Why the Powell Endorsement (Could) Matter

[tw]

Originally Posted by DanaC

He was one of the ones that made me think Saddam might have weapons of mass destruction. he must have been so fucking annoyed when he realised he'd been given shitty intelligence.

More likely he knew he was lying.

Colin Powell had a dinner meeting with George Jr, Laura, and Condi Rice. He knew the president was going to war no matter what. Therefore he told the president that as Sec of State, he was required to make the president's case before the UN. IOW Powel had commited to making the case for war regardless of facts.

When he went to the CIA, he spent 14 hour days all week looking for those facts. If those facts were 'slam dunk', then everything could have been obtained in a day. But proof after proof presented to Powell was found lacking or obviously a lie.

When Powel gave that UN speech, I felt so sorry for him. Presented facts had already been found wanting by responsible sources. If those were the best he could do, then clearly, justification for war did not exist.

I specifically remember thinking this poor man has been blindsided by the administration. As a good soldier, he was following orders. Of course, the world did not buy his speech either. Even Canada and Mexico did not believe him.

I always had respect for Powel. It was obvious that he did not have facts in his UN speech.

BTW, posted by tw on 30 Dec 2001:

The one thing I fear most, is not likely, BUT we should not be surprised if it happens - we will attack Iraq. Should it happen, it will be bad for the US, ...

In Nov 2002, when Iraq had not yet been invaded, this post was rejected by an apparent majority. Predictions based in known facts were, unfortunately, too accurate:

Dan Rather Commentary
This attack on Iraq is chock full of surprises, unknowns, and dangers. It is what Colin Powel so strongly worried about in the 1990 Gulf War and probably still worries today in Iraq as he quitely opposes war. No clear 'end game' strategy means disaster. Exactly the problem in Somalia. Exactly Johnson's problem in VietNam. Exactly the problem in occupying Iraq.

That post was not a lucky guess. It was based in facts.

The fear was "no light at the end of the tunnel". $10billion a month and still no solution. Meanwhile the justified war will probably continue for upwards of 10 years because we invaded Iraq, did not phase four planning in Afghanistan (either), and all but protected bin Laden.