Powell: U.S. should talk with Syria, Iran
WASHINGTON, June 10 (UPI) — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell recommends the United States engage in talks with Syria, Iran and other Middle East nations.
Speaking to Tim Russert on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Powell said such talks should no be to solve a particular problem or crisis du jour but to have a dialogue with the people involved in the region in many ways.
“And so I think it is shortsighted not to talk to Syria and Iran and everybody else in the region and not for the purpose of making a demand on them, and I’ll only talk to you if you meet the demand that I want to talk to you about,” he said.
And then there is this as well…………….
Colin Powell: Close Guantánamo Prison Camps
Miami Herald
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday he favors immediately closing the Guantánamo Bay military prison and moving its detainees to U.S. facilities. The prison, which now holds about 385 war-on-terror captives, has tarnished the world’s perception of the United States, Powell said.
”If it was up to me, I would close Guantánamo. Not tomorrow, but this afternoon. I’d close it,” he said.
”And I would not let any of those people go,” he said. “I would simply move them to the United States and put them into our federal legal system. The concern was, well then they’ll have access to lawyers, then they’ll have access to writs of habeas corpus. So what? Let them. Isn’t that what our system is all about?”
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said Congress and the Bush administration should work together to allow imprisonment of some of the more dangerous detainees elsewhere so the military camp at the remote U.S. Navy base in Cuba can be closed.
The Defense Department estimates it would take about three years to conduct 60 to 80 military trials, if the administration authorizes that many.
Wild Thing’s comment……..
First let me say I am not a fan of Powell, never have been. I saw through him before GW Bush was elected President the first time. Powell was making statements to the press he would not mind working for Gore when he was elected President. Then Gore lost and Bush gave Powell a job. What the heck was that, keeping your enemies close maybe? Not my cup of tea thank you ever so. I want a different kind of person in my Foxhole, not someone whose allegience is wishy washie. Powell also counciled against Gulf War I , because we might have 30,000 KIAs going up against that “elite” force known as the Republican Guard.
Sooooooo to Powell……It will never again be “up to you.” So fade away already. You are so 5 minutes ago. You had your chance to make a difference and you botched it.
Powell wants us to talk to the two terrorist states most responsible for the murders of American troops in Iraq????? Good grief, and a BIG ole WTF applies here!!!!
My only idea about communicating with Syria and Iran would be a message delivered by Air Mail, from 30,000 feet up that would certainly be appropriate.
“I would simply move them to the United States and put them into our federal legal system. The concern was, well then they’ll have access to lawyers, then they’ll have access to writs of habeas corpus. So what? Let them. Isn’t that what our system is all about?”
Yeah, there’s a great idea – – turn the WOT into a lawyer-infested circus, complete with a clown car packed with scumbag liberal activist judges.
I’ve proved my point about ‘Paper Lions’ sportsfans! This former general and secretary of state wants to converse dialog with radical Islamomaniacs that will slit your throats, cut off your heads and blow you and themselves up to get poontanged by 72 virgins?
DEATH STAR II – 1
Baby Boomers – 0
Colin–what are you doing?
Gitmo is there for a reason!
They aren’t being mistreated. Some of them get better care, food and entertainment than some of the people here.
Leave the place open.
We don’t want them here!
My instincts about Powell have never failed, I rank him and Wesley Clark in the same league, they are U.N. Generals, not U.S. Generals. It’s no wonder that they both are the preferred darlings of the Democrat Party. Back to the original problem, “Take No Prisoners”, off the battlefield.
I’m happy that my instincts about Powell have not failed, both he and Wesley Clark are U.N. Generals, not U.S. Generals. It is no wonder that they both are the darlings of the Democrat Party. We need to get down on our knees and be thankful that neither are POTUS. Back to the original problem, “Take No Islamic Prisoners” off the battlefield, they are irregulars, spies and non-uniformed combatants, not to mention terrorists, as such they can be executed under Geneva convention rules. Let me share a comment from another site:
“As a soldier who recently returned from Iraq, let me tell you these two simple facts. If you’re not Muslim, they hate you, if you are muslim they still hate you and would rather see you dead. (Sunni vs Shite violence going on everyday) We’ve seen people waving and begging for food and blowing kisses at us. The next day we kill them with a RPG in their hands. The Muslim religion preaches evil, that’s why our intel company would go to the mosque on fridays to monitor what the imam would preach. They preach terror from their churches. I dare anyone to tell me any different. If you don’t believe me, ask a soldier who’s been to Iraq. TRUST me, all muslims hate us regardless of what they say to your face. God Bless America and I shouldn’t have to press 1 for English.”
Well, that about sums it up for the Muzzy lovers out there, that includes most of the Democrat left and the RINO’s who think they can reason and have a rational dialogue with them. You can’t, they are implacable, it’s a lesson I’ve learned from serving in the U.S. Army before and during the Six Day War then having to work around them as a civilian in the oil patch. The Muzzies are using the same tactics that the Communists used against us in Vietnam and are backed by the same useful idiots, a backstabbing friend by day and a full time murdering enemy by night, they do hate us and want us dead.
Powell is a Socialist. It has never been a secret. Too many conservatives wished him a conservative because it would look good to have a Black in the administration. When he and Bush 41 balked and then backed down from destroying Saddam’s Republican Guards during Gulf War 1, I hoped that would be the end of Powell in position of authority. Bush 43 stepped right in where daddy left off with Powell. Powell had a lot to do with delaying the start of the Invasion of Iraq. While Powell was urging working within UN confines, Saddam was working at removing WMDs from Iraq.
Oh yeah, let’s bring them here! We can’t keep track of the ones that are already here. Cuba is a good place for them. Unless we’re talking about Nancy Pelosi’s house – but only after I leave CA.
Let Powell go talk to Iran and Syria if he’s so hot on the idea ~ alone, no bodyguards, no soldiers watching his back, just him and his briefcase. and he can take harry reid with him.
I am so thoroughly disgusted with the gutless wonders who took an oath to serve and protect the people (of this country) and the Constitution (of this country).
jack ~ I love the quote you posted – not the first time I’ve heard that from soldiers.
Oh yeah ~ let’s bring them into the country…we’re doing such a great job getting the ones already here. They can stay at Queen Nancy’s house. (But only after I leave CA.) No place deserves them more than SF. They can get hugs and flowers and listen to “give peace a chance” sung by Code Pink and Ragin’ Grannies.
Powell can go and talk to Syria and Iran if he’s so hot on the idea – alone with no bodyguards, no soldiers watching his back – just him and his briefcase. Oh and he can take Harry Reid with him.
And there will be peace throughout the land…
Darth you have have, and your right about Paper Lions.
Lynn, I agree, it will be so dangerous to have them here. Some liberal lawyer will get them off let’s say and then instead of sending them back they end up here among us. There are all kinds of possibilities that could happen and none of them are good. Very scary.
Jack, AMEN and ditto!!!
GREAT comments on this both of them, thank you so much and also for the quote too. What an amazing, fantastic quote!!!!!
Tom your right, that gave Saddam more time to move things around and out of Iraq.
Yankeemom, I agree, let’s have him take Harry Reid along too.