He heh. Don't want to go there, as Collin used to say. But perhaps my comments forced dialog in this area. I just feel Powell was choosen as SoS to find a balance for this administration to hire minorities, feeling due to his position as chairmen of the Joint Chief of Staff, he did have a somewhat balanced view on ME issues, due to the years under GHB. Obviouse it is easy for us to put down individuals, as their true form shows, but not so easy for a POTUS to pick a good candidate in any given post. At least Powell went along with things as his tenor as SoS, to some degree. Sadly the L/MSM made it look like he and Rummy where always at odds, which I think may be a misnomer.
I'll just add. We can remember how Powell was heaped with praise by most all, and as soon as he started to show signs of deviation from the POTUS's policies, things start to get touchy. He sure had a rough time dealing with the French and Germans to name but two distractors. To his credit, at least it appears he tried to stay in line with the POTUS on the key issues concerning Iraq and the ME. So we should not forget he did not have exactly an easy job. While serving he did not cause any apparent disunity in purpose. To that I will give him credit.
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.