USAToday-DISS! Powell not told of $25 Bill Iraq Request

[liveoaktx]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-05-06-powell-funding_x.htm

<snip>
Shortly before Bush administration officials presented Republican congressional leaders with a request for $25 billion in Iraq funding this week, Secretary of State Colin Powell was telling members of the Congressional Black Caucus that no such request would be forthcoming.
I'm stunned he didn't know," Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, one of the Black Caucus members who met with Powell, said Thursday.

Powell's associates tried to downplay the mix-up. But it underscores the continuing rift between President Bush's departments of State and Defense and deepens the impression that the nation's top diplomat is being cut out of the decision-making process. "It's unbelievable that our chief diplomat is not being heard," said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., another Black Caucus member. "It's tragic and it's dangerous."

<snip>
Guess it's true what Bob Woodward said in his book.

[Dookus]

1. Good god

what will it take for this guy to walk away? How badly can they treat him before he says "enough!"?

[specter]

2. Hey

Whatever happend to that great big reorganization of govt. departments so that everone talked to everone?? We never hear about that reorganization anymore I wonder why.

[Zero Gravitas]

3. Powell is a sad case

It seems like Powell is not told of very much & his opinion is rarely asked. I used to respect him but it seems that he lacks the moral fiber to stand on principal. He knew that invading Iraq was a huge mistake policy yet he did nothing to stop it. If he had any guts he would have fought tooth and nail to prevent this disaster, and if he could not prevent it he should have resigned.

[rumguy]

4. And so the implosion continues....

[beyurslf]

5. Powell is an embarrassment to himself.

How can he even have any dignity left after working for this Admin?

[charlie]

6. Like this is new?

Powell has been publicly countermanded and embarassed since the beginning of his tenure. Two months into this administration, he voiced his intentions to continue Clinton's rapprochement track for the Koreas, only to watch Bush humiliate Kim Dae Jung in a joint Rose Garden appearance with disdainful remarks for Kim's Sunshine policies. When he promised a white paper detailing the case against Bin Laden, he was forced to retract in a press conference, with Bush glowering two feet behind him. Powell is a long-suffering TOOL, who should've broken ranks and quit long ago.

[Bread and Circus]

7. Incompetence and politics at the highest levels....

did you expect more?

:shrug: