Charlaine Harris Quotes

As Secretary of State, Powell was going to address the UN Security Council on the 5th and he was coordinating his speech with the other agencies of the government. His criterion was that he only wanted to make accusations that were backed up by incontrovertible evidence. However, VP Richard Cheney and his aide, Scooter Libby, kept inserting an accusation that Iraq was involved with and supported Al Qaeda. This was one of the many speculations that those who wanted to justify attacking Iraq kept using as Domestic propaganda. When Powell asked for proof or intelligence reports and none could be provided, he removed the accusation from the speech explaining why. However, at the last minute, Cheney and his staff put the accusation back in, and that triggered the quotation. Unfortunately, Powell was so busy fending off totally absurd accusations, that he accepted the CIA assurances {79468} that Iraq was developing nuclear weapons that were about to be operationalized and never heard from those who questioned the credibility of the sources for the basic accusation. Powell had great trust among the diplomats of the world then gave the United States version to the Security Council and justified our coming invasion of Iraq. But the intelligence report, despite the assurances of the CIA and the Vice President, was false and Iraq not only was not close to a nuclear weapon but he had no program at all at that time to try and develop one. Powell resigned and his credibility about the world was ruined as he was then seen as just another lying politician.

The only soldier ever so honored. Marshall was then the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army. The President was meeting with the Army leadership to plan the nation’s preparedness to come with the Nazi menace. Army brass had wanted to build up large ground forces. However, conservatives (in those days opposed to military spending) accused the Roosevelt administration of fomenting war. FDR wanted to be less visible and opted for a program that would build 7 aircraft factories first and later build ground forces. He asked if all agreed and the army heads all bobbed except for Marshall, then a relatively junior general. FDR never forgot the one general who told him, No, and when War was eminent, he selected Marshall lead the military and promoted him over 34 more senior generals. Great leaders appreciate people who have the courage and integrity to say No to power and FDR had the confidence in himself that he could handle people who disagreed or were difficult. This was one of FDR’s many great appointments.