Powell criticises Iraq troop levels and rift with Europe (Breaks Silence)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/26/wpowell26.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/02/26/ixportaltop.html

Colin Powell, the former US secretary of state, has for the first time publicly criticised troops levels in Iraq and spoken of the rifts between himself and Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, that undermined his role as architect of American foreign policy.

Mr Powell, in his first interview since resigning last November, also told The Telegraph of his "dismay" at the deterioration in relations between America and Europe and of his "disappointment" with France.

While holding back from blaming Mr Rumsfeld by name for the problems that eventually persuaded him to resign, Mr Powell showed that much of the innuendo and leaks surrounding his volatile relationship with the defence secretary had been well-founded.

Admitting that Mr Rumsfeld's controversial plan to fight the war with limited troop numbers had been an outstanding success, Mr Powell said the "nation building" that followed had been deeply flawed.

[physioex]

1. No shit Sherlock.......

Thanks for lying your ass off in front of the UN......

[The Zanti Regent]

37. Thanks for killing my son Colinoreo.

I'm getting ready to lay another rose on his grave.

BTW, Colinoreo, now that Mikey's unemployed, is HE going to Iraq or is he gonna hide like every other Republican?

[Oreo]

2. It's a good thing th UK has a free press

He told him: "This place will crack like a goblet and it will be a problem to pick up the bits. It was on this basis that he decided to let me see if we could find a United Nations solution to this."

By that statement, Powell admits that Bush was going to go in before they did anything with the UN.

Thanks for nothing Colin! Your reputation is shot... happy now?

[RapidCreek]

18. Which one....the reputation of him being a coverup artist during

Viet Nam? The one he earned for saying the Mi Lai massacre never happened? That reputation?

The reputation he has for doing or saying anything he is told to do or say regardless of whether it is legal or true...particualrily when he stands to gain from doing so?

The reputation for being one of the prime conspirators in the Iran-Contra affair?

Nah...I'd say his reputation is hardly shot....quite the contrary...he's lived up to his reputation in a stellar fashion.

RC

[WhiteTara]

3. Are we supposed to feel something about this guy

except contempt?  His reputation is in the dirt.

[Disturbed]

4. Is he still respected around the world?

Wasn't Colon one of the most respected Amerikans at one time?

Did his blatant lies at the UN discredit him for most people or just people that are not RWs?

[Andromeda]

20. Uh, it's spelled, "Colin"

Colon=Bowel.

[NNN0LHI]

24. So "Colon" Powell it is then. The name seems to fit rather well n/t

[KDLarsen]

25. I think that was his point :)

His new nickname appears to be Colon Bowell

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

30. I refer to him as General Powell's colon

eom

[Dervill Crow]

61. Colon = bowel

Exactly. I think the misspelling was on purpose indicating that Colon is indeed habitually full of shit.

[daleo]

5. Powell may want to re-join the human race.

No dice - you will have Bush around your neck like an albatross as long as you live.

[Seabiscuit]

19. Powell will be Bush's Jacob Marley

[ClarkUSA]

6. Too little, too late

[Ian David]

7. I almost would have voted for Powell as President or VP

But back then I was young and naive and didn't realize how bad the Republicans really are, or how bad things would really get.

I half-expected Powell to lead a charge up Pennsylvania Avenue last month and wrest Bush away from the podium during his oath of office.

Anyway, I am still hoping Powell will open his mouth and put the proverbial nail in Bush's political coffin.

[searchingforlight]

8. He still has s- - - - for brains

and deserves no respect.

What a shame that with all the good representatives of the black community he and "Dr Death" should be the first two to rise to that lofty position.

[gordianot]

10. I never understood why he went to work for Bush.

He hated and fought Cheney, and Rumsfield during Gulf War I.

He deserves no respect.

[Hissyspit]

9. Disappointment in France? For what? A Govt listening to its people?

Not falling for the U.N. appearance bullshit? Not wanting to assist us in the immoral "preventive war" precedent? Not wanting to toss the U.N. inspectors out before they were done? Something made Powell sell his soul right before the U.N. appearance and I'd like to know what it was.

[BlueManDude]

23. Disappointment in France? For what - being right about Iraq?

Go back into hiding Colon. History has spoken and will continue to speak - you have blood on your hands.

[primavera]

54. Well, you know, nobody likes a smartass

Especially when they're right and are on the record as having been right all along.

[BlueManDude]

56. I forgot - ignorance means you're a man of the people. n/t

[lovuian]

11. Powell did his dirty work and got us in Iraq with lies

now he is pouting cause Rumsfeld won and he didn't!!!

