Colin Powell 'Killer Lines'
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Colin Powell 'Killer Lines'
Recently while US Secretary of State Colin Powell was at
the UN, an Iraqi television reporter asked him a sarcastic question, and Powell, without missing a beat gave the following answer, and left him speechless.
" Mr Secretary, isn't true that only about 13% of all Americans
under the age of 25 know where Iraq is on a map?"
"Yes, that's true - but unfortunately for you - they're all
Marines."
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush.
He answered by saying that "Over the years the US has sent many of its great young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for is enough to bury those that did not return."
Powell's comment pretty much silenced the room
the UN, an Iraqi television reporter asked him a sarcastic question, and Powell, without missing a beat gave the following answer, and left him speechless.
" Mr Secretary, isn't true that only about 13% of all Americans
under the age of 25 know where Iraq is on a map?"
"Yes, that's true - but unfortunately for you - they're all
Marines."
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush.
He answered by saying that "Over the years the US has sent many of its great young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for is enough to bury those that did not return."
Powell's comment pretty much silenced the room
Unlikely he will be President. There was a suggestion he would have stood as a Vice-Presidential candidate but Mrs Powell didn't fancy it on the grounds he would be too high a profile target for assassination.
Lots of right wing nutters, nutters and members of the Klan would love to put a bullet in him plus a lot of them work in the White House.
Lots of right wing nutters, nutters and members of the Klan would love to put a bullet in him plus a lot of them work in the White House.
Never mind Colin for Pres, what a pity the septics didn't elect John McCain as President. Honest, intelligent and packed with intergrity, and right wing enough for most of those who voted for Bush, while decent enough to win the respect of the Liberals, if not their unqualified support. Oh yes, and a fighter pilot too.
But perhaps too idealistic and insufficiently 'biddable' for those who pay the piper?
Am I alone in thinking him the best POTUS the yanks ever OR never had, Republican or Democrat?
But perhaps too idealistic and insufficiently 'biddable' for those who pay the piper?
Am I alone in thinking him the best POTUS the yanks ever OR never had, Republican or Democrat?
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Perhaps there was once a time when the top politicians were such intelligent people that being able to issue lightning-quick retorts was a by-product of their ability.
And perhaps in these days of sound-bite TV, the lightning-quick retorts are all they require.
And perhaps in these days of sound-bite TV, the lightning-quick retorts are all they require.
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Hmmmm...
Indeed, the one-liners are great. But it still seems to me that he completely ballsed-up his most important (politically, at least) job to date- the 'persuasion' of the Securtiy Council et al over Iraq.
He is yet to convince me.
Ciao!
He is yet to convince me.
Ciao!
Over the years the US has sent many of its great young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for is enough to bury those that did not return.
... and the Texan revolt in 1835 against the Mexican government (remember the Alamo!)
... the Mexican war 1846-48, claiming the South West (incl. California) and the territory north of the Rio Grande,
... and re-claiming the territory of the Confederacy (considered an independant nation) in the Civil War 1861 - 1865
... and the Indian Wars in the Western Territories 1817 - 1890
... and Cuba (given independance in 1902), Puerto Rico, Guam and the Phillipines (given independance in 1946) in the Spanish-American war of 1898 (icl American Samoa and the Midway Islands.)
... and the "theft" of the Hawaiian Islands in 1898
hey! Just pointing out that the USA went through as much imperialist expansion as they could get away with - until they ran out of territory to expand into. While it wasn't their fault they were a bit late in the empire building game, they now control more territory than the UK 
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Checkboard
............they now control more territory than the UK........
This is coming from the Empire that the sun never sets on?? Am I mistaken about that?
Besides this is not about American or British imperialism. It's about "bon mots" or pearls of wisdom from Gen Colin Powell. Can you top his one liners?
............they now control more territory than the UK........
This is coming from the Empire that the sun never sets on?? Am I mistaken about that?
Besides this is not about American or British imperialism. It's about "bon mots" or pearls of wisdom from Gen Colin Powell. Can you top his one liners?
StbdD,
I didn't know you cared, sweetie. But having my ball (or balls) fondled by chaps (even lovely butch ones who get so macho and cross about mere banter) isn't really my thing. Sorry.
Did I use the word septic? Crikey! What a deadly insult. And yank as well. My oh my what a provocative post that was. Just as well I didn't throw around tired cliches about colonialism as well.
"Heck, I'm easy, I may have missed your point entirely so feel free to enlighten me about those nasty Yank savages."
