A brilliant man who was a competent general. He also performed decently as Secretary of State, given the circumstances with which he had to deal. He served his country honorably and deserves the respect he usually receives. He is also a social liberal who, as of this morning, is oficcially endorsing Barrack Obama. What a shocker (not). He said that his choice to vote for Obama had nothing to do with the fact that he is "African American", then went on to say "If Barrack Obama is elected it should be a moment that all Americans are proud, not just African Americans but all Americans. We should be proud that we have reached this point in our nation's history". So...the fact that Obama is black doesn't matter...but, it does matter.

In 2000 Powell vigorously and enthusiastically endorsed the Bush-Cheney ticket, saying that they would be a "great team" for America. Now he basically says he was mistaken. My crystal ball says that, regardless of what the future might hold with an Obama Presidency, you will never hear such a confession from Powell.

I believe he is noble soul. Shame his military obligation to follow orders of his chain of command landed in the UN presenting the WMD "evidence." Redeemed himself when he resigned and distanced himself from the madness.

Not that bad. Was sort of a voice of reason on the war in Iraq.

Does anyone remember the Colin Powell action figure?

An honorable guy who should have had the gumption to tell Bush what he really felt when asked to lie about the need for war in Iraq.

" Sorry I lied us into a war that is killing our economy".  Remember what the Afgan war did to the USSR?.  Thanks a lot "Spokesmodel".

he's a true american

Sold his soul.

They are all......liars (they have to be) but I like this one the most. He would get my vote!

A painful case. I would have given him a 4 seven years ago, but his knowingly fradulent presentation about Iraqi WMDs to the U.N. was perhaps the grossest Lie ever told by a member of the Bush administration (a dubious distinction indeed).

According to a U.S. News and World Report story, Powell said "This is bullshit!" when he was given documents purporting to demonstrate that Iraq had WMDs. Those documents included the draft of the very speech he would turn around and deliver to the U.N. with a straight face.

Powell has been walking around with a guilty face since then. His speech almost convinced me that it was necessary to go into Iraq (and I'd been marching against it). Almost. Powell traded in his credibility for a nefarious, deadly lie, and deserves nothing but contempt.

I'd have to say that the book is still out on Colin Powell's political career. While I would say that his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was relatively successful, his turn at Secretary of State was a mixed bag at best. I'm guessing that the Left likes Powell claiming that he bailed on the Bush Administration, and likewise the Right for bringing some high positioned color to the Republicans. In my opinion, the truth is that Powell, as a military man, was ill suited for the State Department, and he would have better served the Bush Administration as Secretary of Defense. Insiders have claimed that Powell lost most of his disputes between State and Defense, and if true this suggests that he was relatively ineffective in his role as Secretary. While I'm willing to cut Powell some slack given the circumstances, the bottom line is that his political career has been too short to really merit more than three stars.

i like him.

He has style and common sense. He was a good choice for Bush. To bad he is gone. He shall be needed for the upcoming disaster when the Irag chickens finally come home to roost!

On of the few true and honest republicans left in Washington, it is a shame he left.  I would give my vote to him if he was to run for president in 08.

how disappointing

*SigH. Not much that I can say about the man. He could've done more.

I wish the Republicans would nominate him in 08.

Had potential, but fell victim to the bush administration. Thought he was a strong man, but turned out to be very weak.

Smart enough to leave the White House liars behind. He should have told Bush to shove it when he was forced to tell the UN that WMDs existed in Iraq.

Exactly which values does he share with Bush and company? Never clear. Not a complete brainwash like Thomas, but bad.

A quality man who had enough dignity to leave the corrupt Bush Administration.

Major disappointment. It is evident that Powell knew fairly early into the Bush administration just how much of an idiot he was working for. He nevertheless kept repeating the mantra "I serve at the pleasure of the President" Horse manure! He serves the PEOPLE, and if he knew Bush was an idiot, he should have noisily resigned and made it clear why!

Colin Powell is an honorable man and that's why he could no longer function in the current administration. There is a lot more to this story that will not be heard until this administration is out of power.

He was OK until he sold out,or they got something on him.