[Greybnk48]

12. I will never forget this man

sitting in the UN holding a vile and lying through his teeth for Bush and Cheney. He cannot rehabilitate his legacy. He's a snake who sold out.

[Charles19]

29. I won't forget it either.

I was debating a number of conservative co-workers. I told them before Colin's UN appearance that if Iraq is so damn dangerous there should be no problem with Colin presenting a valid case. There is a flat screen in a lobby at work where I went down and watched his "case". It was basically a few sound clips likely from the mossad that could have meant anything and some movements of trucks. An Arab friend of mine said that Saddam wanted to appear dangerous because he was so weak and wanted people to fear him. He was 100% right. My question always will be: why were two guys who are just regular Joe's able to see that and all the people paid and trained to see just that all lying. Complete BS and the media help's sell this BS. Shame on them.

[GetTheRightVote]

13. It is about time he came clean, but he should have stayed clean,

To bad really.

:kick:

[lebkuchen]

14. He served his purpose

as Harry Belafonte was quick to point out, despite Powell's resistance to admitting the obvious.

[Skittles]

15. yup, he played the whore when it suited him

he disgusts me

[lebkuchen]

16. and his little son, too. nt

[teryang]

17. This is a joke right?

Powell is an enabling fraud for the fascist establishment and a corporate shill.

The guy is a master of dissimulation. Now he tries to dissociate himself from the monster he was instrumental in creating. His lack of integrity is deplorable.

For a career Army officer he is a disgrace. He betrayed his oath to the Constitution.

[screembloodymurder]

21. He's disappointed with the French?

Imagine how the French feel.

[Disturbed]

22. Uh, it's spelled, "Colin"

Colon=Bowel.

I always spell it that way. It fits him, perfectly.

[mainer]

26. He should join General Zinni and regain some respect

I attended a superb speech by Zinni last night. He said there was a superb plan already on the books involving a minimum of 350,000 American soldiers, and that the generals involved with drawing up that plan were perfectly aware that the bulk of the manpower was not needed to execute the initial war, but to provide security and stability in the immediate aftermath of power transfer. Rumsfeld called the plan "old and irrelevant" and fired the generals who protested (e.g. Shinseki). "He ignored us," said zinni. "And you can see how well rumsfeld's plan went."

[0007]

27. Why is the liar telling us things we all ready know?

[tanyev]

28. Maybe if he'd worn some high-heeled black boots

when he went to Europe, he would have been able to heal that rift.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

31. C-Span had Powell's interview as the subject of one of the call-ins

sessions this morning. The usual bunch got through. The dems line was pretty much that he has lost all semblance of respect long ago and that he lied. The repugs were heavily into eating their own. Powell, daring to speak the truth after leaving office, is cause for the Kool Aid drinkers to rip him a new one. Of course, anyone who speaks out against the party line once they are no longer part of the cover-up gets "O'Neilled, Wilsoned, Whitmaned." Hell, the list of people who have been "discredited" is too long to begin remembering all of the "experts" that have been smeared for daring to speak out after leaving this administration.

Powell gets everything he deserves for letting this country down over and over again. He had the opportunity to TELL THE TRUTH and protect all Americans but especially our military personnel. He personally put those kids in harm's way. Many people supported this war on his word alone but he chose to but personal gain over credibility. May he live out the rest of his life in shame and obscurity. He could have been the first African American President or Vice President, instead he chooses to get in bed with a modern day Hitler.

[opihimoimoi]

32. Trying to CLEAN UP HIS ACT is he?? Too Fucking Late. 1500 dead

Many more wounded, 700 billion spent, relationships with other FRIENDLY NATIONS strained to say the least, Peace efforts ignored, vet bennies disappearing, domestic programs being cut/eliminated, etc

Colon helped BushCo in the greatest Theft of ALL TIME. As such, he and all the others involved in stealing not one but 2 elections, will go down in History as SCOUNDRELS.....as Despicable Humans who Lead the Nation not for what they can do to improve, but for what they can selfishly GAIN.

Colon will be in that list along with Rummy, Rash, Hannity, Cheney, etc.

Come, we go :puke:

[wildflower]

33. I was sorta with him up until...

"Admitting that Mr Rumsfeld's controversial plan to fight the war with limited troop numbers had been an outstanding success,"

?!

-wildflower

ON EDIT: Okay, I think I see. I'm assuming Powell was referring to the part of the war before May 2003? Since he follows it with "the 'nation building' that followed had been deeply flawed."

