Colin Powell To Step Down As Secretry of State

[Sava]

We should appoint Sava.

For the good of America, I wouldn't want to be Secretary of State. My first day on the job, we'd probably have many nations declare war on us.

edit: I'd get permabanned from Saudi Arabia... there's no doubt about that. I hate those Saudi ruling ****ers so bad... OH MY GOD... they'd smile at me, shake my hand, and I'd mutter (with a smile) "please to meet you, you evil ****ing *******s!~!@!@"

But I would have fun... I'd send Kim Jong Il a huge case of Hennesey and hardcore porn in exchange for him shutting his nuke program down.

[Berzerker]

Rice or Wolfowitz? Pick your satanic incarnate.

I like Wolfowitz, he's got passion and doesn't let politics get in the way of what he sees as right and wrong. Of all Bush 1's administration, he was the one most angry about how the Kurds were backstabbed by Bush.

[Worthingtons]

It's a shame this good bloke wont stay on, but may you good folks from America get a worthy man to take the place!
Cheers
Matt

[chequita guevara]

This is old news. It was mentioned at least one year ago. Frankly, I'm surprised Powell puts up with the crap he does. I think it's only because he's the lone sane voice in the Administration and he knows it, and that if he left, everything would be in the hands of the neo-cons.

[Timexwatch]

I can forsee a nasty fight on the Hill if Wolfowitz is nominated for the SecState position. All the leftists and some of the Democratic Leaders with an axe to grind against one of the chief neocons of the administration will come out of the woodwork.

Rice will probably get an easier ride, if she's nominated for anything. I'm shooting from the hip, but I honestly can't see her as being able to handle being the Secretary of State.

I read Newt's article in Foreign Affairs on reforming the State Department and I'm guessing that all the career diplomats will be campaigning against him simply because what he proposed (Diminishing time abroad for foreign service offiicers then longer they've been in, increased community and PR outreach in assigned countries and more stringent language and cultural training and other various "Turn out the career guys" proposals). I don't think that Newt would make a capable Secretary.

As for Tenant, I know that many conservatives bash him for being a Clinton holdover, and I'm guessing that once Bush is re-elected he'll finally be sent his walking papers. I do, however, give him credit for being a good soldier under the Bush Administration and taking some of the hits for faulty intelligence.

[Sava]

I can forsee a nasty fight on the Hill if Wolfowitz is nominated for the SecState position. All the leftists and some of the Democratic Leaders with an axe to grind against one of the chief neocons of the administration will come out of the woodwork.

and any reasonable human being with a conscience.

I read Newt's article in Foreign Affairs

Now there's an opinion I'd trust.

[DanS]

Interesting developments. Personally, I think they need some new blood at both State and CIA. Or National Security and CIA.

I don't want the neocons to have carte blanche at State, and Wolfowitz is very rough-edged (not much of a diplomat). Further, this would be a "cleaning house" choice. If anything, this would all argue for Rice, who is not a neocon, and has a lot of experience in managing a large organization. But I think she still needs some seasoning. She caught herself out in the open on the Niger issue, which others wisely played closer to the vest. It allowed a bull**** issue to fester. But she should be moved up in one way or another, if any openings are there.

As for CIA, it really would be nice to have Armitage there, if he would like the position. I have been very impressed with Armitage, even though he looks like a meathead. He plays a team game and is nobody's fool. Bush should find a way to move him up. Don't know many of the other people they mention.

Wolfowitz keeps being mentioned for all of the positions, but I don't think he should move up. He should be listened to, but followed only some of the time. National Security is more of a concensus-building position, which doesn't seem like a good position for him.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Is he tired of wasting his talent in an administration that is clearly not worthy of him ?

He must seem talented only to the French, who managed to trick him into bringing the Iraq mess before the UNSC in order to sabotage the U.S. Honestly the man has been a failure as Secretary of State by almost any measure. Even with his great reputation upon taking the position, he hasn't managed to succeed at much that I've seen. Perhaps the short list of successes would include building the coalition for the war in Afghanistan, and handing out money for AIDS in Africa, but not much else.

I like the man too, but just haven't seen much performance from him. Arguably there has never been a Secretary of State who has managed to preside over such a loss of international prestige as Colin Powell. I don't think it is all his fault either, but a great Secretary of State would be able to stick it to the enemy and make them like it.

[Timexwatch]

Originally posted by DanS
Interesting developments. Personally, I think they need some new blood at both State and CIA. Or National Security and CIA.

