Colin Powell Advised Obama to "Take Your Time"

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/11/11/powell_advised_obama_to_take_your_time.html

Powell Advised Obama to "Take Your Time"

In a radio interview this morning, retired Gen. Colin Powell says he advised President Obama "not to be rushed into a decision" on sending additional troops to Afghanistan " because this one is the decision that will have consequences for years to come."

Said Powell: "This is a very difficult one for him. And it isn't just a one-time decision. This is the decision that will have consequences for the better part of his administration. So Mr. President, don't get pushed by the left to do nothing; don't get pushed by the right to do everything. You take your time and you figure it out. You're the commander-in-chief and this is what you were elected for."

[Bonn1997]

1. Rush is not gonna be happy about this!

[VolcanoJen]

20. I was thinking the same!

Heh!

[Cha]

2. So much to consider..I would imagine..but

cbs has a report on here recently saying he had already decided to send 40,000 more troops and so many bought it..lock stock and barrel.

[LakeSamish706]

3. I would like to see President Obama get rid of Gates and hire Powell as SecDef. n/t

[tblue]

4. Uh-unh. Colin Powell shot his wad at the UN and the coverup of My Lai.

He stayed with the Bush Admin until AFTER the 2004 election. He could have turned the political tide when it mattered. He may be right in this advice to Obama and he may be trying to redeem himself. Fine. But I'd rather have Obama get input from someone with a modicum of integrity than from some neocon sock puppet with the blood of the Iraq war on his hands.

[ecstatic]

11. True. Powell gave good advice, but I don't believe in second chances

when you f*ck up on that large a scale.

[babylonsister]

5. I like Gates.

:shrug: He's not rushing into anything either.

[Captain Hilts]

8. BINGO. nt

[Captain Hilts]

6. Gates is doing an excellent job. Powell is a tool. nt

[Life Long Dem]

9. It's difficult for Powel to go beyond this point in the Bush administration as a tool.

But If that's possible for him, I'd like to know his answer to the current health care reform bill. Would he have the liberals and the RW's in the same position he does in the Afghan war?

Sorry I just have the health care bill on my mind. :hi:

[Captain Hilts]

17. Keep that focus!!!!

[Forkboy]

7. I'm kind of meh on Gates, but I'd take him over Powell anyday.

Powell was a coward when we needed bravery more than ever.

[dontfollowmeb]

12. +1 on Gates over Powell

[LakeSamish706]

10. The thing about Powell though is he has had the hands on at the Pentagon...

Would love to see someone go in and clean that mess up.

[Knight Hawk]

13. Scary

It is worrisome that Powell has to warn Obama about being pushed by anyone.Really strong leaders are not pushed ,advised yes,pushed no. Obama comes across as weak and the world will eat him alive if he does not do a 180.Look at the middle east situation ,the wheels are coming off the peace process .The arabs are quickly losing faith in Obama after seeing Netanyahu stare him down over the settlement issue.

[babylonsister]

14. Obama has listened to a lot of people, and he will be making up his

own mind given the facts he's privy to. That's totally unlike the previous wh resident. I'm glad he's taking his time and considering all options.

[Knight Hawk]

16. Very low bar

To compare him to George Bush is a very low standard .If it were not for his name George Bush would have been driving a bread truck.I apologize in advance to bread truck drivers.

[akbacchus_BC]

19. Welcome to DU and I hope you enjoy being here as much as I do!

[eleny]

15. I'm so damned delighted

kr

[akbacchus_BC]

18. BSister, you are such a gift on here for politics, not to mention a true

President Obama supporter as I am but Colin Powell needs to shut the fuck up. He caused the quagmire in Iraq, that mother fucker went to the UN, lied through his teeth and caused thousands of deaths both on the Iraq side and the soldiers in the US. He needs to shut the fuck up and crawl away!

Amen

[harun]

21. The Left doesn't want him to do nothing, the Left wants a pull out and

a move to a humanitarian relief mission.