Powell Tells Of Dysfunctional White House, ‘We Weren’t Aware Of The Advice Cheney Was Giving’
Powell Tells Of Dysfunctional White House, ‘We Weren’t Aware Of The Advice Cheney Was Giving’
In the stellar Washington Post exposé on Dick Cheney, the public learned that key presidential aides were often intentionally kept out of the loop on important decisions by the Vice President. For example, President Bush’s decision to try detainees in military commissions and strip them of their due process rights was not conveyed to Secretary of State Colin Powell:
“What the hell just happened?” Secretary of State Colin L. Powell demanded, a witness said, when CNN announced the order that evening, Nov. 13, 2001.
In addition, the Post reported that a Cheney-commissioned Justice Department memo that advocated the legal justification for torture was kept out of Powell’s sight:
On June 8, 2004, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell learned of the two-year-old torture memo for the first time from an article in The Washington Post.
Last night in an interview with Larry King, Powell criticized Cheney, saying, “[He] sometimes went directly to the president and the rest of us weren’t aware of what advice he was giving.” He also chastised the White House’s manner of doing business. “It was not a system where we routinely exposed all points of view,” he said. Watch it:
In the interview, Powell reaffirmed his stated desire to close Guantanamo, arguing it is one of the reasons “we are losing around the world”:
The reason I am feeling so strongly about Guantanamo is that while we’re arguing these legal issues, we are getting killed in terms of our international reputation because of the place. And we are losing around the world. And what makes it even more difficult is some of the biggest thugs in the world and people that you want to press on moral issues and human rights issues hide behind Guantanamo and say don’t lecture us when you have Guantanamo.
KING: Brent Scowcroft, the former national security adviser to Bush I, said about a year ago that this is a Dick Cheney I don’t know. And they were once very close. You were very close, as I remember, in the early ’90s.
C. POWELL: We were joined at hand and glove. Yes, I…
KING: Joined at the hip, some said, right?
What happened?
C. POWELL: Well, I will let Brent speak for himself. But Mr. Cheney has strong views on issues. And, as you would expect, he presses those strong views. We all had strong views and we pressed those views. Sometimes he went directly to the president and the rest of us weren’t aware of — of what advice he was giving, and sometimes I would do that, as well. It was not a system where we routinely exposed all points of view.
But the bottom line is that the president is the one who decides what advice he wishes to accept and act on and what advice he doesn’t feel he should act on.
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June 29th, 2007 at 10:31 amCheney is a criminal.
.
He should be sent to prison for the remainder of his immoral, corrupt life.
.
sure does a lot of good speaking up AFTER the planet has been shot to hell. Heck of a job there Colin… you tratorous whore
June 29th, 2007 at 10:31 amOstrich Syndrome?
What will they come up with next?
I don’t recall, I don’t remember, I didn’t know… Sheesh… How stupid can one be?
June 29th, 2007 at 10:32 amCheney is a criminal.
He should be sent to prison for the remainder of his immoral, corrupt life.
Comment by No Pardon for Treason — June 29, 2007 @ 10:31 am
The only difference between Charles Mansion and Dick-tator Cheney?
Money.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:34 amJust another example of how the executive branch of the us (oh, and cheney too) has become the greatest threat to world peace and prosperity.
Great power, concentrated in just a few hands, is always liable to be abused…..and that’s just what we see with these people today.
We need to return to the simple setup of the Constitution, and ensure that the other branches of government check this runaway power – which they’re no longer doing…
Some reading:
June 29th, 2007 at 10:34 am“On the Executive Branch” – click here
Where was this Powell 4 years ago?
June 29th, 2007 at 10:35 amPowell must not be intelligent, because Cheney is the real president and has called the shots from day one.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:35 amPOWELL: But the bottom line is that the president is the one who decides what advice he wishes to accept and act on and what advice he doesn’t feel he should act on.
Cheney is horrendous and needs to be gone yesterday, but I’m glad Powell said the above.
Ultimately, all of this is GWB’s responsibility. He should recognize that, but he doesn’t. Cheney recognizes it….
June 29th, 2007 at 10:35 amWhat’s as scary as Cheney doing these things, is all these people who let it happen and not saying a word until it becomes politically ’safe’ to reveal the truth.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:36 amPoor Powell he finally figured out he was out of the loop and just a figurehead stooge Secretary of State. Condi Rice is a stooge as well.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:38 amFascist bootlicking toad. Closing Gitmo will not salvage your embarrassing legacy and failure of leadship.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:39 amThe neocons that hijacked the American goverment are terrorists
June 29th, 2007 at 10:41 amLots of CYA going around these days.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:41 amGuantanamo has less impact in Iraq than does Abu Ghraib, I suspect. There are fewer than 400 prisoners, few of them Iraqis, in Gitmo whereas thousands of Iraqis have been through AG. In Afghanistan, the same could be said of Bagram. Gitmo is a propaganda opportunity for Muslims, but just as all politics is local, so too is the negative stories about Abu Ghraib.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:41 amClose Gitmo, sure, but clean up the policies it represents and then we can make some progress.
