A Chance To Make A Difference
by Kelly Thomas |
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007.
(AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
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Recently, a friend and I talked about the situation in Iraq. He is a retired infantry officer and feels pretty much as I do-HOPELESS.
Because we both feel so hopeless, we posed a philosophical question: Would it have made any difference had someone "stood up" to the Commander in Chief even though he settled into a "don't confuse me with facts, I have my mind made up" mentality?
My friend named two who could have made a difference in his opinion: Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. I will have to admit that I've never been much of a fan of Colin Powell; the reason is pretty subjective.
I was stationed at Forces Command in Atlanta, Georgia when Powell came to visit. At that time, he was a big wheel, like Chief of Staff of the Army or Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He spoke to the troops and laced his talk with ample profanity-not that it was a big deal. However, had he not been black, somebody in the hierarchy would have crucified him.
Regardless, if you look at the history of Iraq and especially Condoleeza Rice's role of National Security Advisor; and now, of course, Secretary of State, the opportunity was there for her to do something. These two have had a chance to effect history and they did not.
Why? Well, I'll have to leave that to history. But when Powell and Rice had a chance to go in another direction on Iraq, they either said "No" or were fooled. In Condi's case, I think she is so loyal to the President; and, as someone has suggested, his alter ego that she simply folded.
Whatever, the "yes sir, yes sir, three bags full" of Powell and Rice have not served us well.
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