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That is the real problem, and right now, we have serious problems at State. When allies are being abandoned, and others are being pressured, we need to rethink the folks who are giving the advice.

No arguements here, which is precisely why I stand up for Newt on this board against all those "hyper patriots" who look at his comments on the Syrian visit (with reports that the terrorist bases in Damascus that were promised to be closed still open, is it too early to say "I told you so?") and think that its a bash of Bush and want to crucify Newt, and us, for it, I simply don't comprehend how you could say Newt did anything like going overboard.

Fact is Powell and Boucher and Armitage have the power to make low level firings necessary in their enormous, unchecked, unbalanced Dept. The fact that Powell's response to Newt was as knee jerk and reactionary as the best politician, it leads me to believe that Powell has ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE TO MAKE HEADS ROLL AT STATE. From there, any criticisms of him, or Armitage, are not only entirely warrented, but understated.

If Powell isn't man enough to stand up to those government lifers, Bush must get someone in there who can for the good of the War on Terrorism and the safety of America.

The problem isn't Powell, though, and that is where Newt made his mistake.

1. The Syria visit was the wrong fight to pick. It was NOT a situation where SECSTATE was going to roll over, but instead, it was more akin to laying down the law.

2. I would not be surprised if these lifers had ties to some of the more "progressive" members of Congress. A lot might depend on where they cover in the globe. Congress canmake life miserable for a cabinet officer.

Newt made some mistakes. He's right about the underlying issues at State. However, in some areas, he blew the call and made it a Gingrich vs. Powell fight, and that was one that Powell would win in the court of public opinion hands down. Look at the comparative approval numbers.

Newt had the underlying problems right, but he could have brought them to light much better.