Powell is a liar, a coward, and a traitor.
Listening to him now only because he is saying what you want to hear is the errand of fools and idiots.
Continue at your leisure.
Progressive indeed.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:42 amPowell reaffirmed his stated desire to close Guantanamo, arguing it is one of the reasons “we are losing around the worldâ€:
Too little, too late!
June 29th, 2007 at 10:43 amYa know, Colin, there was time, right after Desert Storm, where I respected ya! I thought to myself, “there is one Republican that I’d might actually vote for President.” Then you “wussed” out due to personal reasons.
Then you became a part of this horrendous administration, stood by and did nothing as they falsified their reason for “war”, among other atrocities!
For Gawds sake, you were a general! You should have had the cajones to stand up and shout “Enough! No More!”, and damn the consequences. but no, you were a yes-man, and had your head firmly planted up Dick and George’s arse!
No sir, I no longer respect you! Monday morning arm chair quarterback is all you are!
Let’s cut to the chase here.
The problem is Bush. John Podesta could presumably confirm this, but I imagine anyone working with or for the President is frequently sharing ideas with him that have not necessarily been discussed with everyone else in the executive.
The issue is that Bush, the Decider, the Commander Guy, was taking decisions before he had spoken to his principals. Dick Cheney showed him an idea, and Bush signed it off. Why? Because he hasn’t a clue what he’s doing.
Cheney is a pernicious influence, but ultimately, the problem is Bush. He’s the Decider, he’s the f*ck*p who lives in fear and awe of Unca Dick. That’s what this WaPo expose is confirming. That we have the weakest, feeblest, dumbest and most carefree and reckless piece of chickensh*t ever to have reached the highest office in the land.
The story may be about Cheney. The real problem it has highlighted is just how pathetic and incompetent Bush really is.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:48 amColin Powell, showing such moral strength, 5 years too late.
This guy is a rumpswabbing clown.
-GSD
June 29th, 2007 at 10:49 amWhy didn’t Powell worry about our reputation as he was lying to get us into this war? How about fact-checking (yeah, I know, there is no such thing any longer).
Not only did you sign up for this, you led us to it. You’re as up to your eyeballs as everyone else in this admin and when they stand in front of The Hague, you should be with them.
All the books, all the bullshit. And no one cares about lost lives in Iraq. Americans in the thousands and Iraqis in the hundreds of thousands.
All that blood is on your hands, Powell. I hope you go to sleep with that thought every night for the rest of your life.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:49 amsounds very much like one of hitler’s generals exclaiming his ignorance of the final solution.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:51 amI am wondering if Powell and the other staffers truly didn’t know Cheney was the puppeteer, if they kinda knew but preferred to dwell in a denial state, or if they knew and kept quiet out of some sense of loyalty and/or fear?
Whatever their knowledge was in the beginning, it’s interesting that the staffers are now emboldened by Bush/Cheney’s low ratings, and that the American people no longer reflexively brand people as unpatriotic or treasonous when they point out the emperor’s nudity.
I just recently saw “The Last King of Scotland” — it painted an interesting picture of what it’s like to slowly come to the realization that your boss is a ruthless tyrant. Obvious parallels?
June 29th, 2007 at 10:53 amI don’t excuse Powell role in helping to drive us to war in Iraq, but if what he says is true, how does Bushie even need a cabinet. Sounds like all he really needs is a Dick.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:54 amIt isn’t as if Colin hasn’t seen this scenario before with all of his experience in Vietnam and the corruption of the Nixon and Reagan administrations.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:55 am7 years of FUBAR and daily insanity and now he raises his delicate flower of a head in protest.
Take your lying ass somewhere else and let your corrupted soul finish rotting in silence.
Powell has FINALLY set aside his “good soldier” principles in order to do the right thing. I wonder how the un-American, corrupt, fascist, neo-cons will spin this?
June 29th, 2007 at 10:59 amSomething to ponder, from ages past:
June 29th, 2007 at 10:59 am
I just recently saw “The Last King of Scotland†— it painted an interesting picture of what it’s like to slowly come to the realization that your boss is a ruthless tyrant. Obvious parallels?
