Powell now doubts Iraq evidence

[notyoueither]

I see. If a black person disagrees with you politically, and serves a Republican, then there is something wrong with them, right?

I mean, it's only common sense that all black people would disagree with Bush, right?

I'm not sure how much better such thinking is over what has gone on in the past.

[mrmitchell]

Given that Saddam acted as if he were hiding them,

Granted, he wasn't really appearing to cooperate, but

Feb. 14, 2003
In a report to the UN, Hans Blix indicates progress has been made in Iraq 's cooperation.

March 7, 2003
Hans Blix reports Iraq has accelerated its cooperation, but inspectors need more time to verify Iraq 's compliance.

http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/war-timeline.htm

[Agathon]

Originally posted by notyoueither

I mean, it's only common sense that all black people would disagree with Bush, right?.

Actually, yes.

The Republicans attempts to pander to black people are hilarious, given their policies.

I think it was Bill Maher who said of the 2000 Republican convention, that the last time republicans had had that many black people on a stage, they were selling them.

[joncha]

I think it was Chris Rock (it was for Maher's Politically Incorrect, though).

[Tripledoc]

The way things have developed the question to be asked is, if there is a madman in the Whitehouse, and not if his henchmen are lying or not.

[DinoDoc]

Interesting how we went from discussing Powell to the patronizing racism of Agathon.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Agathon


Actually, yes.

The Republicans attempts to pander to black people are hilarious, given their policies.

I think it was Bill Maher who said of the 2000 Republican convention, that the last time republicans had had that many black people on a stage, they were selling them.

I'm sure black people everywhere are relieved that they have people like you looking out for them and telling them what they should think.

But hey, you've got a couple of entertainers to quote. I'll bet the world would be doomed to a calamity if it were not for their contributions to sociology and political science.

[Dinner]

Agathon are you even aware that the Republican party was the primary abolishionist party in the 19th century?

[Tiamat]

Ok so.......this would be tantamount to him saying basically that everything was wrong. Meaning we were wrong to go to Iraq in the first place?

And again would this not in some instance put egg on Bush's face. Hello.....if your secretary of state is admitting this.......well

[Pax]

Agathon,
Have heart. A lot of blacks view C. Rice and C. Powell as uncle toms, sellouts, and etc. Rice more than Powell. Your embedded analysis of African American public opinion is right on.

Powell lost a little credibility with the black community when he opted for the Republican party vice democrats. It's a common fact that most blacks are expected to be or vote democrat. Still he lost only a little credibility. Most of his loss of face has been after joining the President in the whitehouse. Namely for the reasons stated above. It seems that his reputation as an honest broker has been used to peddle some questionable policies. A lot of people look at the things that are being said and wonder how anyone could believe them regardless of race, creed, sex, religion, or even party.

[mrmitchell]

Agathon are you even aware that the Republican party was the primary abolishionist party in the 19th century?

I'm sure he is. But Republicans today, would have been rabid Democrats in the 19th century. (And vice-versa). So...well...it was a funny joke at least.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Big Crunch


Yes you did. I'm talking about the evidence that the Bush admin (and others) provided. It wasn't convincing evidence to many people.

Some folks would never be happy with any American evidence. We have rabid anti-Americans here as well. Not a group I can identify with. The evidence presented, IF TRUE, was convincing - hence the war.

Forget what Saddam may or may not have said, have you no ability to critically evaluate what you are told by a government?

Absolutely, when I can personally examine the evidence.

In the minds of many the Bush admin never proved their case. That is the important point. The fact that he was 'proven' to be lying after the war, just re-iterates the point.

See anti-Americanism point above. If Bush said the sun rises in the east many would challenge him on it.

I'm not questioning whether it was right or not, I just feel your justification seemed a bit weak. If you said you had listened to the arguments and agreed with them, that would be understandable, but you seem to be saying you are a headless chicken who just follows the guy in charge because he wouldn't lie.

Headless chicken? Called a lefty yesterday. Guess I could (and have) been called worse. Not being defensive - but most people I know would strongly disagree with that observation.

Perhaps you misunderstand. I DID listen to the arguments and evaluate. I didn't have my hands on the Niger file, CIA reports, National Security briefings, etc. Did you?

In the end it was a question of credibility. Hence my disappointment with the Admin now.

[DanS]

Somehow, I doubt a majority of Americans would share your feelings.

Yes, I doubt a vast majority of Americans share those feelings. My respect for him hasn't waned at all. And overall, it matters less what the black community thinks than what the white community thinks of him, because whites are the majority. He never was never hired because he was a bridge to the black community. Neither Rice.

I view this whole thing as an error of the intelligence community. There was no intermediation between the Powell and the career civil servants in the intelligence community, so he only said what the intelligence community thought to be the truth. As the president, it's tough to say to the intelligence community to clean up its act, because they can give just as well as they can take, and they do a lot of very good work otherwise.

It would have been stupid for the Bush administration to lie, and I don't believe they did so, precisely because you would be in the situation they have now.

[Vanguard]

It would have been stupid for the Bush administration to lie, and I don't believe they did so, precisely because you would be in the situation they have now.

If you see a hundred dollar bill on the ground, Dan, pick it up. It isn't an illusion.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Pax Africanus
Agathon,
Have heart. A lot of blacks view C. Rice and C. Powell as uncle toms, sellouts, and etc.

Is there somesort of test that one has to go through in order to be accepted as black? A ritual of purification to cast out the demons of whiteness?