I'm so eager to hear if Colin Powell will be our Sec. of Defense.

[VeraAgnes]

Are there any rumors as to an appointment for Colin Powell?

[MadBadger]

1. Earlier it was reported he wasnt interested.

[NYCGirl]

2. Nope. That's one name that hasn't been mentioned. NT

[VeraAgnes]

3. Let's keep listening for Colin Powell to

get on the Obama train. I so hope he is in with us!

[NYCGirl]

7. He won't be. NT

[sellitman]

9. Why would having a liar and a war criminal on the Obama team interest you?

[BuyingThyme]

4. Colin Powell is a war criminal.

[crispini]

5. Good gad, GDP will go up in a ball of fire.

In fact, all of DU might get drawn into the abyss. :scared:

[Seen the light]

6. He better not be

That could be the straw that breaks this camel's back with these Cabinet choices.

[Cleita]

8. I don't want him.

He covered up the massacre at My Lai in Vietnam. We really need someone who will bring honor and integrity back to the military. Of course I would love Wesley Clark but he can't do it right now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre


<snip>

The first reports claimed that "128 Vietcong and 22 civilians" were killed in the village during a "fierce fire fight". General William C. Westmoreland, MACV commander, congratulated the unit on the "outstanding job". As related at the time by the Army's Stars and Stripes magazine, "U.S. infantrymen had killed 128 Communists in a bloody day-long battle."

Initial investigations of the My Lai operation were undertaken by the 11th Light Infantry Brigade's commanding officer, Colonel Henderson, under orders from the Americal Division's executive officer, Brigadier General George H. Young. Henderson interviewed several soldiers involved in the incident, then issued a written report in late April claiming that some 20 civilians were inadvertently killed during the operation. The army at this time was still describing the events at My Lai as a military victory that had resulted in the deaths of 128 enemy combatants.

Six months later, Tom Glen, a 21-year-old soldier of the 11th Light Infantry Brigade, wrote a letter to General Creighton Abrams, the new overall commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, accusing the Americal Division (and other entire units of the U.S. military) of routine and pervasive brutality against Vietnamese civilians. The letter was detailed and its contents echoed complaints received from other soldiers.

Colin Powell, then a 31-year-old Army Major, was charged with investigating the letter, which did not specifically reference My Lai (Glen had limited knowledge of the events there). In his report Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americal<24> soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent." Powell's handling of the assignment was later characterized by some observers as "whitewashing" the atrocities of My Lai.<25> In May 2004, Powell, then United States Secretary of State, told CNN's Larry King, "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored."<26>

<snip>

Add to that his shameless pandering for war in Iraq when he knew the evidence he was introducing was bogus. He did redeem himself somewhat by being only a one term Secretary of State. I guess the corruption in the White House was too much even for him.

[girl_interrupted]

10. Powell? Hope not

[HockeyMom]

11. How about Wes Clark?

Anyone?

[Cleita]

12. He can't until 2010. His military service is too recent.

[denem]

17. That restriction can be lifted by a simple act of Congress.

That being said, Clark has devoted enemies amongst the top brass.

[EFerrari]

18. I thought the buffer was two years. Maybe that's was for something else.

:silly:

[Maven]

13. I bet there'd be less objection to him by many here than to Hillary

:eyes:

[Captain Hilts]

16. Yes, isn't that crazy?

[madmadmad]

14. maybe he can show us some more cartoons of wmd and get us into another war.

sorry- i don't want him anywhere near the obama cabinet. who could trust him after that UN presentation with the cartoons of where WMD's *might* be hiding?

no thank you.

[Captain Hilts]

15. No, he's a criminal and Gates is doing a good job. nt

[demo dutch]

20. Gates is sort of a criminal too, remember the Iran-Contra affair! When investigated

and questioned by the Independent Counsel they couldn't could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Gates was deliberately not telling the truth and he later claimed not to have remembered the details

[Zynx]

22. He's done a good job in a position that counts, though.

[grantcart]

24. he took the keys away from the drunk teenager before they took there little

joy ride to a preemptive strike on Iran.

I am convinced he told Bush that if he ordered an attack on Iran that he would resign.

[EFerrari]

23. Yep. Gates is a BushCo criminal fixer. n/t

[demo dutch]

19. I certainly hope not!! He lied to the world about WMD's !!

[liberalpragmatist]

21. He's reportedly under consideration for Education Secretary - nt

[Cleita]

26. For the war crimes he has committed by aiding and abetting the

Bush administrations march to wars, he shouldn't be considered for anything.

[scarletwoman]

25. Yuck! You can't be serious!

The man belongs in the Hague, not in the Cabinet.