Secretary of State Colin Powell thinks Osama Bin Laden's latest communiqué (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/15/international/middleeast/15OTEX.html) proves that its author and Saddam Hussein are joined at the hip. Here are the last paragraphs of Bin Laden's hymn of brotherhood with Saddam. (Keep in mind that to Osama, the word "socialist" means Saddam, "crusaders" means the U.S., and "apostate" means nations with large Muslim populations but secular governments, such as Iraq.) Now go ahead:We say to honest Muslims that they must move, incite and mobilize the nation amid these great events to liberate themselves from the enslavement of these oppressive, unjust, apostate ruling governments, which in turn are enslaved by America, and to establish the rule of God on earth, and the most eligible for liberation are Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

This crusade war is primarily aimed at the people of Islam regardless of the removal or survival of the socialist government or Saddam.

The Muslims as a whole, and in Iraq in particular, should pull up their sleeves and carry jihad against this oppressive offensive and to make sure to stock up on ammunition and arms. This is a duty for them.

It does not hurt that in the current circumstances, the interests of Muslims coincide with the interests of the socialists in the war against crusaders, taking into account our belief and declaration of the apostasy of the socialists.:m: Peace.

Colin Powell turned into a "house slave". There was a time when I used to respect him. It's a real shame. :(

Tom

It seems to me that General Powell, who worked his up through the ranks while enduring racism and the backroom scuffles of DC politics, is an excellent example of the rewards of discipline and hard work. So I'm naturally curious why you think Colin Powell is a "house nigger"? That is the original phraseology, by the way, so you might as well be accurate. Do you imply that Powell is a sell-out? That he has the privilege of living in the house as long as he serves his master?

If you want to criticize Powell's politics, I'd say, "fine, everyone's entitled to an opinion." But your post is strictly ad hominim.

:m: Peace.

Methinks Powell’s assessment of bin Laden's latest communiqué proves that Bush is desperate for a pretext for war, and that such need shows that a war likely serves ulterior motives.

goofyfish: "Do you imply that Powell is a sell-out? "

Yes, he is as is any of the officials who play the official theme against their own convictions, in exchange for position and power. Worst, he do not have the excuse of stupidity, which may be claimed for others in this team; but as any other player in this establishment, he is ignoring the long terms effects in favor of a short term, spectacular but idiotic solutions.

Regards,
Cornelius.

Again: accusation without example. Can you support
your claim that he is acting contrary to his convictions?

:m: Peace.

Originally posted by goofyfish
Again: accusation without example. Can you support
your claim that he is acting contrary to his convictions?

:m: Peace.

Watch him when he speaks to the UN, to an audience who know the US reasons for this coming war are all bullshite. He doesn't make much eye contact with them, his face is flushed, and he appears to have to force himself to look like he believes the crap the writers have given him. Of course, that's just my opinion, not evidence.

Colin Powell is not some one at the bottom rung of the ladder. The administration can't make him into anything he doesn't want to be - the man retired with 5 stars as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The top three grades are barely soldiers these days; they're politicians at a national/international level. But Powell's a military man. He sees himself as an honorable soldier who makes recommendations to his superiors, then shuts up and toes the line when orders are given. He will, at the drop of a hat, set aside his principles to serve "his president".

Those are his convictions.

The whole notion of Colin Powell being a "good man" turned into a toady is a characterization of Colin Powell as a victim. He knew what Bush was when he accepted the job - he knows what the Iraqi connection to terrorism is or is not. All he has that makes him "good a man," is a carefully groomed, carefully studied, Republican air of self-control and "dignity" that too many associate with decency and a contemplative intellect.

:m: Peace.

Colin Powell would simply resign if he was being forced to march step to any particular policy with which he felt uncomfortable.

I disagree- I think that there have been clear instances of Colin Powell getting ahead of his superiors, then getting privately reigned back into lock-step.

I am convinced Colin Powell is intelligent and even compassionate in the right context, but is a soldier first and moralist second. Within the regular Nazi Wehrmacht, if not the SS, a personality such as Colin Powell would have fought for Hitler with "honor".

http://www.observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=3958
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/58343_helen15.shtml

goofyfish,

Do you imply that Powell is a sell-out? That he has the privilege of living in the house as long as he serves his master?

Yes, and yes. Powell will even go to the extreme of lying to the UN in order to support his "master".

You want proof: Powell says that the latest recording from Bin Laden proves that Bin Laden and Hussien are in cahoots. No one who reads the transcripts, including you, comes to that conclusion. So it comes down to two things:

1) Is Powell stupid??

or

2) Is Powell a liar??

Since I know that Powell isn't stupid, that means he must be a liar. And if he would lie to the UN, in front of billions of people, for his "master", then what won't he do?

Tom

Originally posted by hypewaders
I disagree- I think that there have been clear instances of Colin Powell getting ahead of his superiors, then getting privately reigned back into lock-step.

I am convinced Colin Powell is intelligent and even compassionate in the right context, but is a soldier first and moralist second. Within the regular Nazi Wehrmacht, if not the SS, a personality such as Colin Powell would have fought for Hitler with "honor".

http://www.observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=3958
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/58343_helen15.shtml

I disagree back. Helen Thomas and Joe Conason would both like to believe that Powell couldn't possibly come to accept that war was an acceptable option, but that doesn't make it so.

Don't confuse the elite Wermacht officers with American officers. Being a German professional soldier had an entirely different meaning than being a professional soldier in the US army. A professional core in our army is relatively young, as compared to the Germans, where it is centuries old and traces to the elite Prussian Junger class. Those professionals fought for <i>country</i> with honor, not Hitler. And no Wermacht officer that was not a National Socialist would have held a position as high as Powell holds. If Powell was still a commander in the field he might very well continue fighting for his country, but as Sect. of State I believe if he truly felt his moral convictions were being compromised he would resign.

I'll respect him again when he does resign.

There have been a number of times when the Secretary has stood up for what he believes is right, even when it went against the grain of the party's and/or the administration's position. In the case of the Bin Laden tape, I think the Secretary probably has more classified information from other sources which sheds a different light on the tape for him than it does for us who are in the relative dark.

From secret CIA dossier: "Osama's had more manipulators than Kermit the Frog."

Don't ask how I got it.

Originally posted by Prosoothus
So it comes down to two things: 1) Is Powell stupid?? or 2) Is Powell a liar??Neither of which demonstrate that he is compromising his convictions, or "selling out". Perhaps Powell is, and always has been, nothing more than a self serving, amoral, opportunist.

The image that was bestowed upon him by the press was calculated. They ignored his possible involvement in the My Lai cover-up, and his lack of battlefield experience. Service in Viet Nam was one thing, especially when you were living in nice quarters, with plenty of perks, in a Headquarters; service at the head of the troops was another. Only a couple of battalion commanders ever got down on the ground with their troops (Col Anthony Herbert and Col David W. Hackworth are the only two that I know of).

:m: Peace.