Maybe he is always playing a role in a high-stakes "good cop/bad cop" routine.
That is, pretty much, the job description for the position of "Sec. of State." We forget because for 8 years we had Mad-one Halfbrite playing "giveaway." Little miss, "I believe the president" was actually too stupid to actually play complex games like good cop, bad cop...
Seeing someone who KNOWS a little about roles and game playing, is actually, a little refreshing.
KUDOS to Sec Powell, I would say the two comments, were pretty much direct hits. The libbies are going to have to be careful regarding their approach to interviewing this guy... he's not as dumb as Maddy was.
Lots of people have believed that Powell is off the reservation, taking the "leaks" reported by the New York Times and the Washington Post as gospel. I have never thought so. It seems to me that Powell has kept his comments rather ambiguous, and now that the emboldened democrats have been lured into firing a shot at the President, he appears as the "super secret weapon."
I know it is hard for many people on this forum to understand, but many moderates and democrats consider Colin Powell to be the epitome of integritiy. When he speaks, those people listen.
I think this was excellent strategy on the administration's part. Powell is free to attack the Clintonistas, because they already attacked first, via Albright and now Gore. I expect Gore will crawl back into his hole for a while. Ha!