Retired Gen. Wesley Clark may not be a typical politician but he knows how to score political points. The Democratic presidential candidate -- who is a retired four-star Army general, former NATO supreme allied commander and former commander-in-chief of the U.S. European Command -- chose Orangeburg as a forum this past week to lash out at President Bush's policies in Iraq.

There is no better place. South Carolina with its February 2004 primary represents the general's first real chance to make in the 10-person race, and Orangeburg is not only solid Democratic turf but now is the high-profile home town of three soldiers lost in Iraq.

Before speaking, Clark also did something he can do as a soldier and win politically from it. Other Democrats might have been criticized as opportunists for going to the home of Spec. Darius Jennings, who was killed Nov. 2 in the downing of a U.S. helicopter in Iraq. Clark's visit with Harriet Johnson captured the moment, with Mrs. Johnson giving him the highest praise: "He came not because he's running for president, but on a more personal basis because he's a retired Army man himself."

Clark was in Orangeburg as a candidate, though. And he scored points with Americans increasingly skeptical about the war in Iraq.

The retired general said the United States lacks a clear post-war plan. He proposed "a strategy that will make it possible for our soldiers to come home with both Iraq and America standing strong ... to leave Iraq but not to abandon it."

Specifically, Clark called for turning the military operation over to NATO, opening up the rebuilding effort to other nations and allowing Iraqis to select their own representatives who will build a new Iraqi national government. "Consent of the governed" is "the essence of democracy."

"President Bush keeps telling us we should stay the course. But what we really must do is change course," he said.

A quick exit from Iraq would mean "retreat or defeat" -- neither of which is acceptable, Clark said. America must make sure Iraq can stand on its own, can practice representative government and will not become "a breeding ground" for terrorists.

As strong as that sounds, Clark's words and strategy are not markedly different from others criticizing the Bush approach -- and there indeed is indication that the president's post-war strategy may be coming more in line with sharing the rebuilding effort and turning control over to Iraqis at a much faster pace than initially planned.

Beyond Iraq, it is Clark's words here and in the days since the War on Terrorism that may resonate most with Americans.

On Wednesday he reiterated that America has failed to finish the job it started in going after al-Qaida in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. "They still haven't found Osama bin Laden. And every day, Americans live at risk because of this failure."

Instead of ferreting out al-Qaida, the Bush administration has focused its energy and resources on Iraq, Clark said. "They've downplayed more serious threats in other parts of the world. In fact, it's been months since Mr. Bush has even mentioned Osama bin Laden. These days, the only name we hear is Saddam Hussein, and the only country we hear about is Iraq."

So what would Clark do? He proposes pressing Saudi Arabia, which has become the target of terrorists, to provide commandos to accompany U.S. troops in the hunt for bin Laden along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He also would reassign some of the intelligence specialists, linguists and special operations forces now searching Iraq for weapons of mass destruction to the hunt for bin Laden.

Iraq and the War on Terrorism are subjects about which Clark will continue to have the national ear. His assessments carry weight beyond those of his political opponents. If Iraq remains a primary campaign issue -- and there is every reason to believe it will -- the general could become a serious contender to unseat the incumbent.

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