RCW: In the same appearance, you praised the caution of President Obama. "We don't know how deep [the split at the top] and how strong it is. The President's response is correct."

This week the President expressed stronger support for the protesters. Do you think this was an indication that his administration believes there is a stronger split within the Iranian leadership?

Gen. Clark: I think the administration was gauging the efforts of the protestors and wanted to encourage whatever elements of resistance to the Iranian hard line regime might emerge. But I think fundamentally that the administration understood that while it in expressing the sympathies as it did, it wasn't.

On the other hand calling for or expecting a total takeover by the government because the basic calculus remained the same that it would only strengthen the hard liners if the administration enabled them to portray legitimate popular grievances in Iran as all stemming from intervention by the United States.