Posted on 11/25/2005 9:58:25 AM PST by Carl/NewsMax
An angry former Secretary of State Colin Powell is blasting the Bush White House for attacking Rep. Jack Murtha, who undermined troop morale and encouraged al Qaida last week with his call for an immediate U.S. pullout from Iraq.
"To attack him the way he was attacked, accusing him of being a Michael Moore, was disgraceful and was not worthy," a Powell told the New York Post's Deborah Orin, who described him as "livid."
"Jack Murtha is great friend of mine," Powell declared. "He's a great patriot.
"I don't agree with his position," the former top Bush diplomat said. "But he has started a debate which is a good debate to have as to how long we should be there."
Hours after Murtha called for an immediate pullout last Thursday, White House press secretary Scott McClellan compared him to Michael Moore. Two days later, however, both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney went out of their way to describe Murtha as "honorable."
Still, Powell focused instead on the earlier remark, and said nothing about the olive branch offered by Bush and Cheney.
The one-time chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also suggested that the war on terror wasn't quite as serious as other challenges the U.S. has faced.
"We're not facing a world war anymore," Powell told the Post. "We have pretty much convinced the world that democracy is a better system than communism or fascism or totalitarianism."
LOL! Insightful in so many ways ;-)
If you read the ststement, you'll see that's not the case.
Is Powell part of the left's strategery here? In any case I'm caring less and less about what he has to say.
Powell has been a disappointment but the fact is, no one ever seriously maintained that he was a conservative. Before 2000 election he indicated that he would be glad to serve in a Gore administration if asked, as well as a Bush administration.
In other words, he has never pretended to be something he was not. What he is, however, military career aside, has not been overly admirable.
Over-reaction by Powell.
Murtha launched a sneak attack on the administration. The administration hit back.
That's the way it works. Case closed. Powell knows that. (Didn't Powell preside over a renegade State Dept that continually with their cia brothers undermined this administration? How much of that was coincidental?)
Bingo.
When did the White House compare Murtha to Moore?
No how about,We heard the Congressman, he's a douche bag.
As if we didn't know where Powell stood before, after he sent Lawrence out on his errand.
The administration must be careful with Murtha. His bronze star did have a "V" device for "valor." He did something in combat that was above and beyond, and we should honor that.
However, he didn't do the soldiers in Iraq any favors undermining their sense of purpose.
If he had wanted to suggest some modified strategy that was not simply pulling the heck out, then he needs to fire his speech and PR staff. They blew it. He came across sounding like a French surrender monkey.
I don't always agree with Colin Powell, but his comment here is right on the mark. While it would look bad to immediately pull out--you need a window of opportunity, where you can declare a victory with some credibility--the debate is sorely needed. To smear a man for daring to publicly debate is simply outrageous, and has damaged the Administration with millions of people, who do not even agree with Murtha's side of that debate.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
Powell has been an a**hole from the beginning and I am glad that he is no more in the administration. Expect Powell to write a book some times in the next three years and smear the Bush White House. It will be a book full of lies and distortions. The liberals and the their media whores will have an orgy for many months talking about his book.
I actually think that Colin Powell is more responsible than some think, re: the lack of foreign response to Bush's call for Saddams removal...
I think that Powell was working against Bush while pretending to work for him...and he was the head of a dept., (STATE), that has careerists that were/are scared to death of losing jobs because of our lack of appeasement mode.
I think not enough BLAME is being cast Powells, way...and one way we can all see that is by the way his assistant, Wilkerson is all over the libs talkers spewing crapola...but, is Powell doing it himself?
MO, not until now----but, did Pelosi, Reid, Soros call him to get him to say this??? Powell isn't stupid enough to think that Bush Administration EVER besmirched Murtha's military record, or him personally.
I think he felts "disrespected" when Bush gave him his walking papers so soon. He expected to enjoy his office another six months or more and then leave on his own terms and after a big photo-op. He reminds me of BilL Clinton, but everything is calculated to make him look good. Good thing that he was not as ambitious as Wesley Clark. Take Clark out of uniform, and he doesn't seem like a general. Powell does.
Powell sucks.
Powell is a RINO. Let him seek his fortune among the Dems
Exactly so. If it becomes a name calling contest the RATs will win.
He said our troops ARE the enemy.. of Iraqis..
and by implication to other things in other places..
He thinks "WE" are stupid and don't know what he is actually saying..
He is WRONG..
http://oxblog.blogspot.com/2005/11/john-murtha-we-have-become-enemy-from.html
Then he should get out of politics and resign his House seat. When it walks, quacks, and swims like a duck, you call it a duck.
Military service should not grant you exemptions and preferential treatment in politics. Or do you believe it should?
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