Comment by missmolly
Oy. I truly hope we’re not dealing with an Idi Amin type guy….
June 29th, 2007 at 11:02 amAnother quote to ponder.
The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either.
Benjamin Franklin
June 29th, 2007 at 11:05 amI couldn’t care less about what Powell says. He’s proven himself to be just another water-carrier and Bush enabler. For him to come out now and act like everything wasn’t peachy or perfect is completely hypocritical in my view.
Powell should just shut up and spend the rest of his days apologizing to Iraq veterans in places like Walter Ried, and to families of people like Pat Tillman for his role in screwing over his fellow man.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:05 amPowell and Rice are tokens to show that these bastards in power are really not Klansmen. Those two should be tried as accessories.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:07 amIt’s a fact that Colin Powell allowed himself to be used by Bush /Cheney to sell a preemptive war. He was silent over the time period since he resigned about the hold that Cheney has on every move that this administration makes. He is guilty by omission in thr resulting lawlessness and weakening of the rule of law. A once great military leader was cowed by a criminal civilian.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:08 amAfter the Crime is Done
I tend to think that in the years following the Bush regime there will be all sort of rats coming out of the woodwork with inside stories of crimes, theft, treason, cowardness, and moments of absolute insanity. However, each of these rats will be well paid from book deals or movie deals. None of these rats will be asked why they did nothing at that time to protect the Constitution or the American people?
Not much different from Obama and Nancy saying impeachment is off the table. Regardless of the crimes being committeed daily against all Americans, it’s best not to rock the boat.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:11 amWhen a country is in harmony with the Tao,
the factories make trucks and tractors.
When a country goes counter to the Tao,
warheads are stockpiled outside the cities.
There is no greater illusion than fear,
no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself,
no greater misfortune than having an enemy.
Whoever can see through all fear
will always be safe.
Worth repeating. Nice post, BnF
June 29th, 2007 at 11:14 amI’m glad Powell is coming out with these things — at last.
Should he have resigned in protest and brought these things out sooner?
Yes.
But he didn’t, for whatever reason, and he’ll have to live with that — and and the death attached to it.
We have to remember that we are informed people. We know what’s going on out there, and that Powell should have stepped up LONG before this.
There are SO MANY people out there who are not paying attention, who really have no idea — these are the people who will listen to Powell and give what he says weight because they still respect him the way was used to.
That means something, and we need to recognize that.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:17 amI don’t believe a word this guys says. Historically – he is/has been in bed with BushCo up to his eyeballs. Just because he “walked away” early from all the deception, outright lies, and major lawbreaking and then for all of us to admire now his “critical” assesment of BushCo does not for one moment exonerate him from his full participation in the Worst Presidency Ever”. He is/was an major enabler of the whole mess this country is in. Why we give him a free pass I will never understand. Makes me mad as hell.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:18 amO/T — but only slightly so — on
the administration’s claims of
executive privilege. . .
as a public service(!) — though
it did cause me to throw up in
my mouth a little — i have set
both the clement coniption-fit, and
the fielding flatulence, as fully-
seachable plain texts on mine, at
the above-two-links. . .
i’ll comment on each in due course,
but for now, know that the searchable
text makes it easy to find, and point
up, the places where clement’s analysis
may present powerful arguments against
the positions taken by lawrence robbins on
behalf of scooter libby. . . fun stuff!
p e a c e
June 29th, 2007 at 11:18 amPowell lost his soul by his silence when he failed to publicly recognize the perfidity of Bush etal during his term as Secretary of State.
At a minimum he should have resigned in protest.
It is now too late for Powel to claim to have finally found Jesus.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:21 amThat means something, and we need to recognize that.
Comment by Zooey
This is me, applauding. Yes, absolutely. It’s all very well to squawk about what Powell should have done, but the reality is that people in government rarely do the right thing at the perfect moment. Powell has a lot to answer for but it’s very important that this is being said now and getting some attention. I don’t know if it’s true remorse, or ass-covering and frankly, I don’t care.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:27 am“It is now too late for Powel to claim to have finally found Jesus.
