I agree with what you’ve said… and sadly Powell hasn’t kept his opinions to himself or resigned. (everyone knows he never went along with many like Rumsfeld because he probably said it himself).
By just sticking around the Bush gang I think Powell helped legitimize them and is an accomplice to whatever they did. A noisy resignation at the right time would have allowed for alternatives… democratic or republican.
The whole question of Colin Powell is disturbing. Like many others, I held him in fairly high regard until the Recent Unpleasantness. Now, I have to ask myself: why? Boiled down, it comes down to impressions, demeanor, gravitas. But there really isn’t anything his history to support such an impression.
For instance: Colin Powell was peripherally involved in the investigation into the My Lai atrocity. He interviewed a man who reported upon it, and returned a pretty neutral report. This is, in itself, not culpable, not indicative of anything more than a standard military attitude of solidarity. But the My Lai massacre did happen, and a proactive investigation would have uncovered it. Had Colin Powell been truly motivated to uncover the truth, he might well have done so. The Colin Powell that I thought he was would have done so, even at risk to his career.
When Powell spoke to the UN, I listened to the speech on the radio. And I thought to myself, well, if a guy like Colin Powell states the case so clearly, so authoritatively, there must be something to it.
But there wasn’t. His speech before the UN has been proved to be a complete and utter travesty. Not one of his spectacular charges had any substance. How does a man with a shred of integrity take on such a grave charge, presenting a case in support of war, without knowing for certain that he is speaking the truth? Would any of you?
The conclusion is well-nigh inescapable. My impression of Powell was entirely at odds with the truth. He was, and remains, a whore to his ambitions. I would like to be wrong, I would like to have someone to trust amongst this band of goons who hold the lives of millions in their grasp. I would also like to be able to trust my impressions of men, have some faith in my own rough judgement of others.
But I don’t see how that is possible.
Forget all this character nonsense and loyalty to the President.
Remember Colin Powell openly fought tooth and nail to thwart President Clinton’s plan for gay people to serve in the military.
He’s no better than the rest of them. Worse in fact: “We need a lying black man. That’ll fool 'em, whoever heard of such a critter.”
Powell won’t be writing a book, he doesn’t have the rocks.