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Wesley Clark on Energy & Oil

NATO General; Democratic Candidate for President


Raise CAFE standards after consulting with experts

Q: Would you increase the required automobile fleet average of 27.5 mpg; & SUVs & pickups averaging 20.7 mpg?

A: We now have the technology to make cars and SUVs that go twice as far on a gallon of gas by using more efficient engines and transmissions, including hybrid cars that use both gasoline and an electric motor. In consultation with scientists, environmental groups, & industry, I will set new standards to raise the fuel economy and reduce the emissions of cars, SUVs, and light trucks.

Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, "Fuel Efficiency" Jan 25, 2004

Buy oil on the world market instead of occupying Iraq

We need an Iraq that stays together. We need something like some kind of a representative government. We need an Iraq that's strong enough to protect itself from Al Qaida, but not so strong that it threatens its neighbors. And by doing this, we'll still have access to buy oil on the international market. I'm one of those people who don't believe in occupying countries to extract their natural resources. I think you buy them on the world market.
Source: Democratic 2004 Primary Presidential Debate in Durham NH Dec 9, 2003

Drilling ANWR doesn't help with energy independence

Opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on the grounds that "the gains in terms of US energy independence are relatively marginal."
Source: The Diane Rehm Show, reported on DraftWesleyClark.com Aug 1, 2003

Look for replacements for internal combustion engine

For more than 100 years, the internal combustion engine has been the system of choice for automobiles and many other vehicles. Although electric motors have been available since the early 1800s, no one has been able to create a motor architecture that is small enough, light enough, yet powerful enough to propel an automobile reliably and efficiently - until now. I believe that [newly developed] electric motors have a chance to be the propulsion system of choice for the twenty-first century.
Source: Tom Junod, "The General," Esquire Aug 1, 2003

Establish redline of protection in places like ANWR

In general I am inclined not to support drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. I've looked at the issue, but the gains in terms of US energy independence are relatively marginal. It's an important redline in terms of trying to protect a pristine area in the environment. So, in general I am inclined to go against it right now.
Source: CNN, Crossfire Aug 1, 2003

Protection outweighs benefits from drilling in Alaska

[Drilling in Alaska] is an important question, both for the environmental movement and the energy issue. In general, I am inclined not to support drilling in the National Wildlife Refuge. I've looked at the issue, but the gains in terms of US energy independence are relatively marginal. It's an important redline in terms of trying to protect a pristine area in the environment.
Source: WMUR-FM, The Diane Rehm Show Jul 23, 2003

Renegotiate Kyoto Agreement rather than reject it

[Clark] would have renegotiated the Kyoto Agreement, rather than rejecting it outright, pointing out that the consistent pattern of rejecting international agreements set down by President Bush makes it hard to get international cooperation.
Source: Gerry Krownstein, "The CNN General," New York Stringer Jul 1, 2003

Don't rule out nuclear, but focus on solar & wind power

I am not one of those people who will rule out nuclear energy as a contributor to dealing with the energy problem. We've just got lots of things we need to do on energy conservation and energy generation, and especially renewable energy resources. The means are out there now to take a much greater percentage of our energy needs from the sun, from solar, and from wind, and even from wave action. And I would hope that we would move ahead in those areas much more rapidly than we have been.
Source: WCGU-FM interview on "Sound Off With Sasha" Jun 27, 2003

Disappearing glaciers make global warming obvious

Human beings do affect the environment and all you have to do is fly along the Andes and look at the disappearing glaciers down there and you recognize that there is something called global warming and it's just getting started as China and India modernize.
Source: Speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, NYC NY Feb 20, 2003

US energy overuse causes worldwide resentment

At a conference on terrorism, former NATO commander Wesley Clark attributed much of the world terrorism problem to a struggle between haves and have-nots. There is widespread resentment over the fact that the US has less than 5 percent of the world's population but consumes nearly 25 percent of its natural resources, Clark said.
Source: Michael Kilian, Chicago Tribune Aug 14, 2002

Other candidates on Energy & Oil: Wesley Clark on other issues:
George W. Bush
Dick Cheney
John Edwards
John Kerry

Third Party Candidates:
Michael Baradnik
Peter Camejo
David Cobb
Ralph Nader
Michael Peroutka

Democratic Primaries:
Carol Moseley Braun
Wesley Clark
Howard Dean
Dick Gephardt
Bob Graham
Dennis Kucinich
Joe Lieberman
Al Sharpton
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty
Adv: Avi Green for State Rep Middlesex 26, Somerville & Cambridge Massachusetts