By cyrena, October 21 at 8:49 pm #

In reality, this was GOING TO HAPPEN, no matter WHAT Powell said or did, because it was the Cheney agenda long before they even did the Coup of 2000. (which is why Cheney insisted on the Coup to begin with.)
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cyrena,

Well, maybe it would have happened anyway, but Colin Powell should have had the courage to stand against it anyway and his performance at the U.N. was a disgrace. Hans Blix was right all along and Powell should have had the guts to stand with him and resign.

Nevertheless, it is clear that he was reluctant all along and allowed his arm to be twisted into it. Happens to the best of us. I forgive him. He would certainly be a very logical choice for Secretary of Defense or State in an Obama administration.

By lawlessone, October 20 at 9:10 am #

Think how different the world might have been if Colin Powell had the courage and wisdom to publicly stand up to Bush six years ago instead of sucking up to him.

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I wish this were true lawlessone. It isn’t. Colin Powell DID have the courage and wisdom to publicly voice his opposition to the attack on Iraq. (even after the sorry performance before the UNSC) It didn’t matter then, and it wouldn’t have mattered how loudly or how many times he protested. (he even threatened to resign, and then took it back and said that he would see that term through, and not be a part of any 2nd term bush admin.)

But, here’s the thing, and why the world wouldn’t be any different, and why the invasion would have happened anyway.

The performance before the UN Security Council was SOLELY for the purpose of attempting to gain the necessary UNSC Resolution required by international law, in order to invade Iraq. The UNSC was NOT convinced that there was a case before Powell’s UN presentation, and they weren’t convinced after it either. So, the US WITHDREW it’s request for a resolution, and invaded without one.

Here’s an excerpt from the report on how it went down.

•  “Even in the face of imminent military action, the Security Council scheduled a meeting Wednesday at the request of France, Russia and Germany, who oppose a rush to war and want to make a last-ditch effort to achieve Iraq’s peaceful disarmament. The three countries want foreign ministers to set a timetable to carry out a dozen key disarmament tasks set by chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix. It wasn’t clear how many of the 15 council foreign ministers would come to New York. Germany’s U.N. Ambassador Gunner Plugger said it was important to make a 100 percent effort even if there’s only a “1 percent chance of keeping the peace.” Ending weeks of silence on the issue, Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned military action against Iraq, saying earlier today that war would be a mistake that could imperil world security. But British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock singled out France for threatening to veto the resolution, which would have given Iraq an ultimatum to disarm by today or face military action…”

•  “..The resolution would have authorized war anytime after today unless Iraq proved before then that it had disarmed. ..“We regret that in the face of an explicit threat to veto, the vote-counting became a secondary consideration,” Negroponte said…..Moments later, French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said that in one-on-one consultations in the past hours “the majority of the council confirmed they do not want a use of force.””

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/armtwist/2003/0317usbritspain.htm

In reality, this was GOING TO HAPPEN, no matter WHAT Powell said or did, because it was the Cheney agenda long before they even did the Coup of 2000. (which is why Cheney insisted on the Coup to begin with.)
That isn’t to ‘excuse’ the Powell presentation before the UN, because I don’t know how much of that he believed himself, or didn’t. Be that as it may, his resignation or public ‘whatever’ would NOT, have prevented the attack on Iraq, or anything that has come since. It was planned by Cheney and Rumsfeld, and it was gonna happen regardless. He could have followed through on his threats to resign. That would have saved HIS credibility, but it wouldn’t have done anything for anybody else. They would have just bumped Condi The Rice up to his job all that much sooner.

So, think how much different the world would be if we hadn’t let them highjack us in 2000? That would be a more appropriate point to consider for such thinking.

I commend Mr. Powell for speaking power to the truth!  Sen. McCain showed bad judgment in picking Ms. Palin over quite a few more qualified women Governors!  Sen. McCain’s negativity is an attempt to derail the conversation about the issues that are really affecting this nation, and his concurrence with Bush over 90% of the time on issues shows that he is seriously out of touch with the 90% of Americans that are being squeezed continuously due to these horrendous budget decisions!

Hopefully those people will change their minds as they remember their wallets in the voting booth!

I hope Powell doesn’t think this is atonement for his part in selling the Iraq War to the American people.

Powell is certainly correct, McCain considers his strength, war and that is not how to lead a country for the country nor how to face the world which cries out for relief from Bush and his terrorism of a military buildup that is only danger.

But, both parties are red ink corrupt policy and war in progress deeper in debt and the justice of the deeper in debt is what is true, and Obama is not safer than McCain.  Smooth talker, yes.  Sleeze politics that will not uphold the U.S. Constitution, yes.

Sleeze politics never delivered good leadership, only media commericials and hype without substance.  Where’s the beef of Obama’s leadership?  Smooth talker, yes he is that.  Convincing, no.  They both cheat every facet of the Presidential Campaign.

No Debates with the challenge to the corrupt two parties in office both senators should be voted out and a real change for SAFETY and SANITY with proven track record, this is wanted for reversing Bush’s policies.

Nader can reverse all the illegalities of Bush, and Nader is dedicated to the public interest as his goal, and is not seeking the power, but, yes, he is seeking the Presidency as a valid office to lead a nation with wisdom.  We the people drafted him, I was one of those people who pulled him back for one more try, this time, we aim to succeed.

This country has 100 million voters who are non-partisan registered voters.  There is no two party system, only current entrenched military industrial unwanted taxe deficit spenders still doing it to this day, and both McCain and Obama have continued the trend against proper U.S. Constitutional government provided for the PEOPLE of this country, and the two year limit for a funding of any army raised, certainly Obama has no respect nor does McCain, and like Bush, they both think war policy is a refuge, it is not safety, not honor, not legal.  The President does NOT declare war, Congress does, 535 people.

A good president knows what peace and prosperity and proper limits of good government are, and a budget in balance is a country in balance, and values in place for all the right stuff, and that includes politics.

Only 36 million are registered Democrats and only 26 million are Republicans at registration.

100 million are outside, and obviously ABOVE trying to force only two choices when there are six and the BEST not only CAN WIN but SHOULD—by a majority declaration of CLEAN POLITICS for People, not war, red ink and blood in the proposed agendas.

Obama lies.  He is offering increased military and calls that peace!

And, both cheat. The polls do not offer public opinion they tell you there are only two who are the winners, they are not.  38% are in the combined two parties.  You do not have to be a Republican to vote for a President, or a Democrat and MOST of us are neither at the registration level and MOST of us will vote on November 4th.

My vote for Nader certainly is for the best as able to win, and the majority owes the duty to vote honest votes for what is wanted. 

A nation on track is not illegal and increasing already out of sight military against all proper policy that nets only red red red blood and ink, with no end, and the tyranny is very up front, unblinking.

Two choices?  Only Democrats or Republicans rule?

No, they are who is in office and they are ripping up the U.S. Constitution.

Nader is SAFETY by any possible comparative measure.

He can and will reverse Bush and put us on track.

McCain is more dangerous than W. Extensive look at McCain’s Queeg-like bio:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/10/18-7