<p>I think maybe Powell didn't appreciate the position he was put in after his UN speech.
As far as the UN inspectors go, yes usna09mom, you are correct--- what they were saying was consistent with what we found (or didn't find) after the invasion. Unfortunately, there was (and still is) a lot of "The UN is ineffective, corrupt, and soft" sentiment in the US---some of that criticism deserved, but nevertheless, it tended to cause the American people to look through some serious "fog" when trying to evaluate as to whether to believe what the inspectors were saying--there was an organizied attempt to portray the UN in as bad a light as possible. Folks here at home had a hard time separating "oil for food scandal" from serious UN inspections.</p>
<p>Serious foreign policy errors have been made and I think Powell recognized that.</p>
<p>In the words of Elmer Fudd, "I must be verwee verwee quiet. I'm hunting wabbits". Love the discussion but I'm hiding out. One thing though... I do so love Colin Powell. </p>
<p>Bill, starting a little early ain't ya pal? Happy hour doesn't start until 5 here.
Annapolis will be at 2:25 for me tomorrow. Will report back my findings to the committee.</p>
<p>"share some Japanese opinions about the war in Iraq and the Bush administration with us."</p>
<p>I have some Japanese relatives who live in Japan (my wife's side) and I can speak to at least their perspective on things.</p>
<p>First of all, it has to be understood that since WW2 the Japanese people have done a complete 180 on all things military and with regard to any nation exerting military power outside it's borders. There is a STRONG "anti-any war" feeling in Japan among the civilian population. The incredible devastation and loss of life caused as a result of earlier Japanese militarism created a post war anti-military backlash that is still felt throughout the country. I believe it is still against Japanese law for the Japanese military to be deployed outside of Japan in any kind of offensive capacity. That said, Japan is also one of our most staunch allies, and the Japanese people really love Americans. I have relatives who fought in the Imperial Japanese Army, who lost many loved ones in the Pacific War and at home to American bombings----you wouldn't know it by the way they talk about Americans.
The Japanese I know understand the impact of 9/11. They fully support the US war on terror and the occupation of Afganistan to weed out Al-queda and its Taliban supporters. They do not understand Iraq. They can't connect the dots between 9/11 and our invasion of Iraq. The see the Iraq policy as dangerous for US security-- One of them asked me a few months ago what the US would do if N Korea became an imminent threat and we needed the 120,000 troops in Iraq to be sent somewhere else in a hurry....what would we do? Many of them see the potential for our ground troops being tied up in one place in the world leaving our only option for another trouble spot being the nuclear one. The Japanese are FEARFUL of any nuclear weapons use----that seems like an obvious "duh, we all are" but they have lived through the reality of it twice---they have a unique perspective on that horrifying scenario.</p>
<p>Most would agree that nuclear proliferation is the number one threat in the world. Therefore, many are concerned that the war in Iraq diminishes America's ability to deal with those nations developing nuclear weapons, i.e., North Korea and Iran. Western Europeans share Japanese sentiments. I'm sure you read the recent report "The Thin Green Line."
Thanks for your comments.</p>
<p>Big Green..just read the piece by Ben Stein..GREAT ARTICLE... thanks for posting.</p>
<p>Often I wonder how many people really do remember Sept. 11th...that kinda memory that is so visceral and profound..not one that has allowed time to erode what happened or transformed it into a state of moral relativism. Clearly, many have lost their resolve.</p>
<p>I think most people remember 9/11 very clearly. Some are waiting for our focus and resourses to get back to finding Osama and his breatheren. I think if the President announced we were picking up our 120,000 troops and loading them into helicoptors and dropping them into the hills and mountains of Pakistan to turn over every rock in that remote place until we found that murderer and his fellows the people would support it. Just the same as when most supported going into Iraq to take the bomb and chemical weapons away from Saddam, or if we had been told Osama was in Baghdad.</p>
<p>Holy Cow! I've been gone just a couple days and look what's happened! I doubt there's anything I can add that hasn't been said already so I'll spare all of you. I just wish that poor UCLA wasn't scared off and hope he comes back. It looks like we have some new people here, too. And I love just about anything Ben Stein has ever said. I wish he'd sign up for college confidential.</p>
<p>well
that guy was pretty strong. at least he had pretty good arguments, and i have no idea why people are just sitting and complaining about him while they can't come up with a good comeback. while they wanna go with the flow and just complain about people who say their views honestly. please, someone post back with good comebacks to every single one of his shots and i'll take all my words back, but otherwise chill, and actually look at this article without being biased at the beginning.</p>