Very interesting interview with Colin Powell over at News Com Australia.

THE US administration was never told of doubts about the secret intelligence used to justify war with Iraq, former secretary of state Colin Powell told the BBC in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday night.

Mr Powell, who argued the case for military action against Saddam Hussein in the UN in 2003, told BBC News 24 television he was "deeply disappointed in what the intelligence community had presented to me and to the rest of us."

"What really upset me more than anything else was that there were people in the intelligence community that had doubts about some of this sourcing, but those doubts never surfaced to us," he said.

He goes on to describe the Administration's commitment to Iraq and what it must be

For his part, Mr Powell considered the US military could not be deployed in Iraq at its current strength for years to come, raising the possibility of withdrawal from next year.

But he told the BBC that "essentially just to walk away, to say that we're taking all of our troops out as fast as we can, would be a tragic mistake". A US presence would be required in Iraq for "years", he added.

"We've invested a great deal in this country, and the Iraqi people deserve democracy and the freedom that they were promised when we got rid of Saddam Hussein and we have to stay with them... until they decide that they can get it now on their own, they don't need us any longer," he added.

"And even then, I suspect, there will be a continuing relationship and presence of some significance for some years to come."

He also offers the opinion that his relationships with Rumsfeld after Iraq invasion were not very good.

Reactions from the Democratic Underground range from obscene to deranged. Samples:

Liar Liar
Yes - The Convenient Lie Absolves All Sins
Pleeese, why does he keep on lying?!
Wonder how he gets the taste of shit out of his mouth?
Oh, Colin! Still carrying water for the boss?
Go fuck yourself, Colon.
I'm convinced someone's got photos of Powell fiddling with kids.
Powell is a world-class liar and suckup
"BEEP-BEEP-BEEP"!!! said the bull**it detector!! "BEEP-BEEP-BEEP"!!!
What a pathetic, lying sack of shit!
"Pig Vomit Powell Chokes Up More Vomitus"

We all hear what we want to hear.....