Not like it was any big surprise, but Colin Powell resigned as Secretary of State after his 4 year run. In 2000 Powell was certainly one of the most respected public figures of our time but he leaves office in a cloud of uncertainty. As the nation's top diplomat he was often hamstrung and on the wrong side of the fight against Cheney and Rumsfeld.

Probably the moment that Powell will be most remembered for is his appearance at the U.N. during which he delivered "intelligence" about mobile biological labs, amongst other things, that turned out to be false. This was supposed to be the Bush Administration's Stevenson Moment, but it turned out to be the undoing of Colin Powell.

Who knows what really happened. Was he duped? Did he take one for the team? I don't suppose we'll ever know, even when Powell's book (and who doubts that one is forthcoming?) is released.

Personally, I think he was miscast as Secretary of State. He should have been Secretary of Defense. And he should have been listened to within the halls of the Bush echo chamber. Were Powell listened to I believe that we either would not have invaded Iraq or if we had, we would have established the occupation and been out of there a long time ago. Instead Donald "Stuff Happens" Rumsfeld ignored the "Powell Doctrine" of using overwhelming force in favor of his 21st Century fewest troops necessary method that has got us stuck in the quagmire that we're in at the moment and for the foreseeable future.

Even with all the problems, Powell served as a counterweight within the administration that allowed alternate policy decisions to filter down from Foggy Bottom to the media and through them to us. With Powell gone, and Rice taking his place at State, there will be no one to openly question the ill-advised foreign policy of the Bush Administration and to place something of a check of unbridled use of American power.

I'd love to just be able to say, it's sad to see him go. It's frightening.