Colin Powell, former Secretary of State under George W. Bush, and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has spoken out on Face the Nation about national security and whether we are as safe now as we were under former President Bush. Powell says yes. Very little has changed under President Obama and most of the policies put in place by President Bush are still in place.
“To suggest that somehow we have become much less safer because of the actions of the administration, I don’t think that’s borne out by the facts,” Powell said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
Colin Powell also stated:
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was also created under President Bush, “and it is still under President Obama, working hard,” Powell continued. “Our counterterrorism authorities and forces are hard at work. Our law enforcement officials are hard at work. We have gone after the enemy in Afghanistan with 50,000 more troops, more predators are striking al-Qaida and Taliban leaders in Pakistan. We have continued the policies that President Bush put in place with respect to Iraq. And so I don’t know where the claim comes that we are less safe.”
Powell is a Republican. He shocked many Americans by eventually supporting then Democratic candidate Barack Obama in the presidential bid, ultimately throwing his support to Obama. He said he liked and respected Republican candidate John McCain but he felt he was unsure on the economy and he didn’t feel Sarah Palin was ready to take over as president, which is the VP’s job.
Powell’s discussion on security begins about 10:00
Powell reminds us of the need to search for compromise. He feels our system is in some disarray. Powell has always seemed like the voice of reason and truly a person of the people. He speaks to concerns over military trials over criminal trials. Colin Powell is a smart man. I always find him to be reassuring.
It seems that our politicians get crucified by their base if they compromise. The American voter has to get over this idea that compromise is tantamount to caving in. If we don’t learn to accept compromise and common ground, then we simply need to begin procedings to divide the country. It is absolutely ridiculous to never get anything done because congress fears that compromise will get them thrown out of office.
I think it’s safe to say Powell must stand by his mistakes, or look like a complete clown now. Y’all are familiar with this….NEVER admit you’re wrong, no matter how glaringly obvious it is. This is one reason why nobody hears from Powell anymore, like McCain, he’s marginalized himself….thank God.
Slowpoke is correct, but remember Powell was never a Republican? He got jobs in a Republican Administration, was promoted over others (out of range) by Republican Administrations – but was never a Republican. He showed where his cheap loyalty was.
The issue with compromise is that it requires incremental movement — one way or the other. Some will argue that movement to more paternalistic entitlements and growth in government (both in terms of employees and daily influence) is a good thing and is being slowed by the need to compromise. Others might argue that such movement – any such movement — is fundementally in conflict with the principles of our founding — particularly because it is almost impossible to undo a granted entitlement. Who was it that said that the Amercian experiment would last only untill the American people came to understand that they can get what they want through the vote that they cannot provide by themselves. Something like that. A frenchman I think the the early 1800s. .
You guys can trash Powell if you wish but for many people there will always be more respect for him than for the administration for which he worked. I realize that compromisers and moderates are your enemies. Who are your friends?
@Censored bybvbl
Folks with principles.
I take just as much comfort in Powell telling us we’re safe as I do Obama telling us we’re safe.
I hope you all can come up with over 50% of the votes. Then you can trash things up and take the blame. Until then, just rancor. i wouldn’t count on it happening though.
Actually, Powell and his leadership kept us all safe for a good many years, often flying under the radar in the US military.
He is very much respected by many different people of many different stripes.
Fear the mainstream….advice to both parties.
I don’t think bashing Powell is really the ‘right answer’. I think we’re as safe with Obama as we were under Bush. Which is to say; that we should get rid of DHS and TSA as they’re expensive drains on our economy with little return on investment.
DHS has been a thorn in people’s sides since its inception. It is like the behemoth department that takes in too much. TSA replaced contract security that often had people who lacked proper entry into the USA working for it for 5 bucks an hour. The old way was a recipe for a disaster.
I am not ready to say we get little in return for our investment. Perhaps both DHS and TSA need to be revamp and reorganized but I am not ready to throw out either one of them. Do you have a coast guard, border security replacement in mind?
