Powell endorses Obama, but it doesn’t make up for his mistakes
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced his support for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on Sunday. Even though Powell has been a long-time player in the Republican party, his endorsement of Obama does not come as a shock following months of rumors that Powell would speak at the DNC in August. Now, most Obama-obsessed superfans (aka college students) love this kind of endorsement — a former Bush Cabinet member, retired general — but does Obama really want this endorsement?
Powell was one of the chief reasons the U.S. invaded Iraq. On Feb. 5, 2003, he gave a speech to the United Nations Security Council, citing “evidence” that Saddam Hussein in fact did have weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Later, Powell himself said, “It turned out that the sourcing was inaccurate and wrong and in some cases, deliberately misleading.”
Deliberately misleading is exactly the problem with what Obama calls “politics as usual.” It is almost insulting for Powell to endorse Obama. Although Powell didn’t return to the Bush Administration when Dubya was re-elected in ‘04, Powell has not paid his dues.
It is impossible to say that Powell was responsible for going to war, but he had a big part in it. His careless and deceitful ways have killed thousands of American soldiers and Iraqis. He may have apologized, but that is simply not good enough.
Massaging CIA intel to support George W. Bush’s obsession with invading the Middle East is not something that should be forgotten, especially by the huge amount of young voters who were only in middle or high school when these things happened.
But maybe he’s being deliberately misleading — he might actually be voting for McCain.
Powel was not “one of the chief reasons for invading Iraq” He was chosen by the administration to make the case for war precisely because he was an initial skeptic of it, but as the consumate career soldier followed through with the task his country asked of him. He could have dissociated his name from the venture, preserved your opinion of him, and left someone less skillful to try and build an international coalition for a path we were headed anyway as determined by our president. He did not. The Powel doctrine of overwhelming force was also ignored at the onset of the war, instead with the US trying to force peace for a bargain that probably cost american lives. I’m far more insulted by this simplistic view of a great American servant than you are of his endorsement.
Purple Pride for Powel
October 20, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I agree with Purple Pride for Powell. This article doesn’t really make any sense. Yes, Powell made the case to the UN. As the Secretary of State, that was his job.
By the way: “…but does Obama really want this endorsement?”
Uh, the answer is yes.
Brian Rosenthal
October 20, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Chex Mix thinks Brian Rosenthal is living the dream.
Chex Mix
October 21, 2008 at 12:15 am