Powell Defends Diplomatic Role

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 — This is another season of frustration for Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.

After a difficult year of trying with mixed success to placate American allies over the Iraq war, Mr. Powell is recovering from surgery while former Secretary of State James A. Baker III has been representing the Bush administration in high-level meetings in Europe on Iraq's future.

When Saddam Hussein was captured, Mr. Powell was notified not by President Bush but by Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser. The breakthrough with Libya was announced at the White House by Mr. Bush last Friday, while the secretary of state was recuperating at home.

As he enters the final year of President Bush's current term in office, while refusing to address the question of whether he would serve during a second term, Mr. Powell says, however, that he is more determined than ever to counter the perception that diplomacy in general — and his own role in particular — have been marginalized in an administration obsessed with war and terrorism.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2003/12/23/politics/23POWE.html?hp

[xray s]

1. He is persona non grata

Ever since he sold his soul and did his kabuki act at the UN to get Mikey the plum job of dishing out the media spoils, the man has no more use to the BFEE.

[candy331]

2. Sorry Colin

you are no longer of use, please pick up your pink slip and pretend that you were not shown the door. Perhaps you should have run for that high office in your own right and kept your dignity and respect instead of flushing it down the toilet with this regime in office. Too bad, as many have said you sold your soul to the devil. Also as you close the door on your way out please alert Ms Rice that she will be next.

[young_at_heart]

3. Was Harry Belafonte right after all?

Colin was the very first person "on display" by Bush. He knew at that time if he told America that Powell was his choice for Sec. of State it would be a good PR move....and it was. Colin has never realized that he has be used since Day 1.