In "The Muppet Movie" there's a scene at a beauty contest where just before announcing the winner Charlie McCarthy looks out at the audience and says, "Folks, you're not gonna believe this." Edger Bergen shushes him and says something to the effect that it's "their" movie, and of course Miss Piggy is pronounced the winner...
Posted by Jason at November 10, 2004 08:56 AMMichael Ledeen on War & Bush Administration on National Review Online: "I have just returned from a couple of weeks in Europe, and was very surprised to hear diplomats complaining bitterly that they felt abandoned by Powell. "Where is he?" they lamented, "we supported him and he left us to fend entirely for ourselves."
The proper care of allies is right up near the top of a secretary of State's mission, and the allies don't give Colin Powell a passing grade. For that alone, he needs to go. There are other reasons, too, above all his weasely performance on Iran (every strong presidential statement was instantly followed by leaks from State undercutting the president's words; the secretary's deputy — and best friend — Richard Armitage called Iran "a democracy," which may be the great mal mot of this administration).
Finally, there's Powell supine acceptance of Foggy Bottom's conventional wisdom on every subject, forgetting that the foreign service isn't supposed to make our foreign policy; it's supposed to carry out the president's policies.
Who should replace him? Zell Miller.