'Gestapo' Tactics--Colin Powell regrets his remarks.

Wall St Journal ^ | 4-20-04

[SJackson]

Among the disclosures in Bob Woodward's new book, "Plan of Attack," is that Secretary of State Colin Powell had reservations about going to war in Iraq.

This comes as no great surprise, though we do wonder what President Bush thinks of a Cabinet officer who uses a book to distance himself from the boss on an issue that is central to his re-election campaign. The last ranking official who used Mr. Woodward to pad his own reputation at the expense of the President was budget director Richard Darman as George H.W. Bush was running for re-election. If Mr. Powell disagreed so passionately about Iraq, the more honorable path would have been to resign -- before the war.

[af_vet_1981]

Another Woodward disclosure about Mr. Powell's collegiality is the way America's top diplomat refers privately to the Pentagon policy shop run by Undersecretary Douglas Feith. Mr. Powell reportedly accuses Dick Cheney, Cheney aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Mr. Feith and his "Gestapo office" of running what amounted to a separate government. Mr. Feith happens to be the son of a European Jew who escaped the Nazi death camps; his grandparents died there. Mr. Wolfowitz's family also fled the Nazis and lost many relatives in the Holocaust. The slur extends to the Jews who work for them. A Defense Department spokesman tells us that Mr. Powell called Mr. Feith yesterday and told him that he didn't recall making the comment. That kind of language is "wrong and inappropriate," Mr. Powell is said to have said. If that's an apology, we assume he'll now want to put it on the record.

There should have been witnesses. Put Powell and Woodward under oath.

[valkyrieanne]

Somebody's lying.

[Delta 21]

I dont see how anyone could suffer through reading such drivel in the first place. The 9-11 commission waved Clarke's book around like it was the Bible and used words from it to fuel their liberal agenda. Now they will use Woodwards book in the same fashion.

[vbmoneyspender]

A Defense Department spokesman tells us that Mr. Powell called Mr. Feith yesterday and told him that he didn't recall making the comment.

Hardly a ringing denial that he made the remark

[meenie]

The amazing thing is that the administration would do this much talking to a reporter. Woodward must be the world's greatest con man to get them to open up like they did.

[af_vet_1981]

Hardly a ringing denial that he made the remark

Powell, if he made it, did not serve the country or the President with the remark. This was not a denial.

[guitfiddlist]

The only purpose Powell serves is as one of the Left, who is shown by the rest of the Administration the obviousness of what needs to be done (since he's responsible for making things work too) - and can then explain all this to his fellow "We are the Wooooooooooorld" bozos.

The danger is, that he's free to roam the camp.

[what's up]

Is this written by Al Hunt?

[johnb838]

I couldn't believe the following quote I heard directly from Powell on his relationship with Cheney. He said "It may sound improper, but when we're alone, it's Colin and Dick." I was like... did he really just say that?

[ravingnutter]

Some interesting articles whose info should be brought out about Mr. Woodward in the public arena:

Can You Trust Bob Woodward?

Christopher Hitchen's Book Review of Woodward's "Bush at War"

Weighing Sources Anonymous and Otherwise

Deep Truth: The Lives of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein - Book Review

In reference to the last link...it is pretty sad when you are such a liar that they write a whole book about it, LOL!

[ravingnutter]

See #11...Woodward has a long history of fabrication.

[Just another Joe]

Ya know, at first I thought Powell would be one of the good guys. After all, he did hold a very high rank in the military.
Apparently military strategy doesn't translate very well to the world of politicks. (Unless he IS the mole for the left.)

[Delta 21]

Assuming that anything in the book is true to begin with.

I dont buy it. (figuratively and literally)

[ronnieb]

Totally wrong to use that kind of language, wether it is used toward Jews or otherwise. That accusation, that low lifed use of the language or images of the holocaust, and Nazi Germany is slung around our political discussions ad nauseaum. The folks at moveon.org, recently applauded an ad contest that morphed Bush into Hitler. One need not be Jewish to be offended and deeply at such language. One not need to be the person refered to. I find it disgusting and I find it disgusting ALL the time.

[shhrubbery!]

Wow, your last link is devastating -- to both Woodward and Bernstein. And published in Columbia Journalism Review, no less.

[wildbill]

someone should remind people that Woodward's book on Wm. Casey and the CIA had a scene where Woodward supposedly was privy to secrets from Casey's lips--while the Director was in intensive care in the hospital.

"BS Bob" is not above doctoring up a story to make it dramatic.