Comment by Continuum”
He can find Jesus and ask him for forgiveness, and jesus can forgive him if he wants, that’s for later. In the here and now, I choose to not forgive him. too many people have died because of his complicity and he needs to do more than talk. Is he giving all his ill-gotten gains to help the wounded here and in Iraq? Is he leading any protests? Is he going to reveal any classsified info that proves war crimes by the bush administration at the risk of him going to prison? I doubt it. He’ll do a couple of interviews, and write a book and make more money off other people’s suffering. It’s the republican way.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:31 amThe American people are more interested in the party of Paris Hilton than this NATION. We the people lack the courage to defend our self from the crooks, lies, cheats and KINGS! WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET SOME BACK BONE AND DEMAND IMPEACHMENT NOW!! IF WE CAN IMPEACH OVER A SEX ACT (BLUE DRESS)! BUT LACK THE COURAGE TO ACT ON 100′S FORE SERIOUS CRIMES
June 29th, 2007 at 11:32 am“President Powell” would scare Cheney to death.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:34 amHey ‘Colon’ (proper spelling for the way it’s pronounced),
Tell to the Grand Wizard of Darkness (aka Satan) once you get to HELL.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:36 amJust another toad too late.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:37 amIf I had an incling in understanding the situation then, certainly Powell must have known what was going on to some extent. But he chose not to. And Condi followed the same script?
We are not fools, but as Sec of Stae he sure was.
Go back to Dubai, colon. Your in better company.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:42 amPowell and the rest may not be to smart – Hell I am no brain trust and I knew if was Cheney – could they not see the pattern?
and to #38 no – the American People are not more interested in Paris Hilton – the Corp Media is spoon feeding what they want to us – all distractions on purpose. Over 70% of the country knows our Republic is in deep serious trouble – and most of the 70% have no idea how much massive fraud and corruption had actually gone on – yet more than not do know we are in serious trouble. Pretty amazing since 91% of talk radio is Bushbot Conservative.
If we 70% wrote to the “media” daily complaining, and actually turn of the BS of the latest dead white chick or the latest stupid celebrity, it will change – after all – it’s all about the money.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:42 amRemember who picked Cheney to be the V ice President? Why, it was (surprise) —– Dick Cheney. Bush has been a failure all his life, still is.
Tony Mack
June 29th, 2007 at 11:48 amYes, Powell sullied himself right from the beginning simply by signing on to Bush’s “team.” Powell doesn’t quite redeem himself by coming out now, but his comments do shed a bit more light on just how seriously f*cked up things have been inside the White House. It confirms the seriously duplicitous relationship Bush had with Cheney. We’ve suspected as much, but now we know the full scope of it. Secrecy has been one of the longstanding complaints of this administration and now we see that even those on the inside kept secrets from each other.
Not much left to Powell’s credibility, but his comments on Gitmo do reflect the truth.
BTW BnF and MsJoanne: thanks for the quotes, reflective of a depth of wisdom we almost never encounter in the world of politics.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:53 amAll you need to know about Iraq and “Bush’s legacy” is the fact that the only pro-war chickenhawk cheerleader left in the White House is Cheney. Powell, Wolfowitz, Perle, Tenet, and Feith all bailed out, and Rumsfeld was dumped. If Bush really wanted to “win” the war and occupation in Iraq would he have selected a guy like Rumsfeld to stake his legacy on?
June 29th, 2007 at 11:57 amWhat the hell happened to Powell?? That’s the more obvious question. He became a total puppet of this twisted regime, that’s what happened.
If Powell had the courage to speak up, just imagine how many of our military might still be alive? If he had enough personal confidence to do so, imagine how much richer this country would be right now?
No doubt that Cheney is a criminal extraordinaire….along with his sycophant, The Shrub; however, now it will be up the intellects in our judiciary and this lazy Congress to find a way to indict & bring them both to the justice they so deserve.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:58 amAt one time not long ago, Colin Powell looked like a “shoe in” for President; now he’s become a national disgrace by permitting himself to be pimped by this administration. Sorry, Colin…..you’re criminally late in the process. It’s way beyond helpful at this point to attempt to exonerate your choice to commit your own criminal offenses.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:00 pmFrankly, I’ve lost total confidence in anyone in this Congress to have the intelligence and commitment to get the impeachment job accomplished. They’ve all become total losers.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:01 pmWhat I feel will be the equivalent of “poetic justice” is that when Cheney and The Shrub are indicted, the Habeas Corpus protection which they overturned, will be their plight soon.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:01 pmC. POWELL: Well, I will let Brent speak for himself. But Mr. Cheney has strong views on issues.
Strong issues? How about ISSUES: like cold and outright resentment against the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law. Dick Cheney took an oath as vice president to support the Constitution and the rule of law and he went out of his way to break them from the get go. Solution: Cheney soooooo got to go! IMPEACHMENT! Oh, yeah: looks like Powell is back pedaling again.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:03 pmPowell and Rice are tokens to show that these bastards in power are really not Klansmen. Those two should be tried as accessories.
