Powell Plays Behind the Scenes Role in Bolton Debate

[kliljedahl]

By Jim VandeHei and Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, April 22, 2005; 7:50 PM

Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell is emerging as a behind the scenes player in the battle over John Bolton's nomination to the United Nations, privately telling at least two key Republican lawmakers that Bolton is smart, but a very problematic government official, according to Republican sources.

Powell spoke in recent days with Sens. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), two of three GOP members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who have raised concerns about Bolton's confirmation, the sources said. Powell did not advise the senators to oppose Bolton, but offered a frank assessment of the nominee as a man who was challenging to work with on personnel and policy matters, according to two people familiar with the conversation.


"General Powell has returned calls from senators who wanted to discuss specific questions that have been raised," said Margaret Cifrino, a Powell spokeswoman. "He has not reached out to senators" and considers the discussions private. A Chafee spokesman confirmed that at least two conversations took place. Bolton served under Powell as his undersecretary of state for arms control, and the two were known to have serious clashes.


Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7420-2005Apr21.html


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[flordehinojos]

1. if powell had used the same 'FRANK ASSESSMENT' on the reality of WMD when

he spoke at the U.N...and wherever else he spoke of WMDs that he is using to speak of John Bolton now, many...many lives would have been saved... but it was in powell's best interest to offer up the lies that sacrificed many, many lives for an oil which is running deep, dirty, and bloody all over bush's hands ...

now that powell's dreams of GREATNESS have been given a set of broken wings by a bush boy who chose condoliar lice over powell ... the sting of pain may be too great for powell to bear like a general and now HE IS SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER!!!!!!!

while i am glad for the truth to power that powell may be speaking ...
i also think there is an amount of sour grapes involved in it.

ALL THIS POWELL CORRECTNESS NOW COULD REALLY HAVE BEEN VERY VALUABLE TO THIS COUNTRY IF HE HAD EXERCISED MUCH, MUCH SOONER.

hey, but then again, thanks for the few sour grapes of now.