Colin Powell dead.
- Thread starter jsmoke
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 3 Jun 2005
- Posts
- 7,613
Did he die of Colin cancer?
All these years I had no idea his name was actually spelled 'Colin'!
Funny how much of a presence that name has in my mind, must have heard it many many times over the years, probably many of them listening to Radio 4 in the back seat of a car on my way to school. Shame about his role in the Iraq War, but broadly he seems to have been a decent person.
RIP
Funny how much of a presence that name has in my mind, must have heard it many many times over the years, probably many of them listening to Radio 4 in the back seat of a car on my way to school. Shame about his role in the Iraq War, but broadly he seems to have been a decent person.
RIP
Too soon...
Similar to 'Creg' (Craig) and 'Gram' (Graham) I suppose.
RIP to the guy. Leaving politics aside, he fought the good fight in more ways than one and he had his integrity. A good innings, regardless.
Whilst its unbelievably sad for his family & friends, I'm sorry but I just can't get past that he knowingly lied to the world in 2003 during his UN presentations into Iraq and his infamous WMD claims, directly leading to all manner of crap we're still dealing with, untold civilian deaths and veteran issues.
When interviewed in 2018 about why he lied in his speech he said "I knew I didn't have any choice. What choice did I have, he's the president" referring to Bush's demand that Powell both write and give the speech because of his perceived level of honesty. So instead of doing what was right (and would've been unimaginably hard TBF) and quitting over the reports he himself didn't believe, he decided to repeat the lie to the world instead. Looking back he said in the same 2018 interview that, if he'd quit, he doubted that the invasion would have happened due to the collapse of support at home and abroad which must be a kicker for those directly effected by his decision.
Despite all that I don't hate the guy, not at all, he had a moment of weakness and made a bad choice but seems remorseful about it, however I don't think papering over his past with glowing eulogies is the best way to remember the man or what he did if we want to learn from his mistakes.
When interviewed in 2018 about why he lied in his speech he said "I knew I didn't have any choice. What choice did I have, he's the president" referring to Bush's demand that Powell both write and give the speech because of his perceived level of honesty. So instead of doing what was right (and would've been unimaginably hard TBF) and quitting over the reports he himself didn't believe, he decided to repeat the lie to the world instead. Looking back he said in the same 2018 interview that, if he'd quit, he doubted that the invasion would have happened due to the collapse of support at home and abroad which must be a kicker for those directly effected by his decision.
Despite all that I don't hate the guy, not at all, he had a moment of weakness and made a bad choice but seems remorseful about it, however I don't think papering over his past with glowing eulogies is the best way to remember the man or what he did if we want to learn from his mistakes.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 30 Jul 2013
- Posts
- 29,646
Trump used the death of Colin Powell to bash him, and use it to make a political statement.
Classy.
Classy.
He said he's getting very favourable reporting despite what happened with Iraq, he's not wrong, he seems to be a very popular man bizarrely.
Look at Bush Jr, he seems to be having a bit of a comeback tour over the years despite being considered one of the worst recent presidents. Time is a great healer.
Thought with Powell, I got the impression the majority of his critics were outside the party/anti-war and still regarded highly with the right and mainstream.
Thought with Powell, I got the impression the majority of his critics were outside the party/anti-war and still regarded highly with the right and mainstream.
Not bizarre at all. Powell found redemption for admitting his mistakes with Iraq, regretting what he had done, endorsing Obama/Biden to avoid the catastrophe of a McCain/Palin presidency, and denouncing the corrupt Trump regime.
He also left the Republican Party following the Capitol Hill riot on 06.01.21.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2012
- Posts
- 8,341
i was responding to the (now deleted) tasteless comment inferring that his double vaccination didn't protect him and that the vaccine is therefore useless.
to make it absolutely clear, this is not my personal view, i absolutely understand there are circumstances where vaccination isn't enough protection when other conditions are involved and that this is what has occurred here.
Yup
The man was put in the position of being able to make a decision to measurably benefit the world, but took the path that suited his career, and the world suffered greatly.
Should be forever held up as an example of huge moral failure.
Soldato
- Joined
- 3 Jun 2005
- Posts
- 7,613
He agrees with you now so the war doesn't matter.
This^, plus don’t forget his involvement in the Mai Lai massacre report during the Vietnam war.
I think the evidence he presented to the UN is a perfect example of how a conspiracy can take hold even at the highest levels of government, that people just assume the higher ups have more information than them so it must be true.