Colin Powell Quote

[LovetoGiveRoses]

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
United States has sent many of its fine young men
and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond our borders. The only amount of land we
have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those
that did not return."

It became very quiet in the room.

 

[]ooooo(chained)]

I've yet to see a hard source for that quote...

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

I've yet to see a hard source for that quote...

It came in an email....I don't know the source either, but it sounded nice.

 

[busybody..]

The point isnt if he said it or not.......

The point is that it is TRUE!

 

[]ooooo(chained)]

It sounds nice enough. It doesn't sound like Powell...

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Except for Puerto Rico and the Philippines of course. But that was long ago.

 

[LukkyKnight]

Except for Puerto Rico and the Philippines of course. But that was long ago.

Then the litmus test would be if we'd turn them over to local control, eh? I'd say we have a major hand in the affairs of the Phillipines economically and a strategic interest in their location, but haven't taken over. I'm sure some will argue. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, should either be made a state or allowed to go their own way, and if we are to put our money where that quote suggests our mouth is it's time to resolve that latter issue. I think the problem is people can't figure out how they'd do the stars on the flag.

 

[Cheyenne]

I got that little piece in email last week, too. Later, I someone sent me a copy of the whole conversation. The short version misleads a little on the wording of the question and it shortens Powell's answer quite a bit. It is a good sound bite, and overall not inaccurate. But the whole piece is a bit less clear than the paraphrased version. I don't think I have the email anymore, I'll post if it I do.

 

[bknight2602]

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
United States has sent many of its fine young men
and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond our borders. The only amount of land we
have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those
that did not return."

It became very quiet in the room.

Excellent thought from him.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Yes, certainly they're under their own control now.

In summary, we don't take land and we don't colonize.

I didn't see the news much this weekend, what is happening in Iraq?

I saw the papers this morning about Iraqi citizens feeding the marines hot meals, but not much else. I also read about additional protests in Belin, Paris and to a smaller degree, London.