Powell says world should recognise Iraq at civil war

Reuters ^ | 29 Nov 2006 | Reuters

[Mo1]

DUBAI, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday Iraq had descended into civil war and urged world leaders to accept that "reality".

Powell's remarks came ahead of a meeting between Bush and Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki in the Jordanian capital to discuss the security developments in Iraq.

"I would call it a civil war," Powell told a business forum in the United Arab Emirates. "I have been using it (civil war) because I like to face the reality," added Powell.

He said world leaders should acknowledge Iraq was in civil war.

Powell outlined the case against Iraq at the U.N. Security Council ahead of the war, which was based broadly on intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

President George W. Bush denied on Tuesday that sectarian violence had reached the scale of civil war. He said the latest wave of violence was part of a nine-month-old pattern of attacks by al Qaeda militants aimed at fomenting sectarian tension.

Bush and Maliki are scheduled to hold crisis talks on Wednesday and Thursday.

Bush is under growing pressure to find a new policy to curb sectarian strife in Iraq and to secure an exit for 140,000 U.S. troops.

Powell, speaking at a world leaders forum in Dubai, said Washington should adopt a more balanced policy towards Iraq's political parties and sects to avoid marginalising Sunni Muslims.

"We have to accept what all Iraqis accept, not to end up seeing a Shi'ite-dominated regime," he said.

However, Powell said troops had to continue their job in Iraq until their mission is done, but not to remain too long.

"The coming strategy has to be an Iraqi strategy, not American strategy," said Powell.

[rightinthemiddle]

Gosh, will the MSM cover this one?

[sappy]

soon he'll be toasting with Kim Jung Il

[RexBeach]

I wonder how much General Powell received for speaking at that forum in Dubai?

[frogjerk]

Now that Global Warming, Iraq-in-Civil-War and the Recession have been certifiably proved by the MSM, what is next?

[OldFriend]

Already been on the cables. How I hate that traitorous bastard.

He allowed Scooter Libby to twist in the wind, he backstabbed the President. GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[RightWhale]

"I have been using it (civil war) because I like to face the reality," added Powell.

Series, Mr Pragmatic?

If anything it's a religious gang-turf war. Reality.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Recent photograph of Colin Powell:

[claptrap]

Iraqs strong eastern neighbor has other plans for the
Iraqis, maybe Mr Powell should just stick to schmoozing
with the little tin pots in Dubai hes lucky they havent made him a houseboy by now.

[angkor]

NBC, MSNBC 11/27/06 - We will now say that Iraq is in a civil war.
Jimmy Carter 11/27/06 - Iraq is not in a civil war.
Colin Powell 11/28/06 - Iraq is in a civil war.

[FreedomNeocon]

He did more that 'allow' scooter to twist in the wind... directly CAUSED it by telling Armitage to not tell anyone else that he was the 'source'.

He just flat out stabbed the President in the face, not in the back. (IMO Powell wanted 'payback' for making him give the Iraq WMD presentation at the UN... which he reluctantly agreed to after the Fwench sandbagged him on the issue a few days earlier.

[RedRover]

And we should listen to Powell because...?

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Semantics, and the White House would do well not to get caught up in arguing the term "civil war" - opponents of the Iraq war, including the MSM, will not be dissuaded from using the term and it only adds to the perception that the situation in Iraq is growing out of our control.

I certainly don't know what the solution there is at this point - as someone who knows nothing about military strategy, it seems to me that the US should conduct military operations to prevent Iranian meddling in Iraq, completely destroy Muqtada al-Sadr and his followers, conduct massive operations to find and destroy Sunni al-Qaeda troublemakers - in short, be far more aggressive militarily in Iraq and against it's neighbors. But I can't see that happening and for all I know it'd make matters worse.

[Tarpon]

Disgraced former Sectary of state Powell never was much good for anything. My guess is he is trying to make up for his alleged lying at the UN. He never was Bush's secretary, Rice makes him look like the fool he was. He is definitely trying to make amends to the Washington press corp here. What a fool.



More here The Iraqi government has been at it for less than a year and is slowly gaining in the control of their country from bloodthirsty terrorists.

My guess is the civil war meme is to sub in for the no WMDs in Iraq one after the goal posts got moved 10 times. So this is the next big lie. The fact that Iraq was on the verge of having nuclear weapons in 2003, or could start chemical weapons production in months, is of no concern to those with a political agenda instead of the best interests of America in mind.

I never have understood the hate America mindset, must be something in the water liberals drink.

[massgopguy]

Hey Colon. They're Iranians.

[Ilky Hucktar]

If I remember right, Powell was one of the loudest voices to stop the 91 war in Iraq because the Highway of Death might be too unpleasant for the world's sophisticats to contemplate. Result was many thousands died, Kurds in the north due to nerve agents, southern swamps drained in order to kill the inhabitants there, not to mention the rape rooms, plastic shredders, and so on. If I had been partly responsible for that, I'd be shamed into silence.

[CottShop]

and to think America was thinking of having this turncoat run for president. He wants it declared civil war because he knows the public will be more forceful in their opposition thinking that we should retreat and let the Iraqis fight it out htemselves. Good going powell- you've now joined the ranks of Newt & others who can't stand by their principles to help othjers! http://sacredscoop.com

[Cicero]

Powell went over to the dark side long since. He knew Armitage was behind the whole Plame affair, but he let it stew for three years.

[woofie]

Im not sure but I think we need to accept that Democracy is also a failure

[SeaBiscuit]

Hey Powell, THIS is a Civil War.