Wes Clark On The Surge: It was a Saudi payoff that worked..Not The Marines
Watch this video first and then this analysis by Ed:
John McCormack catches Wes Clark in a couple of egregious errors on the surge today on Morning Joe. The lesser mistake is Clark’s insistence that the surge didn’t involve Anbar at all, when as McCormack notes the Marines sent two extra battalions to the hotbed of terrorist activity as part of the increased deployment. Worse, though, Clark tries to tell Scarborough that the surge had nothing to do with the Marines, and everything to do with the Saudis paying off the Sunni tribes.
This isn’t exactly a lost history. Actually, 4,000 extra Marines went to Anbar. The extra Marine battalions got a lot of attention in the beginning of the surge, especially since they had the toughest job in clearing Anbar, while the Army focused more on Baghdad. In fact, some debated whether the two extra Marine battalions would be enough for the mission ” which the Corps answered almost immediately by beginning their string of successes in the region.
Certainly one would expect a military “analyst” for a major media outlet to know at least that much about the surge that he’s dismissing. However, it’s clear that Clark isn’t providing analysis but political cover for Barack Obama by trying to argue that the surge didn’t have any effect on Iraqi security. With the media pressing Obama to explain why he still opposes a strategy that worked, Clark wants to give him an out by claiming that the Iraqis beat al-Qaeda all by themselves after the Saudis bribed them to do so.
That allegation disrespects both the Iraqis in Anbar who risked and gave their lives to beat al-Qaeda as well as the Marines who gave them the opening to do so. It’s shameful for anyone to dismiss that heroic effort by the Corps in Anbar and the Army in Baghdad, but especially so for a former military commander.
Joe went on to attack Olby, although not by name:
Keith Olbermann’s tired hour-long rehashing of liberal talking points on “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” are legion and often unremarkable in and of themselves. Same noise, different night.
 But it is noteworthy when a fellow MSNBC host has had enough and calls out Olbermann. That is exactly what happened when “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough rebuked the “Countdown” host for a misplaced attack on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) during the opening of Olbermann’s July 22 “Countdown.”Olbermann began his show by ridiculing McCain for claiming that the surge was responsible for the success of the Anbar Awakening. Olbermann opined:
Tonight has proven that he [Senator McCain]Â does not understand one of the fundamental facts about the surge. In an interview with the CBS evening news, earlier today, the presumptive Republican nominee, getting the basic time line and history of the surge completely wrong.
The basis of Olbermann’s attack on McCain was that the Senator was trying to connect the success of the Anbar awakening with the success of the surge. Olbermann inferred that such a connection could not be possible because the Anbar awakening happened months before the surge started:
The military commander he mentioned, general Shawn McFarlane, then a colonel, briefed the media on the Anbar awakening on September 29th, 2006, at least two months before rumors of the mere possibility of a surge of U.S. troops in Iraq and it is Senator McCain in portions of the interview that CBS did choose to air who insisted that Obama does not understand what is happening and what has happened Iraq.
Fellow MSNBC host, Joe Scarborough admonished Olbermann this morning and argued he’s missing the point. Even liberal co-host Harold Ford Jr agreed with
Scarborough that the surge enabled the success of the Sunni awakening to continue long-term:
The bottom line is, it started in the fall of 2006. And I can’t believe that I’m having to explain this. But hopefully some of the talk shows hosts that were so shocked and stunned and deeply saddened last night — about the CBS, whatever that was. Maybe they can follow me here, slowly. The Anbar awakening started in the fall of 2006. World war2 started in December of 1941. That battle continued. The invasion of
Normandy happened three years later.
Good things happen. The surge happened six months later. And That’s when things started getting better in Anbar province. In fact, got a “Washington Post”article here right now that talks about how it continued — that it continued forward from that point. So its, to say it started and the surge didn’t help it out is ridiculous.
While Scarborough never mentioned Olbermann by name, the “Morning Joe” host discreetly implicated the “Countdown” host:
Let me tell you, and I know a couple of hosts ran this last night, made a huge deal because a liberal blogger picked it up, I will guarantee the hosts that ran it waving their arms had no idea whether the Suni awakening or the surge began at the same time.
