Colin Powell, you need to shut the fuck up. Like Grandpa Simpson, every time you open your mouth you just embarrass yourself and demean all around you. Your time is done. Let the nurse change your diaper without fussing and just watch Matlock on TBS until you wither fully away.
Colin emerged from the land of creamed corn and denture adhesives to cast a shadow on the Sunday talk shows. He said this about Hillary Clinton and the deaths of four Americans at Benghazi:
I think she’s had a distinguished record. And I don’t think that this one incident–which is one of these things that those of us in government have been through many, many times where suddenly an action happens late at night … I don’t think it’s a blot on her record.
You’re surprised. Somebody gets killed, something gets blown up. And then the after-action reports start and everybody wants to know who was at fault. Who was responsible? ‘Why didn’t you keep this from happening?’ Well, you can’t keep everything from happening. Benghazi was a very, very difficult one and a difficult situation, and maybe they shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
The reader is reminded that Hillary Clinton was the head of the organization that placed those Americans where, in Colin’s words, “maybe they shouldn’t have been there in the first place” and thus might, oh, I don’t know, have some responsibility for what happened. Colin, who likely can’t read anymore even with his damn glasses, wherever the hell he left them, might also recall that the State Department’s own report on Benghazi found “a lack of proactive leadership and management ability in their responses to security concerns posed by Special Mission Benghazi, given the deteriorating threat environment and the lack of reliable host government protection.” Since Slick Hilly was head of the pack that showed such poor leadership, maybe she had some responsibility?
Nothing New for Colin Powell
But of course not being responsible for the deaths of others is Colin’s specialty, actually the hallmark of his career.
Colin Powell, as Secretary of State, lent his considerable credibility and gravitas to the case for war with Iraq.
Powell spoke publicly before the UN General Assembly, and privately in depth with America’s allies, about mobile biowar labs, weapons of mass destruction and the imminent danger Saddam Hussein posed. While many people considered Bush an idiot puppet, and Cheney and Rumsfeld psychopathic fibbers, Powell convincingly represented the United States’ case for war. Of course, everything Powell said was a lie. Pimping his book Colin told all (like Benghazi, it was just a “blot”):
A blot, a failure will always be attached to me and my UN presentation. I am mad mostly at myself for not having smelled the problem. My instincts failed me. There is nothing worse than a leader believing he has accurate information when folks who know he doesn’t don’t tell him that he doesn’t.
So why did no one stand up and speak out during the intense hours we worked on the speech? Some of these same analysts later wrote books claiming they were shocked that I have relied on such deeply flawed evidence. Try to get over failure quickly. Learn from it. Study how you contributed to it. If you are responsible, own up to it.
And My Lai Just Happened Too
Colin famously served in America’s retro-war of choice, Vietnam. He was charged with investigating the My Lai Massacre. Powell wrote: “In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between American soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent.” Later, Powell’s assessment would be described as whitewashing the massacre. Almost rehearsing his Hillary lines to the very word, in May 2004 Powell told radio host Larry King, “I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored.”
Birds of a Feather
So it is no real surprise that Colin Powell, who took no responsibility for helping America into a horrible war with Iraq, is now dragged out of the retirement home toilet to tell us that Hillary also has no responsibility for the stuff that just kinda happens out there when you go intervening around the world. And hey, in Colin’s own words, you’d be surprised when people want to know who is responsible for the deaths of their sons and daughters. Gosh golly, why would anyone want to know who was responsible for just a blot? And why are we still listening to has-beens like Colin? Have we run out of Kardashians to interview? Do we have to wait for some pathetic sex scandal until we can heap Colin into the dust-bin of once-media-superheroes alongside Petraeus and Lance Armstrong? Colin and Hillary together, what a pair, which is good because without her Colin does not have one.
Thanks Colin, for all your blots service. Now go away you tired old man. Meanwhile, let’s watch this:
Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved. The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) in their private capacity.
John said...
1Peter,
You have got to get some of these PTSD conditions you have checked out. There is way too much rage in your posts and while I can sympathize because it often comes from a good place, such as preventing future deaths, the way you deliver your comments often undermines the quality of your comments. Just some thoughts for consideration.
John
01/16/13 3:18 PM | Comment Link
Benjamin said...
2Peter,
What John said.
I don’t know you from Adam, but your argument is undermined by the vitroil in your posts. I take your position less seriously because of the way you write and get personal.
Just information you can use as feedback, if you like.
Peace,
Benjamin
01/16/13 3:34 PM | Comment Link
wemeantwell said...
3It is not a question of why I am so angry, but why you are not.
01/16/13 3:58 PM | Comment Link
meloveconsullongtime said...
4John and Benjamin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn4vkSH6Og8
01/16/13 4:23 PM | Comment Link
pitchfork said...
5I bet you know what I have to say.
FUCKING BRAVO!! Except for the typo..
quote:”It is not a question of why I am so fucking pissed off, but why you are not.” unquote
There..fixed it.
Frankly, mass lobotomy notwithstanding, I can’t figure out why the ENTIRE nation isn’t gathering around WDC to arrest and prosecute and hang these monstrously deviant WAR CRIMINALS!!!!!
Peter, on the contrary, rage is a massive understatement. What part of fucking MURDER doesn’t Amerika understand..and I do mean murder.
From My Lai to innocent drone victims to 16-year-old American citizen Abdulrahman al-Awlaki. I don’t give a damn about Eric Holders absurd and dispicable “secret” memo, which for all intents and purposes alleges that murder is now your “due process”. King Obomination’s declaration that he can murder ANY person, any where, for any goddamn reason he deems, is on the face of it, so demonstrably absurd as to make any rational, sane, and moral human being, especially Americans, repel in horror. I’d submit the authors of the Magna Carta would hang Obomba in a new york second.
As to comments regarding penning outrage vs “civil” opinions..GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK! Let me put it to you this way..IF..your son or daughter or wife or brother or sister or mother or father.were VAPORIZED by your dear “civil” leader, I bet your civility would equally vaporize. And that’s the goddamned POINT. Personally, I’m done with civility. These people are murderers, plain and simple and IF that doesn’t fucking outrage YOU..then I submit you need your face shoved in these victims BLOOD.
Peter, your finally showing what EVERY American citizen SHOULD be feeling. Keep it up.
What part of MURDER is “civility”
01/16/13 7:49 PM | Comment Link
pitchfork said...
6ps..FINALLY..the REAL question. I hope my Senator pins this this piece of shit to the wall. He redefines WAR CRIMINAL.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/01/wyden-brennan/
01/16/13 7:57 PM | Comment Link
pitchfork said...
7PS..on a side note..did I mention motherfucking liars?
Clinton is absolutely shameless…
quote” Last February, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the International Contact Group on Somalia that “airstrikes would not be a good idea. And we have absolutely no reason to believe anyone—certainly not the United States—is considering that.” Within hours, an American drone strike in Somalia killed at least four people. “unquote
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
priceless, just fucking priceless.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/01/brennan-2/?utm_source=Contextly&utm_medium=RelatedLinks&utm_campaign=Previous
as usual, this shit never ceases, I mean NEVER ceases to fucking amaze me.
01/16/13 8:06 PM | Comment Link
pitchfork said...
8ps, I forgot a couple of others in the list of murders..
Add Waco, and Ruby Ridge..amongst others..like hundreds of dead Mexicans and 2 border patrol agents via the ATF’s murder assisted Fast and Furious, of which our AG Eric pond scum Holder has YET to be prosecuted for. Once again, the DOJ’s Two Tiered IN-Justice system is alive and well. Fuck em.
01/16/13 8:30 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
9Colin Powell proves once again there’s no fool like an OLD fool. It is possible Powell was fooled by the CIA “intel” reports about Iraq WMDs. Powell will go down in history as the US icon ala Neville Chamberlain of foolishness: “peace in our time” and “well, you can’t keep everything from happening.”
This old (fool) general should just fade away.
01/16/13 8:34 PM | Comment Link
jo6pac said...
10It is not a question of why I am so angry, but why you are not.
My thought also, powell has rubber stamped everything his puppet masters want.
01/16/13 8:44 PM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
11So, can we expect Powell to at Hillary’s side at the Jan. 22nd inquiry giving her support, comforting her and defending her position? Maybe
01/16/13 9:14 PM | Comment Link
Andrey said...
12He was an embarrassment ever since he said that “”In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americal Division soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent” about the My Lai massacre.
01/16/13 11:33 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
13He was an embarrassment ever since he recommended State employees use REFDESK :
“I live on the Internet,” General Powell said. He cited his favorite site: http://www.refdesk.com. In a free plug for the site, he noted that it was owned by Bob Drudge, father of Matt Drudge, an Internet gossip columnist. The reference site is so comprehensive, General Powell said, he has thrown out all his encyclopedias and dictionaries.”
That’s where he learned about the non-existent WMDs in Iraq.
01/17/13 12:27 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
14Peter,
Ask the General if you can use his quote for the title to your sequel to “We Meant Well” :
“Well, you can’t keep everything from happening.”
01/17/13 12:31 AM | Comment Link
MSPB Watch said...
15Thank you for exposing the all-too-unknown history of this war criminal and abettor of war criminals. Colin Powell is one of the biggest frauds around. Understandable rage notwithstanding, only moral cowards wring hands and turn away from the truth based on vacuous concepts such as tone and etiquette.
01/17/13 2:06 AM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
16We here on this forum have to obey the etiquette of not referring to Powell and the truly creepy Clarence Thomas with a term that would roll easily off the tongue of a racist. Every administration elevates a few who are allowed to serve the manor residents. You get the point I’m sure.
01/17/13 3:44 AM | Comment Link
meloveconsullongtime said...
17“Every administration elevates a few who are allowed to serve the manor residents”
Condoleeza don’t know nuttin bout birthin no babies. “EEK! Cap’n Rhett, Saddam is comin! EEK!”
01/17/13 5:55 AM | Comment Link
meloveconsullongtime said...
