Powell: Why He Might Stay

[conjur]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5916034/site/newsweek/

Sept. 13 issue - For nearly two years, the settled wisdom in Washington has been that Colin Powell would never stick around for a second Bush term. The secretary of State, who began his tenure as the most popular and prestigious figure in Bush's cabinet, was fed up?tired of being a moderate minority of one in a squall of neocon true believers. But last week there was a hint that the settled wisdom may now be unsettled. A former close aide and current confidant of Powell's, asked during the GOP convention whether the secretary might stay on, nodded his head eagerly and said yes.

The reason, the ex-official hinted, is that global events are moving in Powell's direction. In Iraq and on other future flash points like Iran and North Korea, an administration that once short-shrifted Powell's diplomacy now badly needs it. He also has more control than he's had in a while, especially over Iraq, where America's new viceroy, Ambassador John Negroponte, answers to the secretary of State. (The previous top civilian, L. Paul Bremer III, nominally worked for Powell's archrival, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.) And Powell no doubt realizes that if he leaves now, he will be departing at what is perhaps the low point of his reputation at home and abroad; another term would allow him to recoup....

Are the neocons realizing the errors of their ways? I have to wonder if Powell really would be a key factor in a 2nd Bush administration given the way he was relegated to the background by Cheney and Rumsfeld.

 

[Perknose]

I have lost all respect for Powell.

 

[Vadatajs]

If a re-elected Bush meets these foreign leaders just halfway, the history of his second term could take a surprising new turn. And Bush undoubtedly knows that Colin Powell, who still commands great respect abroad, could prove to be an invaluable asset.

Too bad Powell lost all credibility with that address to the UN (you know, the one with the vial of confectionary anthrax).

GOP operatives, and possibly Powell himself, may want to send a message to swing voters that Bush is headed for the center.

The hell Bush is headed toward the center. Then again, he's done enough damage to the FDA, SEC, FCC, and EPA that he doesn't really need to further the corporate cause to keep his donors happy; he just has to make sure that the problems he caused aren't fixed.

 

[Moonbeam]

Powell hasn't lost any respect in my book.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Powell hasn't lost any respect in my book.

Careful, Monbeam, with that clown avatar, people might think you were making some kind of wicked joke here. :laugh:

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Powell hasn't lost any respect in my book.

Careful, Monbeam, with that clown avatar, people might think you were making some kind of wicked joke here. :laugh:

They had better. I never did have any use for that bastard.

 

[Klixxer]

It could be because of my background but Powell did what his commanding officer told him, i cannot blame him for that.

He is the only sane person in the current US admin and if the admin stays i hope he does too.

 

[Kibbo]

I agree with Klixxer.

As long as he was a member of this administration he had a duty to do his job. Some might have resigned after being marginalized the way he has been, but I can see a soldier being less willing to do so than a polititian or a manager.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: Kibbo
I agree with Klixxer.

As long as he was a member of this administration he had a duty to do his job. Some might have resigned after being marginalized the way he has been, but I can see a soldier being less willing to do so than a polititian or a manager.

Some would argue he has a duty to the United States of America NOT GWB. I believe it's misplaced loyalty to "serve" a President instead of serving your country. If Powell had been willing to resign (as several British officials did) . . . it might have slowed Bush's march to war.

 

[Moonbeam]

I agree with BBD.

 

[Thump553]

I'd say that article is very wishful thinking. It assumes that GWB will acknowledge the errors of his ways and all of a sudden chnage his course of direction in a new term. Why would a person, whose stubborness for being inflexible is near legendary, change course after the American populace had endorsed his conduct by reelecting him?

I'm not holding my breath. Powell is almost certainly gone at or near the end of this term.

 

[Kibbo]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: Kibbo
I agree with Klixxer.

As long as he was a member of this administration he had a duty to do his job. Some might have resigned after being marginalized the way he has been, but I can see a soldier being less willing to do so than a polititian or a manager.

Some would argue he has a duty to the United States of America NOT GWB. I believe it's misplaced loyalty to "serve" a President instead of serving your country. If Powell had been willing to resign (as several British officials did) . . . it might have slowed Bush's march to war.

I agree that that might have been what best served the country, but one could also argue that the best way to serve the country would be to stay on the inside, try to moderate any decision made. Also, it could be argued that to resign would be bad for the country in a time of crisis. And I would also suggest that that kind of public slamming of one's superiors, even if one disagreed with them, would run against the grain of a military man's instincts.

I'm not trying to justify his actions, just trying to esplain them.

 

[Perknose]

LOL, you guys and your Colinecstasies! If Powell were currently running against George Bush, the Republican attack machine would eviscerate him.

Can't you just see it? His service record would be called into question: Just how DID he get to be a general? If he fought back, he'd be criticized in the press for letting the regugs define the issues. If he didn't, he'd be criticized as spinelss and possibly having something to hide.

Somehow, some way, totally independent groups of concerned citizens having only numerous ties to the RNC would arise and cast doubt on Powell's ethnicity! Oh sure, he claims to be black. If he fought back, he would be accused of hiding behind the race card. Shameful, really, Mr. Powell.

And, so, all of you would be saying how much better a candidate Joe Liebermann or that fellow John Kerry would have made . . . and what's wrong with the Democrats, anyway?

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Perknose
LOL, you guys and your Colinecstasies! If Powell were currently running against George Bush, the Republican attack machine would eviscerate him.

Can't you just see it? His service record would be called into question: Just how DID he get to be a general? If he fought back, he'd be criticized in the press for letting the regugs define the issues. If he didn't, he'd be criticized as spinelss and possibly having something to hide.

Somehow, some way, totally independent groups of concerned citizens having only numerous ties to the RNC would arise and cast doubt on Powell's ethnicity! Oh sure, he claims to be black. If he fought back, he would be accused of hiding behind the race card. Shameful, really, Mr. Powell.

And, so, all of you would be saying how much better a candidate Joe Liebermann or that fellow John Kerry would have made . . . and what's wrong with the Democrats, anyway?

Of course. Bush is the President of God.