Comments on: Give Me A Break! http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/ The WGMD 92.7 FM Delmarva Blog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:32:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Perry http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-313 Perry Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:18:21 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-313 Points taken, twilliams. But I have to say that taking the nation to war is an order of magnitude more in significance compared to other Executive Branch decisions. Over that one issue alone, Powell should have resigned, not only on moral and strategic grounds, but also on military tactical grounds, as he now tells us that he knew the military was ill prepared for the post dethroning period. Furthermore, it is now evident that Powell had little to no influence within the Executive Branch, as the neocons had all the influence at that time. Powell's resignation, had it been tendered at that time (late 2002/early 2003), would have issued a staunch warning to the American people, resulting in political pressure on the neocons to come forward with a more convincing justification. If the war policy eventually carried the day, at least we could have been better prepared for it, perhaps following the advice of General Shinseki for the involvement of many more troops. Powell let his country down, a fact that no matter how much he tries, he will be so burdened for the rest of his life. And there, twilliams, is the real tragedy, for Powell himself and the nation he has so well otherwise served!!! Points taken, twilliams. But I have to say that taking the nation to war is an order of magnitude more in significance compared to other Executive Branch decisions.

Over that one issue alone, Powell should have resigned, not only on moral and strategic grounds, but also on military tactical grounds, as he now tells us that he knew the military was ill prepared for the post dethroning period. Furthermore, it is now evident that Powell had little to no influence within the Executive Branch, as the neocons had all the influence at that time.

Powell’s resignation, had it been tendered at that time (late 2002/early 2003), would have issued a staunch warning to the American people, resulting in political pressure on the neocons to come forward with a more convincing justification. If the war policy eventually carried the day, at least we could have been better prepared for it, perhaps following the advice of General Shinseki for the involvement of many more troops.

Powell let his country down, a fact that no matter how much he tries, he will be so burdened for the rest of his life. And there, twilliams, is the real tragedy, for Powell himself and the nation he has so well otherwise served!!!

]]> By: twilliams http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-309 twilliams Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:40:14 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-309 Perry, your comment regarding the resignation of Powell over a disagreement with Bush is a bit extreme. If administrators always resigned over conflict with the boss, nothing would ever get done because there would be constant turnover. In fact, I would submit that having someone to offer differing ideas is more beneficial than soeone who tows the line. Powell may have went forward with the Iraq policy of the Bush administration, but at least by staying on and not running away, (or resigning as you put it), he remained in a position of influence. Powell's background as a military man did make him loyal to his boss, but it also made him a fighter, someone who would not likely resign over a disagreement. Perry, your comment regarding the resignation of Powell over a disagreement with Bush is a bit extreme. If administrators always resigned over conflict with the boss, nothing would ever get done because there would be constant turnover. In fact, I would submit that having someone to offer differing ideas is more beneficial than soeone who tows the line. Powell may have went forward with the Iraq policy of the Bush administration, but at least by staying on and not running away, (or resigning as you put it), he remained in a position of influence. Powell’s background as a military man did make him loyal to his boss, but it also made him a fighter, someone who would not likely resign over a disagreement.

]]> By: Perry http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-307 Perry Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:36:31 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-307 ""Honesty of purpose" could be anything!" only for those who have lost whatever principles they may ever have had, or never had!!! “”Honesty of purpose” could be anything!” only for those who have lost whatever principles they may ever have had, or never had!!!

]]> By: commonsense http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-306 commonsense Mon, 18 Dec 2006 04:44:27 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-306 no, really, what did you want? What words did you need to hear him say? "Honesty of purpose" could be anything! no, really, what did you want? What words did you need to hear him say? “Honesty of purpose” could be anything!

]]> By: Nancy Cleveland http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-305 Nancy Cleveland Mon, 18 Dec 2006 02:40:06 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-305 What did I want from him? No less than he gave years before "back then" and that debacle...honesty of purpose. What did I want from him? No less than he gave years before “back then” and that debacle…honesty of purpose.

]]> By: Perry http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-304 Perry Mon, 18 Dec 2006 02:30:11 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-304 An honorable person who disagrees in principle with the policy of his boss should resign rather than to implement the policy. Powell did not resign. Now it is too late for him to make an impact against the flawed Bush Iraq policy, because he has no credibility. I will always wonder what the outcome would have been had Powell resigned and spoken his mind before we went to war. Powell was a good man who made of himself a tragic figure because he was unable to break himself out from the loyalty mold that is pounded into members of the military. Loyalty has limits, or said another way, most people have a price, a limit, above which they can be bought off from their in-grained principles. Bush bought him off by exploiting his loyalty to his CiC. Which is why, Nancy, you and I are so disappointed in this man Colin Powell. He was bought off; nothing he says now can let him off the hook on which he has hanged himself. Like I said, it's tragic. We expected much more than what we got. Has Powell even apologized? An honorable person who disagrees in principle with the policy of his boss should resign rather than to implement the policy. Powell did not resign. Now it is too late for him to make an impact against the flawed Bush Iraq policy, because he has no credibility.

I will always wonder what the outcome would have been had Powell resigned and spoken his mind before we went to war.

Powell was a good man who made of himself a tragic figure because he was unable to break himself out from the loyalty mold that is pounded into members of the military. Loyalty has limits, or said another way, most people have a price, a limit, above which they can be bought off from their in-grained principles. Bush bought him off by exploiting his loyalty to his CiC.

Which is why, Nancy, you and I are so disappointed in this man Colin Powell. He was bought off; nothing he says now can let him off the hook on which he has hanged himself. Like I said, it’s tragic. We expected much more than what we got. Has Powell even apologized?

]]> By: commonsense http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-302 commonsense Sun, 17 Dec 2006 23:58:03 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2006/12/17/give-me-a-break/#comment-302 Please make your links clickable from now on. What exactly did you want from him? His opposition was well known back then, and eventually led to his leaving the administration. At the end of the day, his advice is given a lot of weight, but his job is to present the case for whatever the President decides. He did his job and decided that when the President was able to find a replacement, he wanted to be replaced. Seems right to me. Please make your links clickable from now on.

What exactly did you want from him? His opposition was well known back then, and eventually led to his leaving the administration. At the end of the day, his advice is given a lot of weight, but his job is to present the case for whatever the President decides. He did his job and decided that when the President was able to find a replacement, he wanted to be replaced. Seems right to me.

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