Comment by Brain From Planet Arous
Funny, and so true :D!!!!!!
June 29th, 2007 at 12:04 pmFrankly, I’ve lost total confidence in anyone in this Congress to have the intelligence and commitment to get the impeachment job accomplished. They’ve all become total losers.
Comment by veritas — June 29, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
I’m with you on this one; Congress is never going to impeach either Bush or Cheney. Who is really up to the task? Maybe you could find a couple of senators if you tried. Most of them simply wouldn’t risk being branded as “extremists.”
The two party system is broken and sadly, there is little difference between Reps and Dems. But with no viable third party to speak of, we appear to be stuck with thease two lame parties.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:11 pmThis is me, applauding. Yes, absolutely. It’s all very well to squawk about what Powell should have done, but the reality is that people in government rarely do the right thing at the perfect moment. Powell has a lot to answer for but it’s very important that this is being said now and getting some attention. I don’t know if it’s true remorse, or ass-covering and frankly, I don’t care.
Comment by gummitch
Gummitch: tell me “what you don’t care.” Clinton’s “discretion act” with Monica or Bush’s “desecration” with the U.S. Constitution and the American people? Is everything morally relative to you?
June 29th, 2007 at 12:16 pmI don’t know if this is true, I read it on another blog and can’t find any confirmation, but his guy said that House Res 333 to Impeach Cheney has gone through Subcommittee to the FULL JUDICIARY. ??
If this is so, call your congressperson and say you are in support of impeaching Cheney. Whether it’s true or not, I called every one of my reps in IL today to say I was supporting his impeachment.
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ (just click on your state)
Call all your representatives!
June 29th, 2007 at 12:17 pmThis is me, applauding. Yes, absolutely. It’s all very well to squawk about what Powell should have done, but the reality is that people in government rarely do the right thing at the perfect moment. Powell has a lot to answer for but it’s very important that this is being said now and getting some attention. I don’t know if it’s true remorse, or ass-covering and frankly, I don’t care.
Comment by gummitch
Thanks for the backup, friend. I know it’s not a popular way of looking at things.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:26 pmToo little, too late, Colin. You sold your soul and you’re not going to be able to buy it back that cheaply.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:36 pm“Great power, concentrated in just a few hands, is always liable to be abused…..and that’s just what we see with these people today.”
And that is exactly why our founding fathers created the three co-equal branches of the government. But even that is not enough to protect us as evidenced by Bush making both the Executive and the Judicial branches simply extensions of the Republic party.
“Powell is a liar, a coward, and a traitor.”
I agree with part of this but for the exact opposite reason you have. He definitely is a coward and a traitor because he could have stood up to Bush back then and possibly could have averted the disasters that have occurred because he and others remained silent. He is a traitor because he didn’t speak up and do something earlier.
But I do not believe that Powell is a liar. He has told a lie, but he believed it was the truth when he told the lie because his President told him it was the truth. So in that case, it was Bush who was the liar.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:37 pmZooey, you’re right, of course, but it galls me to no end to see all these people speaking up after hundreds of thousands of people have died and a country lies in ruin, it’s just so disingenuous.
He does have a voice on the right. But that continues to be a statement as to the destruction this country has seen from within in the last six plus years.
Yes, you are right. Sadly so.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:49 pmThis administration has ruined it for us genuine conservatives, blown the cause, as it will be years before the American people ever vote a Republican into the presidency. That is of course until the Democratic president screws up. So to correct myself, it will be at least another 4 year term until we see another Republican in office. Whew, I guess I got ahead of myself there.
But in the meantime, because so many citizens are angry at where this administration has taken us, the American tax payer will have to shell out millions for the movable lead protective domes that will need to cover both Cheney and Mr. Bush during their post presidency golf outings and rigged duck huntings. Shame on them for wasting so much of our valuable cash resources on those expensive domes.
June 29th, 2007 at 1:16 pmYes, you are right. Sadly so.
Comment by MsJoanne
Thanks, MsJoanne. I take no joy in it, but finally speaking up may serve some purpose.
June 29th, 2007 at 1:21 pmI look forward to John Dean’s writings at FindLaw and wish he would write more often. Today, he talks about the vice presidency and how Cheney is misusing the office and more.
June 29th, 2007 at 1:46 pmF*ck off Colin. You’re an Uncle Tom for the Busheviks fascist regime.
June 29th, 2007 at 2:17 pmIt’s goo to see Powell speaking out. He’s had his come-to-jesus moment and is now beginning to tell the truth about how he and the country were manipulated. He could team up with Al Gore and unify the country, accomplishing the healing we have needed since this divissive administration squandered te good will of the world.
