I blame it on whoever prepared his script.Perhaps, though that seems like Monday morning quarterbacking.Your Secretary of State speaks on your behalf before the whole world and spews nonsense and you don't give a damn? That's pitiful.

What Obama has to do with this conversation is not clear to me.

As for Powell taking responsibility, here's one comment he made when interviewed by Barbara Walters:He shares responsibility with a number of other people.

Powell said he spent 3 days reviewing all of the data. Powell was a general, and national security advisor before he was Sec State. Do you REALLY think he was a marionette, unable to independently review the data and locked into following orders? If so, you demean the man and his accomplishments, you do not understand intelligence data and you do not understand general officers nor the position of national security advisor nor Sec of State.

You're right: I don't give a damn what a politician says. I care what evidence, history, and current events inform me of, not some damned-fool politician.

Which is why Obama is EXACTLY on point. He repeatedly lied to the voters for a number of years and I didn't give a damn then and I don't give a damn now. Only a fool couldn't see what was coming, given the the law and circumstances. There is no way Obama's lie could possibly work.

Did Obama intentionally lie or was somebody pulling his strings?

Powell is a rational and honorable man. That's why he quickly distanced himself from the Obama Regime. Honor and rationality are not the qualities that get politicians elected these days. He was wise to get out when he did.

If you think "quickly" is 4 years...I feel sorry for your wife.

The Blaze: Colin Powell Reveals Why He Voted for Obama Twice in Contentious Interview With Bill O’Reilly.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

It's an interesting conundrum -- was Powell just a marionette, controlled by his white masters? That excuses him from Iraq but makes his endorsement of Obama a non-event. WGAS about an insouciant sycophant?

I never thought or said he was a puppet of the white master, just pointing out he didn't "quickly" distanced himself from Obama, like suggested. But I do think he was duped, just as the rest of the country was after 9/11.

I'm not sure why race would play a factor in this.

Personally I like him because of his love for old Volvo's and the dedication he puts in them.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

I would have expected more time to prepare a speech of such complexity and importance.Well, gosh, it's a good thing I never thought or said any such thing. I believe, though, that he was unable to translate Arabic and therefore unable to independently evaluate the accuracy of the translation he was given to read. You suggest that he could have asked for an independent translation to verify the accuracy of the first translation, but I see that as second-guessing.

If anyone is demeaning Powell, it's you. I'm suggesting that he exercised poor judgment and allowed himself to be used. You're suggesting that he came up with that unbelievably bogus UN speech on his own. Why he allowed this to happen is a mystery to me. He always seemed like a voice of reason and integrity. On the other hand, we've seen several generals in recent years with similar credentials act like complete boneheads - Petraeus, for example. I think it goes to show that excellence in one field of endeavor does not necessarily translate into excellence in other fields.I'm guessing that you are in a very small minority of Americans who don't care whether our country is represented abroad by people of competence and integrity. Those things are important to me.Or did he make a mistake? I'm guessing that it's a little bit of all those things. You, I take it, are indifferent about that. I disagree. I wish he hadn't said it.

Race plays a factor because his masters were white establishment Republicans, so of course they are racists.

So in your estimation, he was not a puppet, he was stupid.

Wait a minute. You're the one who brought race into this discussion.

If duped and stupid are the same in your book; yes then he was stupid.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Of course he doesn't translate arabic just as he doesn't do photo-interpretation or tensor calculus. But only a complete fool depends on a single source for all interpretation, regardless of the subject. Relying on a single source is a faith-based approach. I cannot fathom the narrowness of vision in which one accepts one expert's opinion on a complex matter of literally world-wide importance. Is this what you would do in your law practice?

So … If that is what Powell did then he was a fool, dupe and puppet. But that assessment is belied by his professional history.

How do we resolve these discordant conclusions?

I moderately care what foreigners think of the USA, but not with passion or conviction. My suspicion is that foreign potentates, kings, and prime ministers are no better nor worse than our president, them all being human. I prefer our system of government because I do not kneel to the king, though I wouldn't be surprised if that didn't change within the lifetimes of my kids.

Instead, I take a decided Machiavellian of how people should relate to our government. I refer specifically to the chapter discussing whether it is better for the Prince to be loved or feared. I wouldn't presume to improve upon that author's argument.

Concerning generals who fail, you're right. Sometimes they do. And when they do, people often die needlessly, often in large, indiscriminate numbers. Is that where you place Mr. Powell?

If you like your war, you can keep your war. Period.
B

If you feel 'quickly' is the important point in the discussion, then yes, you are sorry.

if you think duped and stupid are the same thing then I understand your point.

Loser.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

name calling is the trademark of the intellectually incapacitated