A Special Place in Hell

The Ameriucan Spectator ^ | Septembe 18, 2006 | Jeff Babbin

[libstripper]

Greater self-love hath no man than to sacrifice a friend's life for his own. Our grateful nation awards the Medal of Honor to those few whose valor in combat is above and beyond the call of duty. But what is the polar opposite of the Medal? It is essential we decide, because Richard Armitage -- former Deputy Secretary of State -- has earned it for his uncommon treachery, beneath and beyond the call of knavery.

Begin with the fact that Armitage -- and his boss, Colin Powell -- were always outsiders. Powell, by his own discomfort with Bush's inner circle, was not part of it. But both were high-ranking members of the administration and owed it political loyalty.

[libstripper]

A fitting place for Armitage, Powell, Fitzgerald, and the Wilsons.

[Liberty Valance]

[Uncle Ike]

Ouch!!

That's gonna leave a scar.....

Once again, Babbin tells it like it is.. (or should be)

[SueRae]

Hear, hear! Great article. I can't understand why Fitz's 'case' against Libby hasn't been withdrawn or tossed out yet? I hope Libby and maybe even Rove demand the justice that was denied them.

[Liberty Valance]

The silence from the drive-by media is deafening on this issue. These perps are being given cover by Arizona Senator John McCain...Rep/Dem/Ind/candidate for President.

[Guenevere]

Corrupt & evil intentions exposed....and they will be.

They always will be...eventually.

This column could initiate a special brand of justice for Armitage, Powell....
..death of their reputation by a thousand cuts!

[pikachu]

Dicky Armitage should be forced to pay Scooter Libby's legal bills PLUS cover the cost of the Fitzgerald debacle (maybe get his buddy 'Colon' Powell kick in some bucks from the pay he gets from all the boards he sits on). Then he should have to listen to Joe Wilson for six hours every weekend.

[patriot_wes]

Armitage's leak was not innocent, idle chatter. And worse, much worse, was his cravenness in not telling the truth to the president he supposedly served. Armitage told Powell on "October 1, 2003. If he felt his loyalty to Powell required him to call his boss on that date, he had a greater loyalty to tell the president before the sun set that day. The facts that neither he nor Powell told the president, that both allowed the Democrats and the media to damage the Bush administration for almost three years afterward and let Scooter Libby's life to be ruined, disqualifies both Armitage and Powell from ever holding public office again. Let them retire in the ignominy they deserve. "

Nuff said!

[Liberty Wins]

Wait a minute . . . Bob Novak kept silent and escapes blame all this time while Fitzgerald and the Dems ruined an innocent man's life? By any measure of fairness and justice, journalists should not be allowed to hide behind their sources. The special privilege of protecting the source is becoming as evil as the profession of journalism itself.

[Hatteras]

"It was an act of supreme disloyalty for Armitage to keep the fact that he was Novak's source from the president -- and thus the public -- for three years. The same goes for Powell. There was no reason whatever -- other than the desire to do political damage to the administration -- for Armitage and Powell to remain silent while the 527 Media and the Dems fired a three-year long barrage of political fire at the President, the Vice President, Karl Rove and Scooter Libby. We expect the Dems and the political-activist media to do this. But we don't expect the craven, cowardly conduct of Armitage and Powell.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the Powell's home right now.

[prairiebreeze]

There's only one name for it: the Armitage Award.

Nope, it needs to be called the Armitage-Powell award. For "uncommon treachery, beneath and beyond the call of knavery." Excellent description of two bureaucrat scumbags. Hock-spit!

The ever-responsive George Tenet asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation and, after overcoming objections, it did.

ping to you liberallarry

[DoctorMichael]

.....The silence from the drive-by media is deafening on this issue......

For the last 2-3 years Kris Math-hues has done whole hour-long programs repeatedly (sometimes 2-3 times/week) pumping this story and salivating over the evil fascism emanating from the deepest bowels of the White House and Bush Administration ostensibly aiming for his rightful Pulitzer Prize.

Where is this putrid, loud-mouth, little rent-a-cop now?

[liberallarry]

This story is not over. Powell and Armitage - so far as I know - have yet to explain why they didn't inform the rest of the Administration..

Thanks for the ping.

[prairiebreeze]

It isn't hard to figure out. Personal animous, political back-stabbing, petty self-interest over nation and loyalty to the president.

Conservatives like Babbin and here on FR, criticize and condemn it when members of their party engage in such conduct and illegal activities, ala Armitage/Powell and Duke Cunningham.

Liberals applaud, rationalize and seek to refine the behavior.....

[liberallarry]

It isn't hard to figure out. Personal animous, political back-stabbing, petty self-interest over nation and loyalty to the president.

That's your explanation. I hardly think it will be theirs. :)

[prairiebreeze]

LOL, well you'll get no argument from me on that one.

But, I believe my assessment is correct.

[Obie Wan]

Richard Armitage is a snake like a lot of political hacks in Washington. But the real issues here is how the media can take "nothing" and turn it into "something",because that's what the "outing" of Valerie Plame was, a big NOTHING !!!

[jazusamo]

Babbin hits the nail on the head. If true, which it sounds like it is, both Armitage and Powell are not only guilty of disloyalty but of lying by omission.

For a man such as Powell to participate in this kind of pettiness is unforgiveable. He is a retired General and CJC who swore an oath of Duty, Honor, Country. He has broken that oath and therefore should be shunned.

To my knowledge he has not addressed this issue either publicly or privately. If he was not guilty of these accusations, he should have addressed the issue by now, IMO.

[jrooney]

McCain should be held accoutable for having these two COWARDS and CRIMINALS as advisors. I will NEVER vote for MCCAIN and I will shun POWELL and Armitage forever. Powell was a general and and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. His silence is inexcusable. He is a traitor to this country for his intentional silence that allowed a criminal investigation to go on for three years and allowing others to have their reputations smeared and in the case of Libby, the potential to spend the rest of his life in jail. Libby would not be in this predictment if not for Powell and Armitage because no investigation should have occurred because the leaker was already known.

FU Powell. I repeat FU COWARD. Armitage you are just a bottom feeder and the useful idiot to Powell.

I hope both of you are placed under the same scrutiny by our maker when your time comes. Let's see how you DIRTBAGS like it.

What also bothers me, what have Powell and Armitage gotten away with in the past during their careers? I doubt this was a one time event for these COWARDS.

[MikefromOhio]

He is a traitor to this country for his intentional silence that allowed a criminal investigation to go on for three years and allowing others to have their reputations smeared and in the case of Libby,......

If ever there was a case for the continual watering-down of the word "traitor" I give you this post......

What Powell and Armitage did was borderline illegal, but their silence just proves their characters. It doesn't mean that Powell is a traitor. Give me a friggin break. Get a grip will you?