Powell says Kerry would respond to terror in 'robust way'

[JI7]

<WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday that he believes Senator John Kerry would, if elected president, respond to terrorism "in a robust way," challenging a comment made last week by Vice President Dick Cheney.

"I can't tell you how he might respond to it. As commander in chief, I think he'd respond to it in a robust way," the retired Army general said of Kerry during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press.

Powell added: "There's no commander in chief, no president of the United States, who would not respond to terrorism. Now, how he would respond, which strategies that individual would use, I can't predict the future."

Cheney, speaking to supporters Tuesday in Des Moines, said: "It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today on Nov. 2, we make the right choice, because if we make the wrong choice, then the danger is that we'll get hit again, and we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United States."

Two days later, in an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer, the vice president explained he would like to "clean up" his remark. "I did not say if Kerry is elected, we will be hit by a terrorist attack," Cheney said. "Whoever is elected president has to anticipate more attacks. My point was the question before us is: `Will we have the most effective policy in place to deal with that threat?' George Bush will pursue a more effective policy than John Kerry.">

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/9653787.htm?1c

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. ok, ok I get it the split between Chenney and Powell

is deep, wow.....

Next thing I know powell will be camapigning with Kerry....

Nothing shocks me any more

[cthrumatrix]

2. maybe he's feeling guilty about the death of soo many AMericans

[htuttle]

11. Well, they did name a military 'doctrine' after Powell once...

...and then the administration he was a part of ignored it entirely. They did the exact opposite of the 'Powell Doctrine', in fact.

That might have some bearing on his outlook, sure.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. nice endorsement

I have a feeling Colin will be spending some time in the woodshed soon.

[liberal_in_GA]

5. And just when I thought every hair on Colin's body was

engaged in whoring for Bush, he goes and says something honest.

[lunarboy13]

13. and that's the third honest thing this week!

He also re-stated his disdain for those "fortunate sons" whose fathers pulled strings to get them out of going to Vietnam AND he said there was no link between Saddam and Al-Qaeda -- something that sharply contrasts statements made by Cheney.


I think the split between Powell and Cheney is only the tip of the iceberg. There may be more headlines looming in the future that won't bode well for W.

[bryant69]

4. Powell is the closest thing to an honest man

in this adminstration. Not that that is saying much.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[LittleClarkie]

9. Poor guy

He's a loyalist. I bet he's ready to split himself in two about now.

I hope he makes it out of this administration still politically alive. If there is indeed a Bush win (allah forbid) then I think Powell will be replaced. And he will be the next to write a book.

[MsTryska]

15. shoot....politically alive?

after these comments i'm just hoping for "out alive, period."

good on him tho. don't let them muzzle you colin!

[yardwork]

6. The hilarious part about this is that most headlines spun it as

"Powell Supports Cheney on Terrorism Comment."

I had to actually read the article to figure out that Powell did the opposite. Damn we really are living in a George Orwell world.

[Algorem]

7. rat on a sinking ship?

[jpgray]

8. Good cop, bad cop--and Powell protecting his own self (nt)

[cheshire]

10. He is doing good things but he needs to tell the whole truth.

[luaneryder]

12. What the hell is going on with him

the past few days?? Crisis of conscience?

[mazzarro]

14. I don't give ah oot for whatever Bowell says!

There is no credibility for whatever he does or says anymore - period.

[LuminousX]

16. ditto - both Powell and McCain have lost my respect