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Wesley Clark Considering Presidential Bid

Retired Nato chief Wesley Clark is considering a presidential run. Here are some of his positions:

He has objected to the use of truth serum on the Guantanamo Bay detainees:

William Webster, a former CIA and FBI director, said he would support the use of "truth" drugs like sodium pentothol to get information from detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, although retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark said the idea was "highly objectionable" and warned along with other officials that it would result in other countries acting similarly toward captured U.S. soldiers....."We've spent the last 60 years building up international law according to what Harry Truman said, that right makes might, not might makes right," Clark said.(The St. Petersburg Times, April 26, 2002)

From a Salon interview with Clark, Wesley Clark Unplugged (3/23/03):

One of the things about the war on terror that I am disturbed about is that we've essentially suspended habeas corpus. Which is something that's only been done once in American history and then only for a very brief period.

When I go back and think about the atmosphere in which the PATRIOT Act was passed, it begs for a reconsideration and review. And it should be done. Law enforcement agencies will always chafe at any restriction whatsoever when they're in the business of trying to get their job done. But in practice we've always balanced the need for law enforcement with our own protection of our constitutional rights and that's a balance that will need to be reviewed.

Daily Kos: "He's solid on national security, well-spoken, presidential, pro-choice, pro-gun, pro-affirmative action, anti-PATRIOT Act, and believes strongly that the government should provide for the less fortunate amongst us."

Here's Clark's Washington Monthly article, An Army of One?

Here's a slice of Clark's background:

A West Point graduate and former Rhodes Scholar, Clark saw combat in the Vietnam War as commander of a mechanized infantry company. He won the Silver Star, the Bronze Star (twice), the Purple Heart and other decorations for his heroism in combat. Clark served as Commander-in-Chief of US Southern Command ("SOUTHCOM") in 1996-97 and NATO Supreme Allied Commander in 1997-2000 (during the NATO bombing campaign against Serbia). He retired from the Army in 2000 and subsequently wrote a book on military-foreign policy entitled Waging Modern War (2001). Clark currently resides in DC, but considers Arkansas to be his home.

For more on Clark, visit the DraftClark website.

Don't count him out, particularly for the VP slot.

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