5 ms·

RIP. This is very sad news. I personally disagreed with many of his actions, especially the Iraq/WMD story, but even so I had a lot of respect for him.

rcMgD2BwE72F 5y ago
The worst war criminals probably loved their family, made great speeches and had interesting things to say. Always sad to see them go.
trasz 5y ago
A lot of respect for a war monger responsible for killing million random people? No offence, but this says a lot about your ethics.
- uberman 5y ago
  With due respect, I feel it is quite disingenuous to characterize Powel as either a warmonger or as being personally responsible for the deaths of a million people. In fact, he is reported to have called the Neocon cabal as 'a bunch of fucking crazies' during the build-up to war in Iraq. If Powell is the one responsible, are you absolving Donald Rumsfeld and more importantly Dick Cheney of responsibility? How about the join houses of congress and the US press. Do they all get absolved of responsibility because Powell gave a speech at the UN? The US was going to war and though he did not like it, Powell was tasked with speaking to the UN about it. Did he know some of what he said was not sustained by facts, or even that they were lies? Sure and he regretted it the rest of his days. The important point is, Powell at the UN or not, the US was going to war. Laying all the deaths on him is completely scapegoating a fine man and thus excusing the true Neocon powerbrokers who are ultimately responsible.
  - rajamaka 5y ago
    "Do they all get absolved of responsibility because Powell gave a speech at the UN?" No, obviously not. "Did he know some of what he said was not sustained by facts, or even that they were lies?" If he didn't know all the facts perhaps he should have had the moral fortitude to not beat the drums to a war machine that resulted in so many innocent deaths
  - dragonwriter 5y ago
    > If Powell is the one responsible, are you absolving Donald Rumsfeld and more importantly Dick Cheney of responsibility Nope, responsibility is not exclusive. All of them bear undiluted responsibility for their actions and the deliberate and forseeable consequences. Two people collaborating in a murder aren't each half-murderers, they are both unqualified, unmitigated murderers.

rcMgD2BwE72F 5y ago

The worst war criminals probably loved their family, made great speeches and had interesting things to say. Always sad to see them go.

trasz 5y ago

A lot of respect for a war monger responsible for killing million random people? No offence, but this says a lot about your ethics.

uberman 5y ago
With due respect, I feel it is quite disingenuous to characterize Powel as either a warmonger or as being personally responsible for the deaths of a million people. In fact, he is reported to have called the Neocon cabal as 'a bunch of fucking crazies' during the build-up to war in Iraq. If Powell is the one responsible, are you absolving Donald Rumsfeld and more importantly Dick Cheney of responsibility? How about the join houses of congress and the US press. Do they all get absolved of responsibility because Powell gave a speech at the UN? The US was going to war and though he did not like it, Powell was tasked with speaking to the UN about it. Did he know some of what he said was not sustained by facts, or even that they were lies? Sure and he regretted it the rest of his days. The important point is, Powell at the UN or not, the US was going to war. Laying all the deaths on him is completely scapegoating a fine man and thus excusing the true Neocon powerbrokers who are ultimately responsible.
- rajamaka 5y ago
  "Do they all get absolved of responsibility because Powell gave a speech at the UN?" No, obviously not. "Did he know some of what he said was not sustained by facts, or even that they were lies?" If he didn't know all the facts perhaps he should have had the moral fortitude to not beat the drums to a war machine that resulted in so many innocent deaths
- dragonwriter 5y ago
  > If Powell is the one responsible, are you absolving Donald Rumsfeld and more importantly Dick Cheney of responsibility Nope, responsibility is not exclusive. All of them bear undiluted responsibility for their actions and the deliberate and forseeable consequences. Two people collaborating in a murder aren't each half-murderers, they are both unqualified, unmitigated murderers.