You''ve all probably already heard General Wesley Clark's opinions of Senator John McCain's wartime record. For those that haven't, here are his comments (via Powerline Blog):
SCHIEFFER: Well, you went so far as to say that you thought John McCain was, quote-- and these are your words-- "untested and untried." And I must say, I had to read that twice, because you're talking about somebody who was a prisoner of war, he was a squadron commander of the largest squadron in the Navy. He's been on the Senate Armed Services Committee for lo these many years. How can you say that John McCain is untested and untried, General?
CLARK: Because in the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk. It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable.
John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions.
I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war.
He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility.
That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded -- that wasn't a wartime squadron.
He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when diplomats come in and say, I don't know whether we're going to be able to get this point through or not. Do you want to take the risk? What about your reputation? How do we handle this publicly? He hasn't made that calls, Bob.
SCHIEFFER: Well, General, maybe -- could I just interrupt you?
CLARK: Sure.
SCHIEFFER: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences, either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean...
CLARK: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.
SCHIEFFER: Really?
CLARK: But Barack is not -- he is not running on the fact that he has made these national security pronouncements. He's running on his other strengths.
To use Wesley Clark's own logic, I gotta ask this question: "General, thank you for your service, but what from your military record gives you the experience to comment on someone's ability to run a political office? That is a civilian job, is it not?"
That said, I do think McCain gained leadership qualities in his 5-1/2 year stay in a Vietnam POW camp. I recently read a U.S. News and World Report account of his time there, as written by John McCain himself. I caught, at the end of his story, one thought of John's thoughts about his country...that he is actually proud of it:
My own plans for the future are to remain in the Navy, if I am able to return to flying status. That depends upon whether the corrective surgery on my arms and my leg is successful. If I have to leave the Navy, I hope to serve the Government in some capacity, preferably in Foreign Service for the State Department.
I had a lot of time to think over there, and came to the conclusion that one of the most important things in life—along with a man's family—is to make some contribution to his country.
Sounds like he follows democrat John F. Kennedy's advice: "ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what can you do for your country."
-Colonel Steve
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