I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought this -

[kyburg]

It was a thankless job. For when Powell made the administration's case that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction, his vast personal prestige and the respect in which he was held proved crucial in convincing the American public and U.N. diplomats that the approval to take action Bush sought should be given to him. After Saddam was toppled, as evidence mounted that much of the information he had cited was inaccurate and some of it entirely unsubstantiated, Powell's reputation took a licking.

This man had my respect. He also had my pity. I remember listening to him address the UN - and then heard the UN ignore him, in the days leading up to the invasion of Iraq.

And they were right to do so, in hindsight.

The Bush Administration made a fool out of this man.

That, I also won't forget.

Comments

[caitlin.livejournal.com]

I've always wondered how they managed to persuade Powell to do what he did in front of the UN. Especially since I've always had the feeling that he KNEW they were lying.

And long before the election - during the primaries, actually - I'd had a feeling that regardless of who won the election, Powell wouldn't be Secretary of State anymore.

He's a good man who did not deserve to be used the way he was.

C.

[wbahner.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan of Powell's.

I hope we see him in the public eye again, soon, although I fear this experience may have jaded him....

[terredancer.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I rather thought it would be only a matter of time before Powell stepped down.

Through the past four years, definitely made a fool out of him. While that cited 9/11, I faintly seem to recall other incidents early on that had the same sort of effect.

I did not agree with the stances he publicly took, but I always did resepct the man.

[johno.livejournal.com]

Alas, a good man ruined by BushCo.

Powell had the chance to be the first black president and republican one to boot, but that possibility is gone forever.

If he runs in 2008, his republican opponents will trot out all the humiliations and the distortions he was forced to do. And even if he wins the nomination, the demos will hammer on the "What WMDs? What yellowcake?" questions.

[trcabbage.livejournal.com]

He made it clear that he wasn't going forward almost a year ago and his wife has made it clear that she doesn't want him to run for President and he's in agreement with her.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Oh you know that had to stick in the craw of some of those guys - "What, a guy who won't talk back to his wife?! Whatsamatter with him?!"

I really, really liked him. And no, I never forgot that his wife didn't want him to run for President. Not all these years.

I don't think we'll hear much from him anymore, to be honest. And that's just a damn shame.

[poetpaladin.livejournal.com]

They used him.

[moropus.livejournal.com]

He's been my hero since my Desert Storm days. And look how they used him. It breaks my heart. I'm glad he's retiring.

[poetpaladin.livejournal.com]

We could have had a good president in him. America's first Black, Yiddish-speaking President who would actually care about America and Europe and Asia and Africa. Who would care about Israel, yet also be a firm rein on Sharon's excesses.