Checkboard's point was that US foreign policy has sometimes diverged from the very rosy view expressed by Powell. Only sometimes, in my view, and generally the USA can be proud of having followed an ethical foreign policy (certainly historically better than us!) and of avoiding the most cynical realpolitik. But perhaps not in Grenada, Cuba, Vietnam, etc.
I didn't know you cared, sweetie. But having my ball (or balls) fondled by chaps (even lovely butch ones who get so macho and cross about mere banter) isn't really my thing. Sorry.
Did I use the word septic? Crikey! What a deadly insult. And yank as well. My oh my what a provocative post that was. Just as well I didn't throw around tired cliches about colonialism as well.
"Heck, I'm easy, I may have missed your point entirely so feel free to enlighten me about those nasty Yank savages."
Checkboard's point was that US foreign policy has sometimes diverged from the very rosy view expressed by Powell. Only sometimes, in my view, and generally the USA can be proud of having followed an ethical foreign policy (certainly historically better than us!) and of avoiding the most cynical realpolitik. But perhaps not in Grenada, Cuba, Vietnam, etc.
Hi StbdD!
I wasn't saying that modern countries like England, France, Spain, Holland etc etc didn't pursue territories amoungst the stone and bronze age cultures of the world - I was just pointing out that the USA wasn't born within it's current borders, as Mr Powell's statement implied.
Perhaps his comments about "not asking for land" would appear more ironic to you if you had American Indian ancestry?
I wasn't saying that modern countries like England, France, Spain, Holland etc etc didn't pursue territories amoungst the stone and bronze age cultures of the world - I was just pointing out that the USA wasn't born within it's current borders, as Mr Powell's statement implied.
Perhaps his comments about "not asking for land" would appear more ironic to you if you had American Indian ancestry?
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Helibloke - I was told that the Irish fought for the British Empire, the Scots ran it and the English kept the money....
On Colin Powell, I recall a killer line that if his father had emigrated to the UK rather than the US and the young Colin had joined the Army, he might have made RSM.
At least the pronunciation would be correct.
On Colin Powell, I recall a killer line that if his father had emigrated to the UK rather than the US and the young Colin had joined the Army, he might have made RSM.
At least the pronunciation would be correct.
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Didn't I hear somewhere that Mr Powell's granny calls him "Coll-in", rather than "Co-lin"?
As for "only asking for enough land to bury their dead" - they didn't ask for the land that they took in the examples checkboard refers to, they took it! In much the same way that we (Britiain) took many other countries, I might add, before the septics get upset at a one sided point of view!
If you examine your own history (some of us may have more material to cover than others), no-one has clean hands.
I have an Irish ancestor who fought for the Royal Marines in the American War of Independence (Revolutionary War) - I believe he was credited with doing more for the American cause than the British!
As for "only asking for enough land to bury their dead" - they didn't ask for the land that they took in the examples checkboard refers to, they took it! In much the same way that we (Britiain) took many other countries, I might add, before the septics get upset at a one sided point of view!
If you examine your own history (some of us may have more material to cover than others), no-one has clean hands.
I have an Irish ancestor who fought for the Royal Marines in the American War of Independence (Revolutionary War) - I believe he was credited with doing more for the American cause than the British!
StbdD,
Do take a chill pill, dude! (I can't supply one, I'm afraid)
Or do you need to get laid? (Not my bag, baby, but I'm sure you'll find someone if you calm down and stop being quite so aggressive).
Moggie,
I don't think he noticed that you used the term septic, so if we keep quiet perhaps he'll calm down and stop challenging everyone to fights. Do you think he's insecure about his masculinity/sexuality, or just 14 years old?
Do take a chill pill, dude! (I can't supply one, I'm afraid)
Or do you need to get laid? (Not my bag, baby, but I'm sure you'll find someone if you calm down and stop being quite so aggressive).
Moggie,
I don't think he noticed that you used the term septic, so if we keep quiet perhaps he'll calm down and stop challenging everyone to fights. Do you think he's insecure about his masculinity/sexuality, or just 14 years old?
Moggie
You are right - he changed the pronunciation of his name when he was a kid. I am currently reading his (ghosted) autobigraphy, which is very interesting. He obviously has huge talent (as well as the vanity and self-confidence to rise to the top).
Skua
You are right - he changed the pronunciation of his name when he was a kid. I am currently reading his (ghosted) autobigraphy, which is very interesting. He obviously has huge talent (as well as the vanity and self-confidence to rise to the top).
Skua