I can't possibly give Powell a good rating when he played a major role in lying to the world to justify war against a sovereign nation that was not a threat to America. His speech to the UN was founded on misinformation and exaggerated claims of WMD evidence, as far as I can tell.

He could have been a great man. Trying to fit into a party that did not suit him, he was used and thrown away. He made a big mistake in hiding his ethics, too bad.

I used to think he was the only honest Republican. Now I know he lies like all the rest of them!

A thoughtful and accomplished individual who, like Eisenhower, could have had the presidency for his asking. Maybe he should have.

For a minute there, I thought this read Colon Bowel, and I thought that's what produces excrement. Then, I read it properly and realised same difference.

Great leader.

Good man. Great leader. Too bad the same can't be said about his son.

I admired him until he caved to Bush's demands. After that he became just another yes man. We already have too many of them in Washington as it is.

In many ways, I admire Powell. He was one of the only members of Bush's cabinet to go against the grain, many times. But, I still hold him accountible for not speaking the truth when it could have made a difference. This makes him almost as culpable as Bush, with whats going on in Iraq right now...(400 dead in the last two weeks).....Unforgivable

Colin Powell is a great man, leader, politician and soldier. He did what he had to do to be where he is. If you like the man do not turn on him when he is down and kick him. He realizes what was going on and he resigned with honor. I solute you Mr. Powell job well done as a black man you make me proud.

A great military leader and pretty good statesman. He proved to every one that you can become anything you want to be and not some stupid stereo type.

He leaves the position of Secretary of State as one of the most respected American men in the world, bar none. Attempting to portray his tenure at State as anything less than exemplary is ridiculous. Bulletin: Afghan elections have been held. Bulletin: the Taliban was routed from their position of governmental power in Afghanistan. Bulletin: Saddam HAD weapons of mass destruction (which he deployed in the late 1990's) the disposal of which has never been accounted for, as the UN had stipulated as necessary to prevent further military action. Portraying his speech to the UN regarding the US case for military action against Iraq in early 2003 as anything less than truthful, appropriate and convincing is also ridiculous. Get a transcript of the speech and read it. Tell me one point that you could (even stretching the truth) call less than accurate, based on the facts known before the invasion. Bulletin: Iraqi elections are about to be held. Point out a Secretary of State with more positive global accomplishments in a four year tenure than Powell's. And, should we not consider the use of the term Uncle Tom in reference to a black man as the literary equivalent of using the N word to refer to him, which would be objected to roundly and removed from our posts?

Have to agree with BushyTheTyrant. Nothing more then an Uncle Tom. Great general, but he sold out man.

Probably the saddest player in the whole Iraq debacle because you sense he was a basically decent, obviously intelligent, man who sold himself out so cheaply to his neo-con bidders. Sad to say, but once your reputation is gone, its pretty much impossible to win it back.

Good General, bad politician. If he had any sense he'd bail like CIA

this guy is awesome. He has been in the military FOREVER. He is a great policy maker and goes all over the world to invest in US interests. Even though he has been replaced now by Condolizza Rice, which I think is a mistake, he was a great Secretary of State.

Leaves this half-assed administration with his rep in ruins. But, he has no one to blame for that but himself. Should have become a democrat.

I had a lot of respect for Powell. However, he blew his career by being a good soldier for that idiot GW. Too bad.

lied to the world

Thank you for doing such a wonderful service to America. I admire your dedication.

I admire him for the job he did as a General. As a (appointed) politico he leaves something to be desired. I was disappointed that he was willing to play footsie with the United Nations.

Was a great general and like all true military men, he was loyal to his Commander in chief.

Buh bye credibility. Get out while you still can, Colin.

over all a good man

Uncle Tom sellout, whose commitment to American duty has helped mass ethnic cleansing, genocide and civil wars amongst poor countries internationally. Indeed a great General, he does his job without question... and black to go with it? How high on a pedastool he is for an african american 'light skinned' model.. and how sad for the Africans who praise this butcher.

Tempted to give Colin 2 stars, because I feel he sold himself out. But he is the one who has to live with that, not me, and the man has spoken up for a lot of things nobody gives him credit for. Sadly has become another victim of the Bush administration.