Powell’s shame.
Today marks the fifth anniversary of Colin Powell’s presentation on Iraqi WMD before the United Nations. “The gravity of this moment is matched by the gravity of the threat that Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction pose to the world,” Powell said in his speech. Saad Tawfiq, one of Iraq’s engineers who tried to warn the U.S. that Saddam had shut down his weapons programs, recalls crying as he listened:
As one of Saddam Hussein’s most gifted engineers, Tawfiq knew that the Iraqi dictator had shut down his nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programmes in 1995 — and he had told his handlers in US intelligence just that. […]
“When I saw Colin Powell I started crying. Immediately. I knew I had tried and lost,” Tawfiq told AFP five years later in the Jordanian capital Amman.
UPDATE: Jonathan Schwarz does a line-by-line debunk of Powell’s speech.
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And it is a shame that I hope he never lives down. He is trying to say now that he suspected the intel was wrong. But, he went ahead and gave his speech even though he had second thoughts about it. That doesn’t say much positive about his character.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:21 amBUSHCO at it`s finest.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:24 amLets not forget that Saddam himself told his “handler” that he tricked the US into believing he had wmd. The far left can try to cast blame on anyone they want, but the blame still falls with Saddam.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:26 amWhen I saw this the first time, I declared Colin Powell had committed political suicide.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:27 amStill desperately selling that sh*t, huh, R_R?
Thru pushing yer little toy truck around the sand box for the day?
February 5th, 2008 at 10:27 amRoger, Iraqi children maimed and murdered blame you and your ilk. I hope you don’t expect them to grow up appreciative of their mental and physical scars.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:28 amHistory will not be kind to Powell. First involved with the My Lai cover-up, then with Iran/Contra machinations, and finally being proven a liar who foisted the largest, most monstrous deception on the country, ever known.
He has been on the wrong side far too long to ever cry “victim.”
February 5th, 2008 at 10:30 amWhy was the secretary of state dispatched to make the case for war? I thought the state department’s aim was diplomacy.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:31 amLets not forget that Saddam himself told his “handler†that he tricked the US into believing he had wmd. The far left can try to cast blame on anyone they want, but the blame still falls with Saddam.
Comment by Roger_Roger — February 5, 2008 @ 10:26 am
No, it really doesn’t. The blame falls with the country that invaded Iraq and deposed Saddam for no reason.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:32 amLets not forget that Saddam himself told his “handler†that he tricked the US into believing he had wmd. The far left can try to cast blame on anyone they want, but the blame still falls with Saddam.
Comment by Roger_Roger — February 5, 2008 @ 10:26 am
Saddam did not start this war you brownshirted idiot.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:33 am“Lets not forget that Saddam himself told his “handler†that he tricked the US into believing he had wmd.”
He also offered to leave the country before the war started, but Bush wouldn’t have it.
Now, a billion dollars in oil revenue seems like small change compared to four thousand dead American soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:33 amWhy was the secretary of state dispatched to make the case for war? I thought the state department’s aim was diplomacy.
Comment by McWars — February 5, 2008 @ 10:31 am
You just answered your question.
Powell was dispatched because he was considered, by many in the international community, a respected statesman and diplomat. The words carried much more weight coming from Powell than they would have from known warmongers like Rumsfeld or Bush or Cheney.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:34 amThe memory of watching that event on TV that day will stay with me forever. I was watching the case being made; I was facing the inevitability of war, and yet, I was still holding the hope that this wasn’t going to happen. The evidence was cartoonish, and unconvincing. Powell was saying the words, but I did not believe him. I had read many experts in opposition and they convinced me that this path was wrong — I take no comfort in knowing that they were right, and my instincts were right.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:35 amI understand the reasons that Democrats voted for this, but their collective conscience should have taken over political expediency.
Powell, was made a patsy by Bush&Co, and why he remains loyal to them and their party is a mystery.
When I saw this the first time, I declared Colin Powell had committed political suicide.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:36 amExactly.
Powell was very effective because he spent his credibility on that presentation. I remember listening to it and wondering whether I was wrong in what I thought (I wasn’t). But because he made me doubt, I kept silent at the start of the war. Because I felt that they couldn’t lie about something so important, that they wouldn’t dare be unequivocal without iron-clad evidence, I muted my skepticism in public.
