Powell: Bush, Rumsfeld Did Not Send Enough Troops Into Iraq For Peace...

[kpete]

Colin Powell: Bush, Rumsfeld Did Not Send Enough Troops Into Iraq For Peace...

Powell Says He Urged More Troops for Iraq

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."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060430/ap_on_re_mi_ea/powell_iraq;_ylt=AvBntsagA1EnlUKZ2m2p7Pus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[lostexpectation]

1. It might have been more peaceful not to send any ya think?

h

[babylonsister]

2. Oh yeah; we've been seeing how peaceful it's been

for years now due to the incompetents in office.:sarcasm:

[koopie57]

3. this just pisses me off

Why in the hell is he saying this now after 2,000 plus of our soldiers are dead, millions of Iraqis have met the same fate and the country is ruined. Does it make him feel good, proud? Had he said something before, then he could be proud, but no. He lied and lied and lied and what satisfaction he got from it, I don't know. I wish that now he would keep his damn mouth shut. It means nothing now except maybe eases his conscience. I want this on his conscience until the day he dies and goes to hell.