Powell Speaks

I knew it would only be a matter of time before his diplomatic silence was broken. Of course, this is nothing new:

"Colin Powell, the former US secretary of state, has for the first time publicly criticised troops levels in Iraq and spoken of the rifts between himself and Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, that undermined his role as architect of American foreign policy.

Mr Powell, in his first interview since resigning last November, also told The Telegraph of his 'dismay' at the deterioration in relations between America and Europe and of his 'disappointment' with France.

While holding back from blaming Mr Rumsfeld by name for the problems that eventually persuaded him to resign, Mr Powell showed that much of the innuendo and leaks surrounding his volatile relationship with the defence secretary had been well-founded.

Admitting that Mr Rumsfeld's controversial plan to fight the war with limited troop numbers had been an outstanding success, Mr Powell said the 'nation building' that followed had been deeply flawed.

There had been 'enough troops for war but not for peace, for establishing order. My own preference would have been for more forces after the conflict.'"