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Powell Defends War, Says He Expected WMD [Powell Bashes Democrats!!!!]
Yahoo News ^
| February 11, 2004
| BARRY SCHWEID
Posted on 02/11/2004 3:55:02 PM PST by Howlin
WASHINGTON - Under attack by House Democrats, Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said Wednesday he was surprised U.N. and American inspectors did not find storehouses of hidden weapons in Iraq (news - web sites).
But Powell told the International Relations Committee that "we presented what we believed the truth to be at the time."
Powell testified that President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s apparent intent to develop and use weapons, his record of gassing his own people and his defiance of the United Nations (news - web sites) all were and remain valid reasons for going to war to overthrow him.
He said President Bush (news - web sites) and he had relied on intelligence provided by CIA (news - web sites) Director George Tenet, and the only serious question raised about the analysis since the war was whether Iraq had storehouses of weapons of mass destruction.
"I don't think anyone in America should think that President Bush cooked the books," Powell said.
"The reason we told you there were stockpiles there was because we believed it to be true," Powell said. "We were surprised when they did not turn up."
But Reps. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., Robert Melendez, D-N.J., Rep. Robert I Wexler, D-Fla., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, challenged Powell about the administration's case, suggesting it may have been misleading from the outset.
"Truth is the first casualty of war," Ackerman said. "I would contend truth was murdered before a shot was fired."
"We went into this war under false premises," Melendez said.
Wexler told Powell he considered him to be "the credible voice in the administration."
"When you reached the conclusion that Iraq represented a clear and present danger to the United States, that meant a lot to me," Wexler said. "But the facts suggest there was a part of the story that was not true."
Powell fielded the assertions calmly, defending the president's judgment and his own.
But when Brown contrasted Powell's military experience to Bush's record with the National Guard, saying the president "may have been AWOL" from duty, Powell exploded.
"First of all, Mr. Brown, I won't dignify your comments about the president because you don't know what you are talking about," Powell snapped.
"I'm sorry I don't know what you mean, Mr. Secretary," Brown replied.
"You made reference to the president," Powell shot back.
Brown then repeated his understanding that Bush may have been AWOL from guard duty.
"Mr. Brown, let's not go there," Powell retorted. "Let's not go there in this hearing. If you want to have a political fight on this matter, that is very controversial, and I think it is being dealt with by the White House, fine, but let's not go there."
Powell then went on to defend the Bush administration's assertions on Iraq's prewar weaponry. "We didn't make it up," Powell said. "It was information that reflected the views of analysts in all the various agencies."
But the dispute with Brown did not end.
"Are you shaking your head for something, young man?," Powell asked when he noticed an aide to Brown apparently disagreeing.
"I seldom come to a meeting when I'm talking to a congressman and I have people aligned behind you giving editorial comment by headshakes," Powell said.
Brown, defending his assistant, said "I think people have opinions."
Eager to move on, the committee chairman, Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., observed that "we're on a very emotional subject," but "we've been doing swimmingly until now."
TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: awol; henryhyde; powell; wmd
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Go Get 'Em, Colin!!!!
1
posted on
02/11/2004 3:55:03 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: 1Mike; 3catsanadog; ~Vor~; ~Kim4VRWC's~; A CA Guy; A Citizen Reporter; abner; Aeronaut; AFPhys; ...
Take a look at these CREEPS, bringing up Bush's National Guard service during this hearing!
2
posted on
02/11/2004 3:56:33 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: Howlin
Just saw this on FNC. Disgraceful!!!!
3
posted on
02/11/2004 3:57:45 PM PST
by
Peach
(The Clintons have pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
To: Howlin
HOO-ahhh! Looks like Colin's finally grown a pair! YEAH, baby! :)
4
posted on
02/11/2004 3:58:49 PM PST
by
KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
("The Clintons have damaged our country. They have done it together, in unison." -- Peggy Noonan)
To: Howlin
People give Colin Powell short shrift sometimes, but he handled COngressMaggot Brown like a true professional.
5
posted on
02/11/2004 3:58:54 PM PST
by
.cnI redruM
(Vae victis! - [woe to the vanquished].)
To: Howlin
Never underestimate the stupidity of the dems to not quit while they are ahead. I have my disagreements of Powell, but the dems messed with the wrong man.
6
posted on
02/11/2004 4:00:31 PM PST
by
afropick
(been off the dem plantation since 1999 and havent looked back!!!!)
To: Peach
No doubt. Powell slapped him down hard! Atta-boy, Powell!
7
posted on
02/11/2004 4:01:29 PM PST
by
Ladysmith
To: Howlin
The lib/dems still haven't figured out that they are dealing with adults.
To: Howlin
Sherrod Brown
9
posted on
02/11/2004 4:04:04 PM PST
by
EllaMinnow
(If you want to send a message, call Western Union.)
To: Howlin
Brit played this exchange a bit ago on his show. My jaw dropped (why? I haven't a clue. nothing should shock me anymore) when I heard and saw this pissant smugly say this to Powell.
Powell was LIVID and put that punk in his place.
I was hoping someone would post this. Thank YOU.
To: redlipstick
waddaweenie
To: Howlin
Go Colin!
12
posted on
02/11/2004 4:05:33 PM PST
by
jmstein7
(Real Men Don't Need Chunks of Government Metal on Their Chests to be Heroes)
To: Peach
I saw it on Britt Hume's show. Powell was mad - I've never seen him like this before.
13
posted on
02/11/2004 4:05:46 PM PST
by
Alissa
To: Howlin
Gary Ackerman with friends
14
posted on
02/11/2004 4:06:10 PM PST
by
EllaMinnow
(If you want to send a message, call Western Union.)
To: Howlin
You should have seen him, he was so angry he was actually shaking. If that man would have said one more word I think Powell would have been over the table and at his throat. The dems have no idea what they are messing with here.
15
posted on
02/11/2004 4:06:27 PM PST
by
McGavin999
(Evil thrives when good men do nothing!)
To: redlipstick
Who is that ass?
16
posted on
02/11/2004 4:06:30 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: anniegetyourgun
They want it brought up in as many official proceedings as possible. That way, when called on the lie, they can say, "but official documents say that he was AWOL."
17
posted on
02/11/2004 4:06:33 PM PST
by
Ingtar
(Understanding is a three-edged sword : your side, my side, and the truth in between ." -- Kosh)
To: cyncooper
I've never seen this side of Powell. Wish we'd see it more often.
18
posted on
02/11/2004 4:06:44 PM PST
by
spookycc
(Never forgive! Never forget!)
To: Howlin
Mr. Brown needs to teach his aides some manners. You might not agree with what's being said, but you damn well better show respect for the age, rank and reputation of the speaker. What low lifes these Democrats are.
19
posted on
02/11/2004 4:07:00 PM PST
by
mass55th
To: cyncooper
That's where I saw it, too. Then I went looking for a news article, thinking I wouldn't find one.
Lo and behold.
20
posted on
02/11/2004 4:07:17 PM PST
by
Howlin
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