With Olbermann’s vitriolic liberal bias escalated during campaign season, MSNBC needs more “Morning Joe” to balance out Olbermann’s nightly venom.      The transcript follows: KEITH OLBERMANN: Senator John McCain now staking his candidacy entirely on the surge inIraq , Entirely on his claim that he believed in the need for a surge ofU.S. forces inIraq , even before President Bush did. Tonight has proven that he [Senator McCain] does not understand one of the fundamental facts about the surge. In an interview with the CBS evening news, earlier today, the presumptive Republican nominee, getting the basic time line and history of the surge completely wrong. We can not play that portion of the interview for you because CBS curiously to say the least it on the edit room floor. It aired Katie Couric’s question but in response it inserted part of McCain’s answer to another question instead.And how do we know this? We consulted a transcript of the entire original interview which was available on the CBS News website. Reading from the interview as it actually transpired, Couric asking ” Senator Obama says while the increased number of
U.S. troops contributed to increased security inIraq , he also credits the Sunni awaking and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What’s your response to that?ÂSen. McCAIN answering: I don’t know how you respond to something that is such a false depiction of something that actually happened, Colonel McFarlane was contacted by one of the major Sunni Sheiks because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that Sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awaking. I mean, that’s just a matter of history.
OLBERMANN: Senator McCain is either wrong or lying. The military commander he mentioned, General Shawn McFarlane, then a colonel, briefed the media on the Anbar awakening on September 29th, 2006, at least two months before rumors of the mere possibility of a surge of U.S. troops in Iraq and it is Senator McCain in portions of the interview that CBS did choose to air who insisted that Obama does not understand what is happening and what has happened Iraq.JOE SCARBOROUGH: Let me tell you, and I know a couple of hosts ran this last night, made a huge deal because a liberal blogger picked it up, I will guarantee the hosts that ran it waving their arms had no idea whether the Suni awakening or the surge began at the same time. They also — anybody that would argue that the Suni awakening would have survived in Al Anbar province without the surge, anybody that would make that argument is so ignorant on the facts on the ground in Western Iraq, Alanbar province and what the Sunni sheiks were doing throughout 2007 that they are too stupid to be on tv. So I hope they don’t carry that argument much longer because it is laughable…
SCARBOROUGH : The bottom line is, it started in the fall of 2006. And I can’t believe that I’m having to explain this. But hopefully some of the talk shows hosts that were so shocked and stunned and deeply saddened last night — about the CBS, whatever that was. Maybe they can follow me here, slowly. The anbar awakening started in the fall of 2006. World war ii started in December of 1941. That battle continued. The invasion ofNormandy happened three years later. Good things happen. The surge happened six months later. And That’s when things started getting better in anbar province. In fact, got a “Washington Post”article here right now that talks about how it continued — that it continued forward from that point. So its, to say it started and the surge didn’t help it out is ridiculous.
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July 23, 2008 - 06:01 PM on July 23rd, 2008
Wes Clark is a fool who should be cashiered and his pension taken away from him.
July 23, 2008 - 11:32 PM on July 23rd, 2008
He’s just another in a long family line of perpetual West Point grads who have never had to have a job outside of government until they were already collecting a pension larger than the average salary for a working class person and enough brass on his hat to get him instant recognition as an expert, whether he is an expert or not. I once tried to explain a new weapons system to a LTC and he didn’t want to hear a word I had to say because I was just a 1LT. Too bad he didn’t listen, it might have kept him from having his heels locked by the Brigadier General in charge of operations and training the next morning. At that point I sat back in my jeep with my feet on the dash and watched the butt chewing from a distance.
When I had been working with the newly fielded system, I had to hide my platoon HQ or have General Officers popping in for a visit. Yes, on at least one occasion a General flying over in his helicopter spotted my platoon’s camo nets and flew down for a visit and an in field impromptu briefing.
July 24, 2008 - 03:54 PM on July 24th, 2008
That Wes Clark is a loon gone bad! So is Old Old Old-burr-man, and the dish ran away with the spoon, which makes as much sense as those two birds. Are they in this world with the rest of us? When you start to break down, you are the last to know. Notify their families and have them committed for tests.
