JUSIPER

 
Novak: Powell was fired

Posted by Sini

Not for cowardice but disloyalty.

Rather, there was a sense, in an administration that puts a high premium on teamwork and loyalty, that Powell was really not a team player. Critical insiders often compared Powell unfavorably with James Baker, the elder George Bush's secretary of state. While Baker was seen as the president's representative to the State Department, Powell was the State Department's representative to the president. That is, Powell was criticized for coddling career Foreign Service officers.

Accordingly, there was no weeping among Bush's political aides about Powell's imminent departure. Ironically, the most politically popular member of the Bush Cabinet is perhaps the least popular with the conservative Republican base.

In contrast, Powell will be missed in foreign ministries around the world, where Rice is distrusted precisely because she is so close to President Bush. However, his loss will not have much impact on the success or failure of U.S. foreign policy. The presence of Powell at State did not alleviate the Bush administration's global unpopularity.

Sources close to Powell say he might have been persuaded to stay around for another six months, if only to try to make progress toward Israeli-Palestinian peace. In fact, that issue is really in the hands of President Bush. Only he, not any secretary of state, can force the elusive agreement needed to create a peaceful Palestinian state.

5:55 PM |