Someone gave me free tix to see Colin Powell tomorrow. What should I ask?

[robertpaulsen]

Colin Powell is speaking at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion tomorrow. Normally I would blow off such an event, but since I don't have to pay, I thought I might as well attend and see if he has any more regrets about his time as Secretary of State for Dumbya. I'm trying to think of a good question, but I'm having trouble deciding whether to ask him something related to the Iraq War, the Plame outing, or the confrontation with Iran.

Anyone else with any ideas? I'm sure most of you probably think it's a total waste of time, but I'm going anyway, unless he starts praising the prick. Then I would walk out LOUDLY.

[rainy]

1. Ask him if he ever feels remorse for the people who had to die

because of his cowardice.

[robertpaulsen]

5. Thanks!

I like that angle. If he's genuinely remorseful, his face should show it before his words do.

But if he gets defensive, I'll know he's still a coward.

[GrumpyGreg]

2. I'd stick with Iraq !

[skipos]

3. I think it is a good idea to go and

ask some questions.

[cynatnite]

4. I would be curious to know what he has to say about Valerie Plame n/t

[MADem]

16. What is your connection to the VP matter? Have you testified to the

Grand Jury? You are free to tell us what you said--so, General, what DID you tell them???

[marmar]

6. Why'd he do it?...

If he knew if the stuff he'd be presenting to the UN was utter bullshit, why'd he do it? Why not just resign from the administration? Why destroy his credibility and sell a phoney war to the world?

[Liberty Belle]

7. How do we stop Bush from nuking Iran?

[TexasLawyer]

14. Good question!

I vote for this one!

[demosincebirth]

8. Ask him if he still thinks the information he gave to the UN, about WMDs

in Iraq, was true

[shenmue]

9. "Did you think that anthrax gag was really going to work?"

:crazy:

[Octafish]

10. Wilkerson: UN WMD speech was ''lowest point'' in his life...

...How do you feel now, knowing you were duped by Bush and Tenet and the rest?

What kind of report would you give now?

Former aide: Powell WMD speech 'lowest point in my life'

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell presents the case that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction in 2003.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005 Posted: 1444 GMT (2244 HKT)

(CNN) -- A former top aide to Colin Powell says his involvement in the former secretary of state's presentation to the United Nations on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was "the lowest point" in his life.

"I wish I had not been involved in it," says Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, a longtime Powell adviser who served as his chief of staff from 2002 through 2005. "I look back on it, and I still say it was the lowest point in my life."

Wilkerson is one of several insiders interviewed for the CNN Presents documentary "Dead Wrong -- Inside an Intelligence Meltdown." The program pieced together the events leading up to the mistaken WMD intelligence that was presented to the public. A presidential commission that investigated the pre-war WMD intelligence found much of it to be "dead wrong."

Powell's speech, delivered on February 5, 2003, made the case for the war by presenting U.S. intelligence that purported to prove that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Wilkerson says the information in Powell's presentation initially came from a document he described as "sort of a Chinese menu" that was provided by the White House.

"(Powell) came through the door ... and he had in his hands a sheaf of papers, and he said, 'This is what I've got to present at the United Nations according to the White House, and you need to look at it,'" Wilkerson says in the program. "It was anything but an intelligence document. It was, as some people characterized it later, sort of a Chinese menu from which you could pick and choose."

CONTINUED...

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/19/powell.un/

The above's a friendly reminder. You'll have better questions than any I can come up with, robertpaulsen. Knock 'em out!

[robertpaulsen]

19. Fantastic ammo, Octafish!

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more his performance at the UN is what's really burning me up about Powell. I wish I could ask him about this to his face, but the Speakers Series is set up so that the questions are submitted in advance in writing. But asking about this, along with asking for his personal feelings, such as remorse that he might have, is definitely the way to go.

I'll be sure to let you know exactly how I word the question, and if he is asked.

[Octafish]

27. ''Why did you build a phony case for war at the United Nations?''

Open-ended questions work real well because they elicit a response that's often more of an explanation. "Why" and "How" and "How come" make nice conversation starters. "What," too.

"What made you think there was a tie between Saddam Hussein and 9-11?"

Pros steer clear of questions that can be answered "Yes" or "No" when going for good quotes. Same for making the long wind-up before getting to the question.

Still, if the rap is right -- like the brave realtor that told Bush to his face he was ashamed of his government -- it gets a mighty message across to the audience.

"...Mobile chemical laboratories? We might have those, but a broke-down Iraq? Anthrax viles, ready for delivery via RC flying drones? Gee. Maybe the Pentagon can afford to pay $2 million a pop for those, but I doubt Saddam's got the scratch after a decade's worth of sanctions..."


Thanks for the kind words, robertpaulsen. Can't wait to read your report on what happens.

[0007]

30. Did he know going in the U N Security Council that day

that the information he gave was false?

I'd ask him where learned to act! Because he indeed didn't fool very many people.

[undeterred]

11. Why did you lie to us Colin Powell?

Why did you ruin your integrity for a prick like Bush?

[niyad]

12. if he starts that crap, you COULD just start laughing hysterically, and

then walk out.

I would be tempted to ask him when he sold his soul to evil, starting with his aid in trying to cover up MyLai during vietnam, and then iran-contra. I have never had any respect for the man, he is nothing but a toadying suck-up with NO conscience.

[robertpaulsen]

26. Damn! If only I were asking him questions to his face.

Then I might feel bold enough to ask about My Lai. Unfortunately, all of the questions need to be submitted in advance in writing. I have a feeling that whoever is moderating this would weed any questions that are too controversial.

So I'm leaning toward asking him about his moment of cowardice at the UN. We'll see if that's deemed too controversial or not.

[Gabi Hayes]

28. well, in that case you might as well ask him what color Bush's underwear

is, from all the asskissing he did, cause you KNOW they're not going to submit any questions that actually make him uncomfortable

why not ask him what the definition of "war crime" is under the Geneva Convention, and if believes any of the members of this adminstration's actions might be covered, and what punishment would be suitable

[robertpaulsen]

37. I don't think I'm allowed to write multiple questions, but if I am...

I will probably ask him about that.

The Geneva Convention, not the underwear. :rofl:

[babylonsister]

13. Are you now willing to admit you were wrong, Mr. Powell and,

if so, why don't you?

[WinkyDink]

15. "And exactly what WAS the price of your soul?"

[sam sarrha]

17. how ashamed are you for kissing that stupid white man's ass & lying for him

[Burried News]

18. Ask him how a General reaches a net worth of over 20 million

dollars.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

20. "How much money have you made off this Bush Administration?"

"And, Do you have any regrets?"

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

21. "Or do you laugh all the way to the offshore Banks?"

[mike_c]

22. Iraq....

Read him a selection of his own statements about "we know exactly where the weapons of mass destruction are" and ask him how he could urge the country to war on so flimsy an excuse.

[gristy]

23. As you consider what to ask, also consider the premise of each

question under consideration. I think it would be best if there is some way to ask something good without Powell having to accept a premise which he hasn't up to now accepted. Maybe it isn't possible...

[mitchum]

24. "How do you sleep?"

[handsignals4theblind]

29. Mr Powels propaganda -UN Speech on Zarqawi

Why did Colin Powel make the dubious connections between Al Queda and SAddam?--Why has Zarqawi been linked to all sorts of potential chemical attacks?--ie thwarted attack on Jordan, thwarted Ricin attack on Europe and a letter containing Ricin that was sent to Senator Bill Frist.

This on top of the usual suicide bombings, and connections to Madrid 3-11!

How is this possible?-Mr Powel in his speech before the UN Security Council used this to justify the invasion.

He said Zarqawi worked with Al Ansar making chemical weapons in KUrdistan.A few days after Iraq invasion- Speical Forces and a reporter for the Observer found no such evidence! How could Zarqawi operate a terrorist chemical weapons base in KUrdistan- Northern Iraq----a part that was not controlled by SAddam but by the US and Kurdistan. Al Ansar is an Islamic group that has attacked Kurdish secularists and nothing more. Why is the USA media still using this false story? ----Al Zarqawi is most likely a propaganda fiction created by scum public relations firms like The Rendron Group and the lowest of the low----Hills and Knowlton----1991 fake incubator story about Iraqi soldiers throwing Kuwaiti babys from incubators!- this story won the US SEnate and the US public over-NOTHING MORE THAN LIES!

[Orsino]

25. "What are you doing to atone for lying us into an unprovoked war?"

n/t

[stop the bleeding]

31. Was Plame's name contained within the INR footnote pg84 of the NIE ?

I know that it is classified but what the hell

[Lostnote06]

32. Mention "Ike's" forwarning of corporate militarism?

....ask him if his position as SOS indicated a "militarism" of our foreign policy?....ask him whether or not a no-bid contract is of historical sigificance to his administrations success's.....

[NNN0LHI]

33. Ask him if that vial of anthrax he had at the UN was as phony as he is n/t

[troubleinwinter]

34. Ask if he supports the US joining the ICC

And why not?

[Gatchaman]

35. How does it feel...

to have zero credibility among the american people?

And if you haven't been thrown out yet,

How does it feel to be the man who *could* have been America's first black president?

[robertpaulsen]

36. Here's the first draft of my question:

If your speech to the UN about Iraq's supposed WMDs was truly "the lowest point" in your life, as your Chief of Staff Col. Lawrence Wilkerson says you described it, how come you went through the motion of trying to sell the UN a report filled with cherry-picked intelligence that US News & World Report quotes you as describing as "bullshit", and do you personally feel remorse for those who have died as a result of this tragic mistake?



Any ideas for editing on this question are appreciated. Here's a link to the "bullshit" reference:


Powell's doubts over CIA intelligence on Iraq prompted him to set up secret review

Specialists removed questionable evidence about weapons from draft of secretary of state's speech to UN

Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington and Richard Norton-Taylor
Monday June 2, 2003
The Guardian

Fresh evidence emerged last night that Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, was so disturbed about questionable American intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction that he assembled a secret team to review the information he was given before he made a crucial speech to the UN security council on February 5.

snip

Much of the initial information for Mr Powell's speech to the UN was provided by the Pentagon, where Paul Wolfowitz, the US deputy defence secretary, set up a special unit, the Office of Special Plans, to counter the uncertainty of the CIA's intelligence on Iraq.

Mr Powell's team removed dozens of pages of alleged evidence about Iraq's banned weapons and ties to terrorists from a draft of his speech, US News and World Report says today. At one point, he became so angry at the lack of adequate sourcing to intelligence claims that he declared: "I'm not reading this. This is bullshit," according to the magazine.

Presented with a script for his speech, Mr Powell suspected that Washington hawks were "cherry picking", the US magazine Newsweek also reports today. Greg Theilmann, a recently retired state department intelligence analyst directly involved in assessing the Iraqi threat, says that inside the Bush administration "there is a lot of sorrow and anger at the way intelligence was misused".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,968581,00.html

[Beelzebud]

38. Ask if he has any drawings of Irans underground nuclear facilities.

Seriously. Thats what I would ask. Snarky? You bet!

[watrwefitinfor]

39. Maybe you could ask something with a more positive orientation.

Like: Based on your experience with this cabal, how do you think the country can rid itself of the yoke of the neo-cons and Bush's fascistic and growing dictatorship. Do you think it can be done before it's too late, and he nukes Iran and starts WWIII? And what are the chances the military will be on our side?

I'm sure you could word it better, but you get the drift.

