The Condensed Bob Woodward

[kalian]

http://slate.msn.com/id/2099277/

Colin Powell vs. Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld

Page 25: Much of Woodward's book involves the administration's efforts to marginalize, or completely ignore, Colin Powell. After Rumsfeld and others raise the idea of striking Iraq in response to 9/11, Powell tells Gen. Hugh Shelton, "What the hell! What are these guys thinking about? Can't you get these guys back in the box?"

Page 182-83: Powell reveals that he detests Rumsfeld's circuitous manner of speaking—"One would think …"; "Some would say …"—which he dubs "third-person passive once removed."

Page 164-66: Cheney tells a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention on Aug. 26, 2002, that there's "no doubt" Saddam has weapons of mass destruction. Powell goes ballistic at the suggestion.

Page 175: Powell fears that Cheney is losing his mild manner. As the veep presses for quick action against Iraq, "Powell detected a kind of fever in Cheney. He was not the steady, unemotional rock that he had witnessed a dozen years earlier during the run-up to the Gulf War. The vice president was beyond hell-bent for action against Saddam."

Page 269-70: Bush informs Powell of his decision to go to war after he informs Prince Bandar. After conferring with the president, Powell is "semidespondent." (Read Timothy Noah's "Chatterbox" column for more on the timing of Bush's decision.)

..more..

I think that we're underestimating Powell. I think he's caught within
the wolves' lair.

[toddzilla]

1. please...

Then he should leave and blow the whistle..

he's still a party to this, and he did it in front of the UN and the world.

[Torgo4]

2. Tommy Franks' Inspirational Profanities

+++Being a former Artilleryman myself, I always liked Franks--The man with a face only momma could love. But these gems of wisdom seal the deal:

Tommy Franks' Inspirational Profanities

Page 115: Franks to lethargic commanders before the Iraq war: "This is fucking serious. You know, if you guys think this is not going to happen, you're wrong. You need to get off your ass."

Page 118: To the Joint Chiefs: "You Title X motherfuckers!"

Page 281: On Douglas Feith, the Pentagon's undersecretary for policy: "I have to deal with the fucking stupidest guy on the face of the earth almost every day."

[sjgman9]

3. Franks should quit

If he really thinks that Feith is the "fucking stupidest guy" on the face of the earth, he should quit and blab

[Torgo4]

4. He DID Quit!

He retired last year.

I hope he blabs. I'm still waiting on Shelton to spill the Pre-9/11 beans on Condi "No one could have imagined using airplanes as missiles" incompetence.
Retired General Wayne Downing (former Cmdr US Spec Opns Command) quit after less than a year of dealing with her dumass civilian incompetence!

[amandabeech]

5. In this context, what is "Title X"? n/t

[0007]

7. What a guy!! Just cuz he can hold his mud and talk tough?

But I guess that's what generals are for, 'eh?

[jpgray]

6. If anything, this is to innoculate Powell against any disaster (nt)