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I don't really see rising through the ranks of the U.S. military through the 70s/80s/90s as particularly praiseworthy either. Powell did the job he did at the U

I don't really see rising through the ranks of the U.S. military through the 70s/80s/90s as particularly praiseworthy either. Powell did the job he did at the UN because he was a company man and had been for a long time. And in addition to a few tut-tuts and a black mark on his record, it also kept him in the good graces of the Washington foreign policy blob, with all the sinecures, speaking fees, magazine profiles, and mostly-hagiographic obituaries that come with it.

h2odragon 5y ago
Many disagree. As to "company man" ... Watch "Mars Attacks!" for the best portrayal of Colin Powell to hit the big screen.
- merpnderp 5y ago
  Do they disagree with any arguments, or just wishful thinking? My Lai and the UN are just the most glaring examples of him putting his career before everything else. I still don't understand how a person who tried to cover up (in the most laughably inept manner) the massacre of civilians by the US Army didn't spend the rest of his life as a pariah, let alone get positive press in the media for decades. Then add in his lying to the UN to start a war and you wonder if there's no crime that can't be forgiven as long as that person supports the powers that be.
  - h2odragon 5y ago
    I have had discussion with people who I must credit with being sincere, who believed Mr Powell was a true American Hero whose accomplishments and achievements should be lauded and emulated. I didn't agree with or understand their arguments well enough to try repeating them. I think those arguing that way were praising a faithful servant to any master, with no morals or principle of his own. as if thats a good thing to be. I hope im wrong and just failed to understand them.
    - merpnderp 5y ago
      The court cases allowing many of of the Vietnamese atrocities to go unpunished allowed people to claim they were "just following orders." You might not be wrong...
      - CulturalMarxism 5y ago
        > unpunished I'll have you know that William Calley Jr served three-and-a-half years under house arrest.
bluedevil2k 5y ago
> I don't really see rising through the ranks of the U.S. military through the 70s/80s/90s as particularly praiseworthy either Did you see any other black men doing the same thing?
- uncletaco 5y ago
  The answer is yes but of course none were as famous or went as far as Powell.
  - bluedevil2k 5y ago
    So…then the answer is “no”
- merpnderp 5y ago
  You mean covering up war crimes and lying to the UN to start wars, and being rewarded by the establishment for doing it? I should hope not. You realize when he was tasked with looking into one of the worst US war crimes in recent history he said it couldn't have happened because the Vietnamese and US soldiers are like BFF's. Worst coverup in history, yet his loyalty was rewarded.

h2odragon 5y ago

Many disagree. As to "company man" ... Watch "Mars Attacks!" for the best portrayal of Colin Powell to hit the big screen.

merpnderp 5y ago
Do they disagree with any arguments, or just wishful thinking? My Lai and the UN are just the most glaring examples of him putting his career before everything else. I still don't understand how a person who tried to cover up (in the most laughably inept manner) the massacre of civilians by the US Army didn't spend the rest of his life as a pariah, let alone get positive press in the media for decades. Then add in his lying to the UN to start a war and you wonder if there's no crime that can't be forgiven as long as that person supports the powers that be.
- h2odragon 5y ago
  I have had discussion with people who I must credit with being sincere, who believed Mr Powell was a true American Hero whose accomplishments and achievements should be lauded and emulated. I didn't agree with or understand their arguments well enough to try repeating them. I think those arguing that way were praising a faithful servant to any master, with no morals or principle of his own. as if thats a good thing to be. I hope im wrong and just failed to understand them.
  - merpnderp 5y ago
    The court cases allowing many of of the Vietnamese atrocities to go unpunished allowed people to claim they were "just following orders." You might not be wrong...
    - CulturalMarxism 5y ago
      > unpunished I'll have you know that William Calley Jr served three-and-a-half years under house arrest.

bluedevil2k 5y ago

> I don't really see rising through the ranks of the U.S. military through the 70s/80s/90s as particularly praiseworthy either Did you see any other black men doing the same thing?

uncletaco 5y ago
The answer is yes but of course none were as famous or went as far as Powell.
- bluedevil2k 5y ago
  So…then the answer is “no”
merpnderp 5y ago
You mean covering up war crimes and lying to the UN to start wars, and being rewarded by the establishment for doing it? I should hope not. You realize when he was tasked with looking into one of the worst US war crimes in recent history he said it couldn't have happened because the Vietnamese and US soldiers are like BFF's. Worst coverup in history, yet his loyalty was rewarded.