| To: calgal who wrote (510757) | 12/16/2003 12:57:08 AM | | From: calgal | | | | Well wishes for a soldier
Every true soldier hates to be out of the action for long. No matter how badly needed or how well-deserved the down time, there's the lingering sense that one is letting one's friends down, leaving his comrades-in-arms in a lurch. Secretary of State Colin Powell should have no such concern.
Yesterday morning, Mr. Powell stepped away from Foggy Bottom to undergo surgery for prostate cancer at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The cancer was diagnosed a few months ago during his annual physical, and he told Mr. Bush about his upcoming surgical leave two weeks ago. We were relieved to hear that Mr. Powell's prognosis is good — a State Department official said that the cancer "does not appear to be life-threatening."
There is every indication that Mr. Powell will recover fully. However, he is expected to be in the hospital for several days, and he will be on a reduced schedule for some time after that. Considering the serious nature of his diagnosis and the extraordinary demands of his work, it can only be hoped that this holiday season will be free of serious diplomatic crises so that he has time to heal completely.
As a principal member of the Cabinet, Mr. Powell puts in perfectly appalling hours. Earlier this year, he told a group of students that he is often in the office by 6 a.m., and he does not often leave before 7 p.m. Regardless of whether he is headed to a reception or on the rare occasions he is headed straight home, he still carries briefcases full of briefing material.
His schedule is even worse when he travels — as he must often do. Earlier this month, he visited five countries over the course of four days, and also took time out to visit an American military cemetery, laying a wreath at the tomb of an unknown U.S. soldier killed in the Allied invasion of North Africa.
Even from his hospital bed, Mr. Powell will not be fully out of the action. He has already warned his staff that his room has a high-speed Internet connection. In the meantime, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has been authorized to act in his stead.
Mr. Armitage will undoubtedly serve well. However, both the State Department and the nation look forward to Mr. Powell being back on his feet. We wish him a full recovery and a speedy return to his post. |
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| To: PartyTime who wrote (510772) | 12/16/2003 1:05:54 AM | | From: calgal | | | | Yes, just because I post an article, I am not saying I always agree.
But, I am Conservative!!
But you cannot label me, because I will always listen to your opinions!!!!!!!:) |
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| To: PartyTime who wrote (509181) | 12/16/2003 1:09:08 AM | | From: Patricia Trinchero | | | | The news reported tonight that Iran will seek their own trial of Saddam concerning his gassing of their citizens. The Iranians also are questioning where the gas and chemical weapons originated. We all know the answer to that question, even tho some of us aren't "man" enough to admit the truth.
I hate to make a prediction but I have a feeling that Saddam's trial scenario will go like this: Bush, out of the goodness of his heart ( choke, choke ) will decide that the Iraqi people deserve to bring Saddam to trial first for the atrocities he committed against them. Bush will turn custody of him over to the Iraqis. Saddam will be assassinated and never will live to tell his side of the tale. |
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| To: Patricia Trinchero who wrote (510774) | 12/16/2003 1:15:08 AM | | From: calgal | | | | The Democrats' Iraq problem
The capture of Saddam Hussein holds the potential to diminish the central issue of Democratic frontrunner Howard Dean's presidential campaign: President Bush's conduct of the war with Iraq. Throughout this year, the former Vermont governor has denounced the president's decision to go to war to remove Saddam from power, and at one point appeared to dismiss the idea that Saddam's ouster was a good thing for Iraqis. In April, when Saddam's regime was ousted, Mr. Dean stated, "I suppose the Iraqis are better off with Saddam Hussein gone," adding that "we should've contained him." In recent months, he has continued to attack the president's campaign to liberate Iraq as "the wrong campaign at the wrong time"and vowed to teach Mr. Bush "a lesson about defense."
While Mr. Dean has some bad ideas about the conduct of the war in Iraq, no one can accuse him of being inconsistent about putting them forward. On Sunday, Mr. Dean congratulated Mr. Bush on the news of Saddam's capture and promised to stop criticizing the president's Iraq policy for at least 24 hours. But that same day, Mr. Dean's campaign released a statement adding that it was time "to set a new course and take the American label off the war." Then yesterday Mr. Dean, delivering a foreign policy address in California, reiterated criticism of Mr. Bush for waging the "wrong war at the wrong time" by liberating Iraq from Saddam.
Mr. Dean's attacks on Mr. Bush drew fire from two of his leading opponents: Sen. Joe Lieberman and Rep. Dick Gephardt.
As usual, Mr. Lieberman masterfully highlighted the inability of his fellow Democrats to make sense when it comes to U.S. policy on Iraq. "Howard Dean, throughout his campaign, has said he wasn't sure that Saddam really represented a threat to us," Mr. Lieberman noted on "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "If Howard Dean had his way, Saddam Hussein would be in power today, not prison."
In the hours following Saddam's capture, Mr. Gephardt also contrasted his own position with that of Mr. Dean. "I supported this effort in Iraq without regard for the political consequences because it was the right thing to do," he said. "I still feel that way now, and today is a major step toward stabilizing Iraq and building a new democracy."
Mr. Lieberman's jibe also applies to Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards. Both voted in October 2002 for the resolution authorizing the United States to go to war. Unfortunately, just a few months ago, the pair voted against $87 billion in support for our troops in the field (including the ones who captured Saddam).
In short, with the notable exceptions of Messrs. Lieberman and Gephardt, all the other plausible candidates for the Democratic nomination are left defending a policy that would have saved Saddam from his well-deserved fate. |
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| To: jim-thompson who wrote (510693) | 12/16/2003 1:16:26 AM | | From: AK2004 | | | | re: he wants to praise the islamic terrorists in hoping they don't punish him..... LOL
and they can not wait for an opportunity to impale him <ggggg> |
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| To: MKTBUZZ who wrote (510768) | 12/16/2003 1:19:17 AM | | From: Gut Trader | | | | Hopefully the good Iraqi people will make "closure' and enjoy life liberty and the persute of happiness including a healthy dose of drugs sex and rock and roll.
Should never have had to wait this long.
Funny Powell having is Prostate router routed or the occasion.
rotten.com |
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