I agree with you...to a point.
Don't forget---Powell was the force in the administration behind going to the UN....yet he failed to deliver.
And, Powell's organization also failed to secure Turkey's cooperation.
While I don't disagree with Newt's conclusion that the State Department needs to catch up with today's world; I disagree with Newt's timing and choice of words.
Newt's statements neither helped the administration nor did they advance his goals.
I think Newt is being prompted by the Whitehouse to call for the reformation of State at this time. Why? Because the failure of State and the success of the Pentagon is abundantly clear to everyone. Now is the time to reform State while the public sees the obvious need for it. Notice that Newt did not criticize Powell, only the State Department itself. There will also be alot of house cleaning going on in the Pentagon. The Secretary of the Army got the ball rolling today by resigning. More of Rummy's enemies will follow shortly.