Why does Colin Powell get a free pass?

[Faygo Kid]

The man knows - he KNOWS - he has lied to the American people to advance the neo-con agenda of conquest, yet he continues to prevaricate. Does this remind anyone else of Robert McNamara, and Vietnam (must see "The Fog of War," by the way)? He is a respectable face in a radical administration, and is therefore tolerated until Bush "wins" a second term. How and why does he do it? Is he that morally obtuse? Any commentary would be welcomed. I just don't get it, and I admit that I don't get it.

[adriennel]

1. the military thingy

has been mentioned as one reason--Powell felt his job was to follow orders, and that he did.

[waywest]

2. A Mi Lai veteran!

nt

[blm]

3. Because some Dems publicly say he'd be a great Sec. of State for ANY

administration. People believe that. Especially when it is said on Hardball during an election year.

[Wapsie B]

4. Would he get a pass

if he were white?

[TacticalPeek]

5. He gets a pass because he is irrelevant.

[hlthe2b]

6. Yes, irrelevant... and has become a pathetic shell of what he

could/should have been. I think, on some level he knows this too!

Should he get a free pass? No. But, given all the other ilck in the administration that are truly pulling the strings, perhaps he just doesn't warrant much focus.

[Faygo Kid]

7. Respectfully disagree; maybe he should be the focus

Ashcroft, Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rice - no conscience, no hope, right? If Powell is perceived as someone not beyond redemption, then maybe that's whose feet should be held closest to the fire. Like McNamara, I think Powell has a (corrupted) conscience. I don't want a book from him in 15 years admitting he was wrong; I want him to come clean NOW. No hope for the others.

[hlthe2b]

9. Perhaps.... But I think quite a bit of pressure has been exerted on him...

I mean how many times have we heard that he'd been asked why he hadn't resigned or when was he going to resign if his viewpoints were becoming irrelevant in the administration. At some point, just as with his handling of the Mi Lai affair, he justifies everything he does, whether truthful or not, as his duty. He's a paradox for me. One moment I think he has the integrity within him that would allow him to break with the admin if pushed far enough... So far, though I've not seen that. Nor do I expect it to happen anymore.

Pathetic shell of what he could/should have been......

[TacticalPeek]

10. I understand your point & wish I could agree. I too had some hope for him.

But in preparing for his UN speech, he jettisoned the last of his honor. He left out the vile-smelling "crap", true. But he decided to still include the crap with the sweet-smelling bouquet.

Guess he figured he'd make it good 'after', but integrity does not work that way. One sends people off to die pointless deaths for one's hidden political ends, or one does not.

[tom_paine]

8. Irrelevant...and utterly loyal to his Bushevik Masters

This in NOT a racial slur. Slavish loyalty to Bushevik Masters is practiced by many races, creeds, and colors and I am not intending to make a crack about his being African-American.

[veracity]

11. The Media refuses to expose Powell's lies.

Powell knew there was no Al Qaeda link - that's the hidden story of the day. This story is getting NO coverage....it's on some back page of the NY Times: Powell admitted yesterday that he had NO proof of any Iraq link to Al Qaeda before the war. Still he lied through his teeth at the UN. Here's a link to the story...and to the LIES Powell told at the UN.
(There is also an email campaign on the site to get Powell to resign)

But, no one seems to care any more. Our kids continue to die...Iraqi
civilians are being killed every day (a mother, child, and father of ten were among 4 people killed in an "oops, sorry" incident - but no civilian death counts are allowed any more. That's been outlawed by the US. Our kids are dying for oil and PNAC dreams.

WAR: - http://tvnewslies.org/html/news.html#WAR (today's story)


http://tvnewslies.org/html/powell_lies_to_un.html (UN lies)