Melissa Overbeck
Assistant Pespectives Editor
For many Democrats, Secretary of State Colin Powell’s resignation Monday extinguished the last glimmer of hope for the next four years. Powell was the main voice of moderation in an administration known for its extreme conservatism. His proposed replacement, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, will inevitably be more conservative and a proponent of the administration’s unilateralist tactics.
Powell’s resignation does not come as a surprise. Throughout the Bush administration’s first term, there was constant conflict between Powell and the more conservative voices in the Administration, such as Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. His arguments for working with the international community on a number of different issues were often overpowered by the more aggressive members of the cabinet. After four years of largely being ignored, it is understandable that Powell would be ready to go. Reports from CNN also suggest that the decision was mutual — Bush had not asked Powell to stay.
To his credit, Powell led the Bush Administration in the right direction several times. When Bush wanted to go to war with Iraq, it was Powell who convinced him that it was necessary to go to the United Nations first, an act that resulted in the unanimous approval of a Security Council resolution requiring Iraq to comply with weapons inspections. Powell is also credited with improving U.S. relations with Russia, India, Pakistan and China. Powell also announced soon after his confirmation in 2001 that he intended to continue the negotiations with North Korea started by President Clinton. Although Bush quickly rejected that idea, the incident serves as yet another tribute to Powell’s insistence on negotiation.
Condoleezza Rice, if confirmed, would provide a very different ideology. Although Rice has sided with Powell on occasion, she remains more closely aligned with the neo-conservatives of the defense department. Rice stands apart from Powell in that she is significantly more conservative and more focused on preemption and unilateralism. As national security adviser, Rice played a large role in devising the Bush Doctrine, which is largely focused on preemption, and was consequently a steadfast supporter of the war in Iraq. As a result of her support of these policies, as well as her support of a war that is extremely unpopular overseas, she may have more difficulty convincing Europeans to join the U.S. in international endeavors or decreasing animosity abroad.
At the same time, Rice brings with her an effective administrative background, having served as a member of the National Security Council for the first President Bush and as provost at Stanford University, prior to being appointed to her current position as national security adviser.
Powell is the last remaining moderate in the cabinet, and thus his departure will have a great impact on the future of the Bush administration. With the resignation of the chief voice of moderation in the cabinet, it would be prudent for President Bush to appoint another moderate to the cabinet as a replacement. It is important for Bush to remember that although he won the election, he is headed for four more years as the chief representative of a very divided country. In order to avoid completely ostracizing half of the country, he must resist the temptation to continue filling cabinet spots with only those members who adhere most strictly to his views.
Regardless of whom Bush selects for his remaining cabinet positions, Powell will be sorely missed.
11-18-2004