How Powell became a hawk seems to me not necessarily a process but is perhaps a thought-out political strategy in which Powell, whose moderate leanings were well known, may have been manipulated to serve as Bush's less-bellicose frontman, then asked to support W as the time for action comes near.
When the Iraq campaign was first announced, the obvious hawk was Cheney, whose views are about as black-and-white as Bush's. It served Bush well at that time to have a moderate Secretary of State to advocate a more moderate position, deal with the Europeans and the UN, and to otherwise create the impression that, yes, Bush will listen to moderating influences.
As we get closer to the campaign, Powell has probably been ordered/asked to take a turn to the right. As a loyal Bush Cabinet member, he has done so even if he has serious reservations about the go-it-alone strategy Bush is intent on pursuing. There is no way the Powell will abandon Bush at this critical juncture, and Bush knows it. The message to the world, the UN, and especially the Europeans, is: "Look, guys, get on board or get left behind. Even Powell with his cachet is willing to support my strategy."
The fact that Powell has turned to the right has to be dampening a few socks in European capitals.
It seems unbelievable to me that Bush's intentions have been so thoroughly misread. |
