Clark not confident in administration's Iraq strategies

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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark said Thursday that the rebuilding of Iraq could be hampered by the Bush administration's failure to follow through on measures necessary for success.

Clark, who was a candidate for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, also said he expects the Army to announce a substantial pullout of troops from the region by the end of the summer.

''Barring some vast systemic change in Iraq in which the reception of the troops ... was entirely different, I think it's clear that we need to reduce the size of the forces there,'' Clark told The Associated Press.

The administration has not set a timetable for withdrawing troops, though Vice President Dick Cheney recently predicted fighting in Iraq will end before Bush leaves office in 2009.

Clark, who is scheduled to be in New Hampshire this weekend for a Democratic fund-raiser, called the war a strategic blunder and faulted Bush for taking too long to set up an Iraqi government and train local security forces.

He also said the administration hasn't dealt effectively with Iraq's neighbors.

''The broad outlines of how to succeed are clear,'' Clark said. ''The question is, can the administration do a good enough job to make us successful and that remains uncertain.''

The White House declined to comment.

Clark downplayed the significance of his visit to the state with the earliest presidential primary, though acknowledged that he has not ruled out another bid for the White House.