Powell tried to slow the rush to war in 2002. In the final analysis, he lacked the moral fiber to take the last steps available to him: resign and speak out against the war.
On the other hand, his situation was directly analogous to Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan's in 1915. Fearing that President Wilson was propelling America into the Great War, Bryan resigned.
That's why Bryan's name is treated with such reverence in the media today.
Oh, sorry, wrong universe ... Nobody remembers Bryan's sacrifice of the highest position he ever attained. They just snicker at him for the Monkey Trial. And we ended up in the war anyway...
