A.K.A. Hanoi Jane was married to Tom Hayden & Ted
Turner.
Ted Turner was
married to Jane Fonda Jane Fonda A.K.A. Hanoi Jane, is a
co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the
founder of CNN, an honorary board member for Green
Cross International.
Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for
the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Michael Douglas is
a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a
friend of George Soros.
George Soros is a friend of Michael Douglas and was the
chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Natural
Resources Defense Council.
Leonardo DiCaprio is
a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and a board
member for Global Green USA.
Global Green USA is
the US affiliate for Green Cross International.
J. Robert Kerrey was
a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and is a
council of advisors’ member for Global Green USA.
Robert Redford is
a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and an honorary
board member for Green Cross International.
Maya Lin is an
honorary trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and was a
commissioner for the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
Wesley K. Clark
was a commissioner for the President's Commission on White House
Fellowships, the supreme allied
commander – Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
applied for the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), a general in
the U.S. Army a board member at the International Crisis
Group and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United
States (think tank).
George Soros is a board member at the International
Crisis Group, the founder & chairman for the Open Society
Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open
Society.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for Media
Matters.
Media Matters monitors Fox
News.
Resources:
Past Research
Top
NATO Official Urges Business Leaders to Prepare for 'Wartime Scenario'
(Connecting the Dots: NATO & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Wesley Clark & NATO)
Thursday,
November 28, 2024
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/11/top-nato-official-urges-business.html
Hegseth
Suspends Service Members Celebrating Kirk Killing (Connecting the Dots: The U.
S. Military, West Point, Butler, The Utah Valley University, Benghazi, SEAL
Team Six, The Center for a New American Security, Mikhail Gorbachev, General
Dynamics Corporation & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on U. S. Military &
West Point)
Monday,
September 22, 2025
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/09/hegseth-suspends-service-members.html
Gen.
Wesley Clark: Saudis, Qatar Created ISIS Threat (Past
Research on Gen. Wesley Clark)
Tuesday,
August 26, 2014
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/08/gen-wesley-clark-saudis-qatar-created.html
“Tear
Down This Wall” (Connecting the Dots: Mikhail Gorbachev, Wheelchair Foundation,
Roosevelt Institute, Green Cross International, Global Green USA & Soros
Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Natural
Resources Defense Council & Green Cross International)
Monday,
January 6, 2025
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/01/tear-down-this-wall-connecting-dots.html
Megyn
Kelly Slams Fox for Banning Charlie Kirk (Connecting the Dots: Media Matters,
Fox News, Papal Knighthood, Rupert Murdoch, News Corp, Megyn Kelly & Soros
Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Fox News
& Media Matters)
Thursday,
September 18, 2025
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/09/megyn-kelly-slams-fox-for-banning.html
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