[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Message From Senator Durbin

[C. G. Estabrook]

The characterization of Colin Powell as "a voice of moderation" is
fantasy, however.  Powell's go-along-to-get-along career tied him up in
lies, from the My Lai cover-up, through his tergiversation on whether
Saddam Hussein was dangerous, to his massive prevarication before the UN
-- without which the war might not have been possible.  His was a
mendacity of a sort that may be even more dangerous than the Neocons'
belligerence: they at least often say honestly what they think, however
horrible it is -- and they couldn't get along without "good Germans" like
Powell.  --CGE


On Fri, 25 Feb 2005, Alfred Kagan wrote:

> An interesting letter.
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> > From: Correspondence_Reply at durbin.senate.gov
> > Date: February 25, 2005 3:38:07 PM CST
> > To: <akagan at uiuc.edu>
> > Subject: Message From Senator Durbin
> >
> > Mr. Alfred Kagan
> > 310 W. Hill St. #1e
> > #1e
> > Champaign, IL 61820
> >
> > Dear Mr. Kagan:
> >
> > 	Thank you for letting me know of your opposition to the nomination of
> > Condoleezza Rice as the U.S. Secretary of State.
> >
> > 	I voted with 12 of my Senate colleagues against Dr. Rice's nomination 
> > to
> > replace Colin Powell as head of the State Department.  I was 
> > particularly
> > troubled by Dr. Rice's role in advancing the Bush Administration's 
> > faulty
> > rationale for invading Iraq, and by her refusal to accept 
> > responsibility
> > for helping mislead our nation into war.
> >
> > 	I also was deeply concerned by Dr. Rice's opposition to my amendment 
> > to
> > the 2004 Intelligence Reform Act prohibiting U.S. intelligence agencies
> > from using torture.  Acting on behalf of the White House, Dr. Rice 
> > sent a
> > message to the House-Senate conference committee objecting to this
> > amendment, which unequivocally condemned the use of torture, and the
> > provision was removed from the final version of the bill.  Dr. Rice's
> > objection to this effort to reaffirm our nation's commitment to human
> > rights and the rule of law raised grave questions in my mind about 
> > whether
> > she was the right person to represent our nation to the rest of the 
> > world.
> >
> > 	Despite her distinguished career and formidable intellect, I could not
> > overlook these very troubling aspects of Dr. Rice's record.  America 
> > has
> > lost a voice of moderation with the retirement of Colin Powell.  I hope
> > that the responsibilities of leadership will inspire Condoleezza Rice 
> > to
> > follow his example.
> >
> > 	Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.  Please feel free 
> > to
> > stay in touch.
> >
> > 					Sincerely,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 					Richard J. Durbin
> > 					United States Senator
> >
> > RJD/rp
> >