Hawks, doves on Hill praise Powell's speech

The Washington Times ^ | February 6, 2003 | Stephen Dinan

[Indy Pendance]

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell's speech to the United Nations yesterday won nearly unanimous praise on Capitol Hill, but didn't change many minds.

The speech was further proof for those convinced Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is in material breach of U.N. resolutions. Sen. Richard G. Lugar, Indiana Republican and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Mr. Powell presented "absolute proof of evasion and deception by the Iraqi government," while Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican, said after the speech that the United Nations has "days not months" to disarm Saddam.

[SpinyNorman]

But Mr. Powell's speech didn't sway those who still want more time for inspections. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, said the case for war still has not been made.

"Before going to war, we must exhaust all alternatives, such as the continuation of inspections, diplomacy and the leverage provided by the threat of military action," she said.

Yeah, lets wait another 12 years, Nancy!! What could possibly happen in that time? (Why does her face look like a deathmask?)

And Rep. Jim McDermott, Washington Democrat, said Mr. Powell's presentation was a good "political speech."

Well hell's bells, Jihad Jim is pretty cozy with Saddam, so he MUST know what he is talking about! Where is your butt-buddy, Bonior?

Anyone hear from Daschole?

[ProudGOP]

Hans Blix last night had already discounted at least four of the things he put up there, on the basis of leaks of the speech."

First I've heard of that. I wish he could have elaborated.

[Piquaboy]

Teddy Kennedy is sticking with the French way of thinking.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I watched Joe Biden on CSPAM last night. If you didn't see the "D" after his name, you'd think you were listening to someone in the administration.

Biden is a cold-eyed realist, he didn't say one thing that I could quibble with. He knows where going to war and he can articulate exactly why.

He made one good point on preemption. He says this isn't preemption, it's enforcement of the 1991 peace agreement. Big difference and good point.

He feels that we will need a lot of international help with the nation-building phase which he thinks will be long and difficult.

He wants to get as much of the world on board and signed up to the largest extent possible - it can only help later on.

He says he might have handled things differently at various points but he says "we are where we are" so we have to proceed on that basis.

He is very careful in what he says and what he attributes to others.

When did this guy grow a pair? He used to be a typical spinelss democrat. He has certainly increased in stature in my view.

[cajungirl]

You know, all this praise of Powell has a little dig at the PResident in it,,like Powell is credible, Powell is a leader, Powell is believable and Bush isn't. It is getting on my nerves. Powell relayed to the UN what our intelligence found out and what the Pres has known all along. Powell is the messenger and is credible because he is a dove. Bush is not credible because he is a war monger. The truth is Bush grasped all of this on 911 and Powell is one gene away from being French. Bush is the great leader here, not powell.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

You are, of course, right. However, politics is a pretty messy business, involving all sorts of compromises and personal relationships etc. etc. To prosecute WWII Churchill had to sit down with Roosevelt and Stalin! Churchill said he would deal with the devil if it would help to defeat Hitler (and he obviously proved it). In the end, all that really matters is getting done what you need to get done. You do what you have to do, and that is what Bush is doing right now.

[CedarDave]

Bush is the genius here. He understood what type of diplomat was needed at State and selected Powell, even though he had no clue what was coming. In hindsight, that selection, along with Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Condi has made our team the best that ever could be hoped for. Though we frequently critize Powell here, he serves at the pleasure of the President who would not keep him if he did not reflect the President's view. And, yes, I'm tired of the way the press is praising Powell and by insinuation bashing Bush. But I bet that its bothering us more than it bothers Bush.

[SierraWasp]

Bulletin on http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com...

11:29AM Powell: US would welcome new UN resolution by Rex Nutting

The United States believes it has sufficient authority to launch an attack on Iraq under existing UN resolutions, but would welcome another vote at the Security Council if that's what it takes to get other powers to support the U.S., Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday. In testimony at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Powell said he believes the other members of the Security Council are realizing that Iraqi deception and development of weapons cannot go on indefinitely. More inspectors, as suggested by France and Germany, would help only if Iraq changes its attitude and becomes more cooperative, Powell said. The end game will come in a matter of weeks, he said.

[ejdrapes]

And, yes, I'm tired of the way the press is praising Powell and by insinuation bashing Bush. But I bet that its bothering us more than it bothers Bush.

You're right. But it's not Powell's fault that the media RATS are doing this. As you say he's serving at the pleasure of the President and carrying out the President's wishes. I doubt he's out there trying to one-up the President or outshine him in anyway. He's just doing is job, and right now a damn fine job of it too. I'd much prefer the RATS to be praising Powell than not (even if it gives the appearance of bashing Bush) because by doing that it will ultimately work in Bush's favor and increase his popularity, which is what the most recent polling data is showing.