WESLEY K. CLARK
Name: Wesley Kanne Clark
Born: December 23, 1944 Chicago, Illinois
General Wesley Kanne Clark, (born December 23, 1944) is a retired four-star
general of the United States Army. Clark was valedictorian of his class at West
Point, was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he
obtained a degree in PPE (Philosophy, Politics & Economics), and later graduated
from the Command and General Staff College with a master's degree in military
science. He spent 34 years in the Army and the Department of Defense, receiving
many military decorations, several honorary knighthoods, and a Presidential
Medal of Freedom.
Clark commanded Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo War during his term as the
Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO from 1997 to 2000. Some of Clark's
command decisions during the conflict, such as his statements at press briefings
and his actions at Priština International Airport, were heavily criticized. At
times, he had a difficult relationship with Secretary of Defense William Cohen
and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Hugh Shelton, which led to
rumors Clark was forced into retirement, though both he and the Department of
Defense said his retirement was merely standard personnel movement.
Clark joined the 2004 race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination as a
candidate on September 17, 2003, but withdrew from the primary race on February
11, 2004 endorsing and campaigning for the eventual Democratic nominee, John
Kerry. Clark currently leads a political action committee - "WesPAC: Securing
America" - which was formed after the primaries, and used it to support
numerous Democratic Party candidates in the 2006 midterm elections. Clark was
considered a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2008, but, on
September 15, 2007, endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton.
Name: Wesley Kanne Clark
Born: December 23, 1944 Chicago, Illinois
General Wesley Kanne Clark, (born December 23, 1944) is a retired four-star
general of the United States Army. Clark was valedictorian of his class at West
Point, was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he
obtained a degree in PPE (Philosophy, Politics & Economics), and later graduated
from the Command and General Staff College with a master's degree in military
science. He spent 34 years in the Army and the Department of Defense, receiving
many military decorations, several honorary knighthoods, and a Presidential
Medal of Freedom.
Clark commanded Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo War during his term as the
Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO from 1997 to 2000. Some of Clark's
command decisions during the conflict, such as his statements at press briefings
and his actions at Priština International Airport, were heavily criticized. At
times, he had a difficult relationship with Secretary of Defense William Cohen
and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Hugh Shelton, which led to
rumors Clark was forced into retirement, though both he and the Department of
Defense said his retirement was merely standard personnel movement.
Clark joined the 2004 race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination as a
candidate on September 17, 2003, but withdrew from the primary race on February
11, 2004 endorsing and campaigning for the eventual Democratic nominee, John
Kerry. Clark currently leads a political action committee - "WesPAC: Securing
America" - which was formed after the primaries, and used it to support
numerous Democratic Party candidates in the 2006 midterm elections. Clark was
considered a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2008, but, on
September 15, 2007, endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton.