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

[Chris]

Poor guy.

Link

(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."

When I heard this speech I was convinced. But as we later found out... Your thoughts?

[GodBlessAmerica]

Certainly the unbiased CNN will make a documentary that documents all of Clinton's intelligence failures which precipitated the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

The point that everyone seems to miss these days is that if Saddam had allowed thorough weapon inspections rather than playing games, as he was required to do by the ceasefire agreement and UN resolutions, there would have been much less uncertainty.
Saddam was acting like he was guilty so that everyone assumed that he was. It's like a person pulling a toy gun on a police officer and getting shot. If you pretend to be a threat, don't be surprised if people believe you are a threat and act accordingly.
There's also the annoying little fact that we were under no obligation to get permission from the UN in the first place, or even keep them informed.
As many of us argued at the time, why even bother? All we were doing was risking that the words would be used against us later. And indeed they are.

Removing Saddam was its own purpose. He was paying 25k a homicide bomber in Israel. Hundreds of thousands dead in well over 200 mass graves. Jailed children, rape and torture rooms and so on.

We freed over 50 million in those two countries and being Saddam was killing nearly a hundred thousand people in his own country a year, we must be near 200,000 in saved lives in Iraq alone so far that would be dead under Saddam.

Col. Lawrence Wilkerson seems to like mass graves, killing innocent Jews with bombs and jailed children along with rape and torture rooms and I can’t say I know why. Has CNN asked why that is or are they just doing their traditional propaganda instead of news?

[Chris]

No the unbiased CNN will not. Because we are not talking about Clinton. Clinton hasn't been President in 5 years.

[PatrickHenry]

Powell lost all of my respect when he didn't show the spine to stand up to the Bushco liars and walk off the job. When he found out he had been snookered, he shoulda just told them to get stuffed and unceremoniously quit. Now he's a has-been, thanks to a job at the top of the US government where he was lied to. Then he passed on the lies without apology.

In Powell's defense, there may be factors we are unaware of. There may have been credible threats or implied threats against his family. Or the elite in charge may have offered to frame him for crimes if he walked. So he may be an honorable man, but just stepped on, like all us little people.

[RickSp]

The old cliche is "lie down with dog and rise up with fleas." Whatever credibility Colin Powell earned in a long career, he lost as a flack for Bush's lies. Powell of all people knew better. He knew what he was doing and gave the speech anyway. A shame, both for Powell and all the needless dead in an evil war.

[RickSp]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica We freed over 50 million in those two countries and being Saddam was killing nearly a hundred thousand people in his own country a year, we must be near 200,000 in saved lives in Iraq alone so far that would be dead under Saddam.

You do go on. Made up numbers, absurd claims. Oh well.

In other posts, you have claimed that most of the 50 million that you so optimistically claim we have "freed" all want to either kill or convert us. I guess you see no problem with this nonsense.

[GodBlessAmerica]

True, Clinton's been out 5 years, but we still suffer the consequences to this very day.

His administrations wall of separation between the branches of government regarding terrorist information and his unwillingness to take Bin Laden into custody when offered after he declared war on use most certainly did advance the attacks that brought us this whole war, which has given poor Col. Lawrence Wilkerson his saddest day of his life. It's all so sad.

U.S. was warned of bin Laden threat in 1996, documents show
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/16/news/osama.php

The link to the Clinton confession speech of letting Bin Laden go is near the bottom of the article.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2...0/201248.shtml

Lots to sadden poor old Col. Lawrence Wilkerson... Sigh

[GodBlessAmerica]

RickSp.
The freeing over over 50 million people in both Iraq and Iran have been a part of the discussion even going back to the last Presidential debate.

Bush will win because the American public does not want another 911. No debate will alter the reality of Bush's foreign policy record, which is the liberation of 50 million people from tyranny in Iraq and Afghanistan. That is a record that all Americans and freedom-loving people should support. Even liberals should give Bush credit for these accomplishments. Mark Smith
http://www.courttv.com/talk/chat_tra...001debate.html

Just one common example if you bother to LOOK STUFF UP. :-)

Have a good night.

[Chris]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica True, Clinton's been out 5 years, but we still suffer the consequences to this very day. His administrations wall of separation between the branches of government regarding terrorist information and his unwillingness to take Bin Laden into custody when offered after he declared war on use most certainly did advance the attacks that brought us this whole war, which has given poor Col. Lawrence Wilkerson his saddest day of his life. It's all so sad. U.S. was warned of bin Laden threat in 1996, documents show http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/16/news/osama.php The link to the Clinton confession speech of letting Bin Laden go is near the bottom of the article. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2...0/201248.shtml Lots to sadden poor old Col. Lawrence Wilkerson... Sigh

...sigh

This thread isn't about Clinton its about Powell and how he says that the sexed up speech was the low point in his life.

