Colin Powell the fourth to speak

Iraq is one of three core problems in the region. The others are Iran, and the Gaza strip.

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk Powell tried to talk Bush out of war THE former American secretary of state Colin Powell has revealed that he spent 2½ hours vainly trying to persuade President George W Bush not to invade Iraq and believes today’s conflict cannot be resolved by US forces. Powell believes that a reduction in US forces will have to be accompanied by talks with Syria and Iran. “You have to talk to the people you dislike most in this dangerous world.” The general and former joint chiefs of staff added: “Shi’ites will ultimately prevail because they are 60% of the population and their militias can be pretty violent. They will prevail also because they are determined not to be ruled again by the Sunnis. “The Sunnis are struggling for power and survival and it’s going to be resolved by a test of arms. It’s going to be very ugly.”