Powell angry politically connected sons got Guard slots during Vietnam

[xray s]

Colin lays it on the line...

http://george.loper.org/~george/archives/2004/Feb/842.html

"I particularly condemn the way our political leaders supplied the manpower for that war. The policies -- determining who would be drafted and who would be deferred, who would serve and who would escape, who would die and who would live -- were an anti-democratic disgrace. I am angry that so many sons of the powerful and well placed and so many professional athletes (who were probably healthier than any of us) managed to wangle slots in Reserve and National Guard units. Of the many tragedies of Vietnam, this raw class discrimination strikes me as the most damaging to the ideal that all Americans are created equal and owe equal allegiance to our country."

[Carolinian]

1. YES! Let's keep this on the front burner!

[Bozita]

2. Powell's autobiography strikes again

Good post!

[Ready4Change]

3. I think Powell's tried to get out.

He's not a dumb guy. I think he wanted out, but was denied permission to leave "to spend more time with his familiy." He's too promiment a figure and his departure would look too bad for the Bush administration. Further, he's a duty bound "good soldier", which means this administration can rely on him to at worst "do no harm" as long as they can keep him on the job. He's allowed loyalty to this administration to get in the way of his loyalty to this nation.

His deathbed memoirs should be a good read, but we may have to wait that long to find out what's going on in his head.

[Skip Intro]

11. Yes. I wonder how he felt when he had to cancel his trip to Athens

because he simply was not welcome there?

I wonder if he thought to himself, "my God, what have I become?"

And you're right, he put his party loyalty above his loyalty to his country, and to humanity as well.

[arwalden]

15. I Believe He'll Sing Like A Bird Once He's Fulfilled His Obligation...

to this administration. We surely won't have to wait another 20 years for a deathbed confession or tell-all book. I'll bet he's been taking copious notes all along in anticipation of his eventual deliverance from servitude under Bush.

[Skidmore]

16. Actually, I've often wondered what the Bushes

have on him to keep him in line. Soldiers have been known to stand up for what is right even if it is against orders.

[rocktivity]

4. "I am angry that so many sons of the powerful and well placed

...managed to wangle slots in Reserve and National Guard units."

But you weren't too angry to refuse to be employed by one. However, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he had no idea that Bush had been assigned to the Air National Guard.

:headbang:
rocknation

[lapfog_1]

8. Why give Powell the benefit of anything?

He lied his silly ass of in front of the UN, and must have known
at the time that the things he was claiming were either flat out
wrong or highly suspect. And yet there he was... "here is an Iraqi
chemical weapons plant, right here in the photo" and "this is a
mobile biological warfare lab" and blah blah blah. All lies.
He deserves to be in the war crimes dock along with the rest of
them. That he hasn't resigned even now, when he has zero credibility
with the rest of the world and with over 50 percent of US population,
tells me all I want to know about his character. Too much the lackey
to even get dressed in the uniform that must have been a source of
pride for him, remove his service revolver and eat one for the
1000 soldiers who have died for his mistake (like Col. Markinson
in "A Few Good Men").

[MaineDem]

5. Wouldn't it be superb if he resigned over this!!!?

I would love to see him back up his words with action!

[AlinPA]

6. No surprise that the broadcast media doesn't bring this up.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

7. Kick

MKJ

:kick:

[maine_raptor]

9. This should be "Media Blasted"

Send it to Tweety and Timmy. Those two have twinkles in their eyes when they interview Colin.

Send it out......it's perfect!

Can you imagine Powell trying to work is way out of that one?

Just another nail, it would be.

[koopie57]

10. Did he just figure this out now? eom

[doc03]

12. Wasn't that subject brought up with Bowell in the 911 hearings, when

he got all pissed and said I am not going to go there. Then he gave one of the aids hell for laughing at his comment.

[seabeyond]

13. but powell supported and embraced the war

surely he would want his sons to do their job. surely he would at least have the same expectation from his sons as he did of a strangers child

tell me it aint so............<sarcasm>

[Supersedeas]

14. RAW CLASS DISCRIMINATION--tell it like it is Colin