Only history will tell if Powell is correct. If we have no major attacks for 8 years, and that’s due to Obama’s policies, then he will be correct.
I have no faith in Obama.
Powell is an opportunist. While he may have been a good general, his authority on politics is nil. What would you call a self-described Democrat that voted for, defended, and endorsed Ronald Reagan? They were called Republicans…..
He sounds very moderate. He likes compromise. OK. Let him agree to some conservative policies and we’ll see about agreeing to his. Unfortunately, compromise always seems to mean that conservatives give up THEIR principles. Of course he believes that the political system is in disarray. The people that he endorsed can’t get their act together, even though the Republican party was COMPLETELY powerless.
Powell’s judgment on Obama was completely wrong. And where are these improvements of which he speaks? He talks about Obama stabilizing the economy? Which economy is that? Increasing unemployment. Inflation rearing its head. Businesses closing. His “main attack” was healthcare “reform” and he left THAT to Pelosi/Reid. Powell is crediting Republican Party resistance to said “reform” in stopping it. Apparently, Powell has been limiting his news intake to CNN and MSNBC.
He states that the current environment prevents Congressional and Senate members from making those quiet compromises necessary for governance. Hmmm, the Democrats locked OUT the Republicans in the development of the House bill and the Senate voted on one that was not even FINISHED. And again, compromises…..I say again, when will the liberals compromise and put into place a free market system and reduce government interference? Compromise to Powell would be the advancement of Obama’s agenda.
I will credit him with honestly portraying the situation. Slogans won’t win anything. Citizens are objecting to the overreach of government. And the “right” needs to start saying what they will cut. Oh. Wait. How about repealing the Stimulus. And dialing back the deficit to the Bush years……The conservatives have a whole list…….
He states that leadership of both parties is lacking. True. But compromise of principle is not leadership. He states that Obama needs to bring the leaders together and work out a compromise, as if Obama was not part of the partisan problems. Powell continues to state that the citizenry will want to see progress and not just attempts to bring Obama down. True. But, and its a big BUT, whose definition of progress will we use? Obama’s? Pelosi? Beck? Ron Paul? The citizenry? Which citizens? Me? You? That is the problem. Powell does not define it. His premise is that Obama’s progress will be good for the country. He doesn’t understand that the rallies are a symptom of liberal overreach. He doesn’t equate the current political activism with the same citizens that want the government to actually do their job. He repeats the assertion that the citizenry want progress. Yet the administration that he defends is the one actually restricting that progress through its policies.
His description of Gitmo as a recruiting tool is disingenuous. The good treatment there is well known. ANY holding of terrorists will be problematic. Secondly, why are we giving these people trials? They are NOT criminals and under the Geneva conventions, combatants may not be tried as such. What military tribunals do is determine the danger of said illegal combatants.
Powell’s mission is to make Obama look reasonable and harmless. He says that no ONE man can change this country. He is wrong. One man can change this country when he is guiding like minded progressives. And when he has no opposition.
Conservatives disagree with Powell’s self description of himself as a Republican because he is Obama’s mouthpiece. Conservatives believe that Republicans should have certain principles of government in mind in order to call oneself a Republican. Powell’s actions do not demonstrate those beliefs. He may not be a Democrat, but he is certainly a liberal.
Are we “as safe.” Even Powell had to qualify that in his view we were “as safe” because Obama was pursuing Bush policies — to include Gitmo. He’s is trying to undo them but is currently pursuing them. This alone should drive the “Blame Bush” crowd to distraction – yet it does support their guy – for now – sort of.
Marinm, TSA was and is a Democratic sell-off to the Federal employee unions. TSA was decision for a direct federal take over rather that to regulate (standardize/inspect) airport security – at a hugh increase in total costs. They were blocked from unionizing those 60,000 new employees – but that will not stand. My sense is that DHS has helped. The problem is the Congress – which continues to operate as if the Department did not exist and talks right past the Department to the agencies – like they do at Defense. I think I remember reading that DHS reports to something like 23 separate committees.
