The Argument For Powell
The more I ponder our current situation now that the election has finally passed, and we are transitioning into an Obama Administration, the more I realize how much we're going to have to do in order to fix the mistakes of the Bush years. Things are not as easy as simply making a flick of the pen making things all better. As much as we would like to say, "let's just shut down Gitmo", things are not that simple. ...Well, perhaps shutting down Gitmo itself. But then the lingering question becomes, "what do we do about the detainees?" There are numerous rational and reasonable answers to this question, none of which, I think, is either more right or wrong than another. But Gitmo is just one of many issues that Bush is laying on Obama's administration to clean up. Fair or not, that's the way it is.
Through my pondering concerning such questions, one name kept popping into my head: "Colin Powell". Wait a second. Why bring Powell on board? He's part of the reason we're in the foreign policy and national security mess we're in. True. Undeniably so. Yet Powell's unequivocal rejection of the Bush Administration and its policies and practices makes him, I believe, the perfect candidate to advise Barack over the next four years.
I'm not suggesting Powell for a top, high-profile position. I don't even believe he would take a job like Sec. of State (again) if he was offered. But as a senior adviser, he would be perfect. Having been a part of the Bush Administration during Bush's first term can, if utilized, be a positive in backtracking on such quagmires as Gitmo. Powell has a unique understanding of the way Bush's Administration operated, and thus, a unique understanding of what we could do in order to fix what's gone wrong.
But the best aspect is, to repeat, his unequivocal rejection of Bush's policies and practices, coupled with his full-throttled endorsement of Barack in October.
Giving Powell a role in his Administration, though, would also show Obama's commitment to bipartisanship. Understandably, there are many out there who would reject Powell's involvement as, "they're both black", or "Powell is a traitor to the Republican Party", or some other piece of rediculousness. But such criticism would come from the far-right. And let's be honest. Who's listening to the far right?
Through my pondering concerning such questions, one name kept popping into my head: "Colin Powell". Wait a second. Why bring Powell on board? He's part of the reason we're in the foreign policy and national security mess we're in. True. Undeniably so. Yet Powell's unequivocal rejection of the Bush Administration and its policies and practices makes him, I believe, the perfect candidate to advise Barack over the next four years.
I'm not suggesting Powell for a top, high-profile position. I don't even believe he would take a job like Sec. of State (again) if he was offered. But as a senior adviser, he would be perfect. Having been a part of the Bush Administration during Bush's first term can, if utilized, be a positive in backtracking on such quagmires as Gitmo. Powell has a unique understanding of the way Bush's Administration operated, and thus, a unique understanding of what we could do in order to fix what's gone wrong.
But the best aspect is, to repeat, his unequivocal rejection of Bush's policies and practices, coupled with his full-throttled endorsement of Barack in October.
Giving Powell a role in his Administration, though, would also show Obama's commitment to bipartisanship. Understandably, there are many out there who would reject Powell's involvement as, "they're both black", or "Powell is a traitor to the Republican Party", or some other piece of rediculousness. But such criticism would come from the far-right. And let's be honest. Who's listening to the far right?
