Powell: I Don't Know Who I'll Vote For

Former Secretary Of State Colin Powell Says Next President Will Have To Reduce U.S. Forces In Iraq

(AP)  Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday that President Bush's successor will have to come to grips with the reality that the United States cannot continue to keep such large numbers of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Without taking sides in the race for the White House, Powell said, "Whichever one of them becomes president on Jan. 1, 2009, they will face a military force that cannot continue to sustain 140,000 people deployed in Iraq and the 20 (thousand) odd or 25,000 people we have deployed in Afghanistan and our other deployments."

Powell's comments in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" seemed to undercut Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting John McCain's position that the U.S. should stay the course in Iraq. But Powell also said that the next president will face limitations on bringing troops home, as Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton - rivals for the Democratic nomination - have promised to do.

"They will have to continue to draw down at some pace," he said. "None of them are going to have the flexibility of just saying we're out of here, turn off the switch, turn off the lights, we're leaving. They will have a situation before them."

Powell, who is a former chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, argued publicly for the invasion of Iraq early in Mr. Bush's presidency. He said Thursday that he considers each of the presidential candidates a friend.

"I'm looking at all three candidates ... I have not decided who I will vote for yet," said Powell, who donated $2,300 to McCain's campaign last year.

Powell praised Obama's response to controversial remarks by his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who said the United States brought the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on itself by supporting terrorism and that the government created the AIDS virus to "destroy people of color."

"I thought that Senator Obama handled the issue well," said Powell, the nation's first black secretary of state. "He didn't abandon the minister that brought him closer to his faith, but at the same time he deplored the kinds of statements that the Reverend Wright had made."

[kansas1946]

The architects of the war are dwindling, but we are stuck with the war and its ramifications. Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rove, etc. are gone. But, we still have Rice ( a lesson in incompetence) and Cheney ( a lesson in greed) and Bush (a lesson in adolescence). Powell was a tool for Cheney and Rumsfeld. Ashcroft was a tool for Cheney and Rumsfeld. Both, eventually, saw that they were being used for unpatriotic and unsavory reasons and both found ways to leave, but neither in time to save their reputations and the damage done to our nation''''s reputation. Petraeus needs to look at what his groveling to this administration will eventually bring to his reputation and the continued degradation of America. Whomever Powell decides to vote for will certainly not affect my vote.


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Posted by pastdue1 at 09:34 AM : Apr 11, 2008
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Amen. You hit the nail on the head, pastdue. I think a lot of Americans are finally able to see the ugly truth about this administration. It make me ill. I only hope that time can heal these massive wounds that have been caused to our American reputation and decency.

[pastdue1]

The architects of the war are dwindling, but we are stuck with the war and its ramifications. Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rove, etc. are gone. But, we still have Rice ( a lesson in incompetence) and Cheney ( a lesson in greed) and Bush (a lesson in adolescence). Powell was a tool for Cheney and Rumsfeld. Ashcroft was a tool for Cheney and Rumsfeld. Both, eventually, saw that they were being used for unpatriotic and unsavory reasons and both found ways to leave, but neither in time to save their reputations and the damage done to our nation''s reputation. Petraeus needs to look at what his groveling to this administration will eventually bring to his reputation and the continued degradation of America. Whomever Powell decides to vote for will certainly not affect my vote.

[hwy71so]

Colin Powell should be the Republican presidential nominee!!!

[hwy71so]

Colin Powell should be the Republican presidential nominee!!!

[popstom1]

If he''s locked up he can''t vote

[kansas1946]

LOL. That is code for "I am voting for Obama, even though I am a Republican." If he was supporting McCain, he would say so. This must be a blow to all of the war mongers that this general would like to see Obama president. I bet a huge number of deployed soldiers would like to see Obama president also.

[tbweb]

Powell: I Don''t Know Who I''ll Vote For

I know what you mean! I''m not Voting at all.

[libh8er]

It''s a shame to see a good man like Powell go to waste. Posted by vmcneal2 at 04:13 PM : Apr 10, 2008

You sound like a commercial for the United Negro College Fund LOL!

[smashwl7]

The great thing about Saddam Hussein he took no ***** from any of these people that are controlling Iraq now! Yes he was a nasty dictator that used the chemical weapons we gave him back in the 80%u2019s to kill the Kurdish people. You see Saddam Hussein seen these people as threat to has regime. However, Iran was scared to death of him and did not dare to step foot Iraq. We could have used Saddam Hussein as a puppet if we were smart! We could have paid him to do our dirty work like we did in 80%u2019s when Regan was president. Bush does not know how to think on that level he is to stupid to know he had everything going for him after 9/11.

