Colin Powell on Iraq, Race, and Hurricane Relief (Barbara Walters)

[RamboLiberal]

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Politics/story?id=1105979&page=1

<snip>

Powell, 68, who recently visited storm survivors at Reunion Arena in Dallas, said he was "deeply moved" by the families displaced by the devastating storm and was critical of the preparations for Hurricane Katrina. "I think there have been a lot of failures at a lot of levels — local, state and federal. There was more than enough warning over time about the dangers to New Orleans. Not enough was done. I don't think advantage was taken of the time that was available to us, and I just don't know why," Powell told ABC News' Barbara Walters in an exclusive interview airing Friday night at 10 p.m. on "20/20."

Powell doesn't think race was a factor in the slow delivery of relief to the hurricane victims as some have suggested. "I don't think it's racism, I think it's economic," he told Walters.

<snip>

UN Presentation:

When asked if he feels it has tarnished his reputation, he said, "Of course it will. It's a blot. I'm the one who presented it on behalf of the United States to the world, and will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It's painful now."

<snip>

Why didn't he resign:

Powell told Walters he is unfazed by criticism that he put loyalty to the president over leadership. "Loyalty is a trait that I value, and yes, I am loyal. And there are some who say, 'Well, you shouldn't have supported it. You should have resigned.' But I'm glad that Saddam Hussein is gone. I'm glad that that regime is gone," he said.

[DURHAM D]

1. Wake me when its over - could not care less what that sponge

has to say.

[marmar]

3. Agreed...

He had his chance to show some character after he left that kabal and speak but he didn't, so who gives a frog's fat ass now. Fuck off, Colin.

[Solly Mack]

2. oh sure - cause there's absolutely no correlation between racism and

the "economic"

ho hum

pathetic piece of shit

[liefromthetablecloth]

4. absolutely right!

I am a first time poster here on DU having 'lurked' for a long time (along with kos and other sites). Just for balance I have done the same on lgf and drudge among others and drawn my own conclusions (having nearly vomited on several occasions). I am from the UK and I could see exactly what was going to happen in NO (although not to the devastating scale that it has) from what seems like way back on Saturday 27th August 2005. Bear with me I'm going to explain my POV from before the start of this tragedy.

I had been arguing with some liberal friends of mine that week about the war in Iraq and how it was the best argument that could be used against Bush and his policies. The counter argument was that there were far more angles on which to attack Bush, and people were "sick" of the war which was "nearly three years ago - get over it" (!). I mean he preaches "pro-life" and yet he had personally ordered the deaths of tens of thousands to further a political goal (remind you of anyone?). Anyway I conceded that they had a point and that people have already made their minds up about Iraq one way or another anyway. Bush's policies of protecting property over life seemed glaringly apparent to me, but I didn't know how to formulate that into an argument as strong as Iraq. Until now.

Given my keen interest in Geography, I was concerned (and interested) in the result of a Cat 5 (or 5 and a half (?) - as Fox was reporting) hurricane hitting the South of the US. I was worried for the people, but assumed that they would be OK, given the obvious (?) federal disaster response that had been set up in the last 4 years. I saw Bush go on TV and say something along the lines of "your priority should be yourselves and your families", in response to Ray Nagin's request for a mandatory evacuation of NO. At the time I thought that that was a bit of a selfish thing to say, and when I saw lots of white people (a lot one person per vehicle) in big vehicles leaving and lots of black people queuing for the Superdome - I knew something was not quite right.

We all know what happened after that.

After listening to Condi's comments about "the colour of people's skin not being an issue" (or whatever she said) I was SEETHING! Of course this was about class. But the problem is, how does that not make the neglect of the people of NO a big problem, and a big race issue. They were rejected by the Bush ethos. They were mostly black. Why is that? Now it seems Powell is following the same line - it was economic. I saw this attitude being displayed on BBC news when they asked a black guy in WA if he thought it was racist (the neglect); "no, probably classist" was the response. Well it seems the class structure has been set up against black people in the US. You can tell me I'm wrong. But it seems to have been proven by events in the last two weeks. Change is needed NOW!

UNITY!

[npincus]

5. whatta milquetoast jerk-off