The Powell Doctrine is a general's focus, not that of an Executive Branch.
In the winter of 1992/93 the view of the Former Secretary of State was inclusive of all peace process and not war.
Summary: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff defines a new national military strategy aimed at accomplishing a range of missions far broader than America's armed forces have known before. Peacekeeping and humanitarian operations will loom larger. Called for is a flexible Base Force with capabilities to meet a host of far-flung threats to America's interests, rather than the single threat of communist power that guided military doctrine through the Cold War.
How quickly the Neocons forget how a directive of peace is vital to any 'end game' of a war. It is failed diplomacy that leads to war. Bush and Cheney ran oil wars and intend to do same if allowed to with Iran. The shouting match that is half a world apart is undermining to all initiative to defeat terrorists and their networks.
As a Secretary of State, Colin Powell never 'got it right' when it came to priorities of the Bush Administration. Powell was supposed to 'set the stage' for war. Instead, he bravely walked through the streets of Vietnam on his way to talks with it's current government. The Powell State Department never had a chance. The Powell Doctrine stands as a tribute to the strategies of generals, but, not statemen.
War doesn't work against terrorist networks, it does however kill lots of innocent people that then seek out terrorists to end the killing. ie: Iraq
War is for defense of a nation against another nation's invading military. Terrorist networks aren't sovereign nations with established and wel financed militaries. They rely on common weaponry and suicide bombers. The Bush White House has misused the USA miliary for the purpose of illegal invasion into sovereign countries. The policies of this administration are illegal and designed to allow profeeters to benefit without purpose to the national security of the USA.
