Powell Defends War, Says He Expected WMD [Powell Bashes Democrats!!!!]

Yahoo News ^ | February 11, 2004 | BARRY SCHWEID

[Howlin]

WASHINGTON - Under attack by House Democrats, Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said Wednesday he was surprised U.N. and American inspectors did not find storehouses of hidden weapons in Iraq (news - web sites).

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But Powell told the International Relations Committee that "we presented what we believed the truth to be at the time."

Powell testified that President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s apparent intent to develop and use weapons, his record of gassing his own people and his defiance of the United Nations (news - web sites) all were — and remain — valid reasons for going to war to overthrow him.

He said President Bush (news - web sites) and he had relied on intelligence provided by CIA (news - web sites) Director George Tenet, and the only serious question raised about the analysis since the war was whether Iraq had storehouses of weapons of mass destruction.

"I don't think anyone in America should think that President Bush cooked the books," Powell said.

"The reason we told you there were stockpiles there was because we believed it to be true," Powell said. "We were surprised when they did not turn up."

But Reps. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., Robert Melendez, D-N.J., Rep. Robert I Wexler, D-Fla., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, challenged Powell about the administration's case, suggesting it may have been misleading from the outset.

"Truth is the first casualty of war," Ackerman said. "I would contend truth was murdered before a shot was fired."

"We went into this war under false premises," Melendez said.

Wexler told Powell he considered him to be "the credible voice in the administration."

"When you reached the conclusion that Iraq represented a clear and present danger to the United States, that meant a lot to me," Wexler said. "But the facts suggest there was a part of the story that was not true."

Powell fielded the assertions calmly, defending the president's judgment and his own.

But when Brown contrasted Powell's military experience to Bush's record with the National Guard, saying the president "may have been AWOL" from duty, Powell exploded.

"First of all, Mr. Brown, I won't dignify your comments about the president because you don't know what you are talking about," Powell snapped.

"I'm sorry I don't know what you mean, Mr. Secretary," Brown replied.

"You made reference to the president," Powell shot back.

Brown then repeated his understanding that Bush may have been AWOL from guard duty.

"Mr. Brown, let's not go there," Powell retorted. "Let's not go there in this hearing. If you want to have a political fight on this matter, that is very controversial, and I think it is being dealt with by the White House, fine, but let's not go there."

Powell then went on to defend the Bush administration's assertions on Iraq's prewar weaponry. "We didn't make it up," Powell said. "It was information that reflected the views of analysts in all the various agencies."

But the dispute with Brown did not end.

"Are you shaking your head for something, young man?," Powell asked when he noticed an aide to Brown apparently disagreeing.

"I seldom come to a meeting when I'm talking to a congressman and I have people aligned behind you giving editorial comment by headshakes," Powell said.

Brown, defending his assistant, said "I think people have opinions."

Eager to move on, the committee chairman, Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., observed that "we're on a very emotional subject," but "we've been doing swimmingly until now."

[Howlin]

Go Get 'Em, Colin!!!!

[Howlin]

Take a look at these CREEPS, bringing up Bush's National Guard service during this hearing!

[Peach]

Just saw this on FNC. Disgraceful!!!!

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

HOO-ahhh! Looks like Colin's finally grown a pair! YEAH, baby! :)

[.cnI redruM]

People give Colin Powell short shrift sometimes, but he handled COngressMaggot Brown like a true professional.

[afropick]

Never underestimate the stupidity of the dems to not quit while they are ahead. I have my disagreements of Powell, but the dems messed with the wrong man.

[Ladysmith]

No doubt. Powell slapped him down hard! Atta-boy, Powell!

[anniegetyourgun]

The lib/dems still haven't figured out that they are dealing with adults.

[EllaMinnow]

Sherrod Brown

[cyncooper]

Brit played this exchange a bit ago on his show. My jaw dropped (why? I haven't a clue. nothing should shock me anymore) when I heard and saw this pissant smugly say this to Powell.

Powell was LIVID and put that punk in his place.

I was hoping someone would post this. Thank YOU.

[anniegetyourgun]

waddaweenie

[jmstein7]

Go Colin!

[Alissa]

I saw it on Britt Hume's show. Powell was mad - I've never seen him like this before.

[EllaMinnow]

Gary Ackerman with friends

[McGavin999]

You should have seen him, he was so angry he was actually shaking. If that man would have said one more word I think Powell would have been over the table and at his throat. The dems have no idea what they are messing with here.

[Howlin]

Who is that ass?

[Ingtar]

They want it brought up in as many official proceedings as possible. That way, when called on the lie, they can say, "but official documents say that he was AWOL."

[spookycc]

I've never seen this side of Powell. Wish we'd see it more often.

[mass55th]

Mr. Brown needs to teach his aides some manners. You might not agree with what's being said, but you damn well better show respect for the age, rank and reputation of the speaker. What low lifes these Democrats are.

[Howlin]

That's where I saw it, too. Then I went looking for a news article, thinking I wouldn't find one.

Lo and behold.