[redhead]

"In the first eight months of the presidency, before the terrorist attacks, Powell as Secretary of State was arguing for the diplomatic approach, while Donald Rumsfeld, as Secretary of Defence, was in favour of a more brutalist assertion of American interests."

What's THIS crap??? Trust these Euroweenies to WHIIIIIIIIINE about Rumsfeld's adult approach as opposed to Powell's conciliatory puppy-on-its-back-piddling-into-the-air position...

[Miss Marple]

Most Europeans, having been through two wars on their continent, favor diplomacy as a solution. Maybe if I had lived through that I would be the same way.

It is vital that your diplomats and your military be seen as two approaches of the same policy, the carrot and the stick, if you will. If your diplomats are simply there to deliver declarations of war, you will have to solve all disagreements with the military. This is not good, as it costs lives which might be saved if the threat is implied and the diplomats can talk your opponent into a concession.

Powell is doing a good job; so is Rumsfeld. They are two sides of the same coin, which is American pre-eminence on the world stage.