Clark criticizes policies in Iraq

Kirsten Searer

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 | 8:28 a.m.

Former presidential hopeful Wesley Clark visited Las Vegas on Monday to give his thoughts on ongoing struggles in the world, especially in Iraq.

The retired four-star general said he thinks the Bush administration is not ready for the June 30 hand-off date, when an Iraqi government is scheduled to take the reins of the country.

He gave his speech to a convention of the Radio-Television News Directors Association convention at the Las Vegas Hilton. And because the convention's speakers included Clark and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, CNN taped a live episode of "Crossfire" on national political issues with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and entertainer Wayne Newton at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Clark told the journalists it's important to ensure that Iraqis are given the tools to establish a stable government, to secure the borders so that terrorists do not infiltrate the country and to set a specific mission for troops in Iraq.

It's as important to have a "successful political strategy" as it is to have a military strategy, he said.

"The question is not whether this mission will succeed," he said. "The question is how this mission will succeed. This administration has not yet come up with a workable strategy for that."

"The fact that there's not a government yet designated doesn't mean we shouldn't be thinking about it or talking about it," he said.

Clark also said the administration needs to pay more attention to unrest in Saudi Arabia, terrorism brewing in Pakistan and the vulnerability of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi people are suffering, he said.

"You don't make friends with people when you kill their relatives," he said. "You leave an angry, hateful, vengeful population."

Clark also suggested working more with NATO, maybe to secure Arab forces to help with relations in Iraq.

Clark said he thinks John Kerry has a vision to regain friends around the world and stabilize Iraq.

Clark would not speculate on whether he would be offered a position in a Kerry administration, saying that his current mission is to help Kerry get elected -- and to interview for a job in the private sector.

At the CNN "Crossfire" show taped at the convention Monday, Goodman was the featured guest representing the Democratic viewpoint, though at one point he called himself "nonpartisan."

Goodman told CNN's Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala that he thinks Democrats will do well in Nevada this year and that "we are having a real problem with the good president.

"I would never say anything about the office of the president, but this president came out and he made promises to Nevada about Yucca Mountain," Goodman said. "And this administration has not taken care of the issue as far as the transportation, the safety of the transportation of nuclear waste.

"We have to really vote for a Democrat because Kerry has taken the position that he would not be supportive of a high-level nuclear waste dump here," Goodman said.

Goodman also pointed out the merits of the fast-growing Las Vegas Valley, where he said "our economy is great. Everybody has a job. The weather is like this everyday, even when it rains."

Tucker asked Goodman if he could give Kerry charm lessons.

"You're one of the most charming people anywhere," Tucker said. "... I mean, listening to a John Kerry speech is like going to the proctologist. You may have to, but you don't want to."

Goodman first joked that Kerry needs "a bigger nose." But later said "he's a very nice guy and a regular guy, very interested in our community here.

"He has to learn how to be a little bit like myself," Goodman said. "Laid back, and maybe have a drink or two, who knows."

Newton was pro-Bush and joked that the best thing Kerry could do for the nation would be to drop out of the race.