18Condoleeza testifying about weapons of mass destruction, 1:00 ff:
http://www.anyclip.com/movies/gone-with-the-wind/captain-butler/
01/17/13 9:48 AM | Comment Link
Lafcadio said...
19A young Marine, way younger back then, told me of how he was loooking forward to working with Powell’s detail, and maybe Powell, when Powell was SecState. Powell was a role model to him, someone he really looked up to.
Alas, the reality was a big let down. His description of the great mans’s behavior: biggest “fucking asswipe” he ever met.
On another front, note the continuing Lance Armstrong saga. The key is how several whistleblowers tried to tell the truth, but Lance Armstrong and the lapdog press steamrolled ’em.
Let’s hope these guys and gals get some money off the pig Lance, for they truly suffered. Let us also salute PVB, who had the guts to take on one of the big Washington institutional bureaucracies, and prevailed, as best you could hope for, in th end.
Glory to the whistleblowers, who have the guts to truly think ut of thebox and actually tell the truth, while everyoneelse hunkers down and gives in, the easiest thing to do when confronted by bullshit.
01/17/13 10:35 AM | Comment Link
Stephen Potopa said...
20Mr. Van Buren.
I fully endorse your vitriol. To reiterate some of the others comments, how could it be that you would feel any different? In a world of almost universal P.R. deceit, I too find the Powell and Clinton rhetoric repulsive. The “blot” is, after all, never really a “blot”. Generally it is policy or policy gone wrong or just plain stupidity.
What is almost worse is that the rhetoric and propaganda isn’t even of very good quality anymore. It is lame and childish and Powell and Clinton don’t even know that they have hired poor quality writers.
I always look forward to your thoughts and perspective.
Stephen Potopa
01/17/13 12:17 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
21“Glory to the whistleblowers who have the guts to truly think out of the box and actually tell the truth.” – Lafcadio
Glenn Greenwald:
“In most of what I’ve written and spoken about over the past several years, this is probably the overarching point: the abuse of state power, the systematic violation of civil liberties, is about creating a Climate of Fear, one that is geared toward entrenching the power and position of elites by intimidating the rest of society from meaningful challenges and dissent. There is a particular overzealousness when it comes to internet activism because the internet is one of the few weapons – perhaps the only one – that can be effectively harnessed to galvanize movements and challenge the prevailing order. That’s why so much effort is devoted to destroying the ability to use it anonymously – the Surveillance State – and why there is so much effort to punishing as virtual Terrorists anyone like Swartz who uses it for political activism or dissent.”
01/17/13 12:50 PM | Comment Link
meloveconsullongtime said...
22Marcus Tullius Cicero (d 43 BC), Whistleblower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGd96SH57SA
01/17/13 1:25 PM | Comment Link
pitchfork said...
23quote”Marcus Tullius Cicero (d 43 BC),” unquote
Barakus Hussain Obamus(2010 AD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3SFXQfE4kk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5CfoAYBU5M
🙂
01/17/13 2:51 PM | Comment Link
Lisa said...
24Colin Powell is a total fraud, an embarrassment and a boot-licker, and even he himself has, at times, recognized it.
John Poole: They call them the “House Ni**ers”. That’s what Condi Rice was, too. In the Army, they refer to the Powell’s as “NUFs”.
Carry on, Peter, with your passion and intelligence. The things you dialog about are too often revolting, and a false politesse would not serve you.
To the social workers who advise PTSD work:
To live in the U.S of today and not suffer PTSD would indicate a misshapen accommodation to insanity and illegality. As psychologist R. D. Laing wrote, it is no sign of sanity to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.
You are a true patriot.
01/18/13 7:02 AM | Comment Link
meloveconsullongtime said...
25Colin Powell is… a boot-licker…”
Only by accident, when he stumbles off his knee pads.
01/18/13 9:47 AM | Comment Link
meloveconsullongtime said...
26In wartime Burma he’d be called a Gobble-Walla. Those were teenage boys who would lurk in alleys and whisper to desperately horny soldiers, “Me give you good gobble!”
01/18/13 9:49 AM | Comment Link
Lisa said...
27@meloveconsul,
“Gobble-Walla” … oh my,there are things my innocent ears have not heard. I shall merely add, “toady par excellence” and “water boy”.
Here’s to you Colin Powell — you might’ve been a contender and an exemplar for your people, but you’re now just another failed EOE appointee.
01/18/13 11:11 AM | Comment Link
jhoover said...
28In Iraq:
Who are the terrorists’ guys?
Who support the terrorists?
Is this what US prod of in Iraq today?
اللواء جواد رومي يكشف جرائم أيران والحكومة العراقية/ج
اللواء جواد رومي يكشف جرائم أيران والحكومة العراقية/ج2
01/21/13 5:28 PM | Comment Link
Mr. Shea Brown said...
29I must laugh a little at those who tell you to calm down. Indignation is not only an intellectual response to idiocy,, it can be an emotional one as well. You write with your heart as well as your head. Keep up the good fight sir.
01/25/13 3:09 PM | Comment Link