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Jim McLaughlin
Citizen
Username: Jmclaugh
Post Number: 103
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 6:49 am: | 
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Sunday , April 30, 2006
LONDON — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell advised President Bush before the Iraq war to send more troops to the country, but the administration did not follow his recommendation, Powell said in an interview broadcast Sunday.
Critics accuse Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld of failing to send enough soldiers to secure the peace in Iraq after the invasion three years ago.
Powell said he gave the advice to now retired Gen. Tommy Franks, who developed and executed the Iraq invasion plan, and Rumsfeld while the president was present.
"I made the case to Gen. Franks and Secretary Rumsfeld before the president that I was not sure we had enough troops," Powell said in an interview on Britain's ITV television, according to a transcript released by the network. "The case was made, it was listened to, it was considered. ... A judgment was made by those responsible that the troop strength was adequate."
Powell, who served as chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 1991 Gulf War, is known for his belief in deploying decisive force with a clear exit strategy in any conflict.
"The president's military advisers felt that the size of the force was adequate, they may still feel that years later. Some of us don't, I don't," Powell said. "In my perspective, I would have preferred more troops but you know, this conflict is not over."
"At the time the president was listening to those who were supposed to be providing him with military advice," Powell said. "They were anticipating a different kind of immediate aftermath of the fall of Baghdad, it turned out to be not exactly as they had anticipated."
Rumsfeld has rejected criticism that he had sent too few U.S. troops to Iraq, saying that Franks and two other generals who oversaw the campaign's planning — John Abizaid and George Casey — had determined the overall number of troops, and that he and Bush agreed with them. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1244
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 11:31 pm: |
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Powell covered up the Mai Lai massacre as the C.O. of the Americal Division, and he is continuing his dis-service to this day. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 1944
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 7:31 am: |
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Too little, too late. A man of integrity would have resigned at the time. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1249
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 10:44 pm: |
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Like Rand Beers. He resigned. After nearly 2 decades as WH Terrorism expert.
But not Powell. Montagnard, I agree 100%.
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notehead
Supporter
Username: Notehead
Post Number: 3226
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 2:16 pm: |
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Resigning just prior to his "proof" speech at the U.N. would have been a good time. Could have come out looking like something other than a total lackey. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1257
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 8:55 pm: |
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A man could retire on a move with that much integrity. But he didn't do it. Whats worse in my syses, is that he has the shadow Mai Lai over him. SO thats twice history might see him in a negative light. And folks might be far less likely to remember that very smoothly run operation know as the Persian Gulf War. Or the Powell Doctrine.
John Elway may well be remembered as winning back to back Superbowls.
A media event of Powell making his case to the public, may have stopped the War. Powell may have been given a "60 Minutes" segment, or 2. Or some forum that would have made an impact. Powell has written his own legacy. And its an unfortunate one. |
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