Powell worried about post-election Iraq

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050109/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqpowell&cid=1514&ncid=1480


WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) admitted he is worried about the future of Iraq (news - web sites) but said the United States could consider its mission there accomplished once a representative government and an Iraqi security force are in place.


Asked Sunday if he was concerned about elections deepening the conflict in Iraq, Powell said: "I think we all are worried about what's going to happen after the elections. But the elections are a necessary next step."


The January 30 vote will neither end the insurgency nor heal divisions between Shiite and Sunni Muslims, but "those dangers don't go away by postponing or putting off an election," Powell said, according to an advance transcript of an interview with ABC's "This Week" program.


"We have to move in a direction where the Iraqi people have the opportunity to choose how they will be governed. What is the alternative to no election? Just continue going along with an appointed government? No, we need this election," Powell said.


He refused to consider a scenario in which the insurgency escalates due to Sunni Muslims feeling shut out of the election.

[meganmonkey]

1. What's he still doing here?

C'mon, I want to see what profound observations Condi makes about this!!!! :P

(Yes, I know this isn't a laughing matter. I giggle when I'm nervous. And I am VERY nervous about Condi being our SecOfState.)

[MSgt213]

7. Profound observations? From Condi? LOL.

[AlbizuX]

22. she can start by admitting...

that her degree and field of expertise (Sovietology) is obsolete...

she can then move on to admitting she was a total idiot in not connecting the dots to the terrorists' plan to use airplanes as weapons.

She can finally admit that she's, like rapper Immortal Technique says, "just a 21st century Sally Hemmings".

I can't wait for the day that her secret affair with Bush is revealed.

[NMDemDist2]

2. he can just worry from his easy chair pretty soon n/t

[koopie57]

12. you are so right

fat ass colon (? hummm) can sit at home and watch this all while sipping on a beer and having some muchies. Worry worry worry. But his colon isn't over there dodging bullets, and watching his kids get their butts blown off. I fear this will be a blood bath before, during and after.

Does anyone else find themselves struggling to hang on to reality? I am really having a hard time not to just start screaming. I don't mean to be dramatic, but it is getting harder and harder and I can't seem to stop it. To think of all those Iraqi's coming home to nothing and then hannity or other regressives refer to THEM as barbarians is just too much.

[AlbizuX]

21. i feel ya dawg....

don't worry...they will get their day of judgment. The Nazis and Germans did too...and if we don't get it here, God's waiting for them as well...

Keep your senses, and keep being humanitarian.

[rfranklin]

3. Gee, Colon, you weren't concerned when you lied to the UN...

why worry now?

[The Zanti Regent]

16. He could care less about my only child

Colinoreo killed my only child. But that's OK with him.

I'd like to ask Colinoreo why Mikey isn't on the front lines. Is Mikey a chicken just like the old man?

[UpInArms]

4. and under the "guidance" of this mal-administration

this will happen on a cold day in hell.

the United States could consider its mission there accomplished once a representative government and an Iraqi security force are in place

[MSgt213]

11. Let see first it was protect the world by finding WMD in Iraq. Then it

was liberate the Iraqi people. Now we will settle for whatever suckers who can survive assassination from the shit we just left laying around, long enough just to make it through elections that will be bigger shams then the ones held by the dictator we replaced. After all the money and not least, all the lives and all the lies we must be willing to settle for a lot less because we have held no one accountable. Even worse their are people who know damn well this shit is wrong but because they hate so much, they tolerate it.

[hadrons]

5. but, but ... your mastah is telling us the elections will fix everything

go Tom it up in your mansion you scumbag

[0007]

6. Powell should be worrying about his own country doing the

right thing.

[primavera]

8. Gosh, I can't imagine why

You don't suppose it could have anything to do with the fact that Iraq isn't even close to having the institutional infrastructure to conduct elections that would be even remotely representative, do you? Of the 120,000 trained election workers needed for the election, we've got what? Maybe 10,000 trained at this point? What percentage of polling places are secure enough to enable voters to cast ballots at them? Maybe 20%? You don't suppose Powell might know what the Iraqis have known all along, that this was going to be nothing but a sham election put on for the media circus, do you?

[still_one]

9. screw powell

who give a f**k what he thinks

he had his opportunity for courage and he backed down

jerk

[Massachusetts]

10. Colin, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[AlbizuX]

19. no...LET IT

LET IT hit you many goddamn times...

I SO lost respect for this man...

[leesa]

13. Cut and run. Bush is going to pretend he accomplished another mission

"the United States could consider its mission there accomplished once a representative government and an Iraqi security force are in place"

These people are disgraceful.

[u2spirit]

14. U2spirit worried about post "election" U.S.

Go away Colin. No one gives a shit what you think. Not us, not even your own boss.

[BrainRants]

15. Goodbye Colin, you and McCain can compare notes on

where your respect completely evaporated from those of us on the other side of the aisle who thought you possessed integrity.

Enjoy retirement, and thank you for your military service to our country. You can go Cheney yourself on your political service.

[cliss]

17. I can't understand it.

Why is anyone putting a microphone to his mouth? Colon's "job" is done.

Isn't his job officially done this week? Or do we have to endure this fool after he's been replaced?

[AlbizuX]

hmmm revealing...

consider their mission accomplished once a representative government is established and an Iraqi security force is in place.

Notice that it doesn't say a good government, just representative...

I think this election will mark the American exit....they're bolting Iraq.

[VegasWolf]

18. Powell then followed up with the statement, "The sky is blue" n/t

[Ilsa]

20. Didn't Frist say he was cautiously optimistic? The Administration

of Low Expectations is at it again!

[underpants]

23. Powell isn't even believeing (hyping) the spin anymore

I hate to say it but the "insurgents" are there to stay and the election isn't going to change things just like Usay& Qusay's deaths, Saddam's capture, the founding of the legislature, the CPA hauling a** or any of the other "turning points" didn't.

[MichiganVote]

24. Shut up Powell. We're not all stupid.