This analysis of Gen Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama has two thoughts for me.

First is the question of how we made the decision to go to war. I agree with the quote in the article saying if Powell had bowed up his back and opposed the invasion, then the invasion would not have happened. That action would have been the cold bucket of water over the head needed to restore clear thinking.

Second, even if we made the decision on faulty data, faulty data does not excuse the failure to provide an adequate force to prevent the insurgency we have experienced. This is one of the clearest demonstrations of the inability of this Administration to govern. My thought was, "If they're screwing this up, then what else are they screwing up?" Sadly, the answer is a lot.

At some time once this election is over this nation needs to institute the measures necessary to insure incompetence in the Federal Executive branch is not tolerated.

Here's a link to the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/us/politics/20powell.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin