(Playwright Sir David) Hare: I was wrong about Powell. He lied

[sabra]

http://books.guardian.co.uk/hay2006/story/0,,1785640,00.html

Hare: I was wrong about Powell. He lied

· Playwright explains role reversal in Stuff Happens
· Politics of Iraq war like 'Shakespearean tragedy'


Sir David Hare changed the Colin Powell character in his play about the run-up to the Iraq war between productions, because he became convinced that the former US secretary general, far from being an honest broker, had not told the truth.

In the National Theatre production of Stuff Happens two years ago, Mr Powell was "represented as a liberal hero", Sir David told the Guardian Hay festival. "In the (subsequent) US production he was a tragic hero. I now believe that Powell was lying when he presented (the weapons of mass destruction) evidence to the UN.

"This is, I admit, very contentious, and is in the face of repeated denials by Powell," he added. "But I think he had grave reservations about whether the 45 minutes claim was true ... he was tricked into going to the UN by George Bush."

Sir David also told the festival how Stuff Happens had encountered "mysterious trouble". At the National Theatre, he said, "it was playing to full houses, had brilliant reviews, and was taken off. I was promised it would be revived, and it never was. I have never been given a proper explanation. I was told, 'It will be out of date next year.'"

[tuvor]

1. You know what really pisses me off about so many people like this?

They're smarter than me, but I fucking knew everything about bush's war of choice was nothing but the finest bullshit. Including powell's fairytale presentation to the UN.

All I did was care enough to decide for myself.

It ain't hard, Sir Whoeverthefuckyouare.

[TroglodyteScholar]

2. Amen!

I was just a dumbass college kid when Powell sold the Bush Co. Snake Oil (good fer war ails ya), and I saw through it... As a matter of fact, I had a bit of trust for Colin until that day. But what did I know, I was just a smartass knowitall kid.

[rosesaylavee]

3. We have ready access to the internet -

unfortunately, there are many luddites out there that would never know how to access the internet, let alone turn on a computer. That said, I don't know this old coot - but sounds like he is fighting for truth and bucking the system.

I say good for him... he's fighting where and when he can and is passing truth on when he figured it out... and taking risks to his livelihood to do so.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. (Playwrite) Hare: I was wrong about Powell. He lied

May 30, 2006

Sir David Hare changed the Colin Powell character in his play about the run-up to the Iraq war between productions, because he became convinced that the former US secretary general, far from being an honest broker, had not told the truth.

In the National Theatre production of Stuff Happens two years ago, Mr Powell was "represented as a liberal hero", Sir David told the Guardian Hay festival. "In the US production he was a tragic hero. I now believe that Powell was lying when he presented evidence to the UN.

"This is, I admit, very contentious, and is in the face of repeated denials by Powell," he added. "But I think he had grave reservations about whether the 45 minutes claim was true ... he was tricked into going to the UN by George Bush."

<snip>

Sir David likens the background to the Iraq war to a "Shakespearean tragedy", because "conflict between the politicians' true intentions and their purported intentions became greater and greater. The faultline in Blair's thinking still gets wider because he doesn't actually believe what he professes to believe. Shakespeare tells us in plays like Macbeth that this scenario can never improve."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1785510,00.html

[rock]

5. Interesting

"represented as a liberal hero" because (it was assumed) he told the truth. So that's what it takes to be liberal. No wonder the Repukes find liberals so distasteful.

[sendero]

6. Powell was not tricked..

... he is smarter on his worst day than Bush on his best.

He capitulated, simple as that - and as far as I'm concerned his recent mea culpas, while not directly admitting it, say enough to know he knows he lied.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Powell is a wimp

A yes man.