Good points.
I get this vibe about Powell (beyond the obvious racial aspects, and things that are usually mentioned) that I’ve had when I’ve been around very Passive-Aggressive people. He’s not the kind of person who is out shouting his views, but he’s very, very opinionated and domineering, and he seems to have these lasting (unconscious) resentments.
It always has to be HIS way- even if you don’t realize that that’s what’s going on at the time because it’s so subtle. And if he doesn’t get HIS way, he’ll just knife you in the back at the most inopportune time (like he did to McCain). Very strange man.
(Sorry to wax all pop-psychology there...)
Pop Psychology aside, Colin Powell is and always was a product of affirmative action enabled by a very long list of RINO politicians including and in particular GWB. He is not a man conflicted by his principals. He is in the purist sense a political opportunist.