US Secretary of State Powell: loyalty not at issue despite book

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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040424/pl_afp/us_iraq_powell_bush_040424180640

US Secretary of State Powell: loyalty not at issue despite book

Sat Apr 24, 2:06 PM ET Add Politics - AFP to My Yahoo!

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said a book detailing the runup to the Iraq (news - web sites) war has not tarnished his reputation as soldier or diplomat.

Washington Post investigative journalist Bob Woodward's book, "Plan of Attack" said Powell found himself in a delicate position: at once arguing President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s reasons for going to war before the United Nations (news - web sites); trying to find a diplomatic alternative to the war; all the while warning Bush about possible pitfalls.

"Am I a loyal member of the Bush team? Sure," he told ABC News "Nightline" program.

"Do I give my best advice to the president, to include things that I think might go well and problems we have to look out for in any military operation or any political operation or action we're about to take? Sure, I do."

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