"A Time to Lead" is a time for America to lead. That is the intention of the title. Certainly we are having a leadership crisis. We have an administration that has lost all sense of strategic purpose in the Mideast. I am very concerned that we have lost the foundation of America's worldwide power and influence. It has been squandered."
"The most important element of power is not the military. After World War II and through the end of the 20th century, we had a legitimacy that magnified our military strength and economic strength. We weren't like other powers. We weren't after an empire. We didn't torture. What we've lost is our legitimacy. It's time for every American to be a leader. "
2007-07-02 07:39:36 · 6 answers · asked by courage 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Yes. One of the basic failures of the neocon view is that they don't comprehend the real value of 'soft' power - the power that doesn't come from military threats. It's a remarkable failure since the most astounding foreign policy success of the past 60 years, the adoption of Western democracy by most of the former Warsaw pact was generated largely by soft power: ultimately the Communist governments were unable to persuade their populations to oppose us because the poeple wanted to be us.
There's a certain irony in the fact that a General understands this point and the chickenhawks of the neocon movement don't get it.
2007-07-02 11:53:22 · answer #1 · answered by A M Frantz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wesley is a smart man. You should also read what Dwight Eisenhower said as he left office 50 years ago: beware of the military industrial complex. It's bad. Real bad.
Vote Ron Paul!
2007-07-02 07:43:26 · answer #2 · answered by Big Momma Carnivore 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Was this before or after Clark lost command in Afganastain due to poor leadership?. Yes, Clark was fired by Bill Clinton.
2007-07-02 07:47:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Clark's lying a bit writing "we weren't after an empire".
In fact, FDR joined the Allies only when he settled the right of free trade with British colonies (August 1941 memorandum), the right to OWN former British colonies.
2007-07-02 07:48:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sadly, I do agree with him. We are suffering from a leadership crisis. I'm just not sure he has any better ideas.
2007-07-02 07:43:25 · answer #5 · answered by Steve C 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most of us weren't particularly happy serving under him, why would we listen to him? This guy wanted to be Schwarzkopf, but didn't have half the ability.
2007-07-02 07:45:15 · answer #6 · answered by Dekardkain 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