SubscribePowell Tried To Use Blair To Undermine Bush
From The Australian:
Blair wilted under Bush on war
FORMER US secretary of state Colin Powell was surprised by Tony Blair’s strong support for George W.Bush over the Iraq war, a new book says.
Mr Powell said he and Britain’s former foreign secretary Jack Straw would “get (Mr Blair) all pumped up” to talk to Mr Bush about certain issues in the run-up to the 2003 conflict, but Mr Blair would “lose his steam” when he saw Mr Bush.
The comments are quoted in Blair Unbound by Anthony Seldon, a political commentator and biographer of the former British prime minister.
Mr Powell, formerly the top officer in the US military, is quoted as saying that in mid-2002, he “realised that the planning for war was racing ahead and I wasn’t sure we’d thought it through enough”.
“I thought to myself, ‘Jeez, what are we getting ourselves into?”‘
He added that he and Mr Straw “were worried that our two leaders might not have a strong enough sense of the consequences of removing Saddam militarily”.
Mr Powell went on to express surprise at the strength of the “special relationship” between Mr Blair and Mr Bush over the issue.
“In the end, Blair would always support the President,” he said. “I found this very surprising. I never really understood why Blair seemed to be in such harmony with Bush. I thought, ‘Well, the Brits haven’t been attacked on 9/11. How did he reach the point that he sees Saddam as such a threat?’
“Jack and I would get him all pumped up about an issue. And he’d be ready to say, ‘Look here, George.’ But as soon as he saw the President, he would lose his steam.” …
In case there is still any question as to whose side Mr. Powell was on in all of this.
Oh, and thanks again for Richard Armitage.
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9 Responses to “Powell Tried To Use Blair To Undermine Bush”
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October 29th, 2007 at 10:35 am
“He added that he and Mr. Straw “were worried that our two leaders might not have a strong enough sense of the consequences of removing Saddam militarily.”
I wonder if Colin Powell and Jack Straw had a strong enough sense of the consequences of NOT removing Saddam militarily. It seems not.
Colin Powell took a job that he could not fulfill. Excuse me if I think that when you sign on to a team you should be expected to be a team player and not do everything you can to usurpt that team to prevent victory. Powell was very aware of Bush’s opinions on Saddam and his regime of horror. It is public knowledge that Saddam had attemped to assassinate Bush 41. I wonder if Powell’s attitude would have been different if it was HIS father that Saddam tried to kill.
The fact that Stormin’ Norman did not come out in favor of Powell’s appointment told me a lot. And while I have tremendous respect for Powell’s life long service to his nation as a warrior, I have lost that respect for him in his failure to put an end to the Plame Game fiasco. He could have nipped that circus in the bud by simply coming out and saying “wait a minute. It was Armitage who leaked her name, not the administration.” But he didn’t. And I will always believe that the President, in his graciousness, allowed Powell to resign instead of firing his ass, which is what the POTUS should have done. If a player works against the team, you replace him. Contracts be damned.
Which brings me to another question; why was Powell working against the President by trying, with Straw’s help, to redirect Tony Blair? Why did Powell feel he had the right to usurp the President’s plans by trying to convince the PM of another nation to also work against the President’s plans?
We also know that Powell has signed on as foreign advisor to Obama, who clearly has many socialist views.
The truth about Colin Powell is now out there for all to see. He is a liberal who has posed as a conservative to further his own agenda. And for that, and for his blatant backstabbing, I will no longer hold this man in high esteem.
What is next? Marching along side John Murtha in a CodePinko protest?
October 29th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Very well stated. I agree. :)
October 29th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Good points. I had my doubts about Powell dating back to the first Gulf War. I recall at one point Cheney considered replacing him. Throughout his career he was always overshadowed by strong-willed leaders. He’d be a historical footnote if he hadn’t been elevated to Secretary of State — and this is how he repays Bush. I found it quite telling that he tried to enlist Condi Rice in his disputes with Rumsfeld, but she never faltered in her support of the right course of action. I’ll never forgive Bush for sacking Rumsfeld. He was on the right track all along.
October 29th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Eva, when a fellow soldier (Stormin Norman) refuses to sing your praises, you know something is wrong in Denmark (in this case, Washington, D.C.). And he was toooo quite about Powell’s appointment.
Powell is a brilliant man who should have stayed out of politics when he left military service. But his ambitions (his eye on the Oval Office) were too great. So he put his true colors (liberalism) in a closet and pretented to be on board with the President. He was not. At any time. And that rapidly became obvious when we went to war in Iraq.
I know Powell resigned but I have always felt it was a resignation that was requested and it allowed him to leave with his honor intact instead of having the Pres come out and say “Secretary Powell and I can no longer agree on foreign policy so I have asked for his resignation” which is what should have happened. Remember, Powell only resigned AFTER Armitage admitted it was he who spilled the beans to a reporter about Plame and that he had called Powell very early in the morning (waking Powell up) when the article came out in the paper about Valerie Plame. Up until then, Powell know who the big mouth was and kept it close to his vest, allowing the administration to twist in the wind and be crucified by the MSM press.
October 29th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I totally agree with you. I don’t think the field generals had so much respect for Powell who rose in rank through politics rather than military leadership, especially since he was so reluctant to use force when necessary. Rumsfeld and Cheney had a lot to do with his career; they were running the show in the Ford Administration when he came into the White House as a junior NSA staffer. I’m sure he felt slighted when Rumsfeld, Cheney and Rice all lined up against him on Iraq. One of this few allies was Armitage, whom he recommend to Rumsfeld for his No. 2 slot. When Rumsfeld turned him down, he ended up with Powell at State. I seem to recall that Powell was also very close with Scrowcroft, who has also been critical of the administration. Thank God the NeoCons prevailed!
October 29th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Remember a few years back when Republicans were so pumped up about trying to convince Powell to run in 2008?
Now we know if he wanted to he’d be best off running as a Democrat.
Should Hillary or Obama win in ‘08, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Powell a part of their administration.
October 29th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Except Bill - neither one would ever consider elevating a black man to a power position. You have to remember who you are dealing with here - there is no honor among thieves, the dems are always do as I say, not as I do, and while pointing a finger at some innocent person - 4 are pointing back at ‘em.
I am saddened that so many want to undermine what needed to be done. Gee, Bush is just a politician - no better, no worse than any of them (well anyone is better than Carter) but you get my point - he will be gone soon and they are all acting like he is worse than Hitler and attempting to take over the World - When they would let the (Islamic) World take over America. . .
October 29th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
WM4….you don’t think Hillary or Obama would appoint a black to the cabinet? Oh I think you are very wrong. In fact, I think you would find a possibility of unqualified blacks to pacify their bases or as payback for political favors. Remember, Bill is known in the black community as the First Black President. Hillary if elected will surely be known as the First Black Woman President. She does a lot of campaigning in First AME churches.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Wardmama, Billy Jeff actually did appoint a black to his Cabinet, Commerce Sec. Ron Brown.
But the Clintoons had to off him in 1996 because of his likely upcoming testimony in front of a Justice Dept. special investigator. All that Chinagate stuff and ties to John Huang, Charlie Trie, etc and selling restricted technology to the ChiComm’s, you know, just trivial matters to the Arkansas Mafia.
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS.....ndex.shtml
Colin Powell is a “shining beacon on the hill” compared to Billy Jeff’s mafioso.
Sorry, a bit off topic there but the urge just overcame me.