The Republicans/conservatives held both houses and the White House for 4 years. What got done?
If you go in with the attitude you won’t compromise then you will be relegated to being the party of no forever and become irrelevant.
By THE WASHINGTON TIMES
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/19/obama-the-philosopher-king/?feat=home_headlines
“President Obama … claims he has to resort to extraordinary methods because of partisan gridlock, but he has learned the wrong lessons from his failed freshman year in office. Mr. Obama’s initiatives haven’t stalled because of partisanship but because they are transparently bad for America.
It’s odd that the president and his apologists blame partisanship for his legislative problems. Mr. Obama came into office with a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate majority, the largest since the Jimmy Carter era, and the most Democratic House members since the early 1990s. Those comfortable majorities should have meant smooth sailing for Mr. Obama’s legislative agenda, and some of his early initiatives, such as the so-called stimulus package, passed fairly easily. Republicans were shunted aside unceremoniously and could not stop the liberal juggernaut.
The reason Mr. Obama began to run into problems had less to do with partisanship than with public opposition to his ideological agenda.
@PWC taxpayer
Very good article and I agree with it.
I also agree with what has been said about TSA. Just here in Richmond the airport was required to provide credentials and access to a felon because TSA cleared him. The airport believes that it’ll damage the reputation of the airport, safety of passangers, and morale. But, TSA has a policy (one they probably won’t share with anyone) and they’re going full steam.
CBP, ICE, USCG, et al still are around. They still provide the same functions that they have in the past. But now we have this umbrella organization that oversees them all and provides for information sharing between them. Sounds great on paper but if you’ve ever worked there you’ll see that’s not how they function.
So, what does DHS provide us other than a 5 color coded chart that I think is perma-stuck on ORANGE.
I do have a fear that TSA will be unionized (like a lot workers within DHS/Treasury and that will have a direct impact to security. I would much rather have the airlines/airports in charge of security and then hold them legally responsible for hijackings and air piracy.
As it is now if a situation occurs. Who do you sue? The airlines can rightfully say we just operate the plane the govt handles security. TSA can just say, our contract with the union doesn’t allow us to discipline the employee but we’ll bring up the issue at our next contract meeting. Oh, and we’re sorry about your loss.
By the way, nobody is “bashing” Powell, just respectfully disagreeing with him, much like Juan McAmnesty. Now Obama? Well, why not bash Obama?
Trash, bash, whatever. Saying it doesn’t make it so.
marin, there are about 30 agencies under DHS. I would like to see DHS a little less behemoth but that’s just me.
The DHS was one of the complaints about Bush that many conservatives voiced. We felt he was rearranging the deck chairs. More layers of bureaucracy is not a solution. Same thing with the TSA. Its all security theater to make you think something productive is going on.
And yes, the REPUBLICANS held majority for four years and did nothing. Conservatives were not in majority. THAT is the problem. Conservatives are angry with Republicans that talk but don’t back up their promises. They acted like the Democrats they replaced.
Cargo, I am not sure how you are defining conservative. You probably will never be in the majority if Glenn Beck is the uber conservative. It is actually one giant math problem. The blue dogs and the rhinos will never allow either polar to take control. And no, Obama isn’t a polar. Everything is relative. Funny how some conservatives used to think Clinton was the uber polar. Its the same game, different decade.
As for DHS, has there been another 9-11? Good. I rest my case.
I need to qualify something. I hate the term ‘RINO. It is meant with total disrespect 95% of the times I have heard it. I say it only in my animal game of rinos, blue dogs and polars.
All other times I will refer to them as mainstream Republicans.
Primer.
Progressive is to liberal or democrat as Conservative is to republican.
RINO is a valid term from persons on the far right or center right (e.g. libertarian) talking about a person elected as a republican but is one in name only. They needed the -R to get elected but they’re really democrat, liberal, progressive, authoratarian, statist (rare), or something else not ‘mainstream Republican’.