[Deja Q]

34. Yo, Powell: Find a pic of GWB then a mirror and blame what you see in both

as to why there's a rift between the US and Europe.

* lied. So did you. Grow up. And stop eating oreo cookies. They're empty and will only make you fat.

[Just Me]

35. He supported the imperialistic endeavors of the neoCONs. Nuff said! n/t

[barbaraann]

36. I think they're grooming him as a Trojan Horse.

And I am sick of hearing that Ad Council ad with him on Air America Radio over and over again.

[MeDeMax]

38. sorry, but I think very highly of Secretary Powell...

in my humble opinion, he is as patriotic, kind and humane as they come.

He took up a job in 2001, and as the Secretary of state he discharged his duties well. It was his job to sell the president's plan to the UN and that is what he did.

He was the messenger not the composer of the message.

When he realized his high standing and credibility was being misused, he gracefully resigned.

When Colin realized the mindset of the people in his company, he withdrew with his integrity intact. People sell their souls for a lot less.

God bless you Secretary Powell.

[barbaraann]

41. Your high opinion is based on conjecture.

There are a lot of facts to be found on DU and on the internet and if you take the time to look at the facts you will change your mind.

And also, just look at what kind of person his son Michael is.

[Dervill Crow]

62. Excuse me?

"He took up a job in 2001, and as the Secretary of state he discharged his duties well. It was his job to sell the president's plan to the UN and that is what he did."

Okay, so I was not a political science major, but I thought Colin Powell's duty as Secretary of State was to serve his country. He knowingly lied to the UN and to the American people.

[MeDeMax]

39. is it just me or is there a HATE-FEST going on, on this DU thread ?

Two years into the conflict an internationally respected soldier/general/diplomat, who helped pushed the war agenda, is finally conceeding what, a number of americans and a majority of the world, have felt all along.

This news is clearly a buttress for our position.

And how are we responding to it ? Wisecrack after wisecrack, some personal attacks too.

Law breaking politicians who put themselves above the law, be it rigging elections or bribing media outlets, may deserve what they get on these threads.

But, if we can't distinguish between a delay and a Powell on these discussion threads, one of whom is a crook and the other is a good man who just happens to be on the opposing team, our party isn't likely to make any new friends either.

Thanks for listening.

[killbotfactory]

42. He's not a good man

He used his reputation to push a war that didn't need waging. He lied his ass off in front of the World. There is not excuse for that. People who had been skeptical of the push for war took him at his word. The guy's a lying warmongering prick. He cared more about serving the interests of the administration more than serving the interests of his country.

[hatrack]

58. Because it's way, WAY too late

He's a liar, and a con artist and he sat in front of the United Nations and the entire world, and he lied. He lied about weapons systems, he lied about an elective war, and now we are good and stuck with no way out. And he knew better.

How are we to distinguish Powell's conduct to that of a "law breaking (sic) politician"? I don't know, MeDeMax, maybe you could fill us in on that. If being a law-breaking politician and lying your country into a war aren't the same damn thing, I'd love to hear your reasoning on how to differentiate one from the other.

Finally, if he really cared about the truth, if he really cared about being honest, he would have come forward with this before the whole Goddamned mess began, and he could have resigned. To me, at least THAT would have had a certain, uh, . . . . "credibility" - yes, that's the word!

He's two years late, and he's tens of thousands of lives and $250 billion short - but we shouldn't indulge in a "hate-fest" - I guess because it would be rude. Whatever. :eyes:

[rppper]

64. cult of personality or hero worship....thats what you have here...

colon Powell is no hero sir....he has been involved in major cover-ups since the start of his carear...IE=the Mi Lai massacre that he was in charge of investigating but insisted never happened...WMD's that were never there...placing his son in a position of power that he later abused(the apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it?)....seems like this is the mans hallmark. he has wasted any respect he may have earned as a general by becoming an enabler for bush and his Iraqi policies. sorry friend, mr. powell does not get a pass. he is as complicit as bush, rumsfeld, wolfowitz and the rest of the knuckle-draggers that got us into our current predicament.

[killbotfactory]

40. Disappointed France didn't believe his lies?

asshole

[emad]

43. Powell criticises Iraq troop levels and rift with Europe

Telegraph
By Robin Gedye
(Filed: 26/02/2005)

Colin Powell, the former US secretary of state, has for the first time publicly criticised troops levels in Iraq and spoken of the rifts between himself and Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, that undermined his role as architect of American foreign policy.