You see by keeping Saddam Hussein in power until we got off of fossil fuels would have been the smart and prudent thing to do. We could have positioned ourselves to deal with him on another level at a different time. Bush just made the most bone-headed foreign policy mistake in our countries history hopefully the next president can get us out of this mess.

Obama 08

[vmcneal2]

Bush/Cheney made a fool out of Powell. The reason he got fired is because he saw the light and refused to a yes man.

It''s a shame to see a good man like Powell go to waste. I have a feeling we have not seen the last of him.

[libh8er]

I feel sorry for him but at the same time we''''ve seen a side of him that is unacceptable.
Posted by jh6379 at 02:46 PM : Apr 10, 2008

Of course you do....that''s because you''re a nosepicking, bedwetting lib. I''m sure you feel the same about Clinton (both), Kerry, Reid, etc. who ALL said the same things Powell said, right?

[libh8er]

Says something about the distrust with which "Loose Cannon" John is viewed by thinking people of both parties.
Posted by gkc99 at 03:25 PM : Apr 10, 2008

I suppose the same could be said for John Lewis SWITCHING his support from Hillary to Ubama.

[homespunlady]

Even Powell can see that Iraq is Economic Quicksand.

Doesn''t he live in PANAMA now?

His vote is his OWN BUSINESS not the voyeuristic Media''s.

The constantly SHIFTING PRIORITIES into ever more TRIVIAL REASONS for staying are a smokescreen to the REAL objective Petraeus mentioned of "securing our interests" (in acquiring the Iraqi oil).

Once Maliki sells out his nations "black gold" our ELITE will rapidly lose interest.

Petraeus himself has noted that our efforts are NOT Sunni based Al-Queda but now it''s internal Shiite troublemakers.

How LOW will it go?

In 20 years will our Military serve as HALL MONITORS in the WEALTHY IRAQI High Schools while Americans STARVE and are homesless to PAY for this EVERLASTING FOLLY?

I''m pretty certain OSAMA BIN LADEN will OWN Afghanistan again by then.

SO, it''s beneficial for the Iraqi Government to use EVERY DELAYING tactic in the book while adding to their growing BUDGET SURPLUS.

Dangle the OIL CARROT, take the money and let the American FOOLS BANKRUPT themselves for GREED.

As for FALSE PATRIOTISM - Which historical figure said "PRIDE GOETH BEFORE THE FALL"?

[gkc99]

It''s revealing that Republican Powell is reluctant to support McCain, fellow Repug and fellow soldier.

Says something about the distrust with which "Loose Cannon" John is viewed by thinking people of both parties.

[flreason]

"Colin Powell was one of the main reasons George W. Bush was able to pull the wool over our eyes regarding Iraq. Like Obama his father is not an American but a citizen of a foreign power. Like Obama, and unlike almost all African-Americans he had the privilege to get a postgraduate degree. And like Obama he is NOT to be trusted."
Posted by phillysage

Looks like all of the sage in Philly was used in stuffing. He was born in Harlem. His parents were legal immigrants from Jamaica, which hardly qualifies as a "foreign power." And his "privilege" came because he worked and studied hard, distinguished himself in ROTC and then in Viet Nam, and got his MBA while still a career Army officer. He was used by Bush & Co., and has paid a huge price in his credibility and honor for it. I''d sooner trust him than a self-appointed Phillysage.

[fstop100]

Tough to vote for such pathetic candidates, and worse when you know you cant believe anything they say.

[dinkydog1]

Sounds like a wise man. Too bad he ruined his credability and political career by association with Bush

[tonyd_31]

Sounds like he won''t be voting GOP which is a good thing. McCain does not stand a chance. The American people are fed up with the GOP. Go DEMS (Hillary or Obama). We need change in the worst way.

[blkpresident]

No comment

[bm6005]

As one who used to have the deepest respect for Colin Powell, I like most am deeply concerned about his judgment on any issue.
Posted by sjbj2322

Read some books on the subject. Powell was lied to also!! He had a fit while preparing his UN speech as he kept coming up with discontinuities in the admins intelligence info and their statements. It''s either in "Hubris" of "Fiasco". I felt the same way as you but when I read the books I understood. This admin lied to their own SOS!!! What scumbags!!