June 29th, 2007 at 2:53 pmPowell should have shown the courage to stand up against the neocons when he had some power. He took the cowards way out and left his troops to pay the price. Now he should just shut the F*** up!!
June 29th, 2007 at 3:04 pmThe greatest thing about what this administration has done is give the next democratic president and vp card blanche on whatever they see fit and will never have to answer to the republicans or the talkings heads at Faux, O’Reilly and all the other nitwits. I cant wait to see what happens next! If its ok for the republicans to do it then Rush, Colter and Hannity will also have to accept it when the democrats do it.
June 29th, 2007 at 3:19 pmUltimately, Bush is responsible. The buck stops there. Moreover, Powell can never redeem himself after his performance pimping for the war at the UN. He shredded his street cred card that day. None of this is exculpatory.
June 29th, 2007 at 3:19 pmPowell was either evil or stupid. Apparently he’s opting for stupid over evil.
June 29th, 2007 at 3:32 pmWhen you have a Colon and a Dick and a Bush, somebody is going to get screwed.
June 29th, 2007 at 3:44 pmMr. Cheney should not merely be impeached but should instead be indicted hang for TREASON. Treason is what this man is guilty of. Dick Cheney is Spiro Agnew on Steroids and what he has done from the secrecy of his office has been more destructive to our democracy than anything that happened at Watergate. I will dutifully cheer when this man has a stroke and one of his arteries combusts causing the SOB severe pain. If Satan is on earth, his name is Dick Cheney, a god less creature from another world.
June 29th, 2007 at 3:47 pmRight from the get-go Bush has been the problem – he comes as advertised – why is this such a shock?
He is supposed to be the decider, he is supposed to be the leader — but he was also the guy who could not run a second string company and has turned the United States into a compromised world power with a string of disastrous blunders.
Never mind about Powell (who has some integrity) or Darth Vader (VP) who has none – the bottom line is that Bush makes the decisions but simply does not have the intellect. This was obvious to see – why are some now acting with faux surprise after their gambit backfired? Shame on you!
For the next time (coming up).. Do not vote for President on the basis of the one who would be most fun to have a beer with..
June 29th, 2007 at 3:52 pmHmmmmm – the basic thrust of this article contradicts what Bob Woodward reported in his 2004 book, “Plan of Attack.” Woodward’s narrative led me to conclude (a) Bush was very much “The Decider”, his own man and not simply a Cheney puppet, (b) Bush asked for and received different points of view and (c) Powell had plenty of opportunity to press his case.
Many quotes by Powell in that book (and even later) contradict what this article now reports him as saying these days.
Keep in mind also that much of what we read today may in fact be CYA or “revisionist” statements that paint past legitimate policy differences and even legitimate style differences in terms of Good versus Evil.
Remember also that even in the Clinton administration, Powell was seen by many as too conservation. Madeline Albright, arguing with Powell for the necessity to intervene militarily in Bosnia, became so frustrated with him that she demanded to know what was the use of having our “magnificent military” if we never use it.
June 29th, 2007 at 4:24 pmPowell has lost all credibility. His attempts to sound like the violated virgin is too little too late. If he had resigned prior to the invasion, that would have been one thing. Complaining about being victimized, after prostituting hmiself in front of the UN just rings as disingenuous to me.
June 29th, 2007 at 4:26 pmThat last paragraph in my last post should have read:
“Remember also that even in the Clinton administration, Powell was seen by many as too conservative.”
June 29th, 2007 at 4:26 pmDear JC (post # 73),
I agree with 1/2 of your post – Gen. Powell’s credibility is low. However, I don’t believe he “prostituted” himself at the UN, nor do I believe that the US itself did so.
Powell’s speach at the UN represented the latest consensus of our intelligence services, as presented to the Administration. This has been confirmed by: (1) the Kay Report (2003), (2) the Deulfer Report (2004), (3) the Senate Select Committe on Itelligence report of July 2004, (4) The Butler Commission Report (UK) and (5) more recently, by the de-classification of most of the 2002 National Intelligence Estimate (NEI).
Powell’s lack of credibility to me rests with (1) his attempt to rewrite history in terms of what he is quoted as saying in this article and (2) the fact that he knew by Oct 2003 that Valerie Plame’s identity was leaked by Richard Armitage in June/July 2003, but never told his boss, the President. So Powell allowed the Administration to be buffetted for 3 years by all kinds of name-calling and accusations over this “affair” while all the time having the key to settling it before Fitzgerald and his team ran off the rails like a runaway locomotive.
BTW, this is a lifetime Democrat speaking!
