It was a reception befitting a presidential candidate, and former candidate Wesley Clark seemed to thoroughly enjoy his visit to the University of Central Arkansas on April 7.
Brought to campus by the Serving Central Arkansas Together student organization and introduced by UCA President Lu Hardin, the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces was warmly welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of students, faculty, staff and off-campus supporters.
Speaking in Ida Waldran Auditorium inside historic Old Main, Clark delivered a campaign-type speech despite the fact that he has long since abandoned his quest for the presidency (that included a victory in the Oklahoma Primary).
Following a rousing standing ovation, Clark began his address by saying, ?We?re in trouble in Iraq.? Pointing out the fierce fighting in Iraq and the unprecedented testimony of Condoleezza Rice before the 9/11 commission, Clark said, ?this is a unique time of transition in America.?
Emphasizing repeatedly to the students that it would be up to their generation to ?help us drive America,? Clark said things began changing for the United States in 1989 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, ?When Russia collapsed and we won the Cold War, we also lost what our sense of purpose was in the world. We created 23 billion jobs in this country in the 1990s; we were on top of the world and our economy was going gangbusters.? Then Clark said came a time of tremendous change for the U.S. including 9/11, the Army being 100 percent committed in Iraq, and the lost of 2.5 million jobs over the last three years.
The war, Clark said, is the result of ?President Bush getting his priorities upside down.? Clark said he ran for office because he thought the country was being ?improperly taken to war.? Following loud applause, Clark said the U.S. failed to think through the political part of the operation, adding, ?we didn?t have a plan as to what we were going to do when we got to Baghdad.?
Clark would set up an international organization to work with other countries, as well as all of the factions inside Iraq, to help set up a new government. Also to applause, Clark said, ?You have to listen to others. You can?t always behave as if you have all the answers, because you don?t.?
Calling job creation the number one issue domestically, Clark said the government should stop giving tax breaks to companies that send jobs to other countries. ?We must create a job-creating environment in America, and it starts with the ability of small businesses to get investment capital or loans.?
In other areas, some from a question and answer session, Clark said:
?The government needs to find a way to provide health insurance for all Americans.
?The minimum wage needs to be increased.
?Americans need to be allowed to purchase prescription drugs from Canada, Europe or ?any other place that is cheaper.?
?He is concerned about the Patriot Act. ?I don?t think you can win the war on terror if you give up the freedoms you are trying to protect.?
?He thinks the rise of gasoline prices is tied to the value of the dollar and predicted the cost of petroleum will be an issue in the fall campaign.
Clark visited with students and signed autographs after the program.
