Yet

Iraq is next, the actual planning hasn't been done by the politicians. Iraq must be next!

  I've had my doubts from the beginning that we'd deal with Iraq this war. Bush is going to great lengths- too great maybe, to build a coalition. I think he'll go to great lengths to keep it together too, and that means avoiding the impression that we're exclusively picking on Muslim peoples. The only problem is, Islamic radicals are by far the most common ingredient in terrorism.

Powell worries me 'seriously, in any serious way'.

In my opinion and the entire State Dept. is the weakest link in our President's armor. There are other weak links like keeping Tenet at the helm of CIA. How could that man not resign in shame; it's beyond me. What exactly did the CIA spend its money on?

Inany case, why do we have to reassure the Egyptians about anything? Have they done something for us lately? Their government controlled newspapers bash the US with glee; we need to reassure them? Maybe they need to prove to us that they are really on board? No. We musn't offend Muslim states because they represent peaceand all that is good. The Great Satan America must go around to Muslims proving that it's not such a big Satan, we have our good points too.

What exactly did the CIA spend its money on?

Detoxification programs for its employees.

Powell's a Commie rat spy who speaks Russian and is probably a russian commie agent based out of Mosckow. Bush should demote him. This is the last straw.

Arabs are whackos. Arabs are capable of strapping bombs on their backs or flying airliners into tall buildings. But, in fact, they are not tough. They do not know how to sustain their efforts. And they are, in fact, the ultimate appeasers. They will accept today's promise not to attack Iraq and at some time in the future, after Iraq is attacked, they will, in the vast disorganized muddle that is the Arab world, stand ready to be accept more promises once again. They'll bluster, they'll scream, they'll fight amongst each other, they'll wail and rail against the west and they'll spin around like the dervish-brains they are. And yes, some of them will strap on suicide bombs. As they always do and always will. No matter what the cause of causelessness of the moment. But in fact, the vast majority will do nothing more or less than they always do, which is whine, whimper and simper in cowardice and depend on the whacko's among them to "get even".

America, do not worry about what promises Powell might make to the Arabs. He's blowin' smoke. And yes, the Arabs do inhale.

I have to agree. It seems like the plan is first Afganistan, with maybe a cooling off period so that we can settle things down there and make sure we have the government we want there, then Iraq.

I have little doubt that the government will move against Iraq, especially when the American people will be strongly in favor (they are right now, with little evidence of Iraqi involvement; if any real proof comes along, the American people will demand Saddam's head, and the U.S. government will give it to them).

Colin Powell is telling the truth and lying at the same time, something a diplomat is supposed to do.

I would not expect a former 'officer and gentleman' to become a glib liar. Makes one wonder about his past.

"...Powell worries me 'seriously, in any serious way'..."

He's a loose cannon at this point in his career.

He's always been one to split the difference, to curry favor, to find the safe middle ground, to stay near an exit, whenever possible.

He doesn't seem to be a bad person, but he IS a mediocre one.

Give him a gold watch and a pension and send him home... The sooner the better.

"Abigail, do you favor the United States Army abolishing the affirmative-action program that produced Colin Powell? Yes or no. Yes or no." (Bill Clinton, Akron Town Hall, 12/97)

HELL YES!

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell reassured Egyptians in an interview broadcast yesterday that the United States was not planning attacks on Iraq.

If the art of war is deception, either Powell is lying and that is good, or else he is being a total idiot. Somehow I think it is the latter. Thankfuly he is not president.

We are not currently planning how to take Iraq because those plans are already in the can. When listening to the language of diplomacy, once must parse words carefully.

America, do not worry about what promises Powell might make to the Arabs. He's blowin' smoke.

Then he's a very good actor because he has me convinced he's either anti-American or a total fool. I'd like to know what he's been inhaling...

No less than Norman Schwarzkopf was quoted as saying Powell is a political genius but has no stomach for war. Any man who rises to the top of the military without being a warrior was helped along by politicians.

America, do not worry about what promises Powell might make to the Arabs. He's blowin' smoke

I agree. There is no reason for anyone to announce that we are going to attack Iraq...Until we are ready to do it.

Arabs are fundamentally stupid. Tell them what they want to hear, then smash them to smithereens when you get around to it. They'll never notice the contradiction.

Here they go again. I'm taking names this time around.