New York Times : Powell Calls His U.N. Speech a Lasting Blot on His Record

"'I'm the one who presented it on behalf of the United States to the world,' [ former secretary of state Colin ] Powell told Barbara Walters of ABC News, adding that the presentation 'will always be a part of my record.'

Asked by Ms. Walters how painful this was for him, Mr. Powell replied: 'It was painful. It's painful now.' Asked further how he felt upon learning that he had been misled about the accuracy of intelligence on which he relied, Mr. Powell said, 'Terrible.' He added that it was 'devastating' to learn later that some intelligence agents knew the information he had was unreliable but did not speak up."

Good points for admitting that your speech was wrong, Colin, and for feeling bad about it.

However, you don't feel bad enough about your own failures in the deal. You put the blame on folks in the CIA, but aren't you forgetting something? Aren't you forgetting that Hans Blix also testified that there was no evidence of weapons? Aren't you forgetting all of the international scrutiny that said that you were wrong? Aren't you forgetting that you didn't obtain a UN resolution to go to war? Aren't you forgetting how you isolated the US in world opinion and generated historically massive protest marches in the US, in the UK and around the world?

Your flimsy excuse of "folks at the CIA didn't give me the info" doesn't cut the mustard, not for you or for Bubba Bush. The info was there, but you chose to ignore it, a willful choice that you should also admit.

What is the difference between willfully ignoring readily available contrary evidence and lying?

When did you apologize to Hans Blix?

The legacy that you leave is not only one of lying to the UN, of failing to generate a real coalition, and of lessening the image of America in the world. No, you've also left the legacy of "blind loyalty" to an idiot and a criminal. You have broken with the American tradition of "self reliance" and "personal integrity" and chosen the path of "cronyism".

These accusations are all the more harsh because I at one time respected you and thought that you might be able to bring some courage and determination to the Bush administration. My naive hopes have been well laid to the wayside now, thanks to you, bubba Colin. In fact, I don't see much difference between you and Bubba Rice.