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Wesley Clark Biography

Retired General from Arkansas

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General Wesley Clark is a retired US Army general. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the Army from 1968 to 2000, retiring after political wrangling with Washington. Clark joined the 2004 race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination but withdrew from the race after 4 months. Clark is now a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2008.

In his recently published book Winning Modern Wars, Clark says that the "American way was not to rely on coercion and hard pressure but on persuasion and shared vision". In other words, he is an outspoken critic of President George W. Bush's handling of the war in Iraq. But while Clark may prefer a softer approach in dealing with U.S. enemies, critics are saying his actions should be reviewed before deciding whether he is qualified to become President.

Clark is a moderate liberal with strong pro-environmental views, and equally strong pro-civil rights stances. He supports equal opportunity for gays in military service. He also advocates return to balancing the federal budget, reduction of the budget and trade deficits, and would nullify all tax cuts for wealthy Americans. He has suggested providing healthcare for the uninsured by altering the current system. Clark also proposed a global effort to strengthen American relations with other nations.