Powell on Iraq: 'It looks like, smells like and ... is a civil war'

[sabra]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06341/744313-84.stm

Powell on Iraq: 'It looks like, smells like and ... is a civil war'

On the same day that the Iraq Study Group offered its assessment on the deteriorating conditions in the Middle East, former Secretary of State Colin Powell called the conflict a civil war, joining a growing chorus of those who eschew the more benign-sounding "sectarian violence" terminology preferred by the Bush administration.

"It looks like, smells like and, in my judgment, is a civil war," the retired four-star general said last night. "People have argued with me that it shouldn't be called a civil war. Call it what you want, but what I'm looking at on the ground rapidly undercutting the prospects for success" in Iraq.

In the same breath, Mr. Powell also said that the United States needs to make it clear to Iraq's leaders, its military and its police force that they must quickly learn to stand on their own feet, and that the country's fate is up to Iraqis, not America's troops.

"Sooner or later, we'll have to start drawing down," he said. "My own judgment is that sometime in the very near future, next year -- early next year -- there has to be an understanding that some U.S. troops will have to start to leave." The line drew applause from the packed house at Heinz Hall, where Mr. Powell gave an hour-long lecture as an invited guest of the Robert Morris University speakers series.

[RethugAssKicker]

1. He makes it sound like we were there at the request of the Iraqi

people.... and now we've done all we could. It's now time for the Iraqis to do it themselves.

You should be Noriegas cellmate Powell!

[Nite Owl]

2. Yeah we go in there and pull the rug out from

under them, kill hundreds of thousands of their men, women and children, drive them further into poverty and ruin what is left of their infrastructure after a decade of making them suffer and then it's their fault! People are calling this one of worse foreign policy blunders in our history but it's one of worse crimes against humanity. * did it but it bears our name.

[pokercat999]

13. He gave up all his dignity when he got on his knees to

King George and Rummy. No Mr. Powell, you too are a war criminal and your previous history cannot mitigate that fact.

[MasonJar]

3. The US has virtually destroyed their homes and their lives. To

paraphrase an earlier Powell dogma. "We broke it; we own it." These Washington rethugs have done everything wrong (on purpose of course.) The Iraqis should have been earning money rebuilding their country with US dollars, instead of the manna being sent tp Cheney/Bush proteges. Have I said lately that these Bushistas are white trash personified?

[sam sarrha]

4. actually the conflict between the Muslim factions is a 1300 year old family feud. the slaughter will

never stop.

it seems that when Mohamed died, his families squared off and started a civil war for the power the Prophet had acquired. at this point it does not look like it will end unless the Dumb shit president unites them against us with this stupid and ill conceived or better ..ill contrived war.

[RethugAssKicker]

8. Sunnis and Shites were intermarrying and living quite harmoniously

before we brought death and destruction there.

[BikeWriter]

12. Yep, that's what I've heard from friends there.

[sam sarrha]

15. i know that.. i was refering to the power vaccum created by the death of Mahumed that created the

two groups, it is only the political power grabbers today still that cause all the trouble..

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. And what was he doing in Feb '03?

Cheerleading for the war. That's where.

[Art_from_Ark]

7. "I hold in my hand, a vial of anthrax..."

[pinniped]

6. Wait, it's not a civil war until the prezinut POS* says it is.

.

[oasis]

9. You sold out your country Colin. Take your 30 pieces of silver and exit.

Funny you turn up after the tide has turned against your puppet master.:puke:

[young_at_heart]

10. Harry Belafonte was right about him

I heard him say on Charlie Rose in 2003, "I serve at the pleasure of my president". He cared more about politics.

[Amonester]

11. Yup. And "Them, The People" be damned.

I'm pretty sure that one crossed this criminal's mind. :puke:

[Voltaire99]

14. Spoken by a collaborator.

Back to the nightmare of your conscience, Powell.

[Trillo]

16. ISG: "grave and deteriorating"

Perhaps when Powell joined the Bush administration he was thrown into a political sphere for which he was unprepared.

In trading, there is the concept of cutting one's losses. If one is trading an instrument that has financial leverage, such as a futures contract or margin account, losses can far exceed any amounts in the account and position. When such a position is held and price is running opposite to the bet, holding on to that position in the hope that it will reverse is usually financial suicide.

Perhaps what Powell is saying is militarily similar to that. I once read many years ago that he was considered one of the brightest 'military strategists' the U.S. ever had.

This other LBN story gives more of his current thoughts:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2644286