What Colin Powell Needs to Convey to Barack Obama
Barack Obama has invited Colin Powell in to see him today -- and knowing General Powell's respect for the Office of the President, whether occupied by Barack Obama or George W. Bush, we aren't going to have a fully informed read of what transpires in this meeting for some time, if ever.
As Laura Rozen notes, Defense Secretary Gates will be meeting with the President two and a half hours after the chat with Powell.
But while not knowing whether Barack Obama is meeting with Powell to get a tutorial on what to do about the growing challenges in Afghanistan, or getting the General's views on an Iran strategy, or perhaps kicking Powell's tires about taking on some kind of national role -- perhaps as a presidential emissary for public service or as yet another super-czar focused on the Middle East or becoming the President's lever in rolling back Don't Ask, Don't Tell -- I think Powell should take the opportunity to convey some Powell-isms to Barack Obama.
The eight pillars of the Powell Doctrine, which means achieving victory by applying overwhelming assets to a clearly defined challenge, are worth working through -- whether in considering a build-up on Afghanistan or hatching another war:
1. Is a vital national security interest threatened?2. Do we have a clear attainable objective?
3. Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
4. Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted?
5. Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement?
6. Have the consequences of our action been fully considered?
7. Is the action supported by the American people?
8. Do we have genuine broad international support?
Barack Obama's "good war" on Afghanistan does not fare well when viewed through Powell's portals.
George W. Bush, at the beginning of his presidency, had several tutorials from journalist and national security expert Robert Kaplan on how to conduct foreign policy decisions in a world in which Bush believed American power was on the ascendancy.
Colin Powell will hopefully be given the opportunity by Obama to teach the President a few things about the cultivation and deployment of power in a world that doubts America's ability to achieve its objectives.
-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
"I think Powell should take the opportunity to convey some Powell-isms to Barack Obama."
A Powell-ism like the anthrax vial during his UN speech?
September 16, 2009 9:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
greetings Why oh Why - no matter what one thinks of the way the Bush administration used Powell to lie and/or fabricate at the United Nations, the principles of the Powell Doctrine make a lot of sense. best, steve
September 16, 2009 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
In any final assessment of Powell's public service to this country and the world, the UN incident needs to be fully taken into account. Yet Powell not only has insight that would be valuable to Obama, he also holds a certain legitimacy in some circles in the country regarding national security that are not quite so sure about Obama. Being able to gain the support of Powell in public for a policy will have a similiar impact as Powell's endorsement during the election (including the kitnip fits on the far right).
September 16, 2009 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
If the Powell Doctrine were ever applied, I might take it seriously.
September 16, 2009 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe one of the most valuable lessons Secretary Powell can relay to our President is the futility of trying to change the minds of people who only see things through a political prism. Powell got absolutely nowhere with Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rove just like President Obama is getting nowhere with McConnell/Boehner/Grassley.
Even if we can write off Powell's UN debacle (a big if) to his sense of loyalty, how about his actions afterwards? Staying on as long as he did. Using Col. Wilkerson as his mouthpiece long after resigning instead of speaking out personally, what was that all about?
September 16, 2009 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
It depends a lot on how Powell did in War College and how he has morphed since his Secretary of State experience.
September 16, 2009 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe President Obama will ask General Powell to lead the Union side in Civil War 2.0, which is coming.
-- ARG
September 16, 2009 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Powell's Doctrine encompasses principles aimed at the conduct of a winnable war of choice, such as the Persian Gulf War. I wonder what the answer to those questions would have been at the outset of America's involvement in WWII.
September 16, 2009 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Powell engaged in the same shenanigans when he helped cover up Mai Lai as he did in front of the UN. The media and his peers bestow a false integrity to a man who has never failed to sell out.
September 16, 2009 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Powell is a war criminal from even the Vietnam years, and wasn't merely "used" by the Bush II (and Bush I) war criminals to gin up a war, he willingly spewed propaganda he knew to be propaganda. So, we can do without the likes of Colin Powell in any way. He should sit in the docket at the Hague like the rest of them, I don't care how useful an idiot he could be to Obama. With friends like Powell, you don't need enemies, and we have to set our standards higher than that. It's this gooey nonpartisan-feint-to-the-Reich docudrama that is getting the Dem Party in trouble as it tries to govern a wreck of a nation bequeathed to them (us) by the Republican wrecking crew (as always). Let's stand up for what's really right and let the chips fall where they may. I think most Americans would like some truly honorable leadership for a change, with honesty and commonsense realpolitik as its guiding philosophy. No more political expediency at home and no more wars abroad. Just let it go, people. The empire isn't needed any more.
September 17, 2009 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack Obama's "good war" on Afghanistan does not fare well when viewed through Powell's portals
The Powell interventiion is,
exactly the sort of "peripetie" by which Prez could be permitted to say:
"Hey, my generals had me ready to go with 40k worth of cannon fodder, but, darn , wouldn't you know it, here comes superman and he blows them all away..."
Cover needed, cover gotten.
I love it when a plan comes together...
* *(disclaimer:I have had to be given the last rites three times in 24 hours because of near fatal cognitive dissonance over the manifest idiocy of Barack's Excellent Afghan Advanture. Thus I am prone to grasping at straws at this point--it may be intellectually pusillanimous, but it might save my life.
September 16, 2009 9:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now that I see me and Steve pictured in proximity, I am moved to seek out one of those outfits that he has on for my next avatar pic.
I need more gravitas
September 16, 2009 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
wouldn't it be cool to try to solve problems without invading anyone?
Not nearly as fun, but hey -- let's see if it works.....
September 16, 2009 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
crazy talk
September 17, 2009 1:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Powell doctrine indeed makes very good sense. But, one of the very biggest reasons America violated that doctrine in Afghanistan is because Powell himself utterly ignored it in helping implement the Iraq distraction that doomed any chances for prompt success in Afghanistan. Powell knew very well he was helping smash pottery that did not need smashing, but he surrendered his judgment to people not worthy of being given the time of day to. After Powell apologizes to America and the world for thus helping lead the charge into one of the stupidest and most hypocritical mistakes in American foreign policy history, he might then add a couple of corollaries to the doctrine:
1. Finish one war of choice before starting the next.
2. Even a loyal soldier needs to stick to his principles.
And then, after also volunteering to spend most of the rest of his life in Baghdad where Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz, etc. should be in permanent exile, he might then have the moral standing to advise American presidents.
September 17, 2009 4:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Steve
Not Colin Powell again.
He, Powell, has little to offer anyone other than an object lesson in how to get along by going along.
Please Steve, get over your silly idealized vision of Colin Powell that vision is a mirage.
Jim Wilson
September 17, 2009 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I'm all for the Powell Doctrine. What I'm against is people who pay lip service to it, then betray it.
Like, for example, Colin Powell.
Good message. Bad messenger.
September 17, 2009 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
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September 17, 2009 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
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April 27, 2011 5:45 AM | Reply | Permalink