[ConservativeDude]

"The question is, did Powell set the UN up deliberately? Or did Bush set up Powell?"

Fascinating. I don't believe that Bush deals treacherously with his own, but I do believe that he is a master tactician and the more the D's and other socialists think that he's a fool, the better off we are. You are right. He did one or the other. The answer lies in whether Powell is a closet hawk, or Bush is a closet Machiavel.

I go with the former because I like Powell.

[ScholarWarrior]

Neither.

Bush played Powell's hand b/c it was the right thing to do and stopped the Dems and Sec Council from complaining about US unilateralism.

If the UN went along, great. If they didn't, they would lose. It was a no-lose bet.

I would take those all the time. Bush does, and that's why he is the President.