A Convenient Memory

It's hard respect for Colin Powell's "recovered memory" that he wanted more troops in Iraq, especially when Secretary of State Rice doesn't quite remember it that way.

It's likewise hard to understand what Powell was trying to accomplish with his belated claims. Doesn't he know this just makes him look like a self-promoter who's concerned only with his own image?

"I told you so" is never attractive coming from anyone (even me). It's even less attractive from someone whom, it seems, cares for little but making himself look good at the expense of others.

Sometimes loyalty and discretion are hard. But they're worth it -- because "character" is more than running around to present a carefully constructed and conspicuous example of centrist civic piety and prescience. And in an era when too many -- at the CIA and elsewhere -- seem to have forgotten the concept of teamwork and discretion, Secretary Powell could have provided a great lesson to the country on the importance of keeping one's mouth quiet.

But apparently it was more important to him to be seen as having been "right all along," whether the facts as recalled by those around him at the time warrant that conclusion or not.