I have had my head down for a couple of days working on something important on short deadline so I’m a little bit late to the conversation. But I think I can add a few relevant new thoughts. First, if you have not actually watched the video, please take seven minutes to watch this study in clear thinking and candor.
I am a Democrat, but a fairly moderate one. In the course of voting, I have occasionally crossed the aisle for the right guy. This includes Arnold Schwarzenegger in California, for example. In my life, however, I have only seriously considered voting for two Republicans. The first was John McCain in 2000 and the second was Colin Powell who never came close to getting the nomination of his party. I always thought he would be the first Afro American to be nominated by a major party.
How ironic to watch Powell give the most articulate endorsement for a presidential candidate I have ever heard. Like me, Powell has been a longtime admirer of McCain and like me, the guy who’s running for president does not appear to be the McCain we both admired.
But for me, there is more to this story. Colin Powell, was the reasonable voice in the first Bush administration. At a time, when day-after-day, some of us who consider ourselves moderate in politics discovered the member-after-member of the first Bush administration was far to the right of moderate in their ideology; that we learned that the president’s vows to be the education president turned out to be a fabrication, when we learned that their was nothing compassionate about Bush’s conservatism, Powell seemed to represent the voice of reason, the thoughtful guy, who caught insert some sense in this regime.
But sometimes the best of people steer those who trust them in the wrong direction. When the Iraq issue took America by surprise. Powell was the voice that sold the moderate Americans on the war. When he stood before the United Nations and showed what appeared to be compelling evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and were preparing to use them, I was among those who for a brief period of time that I will always regret followed Powell’s argument into supporting this obscenity of a war.
I never forgave Powell for that. Not until I watch that video. I forgive him because this time I am certain he is leading people in the right direction. What was so compelling to me was that he just quietly told the truth and once again, I not only believe his words, I believe in him and I forgive him for what was a most egregious error on his part.
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The problem is that as impressive as Colin Powell might be as an individual,it is difficult to forgive him for using the considerable personal credibility he once had among people of all political stripes to bolster the Bush Administration’s case for war in Iraq,especially given that the Administration violated the doctrine that bears his name in their preparations for war.His speech to the U.N. didn’t just damage his credibility,but that of the entire country for years to come.
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rosejenifar
Promoter
Shel, I tend to agree to an extent. While I my opinion would be we went to war in Iraq for very wrong reasons, I would not agree with your overarching statement that we "stop giving others reason to hate us."
Hitler demonstrated very quickly, proverbially ducking our heads in the sand would offer the world no quarter.
I wish I could say America acted ideally, but this would be a far cry from the truth. To some extent our government must do things you and I would not do in order to preserve our freedoms, but in the specific case of Iraq – I did not agree the war was one of them. I more refer to special operations units and intelligence agencies… by in large. However, I could also contend those agencies might spawn more trouble that its worth.
My over-arching point remains: We can not take the approach of the pacifist in this world. We would become victims ourselves. This is where my more "Republican" foreign policy views come out. It is much like my self defense training. I do not intend to use it for offense, but if you threaten the my well being or that of my family, I will react and respond appropriately.
America has not been responding appropriately… and this is why the world believes we are unjustly over-reacting. We have begun acting in a way that casts a shadow over our very character… This, I agree with.
Ken,
My take on the American people as well as most people everywhere is that they are not ideological. They just want to live lives that are safe for their loved ones. They want to enjoy some of life's niceties. I think the best way to offset those dedicated to destroying us, is to stop giving others reason to hate us. Our behavior as a world citizen is shameful. If you put aside the issues of why the US went into Iraq to begin with,and look at the damage done since we began occupying Iraq, you realize that Iraqis are much less safe than they were during the time of Hussein. Children are not safe going to school. It is dangerous to shop in the marketplace. Electricity remains eradic. There are still problems with water in many places. We did that. That is what our occupation means to a people who have never done Americans any wrong.
Well, said, Shel. I have to believe that most of the attention, most of the things we "hear" and "see" are from the right or left. But I get the feeling most of America is very moderate. Surely they believe in certain things strongly, but I think most can agree to disagree and find common threads. This is what makes America great.
I would have to go out on a limb here and wonder if that is why the presidential races have been so very close over the past few elections… That tells me, America is really and truly wrestling with these ideas.
My believe is that we need a leader to bring unify this country's outlook. We had a common cause after 9/11 that was taken advantage of – that is still being used to promote an agenda I don't necessarily agree with.
Surely there are bad people in this world that think very differently from us, and would steal our very souls from us if we could. However, I feel like the 'hawks' have done a fair enough job of that on their own…
As you say, we must come together for the common and greater good while respecting the sovereignty of each individual.
Curious,
I'd be happy to clarify the glaring inaccuracies of your summary on my position if you just came back and identified youself, so people could understand where you are coming from. But I make it a policy to debate people who hide in the shadow of anonymity.
Ken,
Thank you for this very thoughtful note. It seems you and I are at the two ends of the center. I agree very much with your views on the two wars of George Bush. I am very much pro-choice. I imagine, as a former marine, we share different views on gun laws as well. But the issue is that people like you and I have to find a common ground, not a reason to push each other apart for disagreeing, not a reason to beat each other or get personal on the matter where we disagree, But the issues of coming together.
It happens that in this election. I find it very easy to vote for Obama. I am more excited about him than anyone I have had the chance to vote for president in my life. I think he can lead most of us to a commond ground where most Americans–and the whole world will be a lot safer.
Shel, let me state that I am more Republican than Democrat in terms of viewpoints and beliefs – but often find myself in the middle of many situations. So in this regards, while many want to classify me as one party or another, I find myself as more of a moderate.
I can most certainly relate to your feeling of betrayal by someone I considered a leader in thought and principal, Colin Powell.
What I have sensed for some time now, is exactly what Powell has clearly stated in not so many words – the republican party drifting to McArthyist tendencies – resorting to racism and bigotry in the plainest sense of the word.
I have a tough decision ahead of me as I truly believe in McCain's service in the military to his country – to my country – the country I chose to serve in the US Marines.
However, while I agree with McCain's pro-life stance, for instance, I fear the Republican party as a whole has lead this country into a dismal place. While I can argue the Clinton administration turned a blind eye to terrorism in a larger sense, falsely believing we were safe on our island across the Atlantic, or the Reagan administration for training the Afghan fighters in the first place, it is the blatant war-mongering and misuse of our sacred American lives in the situation in Iraq – while we did NOT finish our job in Afghanistan – that most upsets me.
As such, I have a difficult time placing my trust in either candidate, in either party, as they have clearly mistepped over the course of many administrations.
However, we are here, they are human, and we must all continue to rally towards a cause. We must find our way back onto a path most can feel comfortable walking.
My decision will indeed be a tough one, but it will be a decision based upon who I might be able to place my trust to lead our country through very challenging times.
Thank you for offering your opinions, Shel.
Wow…incredible insight. So, let me get this straight…in your own words Powell was responsible for lying to and convincing the moderate American public about Iraq. And, in my words, he decided not to fight the administration when he was within it, but instead decided to only criticize when he left and was no longer in a position to affect any change.
But because he supports your boy Barack…oh well, we forgive you.
Just priceless, priceless logic. Congratulations.
I wish for no right to forget. The piece is a personal reflection and an argument for nothing. It was intended to share my own thoughts on a well-noted incident.
Many people on-line ask for a right to forget. Are you pleading for that or arguing this overweights that?
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