Wat

[robertpaulsen]

48. That's a good approach.

I'll see if I can submit multiple questions. My first choice is asking about his UN presentation; I'm worried he might skirt any questions about Iran by saying he's no longer in the loop. But if I can, I'll try to submit this:

Knowing that most of the same neo-cons who brushed aside your concerns in their rush to attack Iraq are still in power in the Bush administration, what reason can you give us to believe that Bush has learned from the mistakes made in the buildup to the Iraq War so that he will not make the same mistake listening to the same neo-cons now beating the drums for attacking Iran?

[DemGirl7]

40. It's not a waste of time

I don't have a question for you to ask Powell, but take my advice and ask him something that will make him think, and challenge him. Nothing is a waste of time if it challenges the person who is speaking. trust me.

[niyad]

41. you said the questions must be written and submitted in advance, right?

I would simply try to pick up as many of those pieces of paper or whatever that I could (since I would guess that not everyone is going to ask a question) and then try to submit as many of them as I could. don't know what they will be using--but I would think about taking in index cards, blank and lined, at the very least, and some regular paper or card stock (but that's me, and I have a VERY large purse!)

[robertpaulsen]

49. Great idea!

I think that's how they have it set up there, so I'll take your advice and try to do that.

Thanks!

[riderinthestorm]

42. George Bush has not attended one funeral for any soldier killed in Iraq.

Is there, or was there, guidelines for policymakers such as yourself and other members of Bush's Administration to see firsthand the devastation wrought upon the families of the soldiers? Have you attended any funerals for soldiers KIA in Iraq and what do you say to grieving families such as Cindy Sheehan's?

[creeksneakers2]

43. Powell knew much of the intelligence was faulty

There was a fight between Powell's people and Cheney's for days over at the CIA about which intelligence was valid. Powell knew much of what he was given was faulty intelligence.

That leaves the question, not answered until recently, didn't you tell the president that he was being given faulty intelligence and that Dick Cheney pushed faulty intelligence?

That obvious question was never asked by the US media. However, a couple of months ago, Powell was in England and he was asked. Powell said he never told the president.

The question for Powell now is Why? If Powell thought the president was being fooled by faulty intelligence, wasn't it his duty to the president and America to tell the president? Or did Powell believe the president already knew much of the intelligence was faulty? Why didn't Powell tell?

I'd love to know the answer to this question. I'm going to mark this thread, and would love it if you would post how you make out, after you go to see Powell, even if you ask one of the other questions.

[ChristianLibrul]

44. Ask him how he lives with himself...

...and how he sleeps at night. After so many honorable years of service to his country, how did he manage to be so derelict in his duty while in chimpy's junta?

[moondust]

45. How many people are dead

or maimed for life as a consequence of your complicity in lies, deceit, exaggeration, negligence, abandonment of the Powell Doctrine, and/or other high crimes and misdemeanors associated with the invasion of Iraq? An estimate will be fine.

[ladjf]

46. Ask yourself six times why you are there listening to that liar,

[originalpckelly]

47. Be nice to him to get something that'll make the First Idiot look bad.

Say you think he is a nice and honorable man, but that you have a few short questions about the Iraq war. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Then in a really, really nice way, say something to the effect of: "Did they make you do something at the UN that you didn't want to do? Like I said I think your a nice person, but I think they made you look bad. I feel bad for you, I don't know, but could you just like explain what happened to get us into war. You know for the sake of history." Make sure your sincere and make sure your questions make him want to answer. We need some answers from him. If you have to kiss ass to get them, all that matters is what is on the record. If you can bring a tape recorder or something else to prove he said what he said, do it. Hopefully, they will allow recording. Remember, play nice, he isn't in power anymore, but he always has the power to stop talking to you. If you get something out of him that'll make the First Idiot look bad it will keep some pressure on him (*). I know it isn't going to be easy, but it may put one more straw on the Elephant's back. Do something that will be seen on the Sunday news shows.

[Rolling Titanic]

50. Why aren't you so ashamed of yourself that

you can even show up here?

[riderinthestorm]

51. Did your question get picked? n/t