Lies of this magnitude cannot be acceptable in a democracy. They are a monumental betrayal of trust.
Powell can rot in hell, for all I care. Being a ‘good soldier’ doesn’t get him points in my book. He ruined himself to serve Georgie-boy and I’ll NEVER trust him again.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:36 amAs Barack Obana said in October of 2002:
That’s what I’m opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.
Now let me be clear - I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. He has repeatedly defied UN resolutions, thwarted UN inspection teams, developed chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear capacity.
He’s a bad guy. The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him.
But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors, that the Iraqi economy is in shambles, that the Iraqi military a fraction of its former strength, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:38 amSaddam tell you that himself or did you hear it from the US government?
LOL@SheepleWhoBelieveAnythingComingFromTheBushAdmin
February 5th, 2008 at 10:39 amAnd lest we forget the context: when this presentation was made, we were still in near-panic mode from the Anthrax letter scare, and his holding the vial up as a prop was meant to scare us into equating the two.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:40 amPowell was Bush’s closer who was brought in to close the deal. His testimony was the turning point in the run up to the war and gave many in the center and left the fig leaf to cover their doubts.
Thanks Uncle Colon.
-GSD
February 5th, 2008 at 10:41 amComment by toasterhead — February 5, 2008 @ 10:34 am
Noted. Thanks for explaining.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:44 am# 18. Barfly
WE weren’t scared of anything at that time except for Bush’s dubious reasons for war and every report from the Anthrax “scare” let us know it came from WITHIN the US.
This fact is not in dispute and is well known by the government and the Bush admin.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:44 amI remember during that time, when Powell resisted. Newt G. and a lot of the talking heads were talking about Prezident Bush should fire him or he should resign. but I bought it! hook, line and sinker. I thought he was the only one that was honest in the adminstration. I was wrong. fear tactics worked well.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:44 amPowell was a force unto himself. Much to the disadvantage of his country.
he started a project years ago in iraq, that has become the most potent weapon against this country and now his country has to live the horrors of the frankenstein monster he unleashed.
Elect people like this, and what else can you expect? And yeah everybody keep watching Fox and CNN. and yes, vote to ban Al Jazeera. Close your eyes to the light and keep repeating ad nauseum that its night and keep pulling the blanket over your collective heads!
News Headlines
February 5th, 2008 at 10:45 amhttp://www.faceoftruth.com
Powell had the potential to continue to service America in a positive manner. Too bad he wasn’t grounded as an honest man and eventually gave up his hard earned reputation for ruthless men.
Truth is the most valuable thing we have, so I try to conserve it. ~Mark Twain
-or-
Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom. ~Thomas Jefferson
February 5th, 2008 at 10:48 amComment by barfly — February 5, 2008 @ 10:40 am
They rode the wave of our fears to throw us in the vice grip we are in to this day. Bush’s plans are for us to fight the uphill battle to recovery after he leaves office, all while he settles in Texas and celebrates his cooked-book presidential library.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:49 amColin Powell, you will never wash the bloody stain off yourself.
And you, Roger_Roger, share a little piece of that stain, for participating in the enabling of the war criminals in the White House and Pentagon.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:52 amColin Powell = Benidict Arnold
Sorry folks, there is no defending this guys honor….I knew he was lying, you knew it, everyone knew it….it was a show of force at the UN……nothing more, nothing less.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:54 amPowell knows how history will view him. As a disgrace to America and his race.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:56 amI can’t believe it was five years ago today that I posted THIS on my blog… time flies when Bush 2.0 wants to wage a war.
Mr. Purple
February 5th, 2008 at 10:58 amHe also offered to leave the country before the war started, but Bush wouldn’t have it.
Comment by barfly — February 5, 2008 @ 10:33 am
And he was also executed rather quickly, wasn’t he? Why was that Roger_Roger Debate_Dodger? What could he have said, ye ol’ one post wonder?
February 5th, 2008 at 10:59 amRoger_Roger. Sorry Dude that don’t wash. Saddam’s son-in-law told Dick C. and others that those weapons were destroyed when he defected to the us. Dick knew this and yet he still cooked the intel.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:09 amA few decades of distinguished service, extinguished by treason to the people of these United States.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:17 amIt is interesting that Roger_Roger equates Powell’s lies to Saddam’s. We could EXPECT Saddam to lie. I cannot accept that behavior from my government, though.
