[pgkdan]

I hope your analysis proves to be correct. Everyday I read something that Powell says that totally sets me off and I have to remind myself that he is President Bush's SOS, not a freelance and Bush is a good man who can be trusted. I believe that the coalition exists for expediency only...it's not born of a shared set of values, morals and beliefs. We'll see what the future holds.

That being said...there is no honor in abandoning Israel, and I'll scream like a banshee any time I think we're heading down that road. Israel is one of our most faithful ally and should be treated as such.

[sobieski]

We don't have allies, we have interests. Serbia was a staunch ally - fought the Nazis, broke away from the Soviets. They were our allies until it was no longer in our interests. As long as Israel does what we want, we'll protect them.

[Sabertooth]

Powell sets my teeth on edge, too. But we've got State and Defense. Good Cop and bad cop.

And I think I like the idea of a black general being SoS. It's gotta keep the enemy scratching their heads.

Consider this, too. Having Powell make the kinds of noises he does will possibly give the Arabs on the fence someone they can deal with without losing face to the "street."