Four Stars for President 2008

General Wesley Clark on The O’Reilly Factor

May 9, 2007
transcript by Reg NYC

(plays VoteVets ad)

Bill O’Reilly: Now that ad was paid for by VoteVets.org, which says it’s non-partisan, but a study of its PAC shows 93% of VoteVets donations go to Democrats. With us now Fox News military analyst General Wesley Clark, who is on the board of advisors of VoteVets.org . You know, I understand the dissent, and the General, certainly a patriot, has a right to say whatever he wants. I wouldn’t have done it. You got guys over there in bad situations right now. Congress is debating what to do about the situation. I wouldn’t have piled on like the General did. Am I wrong?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Bill, I think you’re wrong. I, I think-

Bill O’Reilly: You would’ve piled on?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Absolutely.

Bill O’Reilly: Yeah, piled on-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Look, this policy has been a mistake. We should never have invaded Iraq, but the American people supported it. And guys like John Batiste, who did a great job in the United States Army. He was a fine Division Commander. He was there on the ground. He saw it. He tried to make it work, and then he realized in perspective that the problem is not the troops. The problem is the policy and the strategy.
Bill O’Reilly: Right. But the problem is the troops now. Put yourself in a Company Commander’s shoes, because they watch Fox News. They’re watching us right now. And you see this, and your guys, you’re trying to keep your guys’ morale up, and you’re trying to get your guys to perform in very, very difficult circumstances, and this stuff comes on. I don’t think this is right. I, I really feel it’s wrong. You got to look out for the guys first. I don’t think Batiste is looking out for the guys. I think he’s looking out for politics.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don’t think so. I think the most important thing John Batiste can do to look out for the troops is to try to get them a strategy and policies that work and make their sacrifice meaningful.

Bill O’Reilly: But that’s already in play. If it wasn’t in play-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: It’s not in play.

Bill O’Reilly: Sure it is. Congress is debating it-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: It’s not in play.

Bill O’Reilly: -right now. What do you think they’re doing?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think there’s a big debate going on, and I think John Batiste’s voice is very welcome in that debate. He’s been there. He’s seen it, and-

Bill O’Reilly: Alright.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He’s a very credible source.

Bill O’Reilly: It’s a legitimate point. I’m not going to condemn the General. He’s, he’s a patriot and braver than I am, but I would not have done it. Makes me queasy.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: That’s his sense of responsibility.

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