Posted on 01/14/2005 12:50:32 PM PST by SJackson
BARRY SCHWEID AP Diplomatic Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Baring one of Washington's worst-kept secret, Secretary of State Colin Powell's deputy said he and Powell sometimes went public with their dissenting views to try to influence Bush administration policy.
Richard Armitage, who leaves along with Powell at the end of President Bush's first term, described the process as using the "bully pulpit.''
"Differences of opinion are something you as a citizen and I as a citizen should value in your government,'' Armitage said in an interview with National Public Radio's "Morning Edition'' on Thursday. "You really want it.''
Powell and Armitage, whose friendship was forged decades ago, share foreign policy views that are distinctly more moderate than those of Bush and other key presidential advisers. They also made far more use of media interviews and speeches to promote U.S. foreign policy than their predecessors.
Armitage made clear in the interview that the public appearances had another design, as well -- to reflect and register the views of the State Department as well as influence the shaping of policy.
"When Secretary Powell speaks or when Rich Armitage speaks, we're putting out our views. And we will do so respectfully, of course,'' Armitage said according to a text released Friday by the State Department. "This is what the president paid us for, to bring him our views.''
"And, of course, he can agreee with us or not, as he chooses,'' Armitage said.
Armitage offered no examples of specific areas or issues of disagreement, although his response was to a question that suggested that Powell and he had been at odds with other top administration officials on policies involving North Korea and the Middle East.
Powell is known to have pushed for negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear weapons programs, a strategy Bush adopted after months of review at the beginning of his first term. On the Middle East, Powell sometimes sought more flexibility from Israel, than did the White House, in dealing with the Palestinians.
"You don't want a government that sees everything the same way,'' Armitage said. "That would be bad -- it would lead to bad government, in my view.''
I knew Powell was a mistake for Bush from the very beginning, he is as much against the USA as Kerry.
Stinkin' rat finks! Won't miss 'em.
Major CLM (Career Limiting Move).
I doubt it. They'll both do fine.
I can also. May be a stretch here but perhaps the only reason Pres Bush didn't send him packing during the first term was the mixed message he wanted to send to the enemy and Powell and Armitage were just the boys to do it. Color me smiling at the thought of them gone.
......Powell did a fine job then.
And he was taking orders from someone above him, so he obeyed orders, that is what military people do.
well yeah, it was Pres Bush 41 but Powell devised the strategy and let the field General Schwartzkopf devise the tacitcs......remember "cut off the head and the body will die"..........
I will be glad to hear no more of Mr. Armitage's "media interviews and speeches."
While I have not agreed with all the stances of Powell your comments above are utterly ridiculous! - Powell is a good man and served the President well (for the most part).
He also is 100% not against America and certainly should not be spoken of in the same manner as John Kerry (a man who does not have America's best interest in mind at all).
The media desperately tried to invent a gulf, and obviously still won't give up the attempt. Considering how dramatically the president changed foreign policy after 9/11 Powell was a loyal subordinate of historical terms at the State Dept.
Everyone has an opinion and ours differ. Isn't this a wonderful country, on one will shoot either one of us because we disagree.
Glad colin powell is gone. I cannot wait until Condeleeza Rice cleans house.
Here, here - agree completely with you - and lets both keep up the good fight at getting facts out to beat what has become a completely shameless Democrat Party.
"I'd rather be feckless than relevant."
I always knew he sucked BUMP!!
Just out of curiosity, isn't the State Department under the Executive branch of government?
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