Colin Powell's Attempt to Salvage His Reputation

Colin Powell told a crowd in Aspen, Colorado, that he had a meeting with President Bush in which he tried to talk him out of invading Iraq by telling him of the problems the United States would have in occupying an Arab country. (You can read a report on Powell's remarks here.)

Here is what really ticks me off about Colin Powell and Paul O'Neill, former Secretary of the Treasury and co-author of the book The Price of Loyalty: they knew that Bush was an intellectual lightweight, poorly suited for the Presidency of the United States, and yet in 2004, when he was up for re-election, they chose to remain silent. They chose to be loyal to a President who they knew was not worthy of that loyalty and, by so doing, they did a huge disservice to the people of the United States.

Now, when they realize how much of a disaster this administration has been, they want to try and salvage their reputations by giving speeches and writing books. Well, where were they in 2004, when they could have made a big difference?

Imagine the impact that Colin Powell's revelations would have had if he had come out before the 2004 election with his account of his meeting with Bush. Imagine the impact that O'Neill would have had if he had come out and blasted the Bush Administration for turning surpluses into deficits with his reckless tax cuts. Instead, when it could have mattered, they stood mute.

A friend suggested recently that Barack Obama should announce that if he wins the Presidency, he would appoint Colin Powell Secretary of State. Although such a move makes sense politically, it would be unfortunate because Powell should pay a price, not for being wrong about Iraq, but for staying silent when he could have made a big difference.