Powell Tries to Explain 2001 Remarks on Iraq

[Bragi]

"Speaking in Cairo in February 2001, on his first Middle East trip, Powell said that Iraq had not developed "any significant capacity" in weapons of mass destruction and was not able to attack his neighbors with conventional weapons.

A Democratic congressional aide dug out his remarks this week and has circulated them to the media.

Asked why he changed his assessment, Powell said: "I didn't change my assessment... I did not say he (Iraqi President Saddam Hussein) didn't have weapons of mass destruction."

"He was a threat then. The extent of his holdings were yet to be determined. It was early in the administration and the fact of the matter is it was long before 9/11 (the date of the 2001 attacks on the United States)," he added.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3509888

(Note how, in trying to dissemble his way out of his mess, Powell rhetorically, once again, within a single sentence, associates Saddam with 9-11, despite the fact that even the Dissembler-In-Chief has had to retract this particular spectacular lie. These guys just keep doing it.)

[underpants]

1. "early in the administration"? Weren't they briefed?

Oh yeah that's righthtey were and they ignored everything they were told because Clinton couldnt' possibly have been right about one single thing. Of course this is part of the reason 9/11 happened.

The only defense that he could put up and be reasonable would be....the truth and they aren't to found of that. Remember pre-9/11 when Powell was basically told to go sit in the corner and the "Where's Colin?" questions were circulating?

[Beetwasher]

2. He's so friggin' busted it's incredible

What a putz...

[Guaranteed]

3. He didn't explain his statement, either.

Before he said Iraq wasn't a threat to its neighbors. But, now he's saying they were a threat.

[underpants]

4. But he did mention the word "threat" now didn't he?

Which means that he was implying it.

:eyes:

[ixion]

5. blah, blah, blah

face it, you're busted, Powell.

His brief tour on the Dark Side will be the end of his career, IMO, unless they're holding a desk for him at the Carlyle Group.

[jayfish]

6. So I Guess That After 9/11...

Saddams’ own weapons (not Iraqs' mind you) just started to materialize. Christ, I can't even think up a funny quip based on that garbage. It's funny enough on its' own.

Jay

[phillybri]

7. I'll call bullshits on that one!!!

Asshole....

[edzontar]

8. POWELL LIED. He came before the world....

AND LIED and LIED REPEATEDLY.

He is no better or different from Von Ribbentrop--and shoould share the same fate.

ARREST. TRIAL. CONVICTION for War Crimes. Treason. The Works.

[thebigidea]

9. Colin Powell's got the colon power!

what a deft touch for complete bullshit.

"moderating influence" - ahahahha!

[The Magistrate]

10. For So Accomplished A Liar As Powell, That Is Damned Poor Gruel

Never forget this reptile got his career by being the Headquarters flack who denied there had been any such thing as a massacre at My Lai.

These remarks should be shouted from the housetops: they make it clear the criminals of the '00 Coup knew going in there was no danger of chemical or biological or nuclear weaponry in the hands of Hussein, and prove beyond shadow of doubt their every statement in pumping up this war was a concious lie.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

"There will be a holiday in our street soon!"

[UpInArms]

11. Welcome to DU Bragi!

great post!

I enjoyed this paragraph enormously:

"He (Saddam Hussein) has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors. So in effect, our policies have strengthened the security of the neighbors of Iraq, and these are policies that we are going to keep in place," he added.

[Bragi]

13. Thanks for the welcome...

and I'm pleased to be here.

- B

[Nottingham]

12. He is so Toast!

:nopity: Its the same song! I didn't say that!

[IndianaGreen]

14. Impeach the sonofabitch!

They all lied, and people died!

Impeach them all!

[Cappurr]

15. Despite Powell's record of denial in Vietnam

Most Americans had forgotten and really respected the guy particularly after the Gulf War. He has lost all respect both at home and abroad. Harry belefonte called him a "house ni--er" when he joined the Bush II administration and was excoriated for it. But I think Belefonte was right. And I am extremely disappointed in Powell

[Malva Zebrina]

16. So, what's in it for Powell?

Another Bush loser, that's all. A fake and a wannabe--a man devoid of any moral or ethical responsibility as far as I can see. A tortured man with also, perhaps, a tortured family. How pathetic he seems. Sad and pathetic, I give him no points at all. May he go down with the rest of them--there is nothing here to admire.

[DrBB]

17. Spin parsing--Goody! Let's play....

Asked why he changed his assessment, Powell said: "I didn't change my assessment... I did not say he (Iraqi President Saddam Hussein) didn't have weapons of mass destruction."

Gosh, but you did though, General. Here ya go:
"And frankly they {the sanctions} have worked. He has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. " http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2001/933.htm

Pretty unequivocal I'd say. Not much wiggle room even for a Repuke. Oh and here's a juicy bit from today's denial:

"The extent of his holdings were yet to be determined."

Yes! Exactly! And so WHEN exactly did we "determine" that he had any WMD, hmmm? Cuz according to today's reports, the ever-deferred Kay report STILL says his possession of same is "yet to be determined." What changed your mind, such as it is--the yellowcake story? Tony's "dossier"? The list of items you presented before the UN with such high dudgeon, recently utterly debunked, item by item in the AP? Which one, Mr Sec'y of State General Powell sir?

"It was early in the administration"

Oooh, nice one. "I'm the new guy, I'm not supposed to know anything." That your excuse? The ultra-competent, "adult" Bush admin's most senior guy (in some respects) after the POTUS* himself, but you weren't expected to be up to speed yet? But apparently that doesn't feel good enough to you--a little craven, maybe?--so you tack on the mandatory reference as a following clause:

"...and the fact of the matter is it was long before 9/11"

Well, sure, boy howdy! But um, didn't your boss and Condi and Rummy and like everybody under the GOP sun (except Cheney) last week say in no uncertain terms there was no connection between Saddam and 9/11? So I'm afraid we'll just have to rule this as irrelevant. Unless you're planning on joining Cheney in that little dinghy your *president just cast adrift?

And the absolute capper--the one that, rhetorically speaking, just SCREAMS "I don't have an answer/dunno what I'm saying/help get me outta here/where's Ari when you need him"--the absolute brass donut: the un-be-LIEV-ably lame clause with which he rounds off this little bon bon of bullshit:

"...and the fact of the matter is it was long before 9/11 (the date of the 2001 attacks on the United States)," he added.

Gotta just love the dry humor of the journalist. "He added." Yup. Just in case, y'know, we had missed the significance of 9/11 'n' stuff. Cuz he's, like, {swallow, sweat forming on upper lip} the Sec'y of State 'n' stuff, an he's privy to all kinds of important inside information like that. Like, y'know, what date the terrorist attack happened. The one we generally refer to, as, well, {gulp} 9/11. 'N' stuff.

Geez, you woudn't think such an imposing, authoritative and powerful black man could do such a nifty imitation of that quintissential adamsappleswallowing nervous white geek,

Don Knotts

would you?

[The Magistrate]

18. Excellent Work, Doctor!

[stevedeshazer]

19. Read the memo

9/11 changed everything! </sarcasm>

[The Magistrate]

20. For The Evening Crowd