Powell appeals to Europe for help over Iraq (He wants to be friends again)

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18271029.htm

WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - With U.S. President George W. Bush facing protests in Britain over his Iraq policy, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell appealed in an interview broadcast on Tuesday to European nations to forget past disputes and help rebuild Iraq.

Powell, who was to meet European Union foreign ministers in Brussels before joining the president in London, told CNN the international community needed to put aside its differences.

"The United States wants the people of Europe to know that even though we may have had disagreements in the past over Iraq, this is the time to move forward," Powell told CNN in an interview recorded in Washington on Monday.

"Let's join together and help the Iraqi people build a better future for themselves. Let's join together once again to talk about that which pulls us together: a common value system."

more

[Don_G]

1. Fishing For Troops

Fiji declined as did Japan. Maybe he's trying the Vatican?

[Democrats unite]

2. I guess he found out being the bully isn't what it's cracked up to be.

eom

[Jacobin]

3. Europe to Powell:

"Don't call us. We'll call you."

[wtmusic]

4. "Let's join together, 'kay?"

"C'mon, it'll be fun..."

EU: "'Kay, but this time it's going to cost you, you warmongering pig. We want:

50% of reconstruction contracts
Access to Iraqi oil at same prices US is paying
Personal apology from George Bush to the UN in the UN rotunda
US worldwide nonaggression pledge and reaffirmation of UN charter

'Kay?"

[moondust]

12. And one other thing...

Regime change in the U.S. NOW.

kay?

[Mountainman]

5. "forget past disputes" Republican mantra

Republicans trashed Clinton for 8 years - "forgetaboutit"
Republicans blocked Clinton judgeships - "forgetaboutit"
Republicans steal the presidential election - "forgetaboutit"
Republicans tell the rest of the world to fuck off - "forgetaboutit"
Republicans call the UN irrelevant - "forgetaboutit"
Republicans put a knife in your back and twist it - "forgetaboutit"

[tabasco]

6. You blew your credibility, Powell

With your slew of lies at the UN. Nobody in their right mind trusts you anymore. The entire world is simply waiting for you and your evil cohorts to be thrown on the trash dump of history. You have damaged your nation, Powell, and you will go down in history as a liar and failure as a Sec. of State.

[Spazito]

7. I am getting more than just a whiff of desparation from this...

series of "requests" for troops. My take on it is that the Bush cabal is scrabbling to find bodies to use until after the election and then they will re-enact the draft and tell the world to go to hell again.

[Mountainman]

8. I think a lot of the countries don't want Bush reselected

They don't want to help him because it might help him out in the coming elections.

[Spazito]

9. Yes, exactly!

You can be sure that the minute Bush is out of office the phone will be ringing at the White House to offer the new dem president all the support that is needed. The world really does hate Bush, I have never seen anything like it. There is no doubt in my mind there is a concerted effort to foil him at every turn, re Iraq, the economy, etc.

[Holly]

10. I can't imagine

any world leader that would commit politcal suicide just to see Bush re-elected. They've all seen what's happened to Blair, and they all have voters of their own to answer to.

[SmokeyBlues]

11. Same old same old

Didn't *hole say something similar about a month or so ago about how European countries who opposed the illegal invasion should simply bury the hatchet and become bestest of buddies with us again? After all, the administration is only asking for these countries to overlook the very public and extremely savage (might I add unprovoked and totally undeserved) verbal assault that was unleashed on them simply because they chose to stand by their convictions. With that said, I must say that the request sounds reasonable to me.

As for Powell, he is just being his old familiar high profile, all title and no power, shucking and jiving, skip to my Lou, white house international errand boy, whorish self again.

Nothing new here to see. Move along.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

13. A Common Value System?

This is exactly what the Bush administration has been trying to tear down for the last 2 years.

The people in control of our government value power, nothing more.

[young_at_heart]

14. Powell's words and actions caused a huge "divorce"

Now he wants to make up..........NO THANKS!