Reply #165: When Richard Perle was pushing very strongly [View All]

for an invasion of Iraq and was arguing against people who were taking a different position, with a background, and in a forum where people might take them seriously. Richard Perle certainly could tell the difference between those who were in line with his agenda on the war, and those who were not. This quote is merely being used to show that Perle knew that Clark was not on line with his agenda; something that I do believe he was effective in ascertaining.

You have to look at the context of the statement. Richard Perle did not know at the time that Clark was a Democrat, or that he would be running for president. He only knew that Clark was presenting credible arguements for not rushing to war in Iraq, and was therefore a threat to his agenda. His statement was a pretty clear indication of that. Otherwise, there was really no need for him to say anything at all.

Generally, among liberal, anti Iraq war Democrats, who oppose the neocon agenda, being attacked by Richard Perle is regarded as a badge of honor rather than a negative. I have heard Perle say good things about Joe Lieberman, something that has discredited him in my eyes.

Maybe Richard Perle had that crystal ball though, and was just trying to set people up to believe that Clark opposed invading Iraq. That explanation gets a little bit convoluted though.