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On Iraq war, Votevets.org, and George Soros. Bill tells Wesley Clark, retired four-star general of the US Army and former head of NATO forces, why he's wrong about Iraq. Also gives advice on accepting campaign funds from political donors. Transcript by Reg NYC (http://sparkly.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/5907-general-wesley-clark-on-the-oreilly-factor/) [Plays Votevets ad] Bill OReilly: Now that ad was paid for by VoteVets.org, which says its non-partisan, but a study of its PAC shows 93% of VoteVets donations go to Democrats. With us now Fox News military analyst General Wesley Clark, who is on the board of advisors of VoteVets.org . You know, I understand the dissent, and the General, certainly a patriot, has a right to say whatever he wants. I wouldnt have done it. You got guys over there in bad situations right now. Congress is debating what to do about the situation. I wouldnt have piled on like the General did. Am I wrong? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Bill, I think youre wrong. I, I think- Bill OReilly: You wouldve piled on? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Absolutely. Bill OReilly: Yeah, piled on- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Look, this policy has been a mistake. We should never have invaded Iraq, but the American people supported it. And guys like John Batiste, who did a great job in the United States Army. He was a fine Division Commander. He was there on the ground. He saw it. He tried to make it work, and then he realized in perspective that the problem is not the troops. The problem is the policy and the strategy. Bill OReilly: Right. But the problem is the troops now. Put yourself in a Company Commanders shoes, because they watch Fox News. Theyre watching us right now. And you see this, and your guys, youre trying to keep your guys morale up, and youre trying to get your guys to perform in very, very difficult circumstances, and this stuff comes on. I dont think this is right. I, I really feel its wrong. You got to look out for the guys first. I dont think Batiste is looking out for the guys. I think hes looking out for politics. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I dont think so. I think the most important thing John Batiste can do to look out for the troops is to try to get them a strategy and policies that work and make their sacrifice meaningful. Bill OReilly: But thats already in play. If it wasnt in play- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Its not in play. Bill OReilly: Sure it is. Congress is debating it- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Its not in play. Bill OReilly: -right now. What do you think theyre doing? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think theres a big debate going on, and I think John Batistes voice is very welcome in that debate. Hes been there. Hes seen it, and- Bill OReilly: Alright. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Hes a very credible source. Bill OReilly: Its a legitimate point. Im not going to condemn the General. Hes, hes a patriot and braver than I am, but I would not have done it. Makes me queasy. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thats his sense of responsibility. Bill OReilly: Okay. You. I got a bone to pick with you. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You do? Bill OReilly: You bet. You bet. George Soros donated 75,000 dollars to your WesPAC. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You brought this up the last time. Bill OReilly: And we didnt have time to get into it. Do you know how radical left this guy is? Do you have any clue about how radical left he is? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Listen, George Soros is, hes, hes an embodiment in many respects, Bill, of the American dream that every person aspires to. He came to this country. Hes done a lot of good. Do you know what George Soros foundations have done in Eastern Europe? Do you realize how- Bill OReilly: He does some humanitarian work. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -how much great- No, not humanitarian work. Bill OReilly: Yeah? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Democratizing work. Bill OReilly: Well, okay. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He put millions- Bill OReilly: Hes a convicted felon. Hes a convicted felon in France. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -And millions, and millions of dollars in. Bill OReilly: Hes a convicted felon in France. He ruined the British pound by selling it short. Hes- And let me ask you this. Do you stand for euthanasia? Are you a euthanasia guy? You believe in that? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Because someone gives you money on a common cause doesnt mean- Bill OReilly: 75K. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -you endorse all their political views. Bill OReilly: 75K. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But heres what I do stand for. Bill OReilly: You dont, euthanasia- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I, no. Heres- Bill OReilly: You dont believe in that. Do you? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No. Ive never endorsed euthanasia. Bill OReilly: Okay. Legalized narcotics? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But heres, heres the point. Bill OReilly: Legalized narcotics? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But heres the point, Bill. Bill OReilly: Youre not going to answer me? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I dont think thats the relevant question. Bill OReilly: Sure it is. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No, it isnt. Bill OReilly: This guy gives you- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No, it isnt. Bill OReilly: -gave you 70,000 dollars- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Let me tell you something. People from all over the spectrum- And if a Republican had given me 75,000 dollars, I wouldve taken it also. Bill OReilly: Youre gonna- Okay. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: And I wouldnt have quarreled with the Republicans view. Bill OReilly: David Duke gives you money, youre going to take his money? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I wouldnt have taken David Dukes view. Bill OReilly: Alright. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Is David Duke a good Republican? Im not sure. Bill OReilly: Well, you wouldnt have taken David Dukes money, but George Soros says we need de-Nazification in this country and compares the Bush administration to the Nazis and youre taking 75K from him. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I cant defend everything George Soros says. Bill OReilly: You cant defend anything he does. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But let me tell- Oh, yes I can. Bill OReilly: No you cant. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Ive seen the work hes done. Hes made a huge impact in the world. Hes trained thousands and thousands of democracy workers. Hes put his personal reputation and his personal wealth behind it. Hes made a difference in the fall- Bill OReilly: Are you an open border guy? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Im. Bill OReilly: You want the open border? You want everybody coming in here? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Im in favor of democracy in Eastern Europe and George Soros has put his money- Bill OReilly: Eastern Europe. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -into it. Bill OReilly: Ill tell you what. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Not only there, but hes supported other groups that have helped around the world bringing American values- Bill OReilly: Im going to have my guys- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -in a realistic way, Bill. Bill OReilly: Im going to have my guys FedEx, because I know youre travelling abroad, FedEx you a package of who this guy really is. I dont care what hes done- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Bill, thats- Bill OReilly: -in Bulgaria. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Listen. Bill OReilly: It doesnt matter. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Listen to me. Thats character assassination. Bill OReilly: You bet it is. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Im not interested in character assassination. Bill OReilly: You- No! Its facts. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Im interested in- Bill OReilly: Its facts. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -advancing American values. Bill OReilly: Not character assassination. Oh! GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Youre going after a guy- Bill OReilly: American values? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Youre going after- Bill OReilly: Euthanasia? Legalized Narcotics? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: About freedom,- Bill OReilly: Open borders? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -democracy, freedom of the press- Bill OReilly: Thats false! GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -open and free speech. Bill OReilly: Thats false. This guy is- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He is in favor all of that, and hes helped put his money there. Bill OReilly: This guy is undermining the country abroad- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Hes put his money there. Bill OReilly: -wants a one world government. I mean, this is as radical as it goes. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I dont see any one world government guy. Bill OReilly: There is a more- There isnt a more radical person in the country- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Ive talked to George Soros. Bill OReilly: -than him. You took, you took 75K from the most radical individual in the United States of America. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Youre just going after somebody. Bill OReilly: You bet! GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: And its personal, and its wrong. Bill OReilly: Not personal! GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You ought to look at his results. Bill OReilly: Results for what !?! GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I dont have to defend his views! I can look at the record of what hes accomplished- Bill OReilly: No! GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -in Eastern Europe. Bill OReilly: General, you are a patriot. Y- its who you associate with that people are going to judge you by. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, Im associating with you. Bill OReilly: Well, thats because youre getting paid to do it. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Id be here even- Bill OReilly: He gave you money. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Id be here with you even if you didnt pay me. Bill OReilly: Aw, General, youre trying to charm me. Youre wrong on this guy. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I would be. No. Bill OReilly: This guys dangerous. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think youre wrong on it. Bill OReilly: Hes dangerous. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Hes not. Hes a legitimate voice- Bill OReilly: Yeah. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -in the United States of America. Bill OReilly: Moveon.org, you like them? You think theyre good? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think theyve had a legitimate role to play. Bill OReilly: You do? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Theyve been a big voice. Bill OReilly: You like that character assassination. You like them going in and, and cutting everybody up? You think thats good? GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You like the Swift Boats? Bill OReilly: Aw, Swift Boats. Dont divert the thing. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No. No. Thats the question. Do you believe in that kind of character assassination? Bill OReilly: Lisen, I was on of the- No! I was one of the big critics of the Swift Boats. I was one of the big critics. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well- Bill OReilly: Im not hypocrite here. But youre- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I, I think, I think Bill OReilly: But youre on the wrong side of the street here. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think, Bill, youve said a lot of things- Bill OReilly: Youre on the wrong side of the street. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think youve said a lot of things that are very, very personal. You ought to be looking at the issues. Bill OReilly: We back up every one of them. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You ought to be worried about- Let me tell you some thing. You ought to be worried about where this countrys headed- Bill OReilly: I am. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -with its policy in Iraq. Bill OReillly: Im worried about George Soros- GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Let me tell you what Im worried about. Bill OReilly: -giving guys like you 75,000. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Im worried about every one of our soldiers and their families over there who havent had a decent leadership and decent policy. Bill OReilly: Im worried about them too. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -coming out of the White House in four years. Bill OReilly: Ill agree with you in that. Im worried about them too. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: And George Soros and people like him are putting the money in it to try to change that policy. Bill OReilly: Alright. Always spirited, General. Thank you for coming in. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Good to be with you. Bill OReilly: Alright.