Powell and Joint Chiefs Nudged Bush Toward U.N.

[underpants]

Thursday, September 4, 2003; Page A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20085-2003Sep3.html

On Tuesday, President Bush's first day back in the West Wing after a month at his ranch, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell walked into the Oval Office to present something close to a fait accompli.

In what was billed as a routine session, Powell told Bush that they had to go to the United Nations with a resolution seeking a U.N.-sanctioned military force in Iraq -- something the administration had resisted for nearly five months. Powell, whose department had long favored such an action, informed the commander in chief that the military brass supported the State Department's position despite resistance by the Pentagon's civilian leadership. Bush and his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, ... quickly agreed, according to administration officials who described the episode.

... with the combined clout of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the State Department persuading a reluctant White House that the administration's Iraq occupation policy, devised by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, simply was not working.



"Powell's a smart guy, and he knew that as soon as he had the brass behind him, that is very tough to ignore."


Bush's Iraq administrator, L. Paul Bremer, came to Washington with a stark message for Bush about his need for resources. And Bush, who is expected to speak to the United Nations in three weeks, needed a clear policy.
"You find an interesting correlation with the political calendar," said Leon Fuerth, who was then-Vice President Al Gore's national security adviser. "They were saying everything is under control and people were not buying it. There became a pressure to change course."

[saigon68]

1. COLON BOWEL SAVIOR

Maybe this guy could win the Nobel prize for his astute diplomatic handling of the whole ugly mess.

[Malva Zebrina]

2. Right Powell

that is exactly what you have been "saved for"--the day when it can appear that you are a level headed, sober diplomatice SoS--you lied to the UN Powell--you played a part, and you played it badly--as you held up the little vial of what? Anthrax?

Get these idiots out of office--all of them, including this jerk.

[bluedog]

3. didn't powell just say on MSNBC

that bush asked him to get this started????I'm sure thats what he said and that it was in the plan along?? Am I just hearing things or will this be the SPIN they put on it????

[underpants]

4. No one repeat no one can take credit but W

of course he isn't really anything but a fundraising figurehead.

The big donor would give money to the Repubes even if they were running a ham and cheese sandwich on their ticket.

[legin]

5. I really don't like this story

it's almost like "Look, Look, Look UN, the liberal Powell is winning against Rumsfeld and the neo-cons, this is your big chance to support the forces of good against evil. Just bring all your troops and all your money and leave them at the door."

[bif]

6. Eat crow you war-mongering pigs!

Beg for mercy from the UN and NATO! Yeah, right, like that's ever gonna happen. It'll be just back room threats to cut aid to various countries to get their help.

[jamesinca]

7. The last few paragraphs

<SNIP>

People close to the administration said the Joint Chiefs and Powell (a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs) did not win a bureaucratic battle as much as Rumsfeld lost one. "Rumsfeld lost credibility with the White House because he screwed up the postwar planning," said William Kristol, a conservative publisher with close ties to the administration. "For five months they let Rumsfeld have his way, and for five months Rumsfeld said everything's fine. He wanted to do the postwar with fewer troops than a lot of people advised, and it turned out to be a mistake."


william Kristol said that about Rummy. I am a bit suprised, I did not think rattlesnakes bit each other.