U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell spent a few hours with the Atlanta Press Club today, making a brief statement and taking questions from reporters. He disputed Kerry's characterization of President Bush "outsourcing" the hunt for Osama bin Laden to Afghan warlords during a military operation in Tora Bora.
"I think it's a stretch to say anyone knew he [bin Laden] was there."
He also suggested that a report on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program expected to be released in the next few days would show evidence that Saddam Hussein planned on resuming research and development of weapons of mass destruction. Rumsfeld recently announced during a news conference that Charles Delfer who succeeded David Kay, the former head of the multi-national Iraqi Survey Group, has uncovered "weapons containing various types of chemicals has in fact been found and are currently being tested."
On a possible run for the presidency, Powell was not interested. He continues to maintain his skills are better used in other ways. He also discounted any suggestion that he would be leaving his post at the end of the current Presidential term.
"I serve at the pleasure of the president," he said, "not by terms."
Powell was quick to point out that while there has been anti-American sentiment throughout the world, America is respected by many.
