Confronting Colin Powell
Jonas Holmes
August 27, 2007
Harass the Brass!Mutiny, Fragging and Desertions in the U.S. Military By Kevin Keating
A few far-sighted individuals among the U.S. political class understand the irreversible impact a ground war could have on the survival of U.S. society. This understanding may be more radical than that of most supposed radicals! At one meeting, Madeleine Albright, then ambassador to the United Nations, famously confronted Powell. "What's the point of having this superb military that you're always talking about if we can't use it?" she demanded. In his memoirs, Powell recalled that he told Albright that GI's were "not toy soldiers to be moved around on some sort of global game board." An official who witnessed the exchange told NEWSWEEK that Powell also said something quite revealing that has not been reported. "You would see this wonderful society destroyed," the general angrily told Albright. -- Colin Powell: Behind the Myth, by Evan Thomas and John Berry. Newsweek, March 5th, 2001”
The prescience of Colin Powell has not been remiss during these days of war. Certainly this long-term soldier and dedicated U.S. Warrior embodies the patriotism and service that America portends to be noble. If nothing else; his reference to the “Pottery Barn”, you break it you buy it, is prophetic. Colin Powell is no toy soldier. He is of the elite, the soldier that every wise Commander hopes for. General Powell knew then as he knows now that the purchasing of Iraq was very costly and the bloodshed has been severely underestimated, ignored and under reported. Colin Powell's silence is a profound one.
His silence is a silence of Understanding. It is an Understanding that he has been used despite his good intentions for The Country, His Country. With that knowledge is an Understanding that the Code of Honor for which he dedicated his life, that of the Warrior Soldier, has been co-opted by spineless Chicken Hawks. Their spinelessness is equaled only by their deviousness and immorality. All of these are characteristics foreign to America's military who are the best of the best on the entire globe. It is they who would choose Death Before Dishonor.
To become what these men and women have become and to sacrifice what they have sacrificed requires a level of spiritual depth far surpassing that of the laymen. You who read this article; would you dare serve in Iraq? No, you say because, it is not a just cause. Were it a just cause with the same casualty rates; would you serve then? The answer again is no. To be willing to lay down ones life for the honor of ones country and people is a decision of considerable strength and commitment. The depth of an individual that makes such a commitment is not to be underestimated. This fact was certainly a consideration when General Powell said, “You would see this wonderful society destroyed”.
The reason is this. If what makes America's volunteer military so great is its dedication to country then; when this same military sees that its activities are counterproductive to the security of the country it will respond with extreme prejudice to that detrimental and counterproductive force. That is reality and that is fact. Trouble is and has been brewing. There have been numerous Generals, high ranking soldiers and intelligence professionals who have rejected the validity and value of our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The smartest leaders reflect, adjust, accommodate and adapt to the feelings of their soldiers. The soldiers have not and are not feeling good about their mission at this time. The General's have to accommodate or be included in the separation of wheat and chafe. One thing that the military leadership does understand is that being chafe at this time could be hazardous to ones health.
You would see this wonderful society destroyed “, General Powell reportedly said. Perhaps, it is something to consider. After all he was spot on about Pottery Barn.
A few far-sighted individuals among the U.S. political class understand the irreversible impact a ground war could have on the survival of U.S. society. This understanding may be more radical than that of most supposed radicals! At one meeting, Madeleine Albright, then ambassador to the United Nations, famously confronted Powell. "What's the point of having this superb military that you're always talking about if we can't use it?" she demanded. In his memoirs, Powell recalled that he told Albright that GI's were "not toy soldiers to be moved around on some sort of global game board." An official who witnessed the exchange told NEWSWEEK that Powell also said something quite revealing that has not been reported. "You would see this wonderful society destroyed," the general angrily told Albright. -- Colin Powell: Behind the Myth, by Evan Thomas and John Berry. Newsweek, March 5th, 2001”
The prescience of Colin Powell has not been remiss during these days of war. Certainly this long-term soldier and dedicated U.S. Warrior embodies the patriotism and service that America portends to be noble. If nothing else; his reference to the “Pottery Barn”, you break it you buy it, is prophetic. Colin Powell is no toy soldier. He is of the elite, the soldier that every wise Commander hopes for. General Powell knew then as he knows now that the purchasing of Iraq was very costly and the bloodshed has been severely underestimated, ignored and under reported. Colin Powell's silence is a profound one.
His silence is a silence of Understanding. It is an Understanding that he has been used despite his good intentions for The Country, His Country. With that knowledge is an Understanding that the Code of Honor for which he dedicated his life, that of the Warrior Soldier, has been co-opted by spineless Chicken Hawks. Their spinelessness is equaled only by their deviousness and immorality. All of these are characteristics foreign to America's military who are the best of the best on the entire globe. It is they who would choose Death Before Dishonor.
To become what these men and women have become and to sacrifice what they have sacrificed requires a level of spiritual depth far surpassing that of the laymen. You who read this article; would you dare serve in Iraq? No, you say because, it is not a just cause. Were it a just cause with the same casualty rates; would you serve then? The answer again is no. To be willing to lay down ones life for the honor of ones country and people is a decision of considerable strength and commitment. The depth of an individual that makes such a commitment is not to be underestimated. This fact was certainly a consideration when General Powell said, “You would see this wonderful society destroyed”.
The reason is this. If what makes America's volunteer military so great is its dedication to country then; when this same military sees that its activities are counterproductive to the security of the country it will respond with extreme prejudice to that detrimental and counterproductive force. That is reality and that is fact. Trouble is and has been brewing. There have been numerous Generals, high ranking soldiers and intelligence professionals who have rejected the validity and value of our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The smartest leaders reflect, adjust, accommodate and adapt to the feelings of their soldiers. The soldiers have not and are not feeling good about their mission at this time. The General's have to accommodate or be included in the separation of wheat and chafe. One thing that the military leadership does understand is that being chafe at this time could be hazardous to ones health.
You would see this wonderful society destroyed “, General Powell reportedly said. Perhaps, it is something to consider. After all he was spot on about Pottery Barn.
Print
Email
