Originally posted by: Lemon law
I have some real mixed feeling regarding the LunarRay statement of, "I agree with your analysis except that out of Colin's mouth came his own 'destruction'... I think he played the game they wanted played instead of simply saying good bye... I think had he done that... that fact would have made him way up there with some of the better Sec. States..."
I think I see where LunarRay is coming from, and I can't per say disagree, but there are some Greek tragedy aspects to Colin Powell as an ultimate team player unable to believe his own team would screw him. And like a Western hero strong silent type, he suffered in silence rather than lashing out. Just another part of Powell integrity, easy to confuse, he took it on the chin for the good of the team might be the charitable way to put it.
I considered that... and am in two minds about it... I suppose I'm sympathetic to that reality too... being a military person as he was especially... for the greater good and all that. The problem I have is when I look at his trying to push the draft resolution in the UN I think back to October of '62 and;
"I want to say to you, Mr. Zorin, that I do not have your talent for obfuscation, for distortion, for confusing language, and for doubletalk. And I must confess to you that I am glad that I do not!
But if I understood what you said, you said that my position had changed, that today I was defensive because we did not have the evidence to prove our assertions, that your Government had installed long-range missiles in Cuba.
Well, let me say something to you, Mr. Ambassador?we do have the evidence. We have it, and it is clear and it is incontrovertible. And let me say something else?those weapons must be taken out of Cuba.
Next, let me say to you that, if I understood you, with a trespass on credibility that excels your stupidness, you said that our position had changed since I spoke here the other day because of the pressures of world opinion and the majority of the United Nations. Well, let me say to you, sir, you are wrong again. We have had no pressure from anyone whatsoever. We came in here today to indicate our willingness to discuss Mr. U Thant?s proposals, and that is the only change that has taken place.
But let me also say to you, sir, that there has been a change. You?the Soviet Union has sent these weapons to Cuba. You?the Soviet Union has upset the balance of power in the world. You?the Soviet Union has created this new danger, not the United States.
And you ask with a fine show of indignation why the President did not tell Mr. Gromyko on last Thursday about our evidence, at the very time that Mr. Gromyko was blandly denying to the President that the U.S.S.R. was placing such weapons on sites in the new world.
Well, I will tell you why?because we were assembling the evidence, and perhaps it would be instructive to the world to see how a Soviet official?how far he would go in perfidy. Perhaps we wanted to know if this country faced another example of nuclear deceit like that one a year ago, when in stealth, the Soviet Union broke the nuclear test moratorium.
And while we are asking questions, let me ask you why your Government?your Foreign Minister?deliberately, cynically deceived us about the nuclear build-up in Cuba.
And, finally, the other day, Mr. Zorin, I remind you that you did not deny the existence of these weapons. Instead, we heard that they had suddenly become defensive weapons. But today again if I heard you correctly, you now say that they do not exist, or that we haven?t proved they exist, with another fine flood of rhetorical scorn...
All right, sir, let me ask you one simple question: Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the U.S.S.R. has placed and is placing medium- and intermediate-range missiles and sites in Cuba? Yes or no?don?t wait for the translation?yes or no?
(Zorin didn't answer.)
You can answer yes or no. You have denied they exist. I want to know if I understood you correctly. I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over, if that?s your decision. And I am also prepared to present the evidence in this room... "
IF only Powell could have had the FACTS... The evidence would have made him stand aside and take another tact, I think.... Stevenson had Facts.. Powell had... well imo, lies and distortions fed to him... So, but for the circumstanes he found himself in I suppose he did what his country called upon him to do... No chance for glory... only the sword for his tummy...
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