posted on March 22, 2001 09:32:42 AM new
I don't think Colin Powell's moderate stance really fits in with the hardliners in the Republican Party.
Powell argued that Saddam needed to be isolated from building his military and developing weapons. In return for support of this policy he said the U.S. would lift the embargo on civilian goods like medicine to Iraq. Cheney and Rumsfeld said Powell's policy initiative was premature. In Congress, Republican hard-liners will not support lifting of sanctions.
Powell said the administration would "pick up where Clinton left off" with North Korea. Then Bush said said, oh no, North Korea can't be trusted and was in no hurry to resume talks with Pyongyang. So Powell keeping in line said North Korea posed a threat.
The Republican Party believes in confrontation rather than engagement with communist dictators. Will Powell go along with covert policies wherever we have an uncooperative national leader? I really don't think so. More disagreement's in policy are sure to come up. We'll just have to wait and see if Powell will be another puppet or stand up for his beliefs.
posted on March 22, 2001 10:53:13 AM new
A Secretary of State has to toe the line or he has to go. He toed the line like a good soldier does more or less 10 years ago and I'm sure he'll do the same today. His place isn't to be an ideologue, but to further the policies of his boss (and develop them with him). Personally, I think his opinion (weighted as it is with experience) will carry far more weight then hardliners in the Republican party. Jesse Helms doesn't set foreign policy. In any case, Powell is one of the Bush administrations greatest (few) strengths, both nationally and internationally.
posted on March 22, 2001 01:44:12 PM new
So far I don't think his opinion has carried any weight at all. Sure he toed the line before. As much as I couldn't stand Bush Sr. I believe he was a lot stronger and was actually a president not a puppet.
There may be too many chiefs this time for Powell to handle.
