Powell Defends War, Says He Expected WMD [Powell Bashes Democrats!!!!]

Yahoo News ^ | February 11, 2004 | BARRY SCHWEID

[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).

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Latest headlines:

·	Pentagon: 3 Months in Iraq Cost $14B AP - 9 minutes ago

·	Red Cross Confident It Will See Saddam AP - 25 minutes ago

·	Powell denies truth "murdered" in run-up to Iraq war AFP - 50 minutes ago

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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."

[prairiebreeze]

NUMBER THREE?????

sheesh they scare the crap out of me.

Prairie

[BigSkyFreeper]

That eliminates everything else, unless the economy tanks from now until November. Just today, as the Dems like to say, "the worst economy since Herbert Hoover", was over 100 points on the Dow, and hit a new 2 1/2 year high. No wonder the Dems have Bush's ANG records under scrutiny, it's all they have left to campaign on without ticking off the Bush haters who comprise their base.

[cyncooper]

Hit piece in New Yorker on Halliburton by none other than Jane Mayer.

She links Halliburton to .......are you ready?

Saddam

Hardball now.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The press got what they asked for, but they want more.

[afropick]

The next thing they going to ask for is when GWB logged in the times he took a leak back in 72-73.

[Peach]

She links Halliburton to Saddam? Huh?

The left is so out there that I don't think we even live on the same planet anymore.

[cyncooper]

Aha, Chris Matthews says something fishy about Halliburton getting all of these contracts.

Even Jane tells him they're the only company able to do the job.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Just heard that Dick Morris thinks President Bush will be regarded historically as the most successful one term president ever.

Wow. This is good news. Dick Morris' brains are connected to his toes. ~~~ When was the last time in the past three years he's gotten anything right?!

George Walker Bush will be the most successful TWO term president ever!

[BigSkyFreeper]

When they're talking about Halliburton, they're going after Cheney. Two pronged attack, Halliburton and the ANG.

[sarasmom]

NBC aired it also.
Way cool!
Some people dislike Colin Powell,probably because he cant say what we all want him to say, the "diplomacy" thing I guess.
To me,that just ups his ratings.
Former Generals dont usually act like emotional loose canons in public,Wesley Clark being one of the exceptions that proves the rule.

[Peach]

And Kerry said during Clinton's years that what a person decided to do during those years should not be held against them. (This was in regard to Clinton's avoiding the draft).

[BigSkyFreeper]

The left believes Halliburton is drilling on Mars as we speak.

[cyncooper]

Oh, yes, Cheney came up and they're all wondering why is Halliburton everywhere?

[Peach]

I wondered about the validity of Morris's predictions.

In my family, when my brother predicts something we consider it the kiss of death. Hope it's the same with Morris.

[Tuxedo]

Not sure. I think that was decided in 2002, and Tom Sawyer lost to Sherrod Brown. They merged two districts controlled by the Rats, thereby eliminating one Rat.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'd tell the media that they're a global American company, but they'd find a way to twist my words around.

[Miss Marple]

Powell was great, and maybe people can now see why he is a great Secretary of State!

I think it is time for a few normally mild-mannered Republicans to go ballistic in pulic venues. We have watched as the Presidient and his people have patiently answered the questions. Enough is enough!

Roll out the cannons, take aim, and fire!

[Peach]

Agreed. It's time to take the gloves off.

The left makes stuff up out of whole cloth.

We can use the left's own votes and words AGAINST them and do not have to resort to personal attacks and lying to get our points across.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It is refreshing to see Republican's confronting these issues head on in the manner they are, rather than just cowering in the corner, hoping it all just goes away.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Amen, Miss Marple! The dems. are lined up like lemmings, it would be one of our easiest victories in this political war they've declared. Not to mention merciful.