Powell's redemption and ours as well
Colin Powell will very likely endorse Obama this weekend. The reactions have been mixed: betrayal from the Right, too little too late from the Left. But this could be a needed act of redemption not only for Powell but a beginning of our own as Americans as well
Powell gave into pressure last early in 2003 and lost his soul in the bargain. He was the "good soldier" then but if he had instead fallen on his sword and war had thus been averted ironically it might have resulted in a different kind of fall from grace for him. First he would have been shunned by almost every Republican and many Democrats as well. History from that point would have taken a different path. The disasterous war of the last five years might have been avoided but other possbily tragic events might have occured instead. What if, having in a sense helped Saddam stay in power, Saddam had ended up funneling a dirty bomb to terrorist who attack us again. Powell would have been seen as complicit. We just don't know. We are judging him by what did happened and have found him wanting. I would suggest we all listen to his statement and explanation on Meet the Press.
I have it on very good authority he is going to endorce Obama on Sunday. If it helps Obama in any way we should be grateful. We cannot know the future but readers of this blog have good reason to fear the election of McCain/Palin and the continuation of Republcan rule. Without knowing that version of our future we cannot judge the value of Powell's endorsement helping Obama to win.
I have one last thought as well. The disastrous consequences of
this war could have already marked the beginning of an irreversible decline for
the US or it could be the beginning of a return to a better America. We have been stunned to see ourselves
of late: the hubris but not the honor and grace to justify it; the confidence
not justified by our blatant shortcomings, the realization that the America we
thought we lived in is riddled with inequities, ineptness, and a growing
unwillingness to strive to be the best in science, education, and leadership.
We have had a major comeuppance these last few years, but maybe this trial will lead to our renewal. Maybe the enthusiasm that is being tapped into by Obama is a
widespread desire and willingness to regain our place in the world and in our
own eyes. If we are willing this time to choose a man who not only strove for
the best education, but is as proudly erudite as he is profoundly practical, a
man who is willing to use power wisely not merely covet and wield it, who tells
us without hesitation we too must work hard and be our best selves, then maybe
the wake up call of these last 7-8 years will be seen as the trial that allowed
us to move beyond our dangerous complacency of recent years.
Advertisement
"First he would have been shunned by almost every Republican and many Democrats as well."
Colin Powell comes out and says "The Bush Administration is trying to lie you into an illegal and unnecessary war in Iraq" and he would be SHUNNED BY DEMOCRATS? What, do they work for the Republicans? Sounds like it.
Colin Powell is toast. He had the chance to out the lies and he did not. $3,000,000,000,000 and 4,200 dead soldiers (and 855,000 dead Iraqis) later is too late to redeem yourself, I'm sorry. He has yet to apologize for LYING AT THE UN so far as I know.
Like Nixon, he can write a book, but please leave him at his retirement ranch, shall we?
October 17, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Colin Powell has made his career by lying and sweeping dirt under the rug for his benefactors, beginning with the My Lai massacre.
The guy is a total whore and, in my opinion, is beyond redemption.
By the way I find your statement that "Colin Powell will very likely endorse Obama this weekend." to be a real stretch. From Johnathan Martin reporting "Colin Powell will appear on Meet the Press Sunday, and First Read teases it in a way that suggests he may weigh in on the presidential race:" to "will likely" is a real leap.
October 17, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, Lawrence O'Donnell at HuffPo also wrote after the debate, that Powell was likely to endorse Obama. O'Donnell is not alone in his speculation. So katjam is not taking that leap alone.
October 17, 2008 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
(sorry if this is a duplicate. I joined just before the switchover and am now having trouble with the site)
Politico also carried multiple pieces eluding to the same. Although I don't believe he'll endorse anyone, let alone Obama, until I see it for myself, I'm not ready to immediately file it under "random blogosphere rumor" either.
October 17, 2008 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Powell's best bet is to just shut up and leave us alone until and unless he wants to write a "Mea Culpa" book. Who needs an endorsement from a War Criminal? What BS world do we live in to hear the words "honor" and "duty" being associated with this man? Someone else's Propaganda State - sure as hell not the world we understand.
I forgot my Lai, thanks - perhaps the cost of "rising through the ranks while Black" was in fact this silence and complicity. HONOR would have required Powell's RESIGNATION once he understood the Bush push for a useless meaningless war in Iraq. He should have resigned and said "I'm defending the Constitution against an unlawful seizure and manipulation of power to lead the country to a needless war" and then taken whatever hits that would follow. THAT would have been bravery and patriotism.
I'm profoundly discouraged that Powell will still be held up to Blacks as an example of "achievement". Yeah, you too can be a sold-out shill, the truth about you protected by the right-wing corporate media. How wonderful.
Now we get a 'complete' spectrum of "Black role models", from pimp and hustler to sold-out suit-wearing protofascists (Rice, Thomas.) Injury upon Insult. Compare these people to the likes of Barbara Lee, Maxine Waters, John Conyers, Cynthia McKinney. They're they ones who deserve our ear.
October 18, 2008 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink