Max Cleland: “I can remember two elements to the Powell doctrine. The first is sometimes overlooked. The first should be how to use…”

“I can remember two elements to the Powell doctrine. The first is sometimes overlooked. The first should be how to use the American military to stay out of war and, if we do get in it, win quickly. The second part of the Powell doctrine is the doctrine of superior force, what Nimitz called in the Second World War in the Pacific 'superior upon the point of contact.' I am delighted we have a Secretary of State who understands the power of the first, which is using the American military to stay out of war. I think that is step one for me in the Powell doctrine. Step two is obviously if diplomacy fails, use superior force to accomplish your objective. In many ways, we have been acting since 1991. We have had Iraq under Operation Northern Watch and Southern Watch. We are covering 40 percent of Iraqi territory as we speak, we have a naval blockade, and we have sanctions, so we have not been inactive since 1991. What is the status of his weapons of mass destruction, which is the focus of this entire debate?”