PWC has a lot of RINOs – not concerned with fiscal accountability and responsibility and willing to spend like a drunk sailor drinks.
You have me really interested now in watching this Glen Beck that you speak of…
Lets see – Rush – I hope Obama fails.
Beck – Obama is a racist, and has talked about treason.
Coulter (I cannot believe I can type her name) – well nuf said.
Newt – Obama has already failed.
How many appointees have not been confirmed by the Senate?
Folks there is a whole lot of partisanship going on, more than under Bush and more under Clinton. The R’s are able to get all in line, and stop the wheels – they should actually be commended for the ability to toe the line, although we all suffer when it is being done for political purposes only. The deficit, yeah, it should be reduced. But much of the deficit and budget spending is automatic, with automatic increases which would go up no matter who was president. I recall friends last year telling me about the tax refunds people were getting because of Obama’s policies (and he was not even President yet). I hear people tell me about how their health insurance sucks because of the changes (which has not even happened yet).
We are largely an uninformed bunch, who hear a sound bite, and believe in the sound bite. We look at talk show pundits, and because it seems like a news program, we take what they say as news.
Funny, Newt thinks Powell is a R – he thinks he is an R, it is only those that disagree with him that do not think he is an R. Clintons mistake on Health Care Reform was that the administration tried to create the legislation, and COngress balked at it (it is Congress who creates legislation). THis is not so much Obama’s plan, as it is the COngress’s plan.
I think that’s a debate point. That so many deficit and budget spending is automatic and that there is this notion that we MUST fund things at the same level as last year OR that the funding has to increase over last year – is yesterdays thinking.
What programs are really providing us a good return on our taxpayer investment? Can we go without providing govt workers a raise for 2-6 years? Do we really need that next new aircraft carrier? How far can we stretch existing resources instead of replacing them? How about 1-ply instead of 2-ply?
Mandate that all departments, divisions and sections must reduce budgets by 10-15%. No sacred cows. Cuts across welfare, defense, law enforcement, regulatory – you name it – cut it.
You can save a good amount just by getting rid of the Department of Education. Lots of waste for something that’s handled at the state level already.
Blue dog democrats call themselves that. Mainstream Republicans do not call themselves RINOs.
That is how I prefer to handle it.
I also think people get to name their own political affiliation and their own religion. It isn’t up to someone else to make that determination.
It’s all a big math problem. You don’t have a majority and you won’t. There are too many rinos and blue-dogs. Polars beware…
I guess. But, I don’t care if someone calls me Right-Right Wing, Libertarian, Ron Paul Republican or freakin’ nuts. Heck, there are times people call ME left (shrug).
What people may or may not call me doesn’t matter to me because I don’t give them the power to hurt me with those words or labels.
I can see a good, honest, open debate on my politics. That I’ll take anyday. And, what I see is that we can’t afford our current govt and we need to return to a position where we can afford a small, limited government that provides ONLY essential services that must be performed by the State and not by a for-profit or non-profit company.
No sacred cows. Cut education, law enforcement, fire fighting, welfare, etc. At the county, state and federal level this has to happen.
We ate our Thanksgiving dinner and slept a good sleep – now we gotta work off that extra fat and build some lean muscle!
Yeah, see ya in November! I’m sure it’ll all go your way!
@Slowpoke Rodriguez
Hopefully they keep on focusing on Palin and healthcare reform. It’ll be a slaughter at the ballot box.
Even if the uber conservatives manage to pull it off, they’ll shoot themselves in the foot soon enough. You can take that to the bank.
I’ve already got plenty of bank on the uber-liberals shooting themselves in the foot right now. Actually, it’s more like a circular firing-squad lately.
