Powell Says He Told ElBaradei to Step Down

[cal04]

Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said Friday he told the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency last summer that he ought to step down after completing his second term. Powell, in an Associated Press interview, said it should have been no surprise to anyone when the State Department this week publicly called for the removal of Mohamed ElBaradei when his second term ends next summer.

Neither Powell nor the State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, have directed any public criticism at the Egyptian diplomat who has run the International Atomic Energy Agency since 1997.

Powell and Boucher, on Monday, cited as the sole U.S. reason for trying to remove him an informal agreement among some 14 countries — called the Geneva rule — that heads of U.N. and other international bodies should serve no more than two terms. "We see no reason why this shouldn't be the case with the IAEA," Powell said. "And this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Dr. ElBaradei and I talked about this over the summer."

Trying to dispel any suggestion the administration was divided about ElBaradei, Powell said, "I told him that the United States position would be that the two-term Geneva Rule should apply in this case."
Critics have suggested U.S. officials were upset with ElBaradei for reporting progress in U.N. weapons inspections in Iraq (news - web sites) while the administration was trying to rally U.N. support for war

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041217/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_nuclear_2

[acmavm]

1. I hardly think anyone cares what a pathetic panderer like bowell

thinks.

At least he 'stepped down'. Or was he forced out? Either way, no loss to this country.

[Gman]

2. The article doesn't say that

ElBaradei probably told Powell to go to hell.

[abelenkpe]

3. so those who feel they don't need to follow the rules

are expecting ElBaradei to graciously follow the 'rules?'Please. :eyes:

[Kenergy]

11. LOL my thoughts exactly . Powell is a hypocrite n/t

[Kimber Scott]

17. Isn't Hypocrisy a requirement to membership in the Right? nt

[0007]

4. Mohamed ElBaradei probably told Colin Powell to step down

for being a bold face liar at the UN Security Counsel meeting February 4, 02.

[PurityOfEssence]

5. As he licks the boots that kick him,

he still thinks they'll invite him to the party.

Colin Powell is a fool and a tool; he's a henchman for those who'd never let him sit at the table, and with his last public breath, he'll defend those who fuck him. Fine by me; he's truly a man with no moral compass whatsoever. It's amusing how those in the public eye are often assumed to be precisely what they aren't.

[MisterP]

6. Powell goes Cigarette-Smoking Man:

"Once everyone accepts the two-term rule, Powell said, 'then I think you will generate candidates. People will say, "Look, OK, the job is a possibility, it's open so I will offer myself as a candidate."'"

First, you will accept our laws. Then, you will accept our candidates, which we will have chosen for a process suited to appointments over votes.

[hopein08]

7. That's the ticket

If someone is getting more respect than you, if someone is found to be telling less lies than you, if someone proves to be less of a spineless idiot than you...by all means, he should no longer have that job.

Anyway, what is it with Geneva and this administration? If the new A.G. Alberto Gonzales (oh good gracious I just realized that the Attorney General has the initials A.G. -A.G. the A.G-, how cute is that :puke:!) thinks the Geneva Convention is "quaint" why can't ElBaradei consider the Geneva Rule just as "quaint."

[Benhurst]

8. Colin, who cares what you think? NT

[flordehinojos]

9. Powell, like Kerry, is trying to hog the spotlight

[proudbluestater]

10. Aren't we always sticking our nose where it does NOT belong?

I don't think our regime quite understands this concept, but we have no business, nor moral authority to tell anybody else what is "right."

We lost our rights to point fingers at others when we waged an illegal war based on lies against a country who did nothing to harm us and had no plans to do so in the future.

To further add insult to injury, our regime consists of war criminals who think abuse and torture is fine, but please, don't let those photos see the light of day or we will look bad.

[daleo]

12. Having Powell ask you to step down is beginning to seem like an honor.

It proves you must be at least half honest.

[LynnTheDem]

13. The IAEA was 100% correct; bush was 100% WRONG...so Elbaradei should quit.

Funny how the PAST TWO heads of the IAEA served more than 2 terms without the USA demanding they step down...

World to bushCartel; the world DOESN'T revolve around the USA.

Besides, the Geneva Conventions are now just "QUAINT". The USA isn't CHERRY-PICKING the GCs now, are they?

Nahhhh. That would be HYPOCRITICAL.

[Pithy Cherub]

14. Pitiful Powell should have asked * to step down, if

he was trying to be honorable and truthful. Only Powell could take a golden world class reputation and turn himself into male cow dung!

[Barkley]

15. Cullin' Powell

Rules only apply when they work to the advantage of the U.S.

Other rules simply don't apply.

It's not hypocracy; the U.S. is very consistent about the double-standard in foreign policy.

Unfortunately, the departure of Powell probably won't change this egregious aspect of our foreign affairs.

[Demeter]

16. I Hope ElBaradei Told Powell Where To Go

and I hope he gave him a swift kick to set him on his way. Arrogance! The Ugly American--now in full color!