There are many people who are defending Powell as the thoughtful member of this administration, and I suppose he is, compared to the competition. But when asked point black if there is a 'price to pay' for France's opposition to the US policy, his response was: "Yes." Not only is this power politics at its most cynical, it's just plain stupid. It will backfire, and it damn well should. The BBC

I forgot about Newt Gingrich's attack on Powell, presumably payback for his 'victories' on N. Korea and Syria. I wonder if Powell's bluntness was because he was doing what he was told, or because he still feels he was stabbed in the back by France and Germany?
Either way, it's all so petty.