@marinm
I think the Republicans have a good bead on the summit coming up if they listen to Newt, he’s got an awesome strategy. Then I’m counting on the Democrats making good on their promise to use Budget Reconciliation to “Rahm” the health care disaster down the people’s throats. I don’t think they have the sack to do it, but I pray every day they do it. I’m even considering contacting Democratic reps to urge them to do it. Talk about a backlash.
That’s because Uber-polars always do that. Very few far right or far left groups stay in power long. Now the rub comes in defining far right and far left. @ Slow
It sounds like Colin Powell is vying for a job in the Obama Administration. He would have sounded more sincere if his discussion had been more balanced, but he did find any mistakes of the administration noteworthy enough to bring up.
For those of you that constantly harp about the Bush Administration’s “lies” concerning weapons of mass destruction, Colin Powell as Secretary of State compiled and presented evidence of Iraqi WMDs to the UN. If you believe that he was lying then, why would you believe him now?
“Even if the uber conservatives manage to pull it off, they’ll shoot themselves in the foot soon enough. You can take that to the bank.”
Actually, that’s my fear. The Republican party will sabotage the conservatives. While the conservatives supported “mainstream” Republicans in the past, they have never supported conservative candidates. On a broader note, the GOP has traditionally shot themselves in the foot. That’s why we conservatives label the GOP the Stupid Party and the Dems the Evil Party.
Cargo, but don’t you vote for the “stupid party’s ” candidates? I think maybe there are political undercurrents that I don’t understand.
Would you consider Reagan way too non-conservative for your tastes?
Conservatives call the GOP the “stupid” party because they seem to always shoot themselves in the foot. Many times I voted for the GOP because they seemed to be the lesser of two evils. The GOP always seems to get sidetracked on issues that don’t push forward their stated agenda of smaller government.
Reagan was a great conservative. His ideals were superb. His “real politic,” necessary at the time with a Democratic Congress, was guided by an overarching goal, that of rebuilding America’s strength and defeating the growing spread of Soviet influence. His tax cuts were supposed to be concurrent with spending cuts, but, Congress gave him the deal of “if you want your military, we get our domestic spending.”
My objections to Powell is that his actions have not matched his label for years. He has never stated his political principles. We can only judge them by his actions and by his endorsements. Being a former general does not mean that he will automatically be a conservative. If he says that he is a Republican, then he is a Republican.
However, with his actions, he would not be allowed to be a delegate to the Republican Convention as one has to sign a pledge that one has nt supported the Democratic party in within a certain number of years.
He is a poor Republican and a good Democrat.
I think that “mainstream” Republicans are afraid of conservative influence since our goal, ultimately, is the lessening of their power. Politicians don’t like the idea of smaller government. In general, they believe that government can always help. That’s usually why they get into that business. Conservatives want a more decentralized government that is more responsive to the voter.
And, as to voting for the “stupid” party? GOP politicians are terrified that conservatives and Tea Party members (not necessarily the same) are deciding to sit it out unless said politicians start walking the walk. Polls have shown that Conservatives’ want politicians that represent their values and liberals want politicians that can win. Which is why the Republicans have such a hard time. Their constituents want honest politicians.
Colin Powell is a demonstrated liar and tool … his presentation to the UN on Iraq’s ostensible WMD (actually rocket tubes and helium balloon fuel stations) is an embarassment to all Americans. He (along with Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice) should go crawl under a rock.
But, if this fool can speak to the 40% of Americans who paid any attention to him in the first place, and give them a slightly clearer version of reality, fine.
And yes as someone said above Powell is an opportunist … clearly. The guy whose name was on “The Powell Doctrine” sat in meetings where decisions were made to invest our troops into Iraq without body armor and stretched too thin. His personal political ambitions were apparently more important to him than much of anything else.
From http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/lieofthecentury.html
Colin Powell’s speech to the UN was itself one misstatement after another. Powell claimed that Iraq had purchased special aluminum tubes whose only possible use was in uranium enrichment centrifuges. Both CIA and Powell’s own State Department confirmed that the tubes were parts for missiles Saddam was legally allowed to have. Following the invasion, no centrifuges, aluminum or otherwise were found.
