Good for Powell. I was annoyed with his 'good cop' routine in the UN but he IS after all the SoS. And he was willing and able to admit when he was wrong and come around.
Powell still has a shot at being president one day if he's not too old in 2008.
I believe Powell's approach was strategized by the Administration. He probably brought a lot of people into the fold who trusted him, rather than Bush.
Now these people are behind Bush too. Good strategy.