06:49 AM Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Gen. Powell to President Obama: Take Your Time
Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 2:06 pm
By: Gen. Colin Powell
Gen. Colin Powell on the Tom Joyner Morning Show on Nov. 11, 2009, Veteran’s Day:
“What I have advised him is to not be rushed into a decision because this one is the decision that will have consequences for years to come. If you [President Obama] decide to send more troops or if that’s what you feel is necessary, make sure you have a good understanding of what those troops are going to be doing and some assurance that the additional troops will be successful. You can’t guarantee success in a very complex theater like Afghanistan, and increasingly with the Pakistan problem next door, but you have to have some sense of what these additional troops will be able to do.
And secondly, take your time.
And third, you gotta make sure that you are putting this commitment on a solid base and the base is a little soft right now. We’ve got a president in Afghanistan that had a rough election with a lot of corruption associated with the election…a lot of corruption in the government. And he has been told...Karzi, has been told and I know him very well. He’s been told that he’s gotta do something about this, he’s gotta do something about the drug problem and he’s gotta start pulling the Afghan people together.
And so the President [Obama] has to measure that…what kind of base is he putting this new strategy on, because it isn’t just what we do…what do the Afghan’s do. And it’s made, as I said a moment ago, it’s made particularly difficult because of the unstable situation along the Pakistan border and in Pakistan. So this is a very difficult one for him and it isn’t just a one time decision, this is the decision that will have consequences for the better part of his administration.
So Mr. President, don’t get pushed by the left to do nothing and don’t get pushed by the right to do everything, you take your time and you figure it out. You’re the commander and chief and this is what you’re elected for.”
Click Here to listen Roland Martin's November 11th interview with Colin Powell on TJMS.
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The comments that Mr. Colin Powell made to President Obama, were right on the mark. President Obama, I too say take your sweet time in making a big decision, like this. Commit yourself to not work the comments of the news for two weeks, and see how the decision about what to do, comes to you,without interference. May God Be With You Always, in Any Decisions you make For yourself, and This Country. Remember Everyone Has A Opinion, But Your Decision Matters The Most.
by
Yaegerj
November 16, 2009, 10:59 pm
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Good Advice to heed. The haters are going to complainone way or the othr and if the President moves to quickly and the outcome is worse, then they will be louder than ever.
Pray Mr. President, let God direct your decisions!
by
Brightwood1
November 12, 2009, 2:42 pm
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I am ashamed that apparently there are so many ignorant, low brow bamas still floating around in 2009. President Obama should take his time, he has to come up with an defense and exit strategy in Afghanistan. There is plenty of troops over their and this was a Nato effort so UK, France, and Canada are still there as well... Be informed or be the voice of dumb.
by
Broughtwaprice
November 12, 2009, 10:32 am
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...riiight...Let me get this straight...everybody NOT over in the line of fire in the Middle East actually thinks it takes weeks and weeks and weeks to ponder and consider the best course of action. As a black man, I am ashamed of the responses of some of us including Colin Powell. The men and women in harms way deserve to be supported with backup NOW or removed from that theatre of war..not left twisting in the wind.
by
VoiceofReason
November 11, 2009, 10:39 pm
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I never saw WAR as a success, but I do agree with Mr. Powell. Obama should take the time and research what is need for this WAR. Do not listen to the White House, listen to the Generals of the Military and the past Military Officals. They are only people who have experience with these difficult WARs in the Middle East.
by
Abernad
November 11, 2009, 9:27 pm
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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell listening to the discussion during the 'What Can Business Do? ©Leon/RD/Retna Ltd.
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