June 29th, 2007 at 4:35 pmPowell is, indeed, a liar…a traitor….and a COWARD. He sat there on Larry King Live last night, looked into the camera….and LIED some more.
He’s fooling no one. No one.
June 29th, 2007 at 5:21 pmLooks like S. is full of S…t.
June 29th, 2007 at 5:47 pmColin Powell has no credibility left. He was the one person who had the best chance to prevent this atrocious Iraq fiasco. He could have resigned and the world would have taken notice. Instead, he perpetrated the biggest lie at the UN and the world (not having independent sources of intelligence) believed him. That shows he is nothing but a yes man for Bush. Talking to Larry King now and trying to resurrect his tattered reputation is not going to do him any good. He is damaged goods forever; sure, he would continue to make money – thanks to his cronies like Bandar and his republican echo chamber son, Michael. Some of the sentiments expressed here are stronger than my words but basically summarize what my feeling is.
June 29th, 2007 at 5:54 pmColin, Colin, Colin:
You’re just like all the rest of the loser Generals on Bush’s staff! Your ap-pearance at the UN in which you insisted that WMD was present in Iraq was as phony as you saying that Cheney pulled the wool over Condi and your eyes. Let’s face it, your gut told you that all the CIA reports was just so much BS but rather than face Bush’s music and ruin his party, you folded like a rain drenched umbrella. Shame on you and for shame on your once unimpeachable reputation!!!!
June 29th, 2007 at 6:03 pmAs a sidebar to this issue regarding Cheney, is the lie told by Andrew Card on the Daily Show a couple of weeks ago. Card went out of his way to say the President liked to hear opposing views on [important] issues. In fact, Paul O’neil’s book says just the opposite as he stresses the presidents disdain for “Process” and hear again Powell echoes that view. So why did Card lie? Perhaps to show that he is still a loyal soldier?
June 29th, 2007 at 6:14 pmI used to have a lot of respect for Colin Powell. Sadly it is all gone because of what he told the United Nations in 2003 and what he is saying now. Where have all of our heroes gone?
June 29th, 2007 at 6:15 pmpowell who??
June 29th, 2007 at 6:33 pmColin Powell is a Fifth Columnist; remember his speach at the UN?
liar…liar…liar
remember the My Lai Massacre report! …..Powell…..Powell….Powell
June 29th, 2007 at 6:44 pmKnowing Mr. Powell and haveing had the honor of serveing with him prior to his move to the Pentagon I was extremely frustrated in his early years watching him be a yes man for the bush crime family and the TRAITOR cheney. Yet when he did not follow through on the second fixed election iclaimed the rats are jumping ship and he proved me right.
Yet it is with a heavy heart that I can not forgive him as he put his own interest in front of those that were there for this Country, as a retired MILITARY COMBAT VET. I can not forgive for the betrayal of his sacred duty to blow the whistle on these crimminals.
So all I can say now is he is saying alot way to late, I can not find it in my heart to forgive for the betrayal of this Country, the TALKING MONKEY and the GUTLESS, COWARD, SPINELESS, TRAITOR cheney were given a green light to put this country in harms way and reduce us to a THIRD WORLD DESPOT GOVERNMENT.
No, I can not forgive or forget it hurts way to much. What happened to the Oath from WEST POINT, the OATH for the Secretary of State, all meaningless and that much more so now because he failed to talk up, and now is trying to set the record straight.
June 29th, 2007 at 7:00 pmFYI: Scooter Libby was the one that wrote the UN letter Powell read to the UN.
June 29th, 2007 at 7:03 pmFYI: Scooter Libby was the one that wrote the letter that Powell read to the UN.
June 29th, 2007 at 7:04 pmnevertheless, it was his speech that got the ball into play.
June 29th, 2007 at 7:32 pmBush never has a chance of being installed by Scalia et al, if Powell doesn’t stand shoulder to shoulder with him during the 2000 campaign. No one would have relied on Bush’s brain, but many were willing to trust Bush to trust Powell. But Powell was outwitted, outplayed, and duped. He only has himself to blame for the hundreds of thousands of lives lost in this war. He is a disgrace, who was willing to subject the nation/world to exceptional incompetence for the sake of advancing his own career. He was one who actually knew better and did nothing.
June 29th, 2007 at 7:39 pmThis is the same Powell who was partly responsible for whitewashing the My Lai massacre when he was in Vietnam, and then later claimed to deplore it.
Same old same old.