[Chris]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica Just one common example if you bother to LOOK STUFF UP. :-)

Look stuff up where? at newsmax? good idea. :rolleyes:

[bishop]

i still like powell, but like many others, i'm very disappointed to see his fall from grace. the "good soldier" in him forced him to follow orders rather than do the right thing. the position they put him in must've been the most difficult position he's ever been in. it was truly a no-win situation.. if he didn't run with the pack, god only knows what their vindictive repurcussions would've been. and, we see now what the repurcussions were for doing what they ordered him to do.


i think people still like powell above many other public figures. i'd like to see him eventually come out of hiding and spill the beans. he needs to start learning the difference between doing what's right versus being a "good soldier".

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: bishop he needs to start learning the difference between doing what's right versus being a "good soldier".

Don't we all...

[GodBlessAmerica]

Chris,
Yeah, there is a definite connection to Clinton even in this thread since Bush had to inherit "the wall" put up between branches of government by Gorelick regarding terrorist activity.
On the Gorelick wall, look it up: http://www.opinionjournal.com/editor...l?id=110004956

This poor Col. Lawrence Wilkerson would not have to have had his low point in life had the prior administration not sabotaged the government’s ability to have the best information available regarding terror.

As far as Newsmax, yep, there is a link at the bottom of the article I provided you. It goes to the Bill Clinton confession from his own lips, followed by a speech of Hillary trying to cover up what happened.
Did you expect the liberal CNN or Democratic Underground to feature incriminating evidence?

I suspect you dare NOT listen to the recording of Clinton, because you would then be unable to deny that Clinton had Bin Laden and let him go. Laden had earlier declared war on the United States (a federal offense that is arrest-able).

Have a nice night and don't be too afraid to listen to what comes out of Bill Clinton's lips as a confession. If poor old Col. Lawrence Wilkerson heard this, he might cheer up realizing there was nothing further he could have done because of "The Gorelick Wall".

[RickSp]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica RickSp. The freeing over over 50 million people in both Iraq and Iran have been a part of the discussion even going back to the last Presidential debate.

It still happens to be a lie, not that lies seem to interrupt your train of thought. Nor have you addressed your conflicting claims that we have "liberated" "over 50 million" folks who you also claim want only to kill or convert us. But never mind, I've heard enough of your particular delusions.

[Sonart]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica Yeah, there is a definite connection to Clinton even in this thread since Bush had to inherit "the wall" put up between branches... blah blah blah...

What a laugh... here we're talking about Colin Powell's participation in hauling America into our most ill-conceived, misguided military adventure since Vietnam, the invasion and occupation of a country by mistake, that had nothing to do with the events of 9/11 but which will likely do vastly more harm to the United States internationally than the events of 9/11, in lives, treasure, and taking the international respect and good will towards the U.S. - particularly after 9/11 - and turning us instead into an international pariah nation.

And what does GodBlessAmerica have say on the matter? It's Bill Clinton's fault. How very... VRWC of him.

Oh, and by the way, God... there's a definite connection to George H.W. Bush and St. Ronald Reagan as welll, since "the wall" between the branches was instituted long before Bill Clinton came along.

.

[Chris]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica As far as Newsmax, yep, there is a link at the bottom of the article I provided you. It goes to the Bill Clinton confession from his own lips, followed by a speech of Hillary trying to cover up what happened. Did you expect the liberal CNN or Democratic Underground to feature incriminating evidence?

Nice grainy poor sound quality on the recording there. Where is it from? Who is the female voice? And it doesn't really say anything. He says "At the time, he had commited no crimes against America so there was no basis to hold him" So what is your point? That he should have gotten him back then? Hindsight is 20/20 GBA And give the "liberal CNN" BS a rest. Good news outlets are neither Liberal or conservative. They also don't reduce the news to left vs. right like Fox. Also Newsmax is not what I would consider real news.

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica I suspect you dare NOT listen to the recording of Clinton, because you would then be unable to deny that Clinton had Bin Laden and let him go. Laden had earlier declared war on the United States (a federal offense that is arrest-able).

What I did hear on the shitty recording was Clinton said the Sudanese had released him (bin laden). He didn't say they offered bin laden to the US. He didn't say he "had him" as you imply. He says "The Sudanese wanted America to start meeting with [him/them???] again. You and Sean Hannity types like to blame Clinton for 9/11 but the blame does not belong there. On what basis should we have gotten him in 1996? Anyway New evidence shows Clinton tried to get bin laden in 1998. So quit criticising Bill Clinton and focus on the gist of this thread which is faulty intel RE: WMD's in Iraq.