I don't want the neocons to have carte blanche at State, and Wolfowitz is very rough-edged (not much of a diplomat). Further, this would be a "cleaning house" choice. If anything, this would all argue for Rice, who is not a neocon, and has a lot of experience in managing a large organization. But I think she still needs some seasoning. She caught herself out in the open on the Niger issue, which others wisely played closer to the vest. But she should be moved up in one way or another, if any openings are there.

I think that who the SecState brings with him in the upcoming "house cleaning" will be just as important as the (wo)man himself. I hope that Bush doesn't engage in his SOP and pick an obscure businessman with no governmental experience (or have those types installed in the vacated deputy spots). He can't afford to have green recruits in State right now with all the damage that has to be repaired and with whatever is the next crisis is.

Rice might be good if she can demonstrate that she can manage a leviathan like the State Department. If she can't, she'll end up pulling an Allbright...

[Sikander]

Originally posted by DanS
Interesting developments. Personally, I think they need some new blood at both State and CIA. Or National Security and CIA.

I don't want the neocons to have carte blanche at State, and Wolfowitz is very rough-edged (not much of a diplomat). Further, this would be a "cleaning house" choice. If anything, this would all argue for Rice, who is not a neocon, and has a lot of experience in managing a large organization. But I think she still needs some seasoning. She caught herself out in the open on the Niger issue, which others wisely played closer to the vest. It allowed a bull**** issue to fester. But she should be moved up in one way or another, if any openings are there.

As for CIA, it really would be nice to have Armitage there, if he would like the position. I have been very impressed with Armitage, even though he looks like a meathead. He plays a team game and is nobody's fool. Bush should find a way to move him up. Don't know many of the other people they mention.

Wolfowitz keeps being mentioned for all of the positions, but I don't think he should move up. He should be listened to, but followed only some of the time. National Security is more of a concensus-building position, which doesn't seem like a good position for him.

I agree, it would be conforting to see few familiar faces on the national security team. Armitage is a seasoned professional, especially compared to Wolfowitz who should never have been advanced beyond a position where his writings could be used to scare the crap out of potential foes.

[DanS]

Former Senator Thompson is a very interesting name, but not for CIA. I would see if he could do State, keeping in mind that he has no management experience that I know of. But knowing that such a high quality name is in the stable is very heartening.

Most of the people they mention for CIA are from the signals intelligence and sensing side. This is a shame, as we need to continue to beef up human intelligence from a rather pathetic state.

[Timexwatch]

Originally posted by Sikander


He must seem talented only to the French, who managed to trick him into bringing the Iraq mess before the UNSC in order to sabotage the U.S. Honestly the man has been a failure as Secretary of State by almost any measure. Even with his great reputation upon taking the position, he hasn't managed to succeed at much that I've seen. Perhaps the short list of successes would include building the coalition for the war in Afghanistan, and handing out money for AIDS in Africa, but not much else.

I like the man too, but just haven't seen much performance from him. Arguably there has never been a Secretary of State who has managed to preside over such a loss of international prestige as Colin Powell. I don't think it is all his fault either, but a great Secretary of State would be able to stick it to the enemy and make them like it.

Powell's great contribution has been making the policy screwups look like everyone else's (i.e. France) fault but Bush's.

Former Senator Thompson is a very interesting name, but not for CIA. I would see if he could do State, keeping in mind that he has no management experience that I know of. But knowing that such a high quality name is in the stable is very heartening.

Most of the people they mention for CIA are from the signals intelligence side. This is a shame, as we need to continue to beef up human intelligence from a rather pathetic state.

I'm sure there are enough ex-Senators and Congressmen kicking around who would be able to do a good job on the management side. The problem with finding someone for the head of the CIA who'd be able push HumInt over Signals Intellignce successfully.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

It won't be Rice; NSA's a much better gig than State, especially for a policy wonk like her. It won't be Wolfowitz, either; no diplomatic credentials.

You want your blood to run cold? To wake up screaming every night between now and Jan. 2005? It'll be Elliot F*cking Abrams. You read it here first.

[Kirnwaffen]

Well, sounds like I'll be having one hell of an interesting time for the next few years. Joy.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Timexwatch


Powell's great contribution has been making the policy screwups look like everyone else's (i.e. France) fault but Bush's.

Well it's been far from perfect to say the least, but given some of Bush's policies you do have a point.