HAWKISH DOVE:

Blair view on Iraq dismissed by Powell (Anton La Guardia, 04/06/2004, Daily Telegraph)

America again slapped down Tony Blair yesterday when it insisted that the new Iraqi government would have no veto over US and other coalition troops.

"You can't use the word 'veto'," said Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, in an interview with the Arab satellite channel, Middle East Broadcasting Centre.

Mr Powell said the United States would co-ordinate with the Iraqi interim government.

"But circumstances could arise where a situation is developing and our troops have to act in a way that protects them," he said.

"There could be a situation where we have to act and there may be a disagreement, and we have to act to protect ourselves or to accomplish a mission."

His comments amount to a further rebuke to the Prime Minister, who has said that Iraqi leaders who will take "sovereign" powers at the end of the month will have "final political control" over major decisions of military strategy.

You always here folks on the Left saying how sure they are that the dovish General Powell is embarrassed to be part of this mess--but he never seems to mind slapping folks down for the cause, does he?

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 3, 2004 11:31 PM