Will they ever forgive us?
February 5th, 2008 at 11:18 amThe words carried much more weight coming from Powell than they would have from known warmongers like Rumsfeld or Bush or Cheney.
Comment by toasterhead
Actually I think US would have invaded no matter what, so that leaves Powell being just a tool part of the plan. His speech although impressive for the kind of lies (even here in Mexico, where people don’t know too much about politics one thing: US like wars) so the whole deal was done before Powell’s speech, it was just a matter of time.
And Peter C, most of the wars made in this planet have been made based on lies.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:18 amAnd he was also executed rather quickly, wasn’t he? Why was that Roger_Roger Debate_Dodger? What could he have said, ye ol’ one post wonder?
Comment by DRxJ —
rr never debates…..he knows better……he’s not only a chicken hawk he’s a regular yellow stripe variety chicken as in coward……
February 5th, 2008 at 11:20 amRoger Roger is funny.
First he says Saddam said he had WMDs, so we have to beleive him.
Now, Iran says they don’t have WMDs, but we don’t believe them.
I’m guessing we believe whatever fits our warmongering projects…
February 5th, 2008 at 11:20 amActually I think US would have invaded no matter what, so that leaves Powell being just a tool part of the plan. His speech although impressive for the kind of lies (even here in Mexico, where people don’t know too much about politics one thing: US like wars) so the whole deal was done before Powell’s speech, it was just a matter of time.
Comment by Juan C
I agree with this whole heartedly….the decision had already been made. We were there to tell the world what was going to happen…..period.
Colin Powell = Benidict Arnold
Sorry folks, there is no defending this guys honor….I knew he was lying, you knew it, everyone knew it….it was a show of force at the UN……nothing more, nothing less.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:25 amThere is only one word I can use to describe Colin Powell… TRAITOR!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 11:33 amActually I think US would have invaded no matter what, so that leaves Powell being just a tool part of the plan.
time was critical; the longer the invasion could have been delayed, the greater chance of it being stopped…the truth, or at least doubts were trickling out. the bush regime was struggling to sell their lies. They needed an unimpeachable supporter - enter the willing stooge Powell willing to sell his undeserved reputation for God knows what he was thinking…staying in bush’s good graces? yuk!
The presumption of invasion is not by any means a good one. Sure bush/cheney were set to invade, but the deal wasn’t sealed until powell chimed in. There is no telling that they would have been able to close the deal without powell.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:34 am.
Sure bush/cheney were set to invade, but the deal wasn’t sealed until powell chimed in. There is no telling that they would have been able to close the deal without powell.
.
Comment by pluege
I know this is semanitics and we all agree powell is a traitor, but I don’t believe the whole thing hinged on powells speach……I think the deal was done and powell was sent to tell the world what to expect.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:40 amIt only seems to get worse. Westnmoreland, Powell, Betrayus.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:43 amActually I think US would have invaded no matter what, so that leaves Powell being just a tool part of the plan. His speech although impressive for the kind of lies (even here in Mexico, where people don’t know too much about politics one thing: US like wars) so the whole deal was done before Powell’s speech, it was just a matter of time.
Comment by Juan C. — February 5, 2008 @ 11:18 am
Completely agreed. The decision to invade Iraq was made back in the 90s. We were going to war whether the rest of the world was with us or against us. The Powell speech was just an attempt to cajole a few countries into siding with us in the quagmire.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:47 amThere is nothing funny about this but I am gratified to know that powell can no longer go to book signings around the country and be treated like a patriotic American…..he has shown his colors and I don’t think he will show his traitorous face in public much in the future…..he should fall on his sword if he had any honor….only then would I consider forgiving him.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:52 amLets not forget that Saddam himself told his “handler†that he tricked the US into believing he had wmd. Comment by Roger_Roger — February 5, 2008 @ 10:26 am
So, “tricking the U.S.” now warrants an invasion? Are you really that obtuse?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:10 pmHere is another guy who forgot that one of the commandments says something like do not bear false witness, have all RePUGlications forgotten that one. Is there some kind of waiver for those that vote RePUG?