Powell also claimed to the United Nations that the photo on the left showed “Decontamination Vehicles”. But when United Nations inspectors visited the site after the invasion, they located the vehicles and discovered they were just firefighting equipment.
Powell claimed the Iraqis had illegal rockets and launchers hidden in the palm trees of Western Iraq. None were ever found.
Powell claimed that the Iraqis had 8,500 liters (2245 gallons) of Anthrax. None was ever found.
Powell claimed that Iraq had four tons of VX nerve gas. The UN had already confirmed that it was destroyed. The only VX ever found were samples the US had left as “standards” for testing. When the UN suspected that the US samples had been used to contaminate Iraqi warheads, the US moved quickly to destroy the samples before comparison tests could be carried out.
Powell claimed that Iraq was building long-range remote drones specifically designed to carry biological weapons. The only drones found were short-range reconnaissance drones.
Powell claimed that Iraq had an aggregate of between 100 and 500 tons of chemical and biological warfare agents. Powell gave no basis for that claim at all, and a DIA report issued the same time directly contradicted the claim. No biological or chemical weapons were found in Iraq following the invasion.
Powell claimed that “unnamed sources” confirmed that Saddam had authorized his field commanders to use biological weapons. No such weapons were ever used by the Iraqis to defend against the invasion and, of course, none were ever found in Iraq.
Powell claimed that 122mm warheads found by the UN inspectors were chemical weapons. The warheads were empty, and showed no signs of ever having contained chemical weapons.
Powell claimed that Iraq had a secret force of illegal long-range Scud missiles. None were ever found.
Powell claimed to have an audio tape proving that Saddam was supporting Osama Bin Laden. But independent translation of the tape revealed Osama’s wish for Saddam’s death.
Colin Powell’s UN debacle also included spy photos taken from high flying aircraft and spacecraft. On the photos were circles and arrows and labels pointing to various fuzzy white blobs and identifying them as laboratories and storage areas for Saddam’s massive weapons of mass destruction program. Nothing in the photos actually suggested what the blobby shapes were and during inspections which followed the invasion, all of them turned out to be rather benign.
In at least one case, the satellite Powell claimed had taken one of the pictures had actually been out of operation at the time. And many questioned why Powell was showing black and white photos when the satellites in use at the time over Iraq took color images.
Everyone involved in Powell’s deception should be in jail …
He took a tape of Hussien saying he wished Osama bin Laden were dead, and claimed it as evidence that the two were working together.
He took forms that Iraqi scientists were made to form, that said they must share all information with UN inspectors, and claimed falsely that the forms indicated penalty of death if they DID share information.
We let these people get away with this, and run our country.
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/lieofthecentury.html
Yep, couldn’t agree more with all of that. It’s the definition that seems to be like nailing Jello to the wall.
Kelly 3406 – as if Colin Powell needs a job.
There are very few Great Men in public service any more. Colin Powell is a Great Man who served his country, bled for it, wore the uniform, learned as a junior officer how to be a fine general officer and then offered his service as a diplomat to the Nation. We are fortunate to have lived in the same time and space with him.
I agree that Iraq splattered on him as well as others. I give him some degree of credit for resisting the Nation-wrecking madness internally. I think he should have resigned in mid to late 2002 or early 2003 when it was clear that no one inside the Administration could think straight any more. that he didn’t is too bad for him and for the country. But he’s many times the man that virtually any of us ever could or will be. Cheap shots in the blogosphere can’t hurt him.
Nice tribute to Powell, NoVa Scout. I, too, have a great deal of respect for him. When all the talk about going into Iraq was going on, I fought with people about doing it, saying if Colin Powell could assure me that there were weapons of mass destruction there, then I trusted him.
Unfortunately, he had some real bad information also. I do not feel he would intentionally lie to the American people. But yes, Iraq did splatter on him. He seems to cross all political barriers.