[HairOfTheDog]

Powell has been a relative dove, and one tending to pursue his own agenda.

You seem to not understand the role of Secretary of State. His JOB is maintaining diplomacy and keeping communication open with the other side until the minute the president decides diplomacy will not work anymore. Powell is the "good cop"... the one that can still get a seat at any table. We need a "good cop" and a "bad cop" in international relations... and Dubya has both in Powell and Rumsfeld.

Powell is performing the job that has been given to him, with the full blessing of the president. How many times does Bush have to say that?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The role of the Secretary of State is to carry out the foreign policy of the United States as established by the President. It is not to be a "good cop" if that is not what the President wants him to be.

W is too gracious and too smart to criticize Powell publicly. But I believe that behind the scenes Powell's second-guessing is a source of frustration and anger.