[The Vast Right Wing]

"Instead, Vice President Dick Cheney and Mr Rumsfeld have been left to make hawkish pronouncements, while Colin Powell, the secretary of state, has struck a much more conciliatory note."

While there are some that dislike Powell and say he is not hawkish enough or not a team player, in reality he doing EXACTLY what President Bush wants him to do. Powell is a loyal soldier and will do what his commander in chief wants. It is clear that there is a bit of good cop-bad cop going on. It's called strategery

[kayak]

It's also true that Powell's stance is appropriate for his position .... after all, he is Secretary of State, not Secretary of Breaking Things and Killing People. His role in the administration is to use diplomacy. Once a decision has been made, I feel sure that he will support the President ..... if not, I feel equally sure that he will be out on the sidewalk in a hurry.

[jlogajan]

in reality he doing EXACTLY what President Bush wants him to do.

I agree. The idea that Powell is running around like General McAurther dictating his own policy is ridiculous. Powell is following the script. He may be the appeasement king behind closed doors, but in public he carries out orders.