08AMA Funny (and not so funny) bits from the campaign trail.

This is total speculation on my part. But if Colin Powell does endorse Barack Obama, I think he should be the number one choice for Obama’s Secretary of Defense. Here’s why:

• Powell was a source (maybe the only source) of reason in Bush’s first term. Many insiders think Powell resigned because his ideas were being ignored by Bush and the rest of the Bush Administration.
• Despite being a Republican, Powell holds several liberal social views, most notably his pro-choice position.
• Powell’s popularity (he was voted-in unanimously by the Senate) will help ease concerns about Obama’s lack of military experience.
• Powell’s experience as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (the highest Military position) would be a welcome change to both Donald Rumsfeld (Nixon, Ford and Bush Sr. Cabinets) and Robert Gates (CIA).
• Powell arguably has more experience in the Middle East than just about anyone, having been involved in Middle Eastern conflicts dating back to the first Gulf War.

But most importantly, there’s The Powell Doctrine:

1. Is a vital national security interest threatened?
2. Do we have a clear attainable objective?
3. Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
4. Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted?
5. Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement?
6. Have the consequences of our action been fully considered?
7. Is the action supported by the American people?
8. Do we have genuine broad international support?

Could there be a greater contrast to The Bush Doctrine? The most important dissimilarity to The Bush Doctrine is that The Powell Doctrine is all questions, not answers. This fits snugly with Obama’s thoughtful, deliberate character. What’s more, it is abundantly clear that The Powell Doctrine would have kept us out of Iraq.

Again, this is pure speculation, but I have to believe it’s being discussed. The big question isn’t whether Obama would like to have Powell on board, but whether Powell would be willing to step back into public life. Whoever assumes the position of Secretary of Defense will have one hell of a mess to clean-up.