Colin Powell: Planning for an Exit

Time ^ | 9/1/02 | MASSIMO CALABRESI

[Bonaparte]

"He [Powell], and General Schwarzkopf, were ordered to halt operations by GW Bush's father."

Here's the story I heard.

Powell dismissed intelligence that warned of an impending invasion of Kuwait. He also came out in opposition to sending a few ships into the Gulf as deterrent. When Saddam invaded, Powell still opposed our intervention. Quote: "The American people do not want their young dying for $1.50-a-gallon oil." When the Iraqi army was defeated, he convinced Bush that we had accomplished our objective and that Saddam could now be reasoned with and controlled through UN inspections -- no need to displace him.

[YaYa123]

An AP reporter this morning, on FOX&Friends reminded us how few Secretaries stay for 2 terms, also said if Powell were really disgruntled, he could resign immediately. Here's a list of 20th Century Secretaries of State, note how few 2 termers there are. Of course, CNN leads the news every 1/2 hour with Time's scoop that Powell won't stay for a second term.

JOHN HAY, 1898-1905
ELIHU ROOT, 1905-1909
ROBERT BACON, 1909
PHILANDER C. KNOX, 1909-1913
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN, 1913-1915
ROBERT LANSING, 1915-1920
BAINBRIDGE COLBY, 1920-1921
CHARLES EVANS HUGHES, 1921-1925
FRANK B. KELLOGG, 1925-1929
HENRY LEWIS STIMSON, 1929-1933
CORDELL HULL, 1933-1944
EDWARD R.STETTINIUS, JR., 1944-1945
JAMES F. BYRNES, 1945-1947
GEORGE C. MARSHALL, 1947-1949
DEAN G. ACHESON, 1949-1953
JOHN FOSTER DULLES, 1953-1959
CHRISTIAN A. HERTER, 1959-1961
DEAN RUSK, 1961-1969
WILLIAM P. ROGERS 1969-1973
HENRY A. KISSINGER, 1973-1977
CYRUS VANCE, 1977-1980
EDMUND SIXTUS MUSKIE, 1980-1981
ALEXANDER MEIGS HAIG, JR., 1981-1982
GEORGE P. SHULTZ, 1982-1989
JAMES ADDISON BAKER, III, 1989-1992
LAWRENCE S. EAGLEBURGER,1992-1993
WARREN M. CHRISTOPHER, 1993-1997
MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT, 1997-2001
COLIN L. POWELL, 2001-

[blam]

USS Jallao (SS-368), New London.

[joyful1]

I think, in his heart, he loathes Republicans and probably regrets being a part of it.

In his heart he is probably a true blue liberal, left wing Democrat like over 90 percent of the celebrity/media elite.

[carpio]

You are a wonderful example of why I advocate holding a library card as a requirement for posting priveliges here.

Pure uninformed bunk at it's loud mouthed worst.

[carpio]

I love how all these stories have quotes from unnamed sources. It would be nice if the media reported "real" news, rather than all this gossip they helped to create. And all these stories referring to Powell as the moderate dove (i.e. good guy) and Cheney and Rumsfeld as the hard-line hawks (i.e. bad guys) is getting old. If these guys were such "hawks", just itching for war, would not Iraq be a parking lot right now?

8 posted on 9/1/02 7:14 AM Mountain by ejdrapes

Such a percptive remark well bears repeating. [

[onedoug]

He told the pungi story to, I think, to a school group. I think my reservations about him though, are well founded.

Everything Good.

[onedoug]

"...holding a library card...."

I've got mine!

[sneakypete]

He told the pungi story to, I think, to a school group

Maybe he did tell it,but that doesn't mean he was teling the truth. He got it during his second tour as a staff officer,and staff officers don't go anywhere that pungi stakes were likely to be found.

BTW,he was also caught lying and playing the race card during the 96 elections,when he made the old "no room at the inn" claim about him and his wife in the south of the 1960's.

[Bonaparte]

"I think, in his heart, he loathes Republicans..."

Gotta wonder what else he might loathe. Hint: Who refused to provide AC-130 gunship backup to our men in Somalia, thereby condemning 19 of them to die? Who did this strictly to please Les Aspen and his congressional allies? Right. Colin Powell.

[Bonaparte]

That purple heart is got for the "punji stick" incident is questionable. It was not combat-related -- just like the bronze star he was given for helping some men out of their helicopter in another non-combat-related incident. If he ever saves somebody's picnic from ants, he'll probably get a MOH.

[sneakypete]

That purple heart is got for the "punji stick" incident is questionable. It was not combat-related --

It's not questionable at all if he really was injured by a punji stick. LOTS of VN vets got wounded by these things in VN while on combat patrols. The thing is I SERIOUSLY doubt "Cautious Colin" ever went on a combat patrol,much less was wounded on one. Like I wrote earlier,even the Vietnamese he was a advisor to never put him in for a SINGLE valor award,and it was in their best interest to do this because they needed the American advisors feeling friendly towards them because they needed our money and equipment to survive. Powell is the ONLY oficer or NCO I ever heard of that didn't get ANYTHING from them,and I must have known hundreds.

Since he didn't get the PH during his first tour with the SVN Army,he MUST have gotten it during his second tour as a REMF staff officer. REMF staff officers don't go on combat patrols,so he most likely got it for the helicopter accident. To be fair to him,he surely isn't the only field grade officer who got a PH for a non-combat injury in VN. This was more common than most people think. They didn't see combat or get a chance to earn medals,so many took any opportunity that came their way to put themselves in for something. Or have a friend put them in for it for them. I know of one PH that was given for a sprained ankle.

just like the bronze star he was given for helping some men out of their helicopter in another non-combat-related incident.

No,he got the "Soldier's Medal" for that. It is a non-combat award,and it is the only award he ever received for bravery. He got the Bronze Star for "Meritirious Service",not for valor. Without the "V-device" (for valor), the BS medal given to a officer or NCO is basically thanking them for being there and not stealing all the paper clips. It's a "atta-boy,it was nice knowing and working with you" award. When it's given with the "V-device",it is for courage under enemy fire.

[A CA Guy]

There was perhaps Affirmative Action regarding some of his awards?
Why am I not that surprised?

Next will find out he has dual citizenship with the USA & France!

[God is good]

he will step down at the end of President Bush’s current term

Why wait that long? Leave ASAP.