State Department Changes Seen if Bush* Re-elected (Powell to leave)

Powell and Armitage Intend to Step Down

Monday, August 4, 2003; Page A01

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and his deputy, Richard L. Armitage, have signaled to the White House that they intend to step down even if President Bush is reelected, setting the stage for a substantial reshaping of the administration's national security team that has remained unchanged through the September 2001 terrorist attacks, two wars and numerous other crises.

Armitage recently told national security adviser Condoleezza Rice that he and Powell will leave on Jan. 21, 2005, the day after the next presidential inauguration, sources familiar with the conversation said. Powell has indicated to associates that a commitment made to his wife, rather than any dismay at the administration's foreign policy, is a key factor in his desire to limit his tenure to one presidential term.

Rice and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz are the leading candidates to replace Powell, according to sources inside and outside the administration. Rice appears to have an edge because of her closeness to the president, though it is unclear whether she would be interested in running the State Department's vast bureaucracy.

With 18 months left in Bush's current term, many officials said talk of a new foreign policy team is highly premature -- particularly because Bush's reelection is not assured. No one inside or outside the administration agreed to be quoted by name or affiliation in discussing possible Cabinet choices. But on the eve of the country's first post-Sept. 11, 2001, presidential campaign, in which foreign affairs will play a prominent role, the national security lineup for a second Bush term is already a major topic of conversation, at least among those who make and analyze U.S. foreign policy.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16856-2003Aug3.html

stepping down shant be necessary

...and it's therefore impossible for him to be 're-elected'.

Canada, here I come. We are doomed doomed doomed.

Our opposition research team had better get on the stick pronto and start letting America know what a treasonous scumbag this sorry excuse for a man is, and how he and PNAC have helped destroy this once-great nation from the inside out.

Powell rates highest in the trust factor in this administration. Even moderates have to have pause to think Wolfie and the PNAC'ers will now control both Defense and State. And Condie's star is falling fast.

If AWOL is reselected be prepared for endless war, possible nuclear war in the Korean penisula and the return of the draft.

On edit
And the article mentions Newt Gingrich - oh shit - duck and cover time.

takes the longer route to reach same conclusions/lies as Wolfie does. Whether Bowell stays or not it will be endless wars and IMHO, Bowell is a closet PNAC'er anyway!

So Powell will step down IF Bush Wins? He's going to stay on thru the campaign, with the promise that if Bush* is elected, he will leave?! How's that supposed to play on the campaign trail?

since, as someone already said, Powell is more respected and trusted than anyone else in the dysadministration (including *, not that that's saying much). I don't see how KKKarl spins this, especially if the top 2 names they're throwing around for replacements are wolfoshitz and condiliar. Looks like the '04 election may be a true referendum on * foreign policy.

Why not? They saved her ass with the pass the blame game.

Or am I the only one who noticed?

Let's give her a shot at State and see how badly she'll screw up there.

> Powell has indicated to associates that a commitment made to his wife, rather than any dismay at the administration's foreign policy, is a key factor in his desire to limit his tenure to one presidential term.

There sure is an epidemic of "want-to-spend-more-time-with-my-family-itis" going around in Washington lately. Is this a new thing, or did it happen with other administrations also? I was never paying attention before 2001.

This is not the first time I've read about Powell's intentions, although it is the first time that I've seen a reason given for his impending exit.