June 29th, 2007 at 7:46 pmColin Powell stated unequivocally (in that King interview)…
…that he believes the decision to invade Iraq was the right one…
…his fate is sealed…
June 29th, 2007 at 9:06 pmMay Bush and Chaney burn in hell
June 29th, 2007 at 9:21 pmNow that it’s safe the cowards speak up.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:25 pmi think powell would have fared better as an independent or a democrat, believe it or not. he may have been seen more favorably and as something of an elder statesman and would no doubt have been able to express his ideas more openly, but no, he casts his lot with the very party that has not only treated him poorly, but forever sullied his once sterling reputation.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:51 pmNot only GITMO, but only when Bush and Cheney are thrown out of the White House can our country hope to salvage our reputation again, after the brutal savaging done to our nation, our Constitution, our “rule of law,” by two of the most corrupt individuals ever to befoul the White House.
June 30th, 2007 at 2:29 amWhen looking at Powell one has to make the distinction of whether to perceive him as a military man or a politician. If you perceive him as a military man in the truest sense of honor, duty, country then you would expect him to be forthright and honest, stating his position as honestly as possible, letting the chips fall where they may, irrespective of personal consequences. If you perceive him as a politician, then like a slimey used car salesman, no means or methods of accomplishing your end objective are off the table. From the time he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Armed Forces until his recent departure from the office of Secretary of State Colin Powell has been a politician. And we were expecting a military man. We need to learn to make the distinction.
June 30th, 2007 at 2:56 amComment to katie re colin powell being “a liar, a coward and and a traitor.
I have to agree with your estimation of powell’s cowardice and being a traitor. I disagree with your assertion that he is not a liar; just too trusting to believe in his president.
If he didnt lie then he was made a fool of by “his president”. If chimpy mcflightsuit can fool a supposedly intelligent man like colin powell, what does that say about mr powell? Ergo, he is dumber than chimpy; a scary thought about someone who has led troops into battle.
I used to respect mr powell and thought that he was one of the good guys. I would have even voted for him for president even though Im not a rethuglican but I have lost all respect for him. The best thing he could do for this country is to STFU!! We know how bad things were and are in this administration. We needed you to tell us THEN, when your speaking out might have done something to prevent the headlong rush to invade a country merely for oil. Before hundreds of thousands of innocent lives were ruined. When Iraq was a country that had an infrastructure. As another poster has said, too little, too late.
And to write books and make money off this horrible situation is whoring, plain and simple. I had thought better of you, mr powell.
SHAME, SHAME ON YOU!!
June 30th, 2007 at 8:27 amA country that does not learn from its mistakes is doomed. A country that is politically unconscious is doomed to loose its civil liberties. We are so preoccupied wit acquiring wealth and toys that we do not question our leaders, which are leading us to total annihilation . And we have been warned.
If Tyranny and Oppression Come to this Land,
it Will be in the Guise of Fighting a Foreign Enemy -
James Madison
The Means of Defense Against Foreign Danger
Historically have Become the Instruments of
Tyranny at Home –
James Madison
They that can Give Up Essential Liberty to
Obtain a Little Temporary Safety Deserve
Neither Liberty Nor Safety –
Benjamin Franklin
That We are to Stand By the President,
June 30th, 2007 at 9:57 amRight or Wrong, is not Only Unpatriotic
and Servile, but is Morally Treasonable
to the American Public –
Theodore Roosevelt
Sorry, but Colin Powell is not a man. He is less than a man. Three/fifths of one, to be exact.
June 30th, 2007 at 10:33 amComment by BaritoneWoman #99
…I’m always amazed…
…at how lower-life form scum…
…like BaritoneSlime…
…is trained to type…
…what a neat trick…
June 30th, 2007 at 12:42 pmYour silence, your complicity, your taking orders like a good soldier–for all these things, I look down upon you now. I am sure you thought you were fighting on the side of the good, because you quit after the first term. However, you should have quit sooner or stayed in there and fought like Hell, causing a riot from within.
Your son should be an embarrassment to you. If he is not, I respect you even less.
I would have voted for you if you had run for President, but I see now that you do not have the leadership skills.
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:12 amHere we go again. Powell doesn’t admit to being a liar, or to being a dupe, or being too stupid to know what was going on. He just accuses his boss of keeping him out of the loop. Powell is trying to polish his image, just like Tennant of CIA and the other crooks who implemented the Iraq disaster by misleading the American people. They all deserve to be tried for war crimes. Maybe Powell would have to tell the truth if he were under oath at Cheney’s Impeachment trial. The soft interviews are just more misdirection by miscreants. Sorry to find that this order-taker didn’t live up to his earlier career and became a hack for the White House crooks. Impeach Them.
July 8th, 2007 at 9:18 am