Beyond the Miller-Libby game: People died

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0542,schanbergweb,68945,6.html

Six weeks ago, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said publicly that the pre-war speech he gave to the United Nations in early 2003 claiming vast evidence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that turned out to be nonexistent was a "painful" and lasting "blot" on his career.

Though his language of regret was bitterly potent, and it was Powell's first interview since leaving office in January, the nation's press gave it subdued play, far from the front page, and let it die after one day's run.

"I'm the one who presented it to the world," he told ABC's Barbara Walters, "and it will always be part of my record. It was painful. It is painful now." snip

This debate is for coffee shops. What I find fascinating is that we're about to learn what happens when you bamboozle the public with empty words and false image—instead of trusting them with the truth, or something close to it. So then it becomes a game wrapped in a hoax—and the only goal is to get elected, not do what's good for the country.

And with a war, lots of people die. There's got to be some penalty for "leaders" who play that game—perhaps something more than a permanent blot on their record.

[wtmusic]

1. That blot is not nearly as painful as an eight foot drop

at the end of a rope, as von Ribbentrop might say.

[sam sarrha]

6. nor as painful as being blown up in an unarmored HUMV

[babylonsister]

2. At this point, if Powell is involved, he could redeem himself.

That's why he might be the 'Deep Throat' of our times. But is he too much of a 'yes' man? Did he lose his integrity, or didn't he have any to begin with? I think he did, but I'm not sure if he'd negate his legacy, whatever that might turn out to be.

[cynatnite]

3. I do think he had some integrity before this...

The only way I can see him regaining any of what he lost is to come forward, testify honestly to the lies and manipulations of this regime.

He could make it right, but I don't believe he will. As long as he remains silent, this 'blot' will stay with him forever...as well it should.

[NNN0LHI]

4. I am afraid he lost whatever integrity he may have had...

...when he ran down to the ranch for photo ops with Chimpy in 2000 decked out in his ten-gallon hat before the votes were even counted in Florida.

Don

[Fridays Child]

5. He needs to be a witness against Bushco but I think he's beyond...

...moral redemption. Too many innocents have died.

[wtmusic]

7. He provided cover for the admin at a critical juncture

when public support for a war was iffy. The reviews of his UN performance were unanimous--Colin Powell wouldn't lie, Saddam has weapons, time to defend the country.

He's a war criminal like the rest (let's ask Cindy Sheehan how he can redeem himself).

[az chela]

8. too little too late

Powell knew what he was doing when he went on tv and showed those phony photos of WMD.Yet he went ahead with the lie and because people thought they could trust him they bought the story.Because of him and the bush administration almost 2000 of out troops are dead,thousands wounded mentally and physically and thousands of innocent iraqi's dead and their country destroyed.
I will never forgive him for what he did. Out of all the bush administation he was the only one I trusted.To me that makes him as guilty as all the rest as he knew that the american people thought he was an honorable man and he was so deceitful that he got away with his lies.He should be charged with war crimes along with all the other
people involved in the administation !!!!!