Mr Powell, in his first interview since resigning last November, also told The Telegraph of his "dismay" at the deterioration in relations between America and Europe and of his "disappointment" with France.

While holding back from blaming Mr Rumsfeld by name for the problems that eventually persuaded him to resign, Mr Powell showed that much of the innuendo and leaks surrounding his volatile relationship with the defence secretary had been well-founded.

Admitting that Mr Rumsfeld's controversial plan to fight the war with limited troop numbers had been an outstanding success, Mr Powell said the "nation building" that followed had been deeply flawed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/26/wpowell26.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/02/26/ixhome.html

[ixion]

44. Mr. Powell, you gave up your credibility when you joined the neocons

you are as responsible as any of them for the illegal invasion of Iraq, and you should be brought up on war crimes charges.

Just my opinion.

Oh, and for the LIES in this article..

Small troop numbers in Iraq have been a resounding success?? :crazy:

[fooj]

45. Too late with too little, Mr. Powell.

We counted on your credibility. You've let us down.

[blm]

46. You should have acknowledged the truth PUBLICLY at the time, Colin.

BEFORE the election. You could have had SOME shred of credibility and decency attributed to you.

Now, you will be forever remembered as one of THEM...a BushInc shill who knuckled under and betrayed his fellow Americans and the rest of the world citizens.

[BrainRants]

47. It appears he' now firmly in denial of his role in this miserable crime.

If indeed he were remorseful, he would be in the U.S. MSM communicating that fact.

Until then, he's a full of shit neo-con windbag undeserving of respect from veterans like myself.

[Califooyah Operative]

48. I wish he had spoken up publicly,

he obviously did behind the scenes. But, i don't fault him for coming out and saying it now, it's still a blow to rumsfield and the bush administration. This man's loyalty in my opinion is to his boss, no matter who he was serving, he told bush where he had disareements, but his voice carried little weight against rumsfield, cheney and the neocons. Now he can criticize rumsfield, who has always had the goal of destroying the powell doctrine.

[Evergreen Emerald]

49. Both he and John McCain

Could have been the voices of reason in the midst of fanatics. Instead they sold their souls. I have no respect for them.

[xray s]

50. (sniff ...snifff)

I smell a book deal a cookin' on the oven....

[gordianot]

53. Yes, xray s.

Remember the only error in judgement Bush admitted to in the debates was hiring the wrong person.

I would be willing to bet it will try to reestablish his (good name). Too bad it will not work.

[baby_bear]

51. Just like Christie Todd Whitman

The criticism should have come when Powell and Whitman were in positions to provoke change from within the administration.

Now they will just piss off and be dismissed by the Republicans.

Powell could always command the Sunday morning TV talk show circuit though, I suppose.

It's hard to imagine how he can level criticism at the administration now without seeming like a coward for not having done so earlier.

b_b

[Deja Q]

52. Isn't this a dupe?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1267073&mesg_id=1267073

[nibbana]

55. Bull-shit..Colin sold his reputation to the Devil...

He sold is reputation and all earned respect, for Power & Glory.
His "Iraq has WMD" performance at the United Nations was a masterful performance of propaganda bull-shit.

bush counted on Powell's reputation to sell this war!!!

[0rganism]

57. Sssh! The enabler for bush's filthy massacre speaks!

Of course, that role has been a natural for him since Mi'Lai.

[paineinthearse]

59. Let's see how Card and Rove spin this one.

Disloyal?
Incompetent?
Delusional?
Unpatriotic?
Soft on terrorism?

[Rex]

60. Outstanding success? Sounds like something a general would say.

So what big fucking company scooped up Colon Blow? He was never a part of the energy cartels in Texas. He and Ashcroft were outsiders - but Crisco kept the religious freaks happy. They had to bring in a torturer in Negroponte and Gonzales. It is truly the crazy people in control now.

[NJCher]

63. if you thought that one was laughable

Head over to U.S. News and World Report, where "Condi Rice has so wowed Washington and the world that there's new buzz she is blazing a trail to the presidency."

I swear, I fell off my chair laughing at that one. I'm oh-so-sure The Domanatrix "wowed" the Europeans. OMG, the lies, the lies.


Cher

[Hissyspit]

65. Powell Implies...

that he went to UN with the evidence to get them involved since it was apparent to him that the war was going to happen anyway. Do you buy this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3184979

My father was at the U.S. Army War College the same time as Powell in the late 1970s. My sister went to school with Michael, I believe. He always seemed like one of the resonable ones, but I think he sold his soul.