July 24, 2008 - 04:08 PM on July 24th, 2008
It seems Clark has sold out even his fellow brothers-in-arms and is pimping his services to the Democrites in return for what he hopes will be a place in an Obama administration. Problem is he’s selling his soul to the Devil (who is a huge Democrat).
July 24, 2008 - 08:05 PM on July 24th, 2008
Too funny - PCD and Robert. Loved your observation and cool words. Love this Blog, Right Voices. Makes my day!
July 24, 2008 - 08:30 PM on July 24th, 2008
Thanks for the thumbs up carolyne. I like very much drafting the words to describe my opinion of Leftists/Socialists/Democrites. Although sometimes I think maybe I am too easy on them…
July 25, 2008 - 02:55 PM on July 25th, 2008
OH! Really Robert, you nail it just right.
I just got told that I needed not to say so much, or curse, or e-mail all the crazy stuff, is how it was worded to me, because they were concerned of what people would think of me? Think they were more concerned what people might think of them. The story of my life, here! Ha Ha
Now what do you think of me, and of that! Never mind hurting my feelings, that has already been done. I’ll just leave it at that! Trust me, this party won’t be e-mailed any more info, just to be on the safe side. I’m a little taken back, but was let’s say expecting it, as always. Thanks!
Oh well, can’t do anything about five minutes ago. . .just keep Movin’ On.
July 25, 2008 - 03:14 PM on July 25th, 2008
Just one more major question - how can anyone with only 143 days in the Senate - run for President??? That is unheard of and the arrogant know it all, holier than thou attitude, of Obama - this is insanity which makes you want to curse this Hitler! He even raises his arm like Hitler, what is going on. Reality Check here please! I just want to scream.
July 25, 2008 - 04:42 PM on July 25th, 2008
Carolyne,
Stick around, it will only get better. Soon Obamassiah will be preaching that down is up, and up is down.
July 25, 2008 - 07:24 PM on July 25th, 2008
And his faithful followers will proclaim that down is up and up is down! Change, change, change we can believe in!
carolyne you’re ok as far as I am concerned.
July 25, 2008 - 10:11 PM on July 25th, 2008
Robert Thanks, and I know my heart, though I get a little bent out of shape over Obama and the Muslims. Just the thought of them is stressful. I have learned a great deal on RightVoices and have changed my mind about a lot of things with the understanding that I have gained from reading the posts. I appreciate the true hearts that have passion on RightVoices which gives me something I really can believe in. I have always said their are no accidental meetings in life. Glad I met you, who ever you really are?
July 25, 2008 - 10:40 PM on July 25th, 2008
I am really only 12 years old, and everybody here calls me “Bobby”. Just kidding!
Sometimes I do wonder who the real persons are behind the screen names and online personas.
July 25, 2008 - 10:52 PM on July 25th, 2008
I think if the so-called leadership of this Nation put into practice the collective wisdom of the RV posters, this Country would be a far better place. Seriously, every political or newsworthy event that is put into play here on RV is quickly analyzed, dissected, then conclusions and recommendations are posted. And almost without fail they are right on. Here we have so-called leaders, experts, and gurus whose job it is to figure this stuff out and most of them don’t even have common sense enough to figure out what RV posters do here every day.
They are educated people, yet so many lack common sense, and are either corrupt, mentally-ill, or both. Unless it is due to corruption, how else but mental illness, the manifestation of Liberalism, to explain the aggressive stupidity of people like Nancy Pelosi? It is as though they take even the obvious and turn it upside down to reach their conclusion. As though they use inverted logic (up = down, down = up).
I see it in my own family. I have older siblings who are educated in some of the best Universities in the West. Yet when it comes to politics and policy, they can’t seem to grasp the obvious.
July 26, 2008 - 12:39 AM on July 26th, 2008
Here’s a topic for someone to research. Obama’s call for a civilian homeland security force with the size and funding of the entire US military. Am I the only one that immediately has the word “Gestapo” spring to mind?