I am thinking to think that we won’t ever get honesty from these folks Bush, Cheney, Powell, et all, so why ask?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:19 pmOn that day, I lost all respect for General Powell who had so distinguished himself in service to the country before that. How many people were persuaded or kept quiet because of the weight he threw behind this terrible, harmful deception?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:43 pmOn that day, I lost all respect for General Powell who had so distinguished himself in service to the country before that. How many people were persuaded or kept quiet because of the weight he threw behind this terrible, harmful deception?
Comment by Doc Rock
distinguished himself how…….you mean his participation in the murderous highway of death where we shot thousands of people in the back who were running away from the battle in kuiait?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:52 pmIt is interesting that Roger_Roger equates Powell’s lies to Saddam’s.
Roger_Roger will no doubt deny this, but his own words prove that he is far more of a “moral relativist” than any of us. Not as bad as Saddam! Geez, how far can you lower the bar, RR?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:55 pmLike others who failed or didn’t get the gold Powell is sucking up to Senator Obama. Yes Connie Rice and Powell are doing their best to attach themselves to the man who wants to be President. If Obama gets in he’ll put them in his cabinet. Look Obama is going to be a another front man for others to do their thing. Kerry didn’t get to be President but he can now live through Obama. Kennedy hasn’t reached the top like his famous brothers so he will use Obama to get there. Why not Powell, he can always now come back and use the race card. Powell was once one of the most respected and trusted Americans by all and mostly the Military. Telling Bush/Cheney lie cost him everything but he did get paid for a job well done by the Republican Party. Yes Powell helped thousands of soldiers die based on that lie but God has to judge his actions. At lease Powell will never have to see the brave soldiers he allowed to die as their in heaven and he’ll be sent to hell.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pmWhat Collin Powell forgot to tell then and nor Rice nor Gates nor anybody in this criminals administration will tell you is the fact (Check the congress records in its libary) the Chemical weapons Saddam Hussein once possessed came from Meryland USA!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pmhow do we explain all the U.N. resolutions concerning Iraq and the need for Iraqi disarmament?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:27 pmCapitan merdastic, if you want to talk about UN resolutuions, you have to include all of them! The UN resolutions that is responsible for the death of thousands of iraqui children years prior to the invasion/occupation. The UN resolutions the the US and Israel do not obey or use their power to veto. Many times being the only two countries to do so against the common consesus.
49 Captain
You are criminal scum and will not be debated. You need to learn that your beliefs are not just wrong but criminal and absolutely immoral. You and the scum like you have too long gained a semblance of legitimacy by claiming that they have a right to civil debate. You do not.
how do you like me now?
February 5th, 2008 at 6:53 pmIt’s heart-breaking. Tawfiq’s situation proves once again the admin was intent on selling a war, not honestly assessing a threat.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:57 pmIf Powell was lying, how would you consider Hillary Clinton’s position at the time?
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=2_KEWUU33Lg&feature=related
Comment by CaptainMantastic — February 5, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
Uninformed due to Powell and the rest of the administration LYING (even POWELL admits he LIED on this point) - TARD!
February 5th, 2008 at 10:22 pmcriminal: involving or being or having the nature of a crime
immoral: bad: characterized by wickedness or immorality
How can Powell’s characterization be a lie without the resolutions also being a lie?
Comment by CaptainMantastic — February 5, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
It goes to INTENT and KNOWLEDGE - those are KNOWN PRINCIPLES of THE LAW and LOGIC - both of which are CLEARLY LOST on your INFERIOR CHILD INTELLECT. Powell KNEW he was telling lies, but those that voted on the resolution DID NOT. Therefore Powell was GUILTY of TREASON, and YOU are NOW KNOWINGLY IN SUPPORT OF TREASON!
February 5th, 2008 at 10:24 pmIf Powell was lying at the time, how do we explain all the U.N. resolutions concerning Iraq and the need for Iraqi disarmament? I guess the U.N. was lying, too.
http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/01fs/14906.htm
Comment by CaptainMantastic — February 5, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
No the UN was LIED TO by Powell’s OWN ADMISSION, so they did not have the INTENT to DECEIVE - TARD! MORON!
February 5th, 2008 at 10:25 pm