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‘It wouldn’t have worked’: Colin Powell balked at telling George W. Bush not to invade Iraq
washingtonexaminer ^ | 01/14/2020 | Joel Gehrke

Posted on 01/15/2020 6:47:03 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27

When President George W. Bush asked Colin Powell if the United States should invade Iraq in 2003 and overthrow dictator Saddam Hussein, the secretary of state and former general refused to give a straight answer.

“I didn’t say to him, ‘I oppose this war,’” Powell says in a book published today about U.S. foreign policy after the Cold War. “Because it wouldn’t have worked.”

That admission sheds light on Bush’s decision to launch the war that defined his presidency. Powell acknowledged his muted opposition in James Mann’s new book, The Great Rift, an account of how Powell’s rivalry with Vice President Dick Cheney “defined an era.”

A longtime journalist whose reporting credentials include the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post, Mann, 74, has written bestselling and award-winning books, including Rise of the Vulcans: A History of Bush’s War Cabinet. In this latest work, he shows how the friendship between Powell and Cheney turned to enmity and how the conflict between them shaped America's place in the world and its internal political debates.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: California; War on Terror; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bush; california; colinpowell; dickcheney; invade; iraq; jamesmann; liesaftertheevent; nancypelosi; powell; saddamhussein; thegreatrift; waronterror
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1 posted on 01/15/2020 6:47:03 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27
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To: ChicagoConservative27

He is such a liar. I don’t recall him bitching when 41 invaded Iraq.


2 posted on 01/15/2020 6:47:33 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Colin Powell always did his best Step ‘N Fetchit routine while working for the white globalists, didn’t he?


3 posted on 01/15/2020 6:51:11 AM PST by Alberta's Child (In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Riiight. And I bet he was balking while giving his fake presentation.


4 posted on 01/15/2020 6:51:11 AM PST by libh8er
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To: ChicagoConservative27

What a crap-weasel.


5 posted on 01/15/2020 6:52:16 AM PST by sevlex
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To: ChicagoConservative27

“He is such a liar. I don’t recall him bitching when 41 invaded Iraq”

Post facto facto interview, he did tell 41 that if he broke it he would buy it.


6 posted on 01/15/2020 6:52:50 AM PST by Clutch Martin (The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Powell was always a very political general.


7 posted on 01/15/2020 6:53:10 AM PST by Wuli
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Glad he never got to a higher position in govt since he states he cannot do what is right in a situation and take the heat, but appeases instead.


8 posted on 01/15/2020 6:53:33 AM PST by b4me (God Bless the USA)
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To: ChicagoConservative27
...former general refused to give a straight answer.

Moral cowardice is a strange thing to brag about.

9 posted on 01/15/2020 6:54:09 AM PST by pgyanke (Republicans get in trouble when not living up to their principles. Democrats... when they do.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Colon Blow Powell can STFU and get bent.

Some one post the story about how the greatest general ever lost his side arm and its just ok cause we is all just humans tyrin to get along........


10 posted on 01/15/2020 6:54:10 AM PST by Delta 21 (Be strong & prosper, be weak & die! Stay true.... ~~ Donald J. Trump)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Love it that Trump’s criticism brings these people (Kerry, Susan rice, Bowell..) out of the woodwork to defend themselves.


11 posted on 01/15/2020 6:55:00 AM PST by libh8er
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To: ChicagoConservative27
He and Biden are buddies.


12 posted on 01/15/2020 6:58:18 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a Simple Manner for a Happy Life :o)
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To: Wuli

“””””Powell was always a very political general.”””””””

Clearly put on display as he ran after hussein obama kissing his ass for a job.

I never could stand the affirmative action guy.


13 posted on 01/15/2020 6:58:25 AM PST by shelterguy
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To: ChicagoConservative27
Perhaps GEN Powell can author a new book: "Profiles in Pusillanimity" 
14 posted on 01/15/2020 6:58:52 AM PST by Ozymandias Ghost
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To: libh8er

Powell is a back stabbing traitor. He showed his true colors when endorsed Obongo to be CIC twice. He knew what Barack would do to the military.


15 posted on 01/15/2020 6:58:58 AM PST by gibsonguy
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Actually Mr Powell the last 30 years of endless ME war lie at your doorstep

If you not had a hissy fit and demanded the end of Gulf War 1 prematurely we could of finished the job then and turned Iraq over to the UN. Instead we ended the traditional US policy of “Over the Horizon” posture and, for the 1st time, permanently based US troop in the ME.

It was that disastrous error by you Mr Powell that lead to everything that has followed 09-11, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya Syria Al Queda, Isis....


16 posted on 01/15/2020 7:01:52 AM PST by MNJohnnie (They would have abandon leftism to achieve sanity. Freeper Olog-hai)
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To: ChicagoConservative27
Good thing he wasn't in command during WWII. Our troops would still be preparing to cross The English Channel.

"Gosh. I don't know if this will work, guys. I mean, somebody could get hurt, Hitler might shoot back, our guys might get wet. Any number of things could go wrong. Look at those waves. Some of our guys might get seasick. I just. I don't know. I just. Gahhhh. I don't know. Let's wait. Let's wait."

17 posted on 01/15/2020 7:01:57 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

MANY lost ALL respect for Powell when he endorsed a 1/2 black man because of the color of his skin, ignoring the content of his character.


18 posted on 01/15/2020 7:04:56 AM PST by The Truth Will Make You Free
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Powell’s actions only provided my skepticism support about blacks in the Republican Party. When comes down to politics or race, most choose race. I don’t care how much the right courts the blacks, they, in ignorance and prejudice, will vote Democrat or support one of their own race over the one that shares the same ethos, religion, and aspirations. Most blacks wish us dead or in concentration camps.


19 posted on 01/15/2020 7:08:56 AM PST by vetvetdoug
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To: Alberta's Child

Powell (again) identified himself as a deep state apparatchik cuck.

Just what every President needs! An advisor who hides his true thoughts, goes along to get along, and has no spine or moral compass that requires him to speak out on important issues!


20 posted on 01/15/2020 7:09:46 AM PST by PGR88
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