Today is the 4th anniversary of former Secretary of State Colin Powell's speech to the United Nations in which he spoke convincingly about Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction. He knew the "intelligence" was unsubstantiated, but, loyal soldier to the end, traded his honor for a pack of lies. The world will little note, nor long remember, his sacrifice.

Looking back a few years later, he said it was the "lowest point" of his life. I think 'selling one's inheritance for a mess of pottage' is an apt reference (Esau exchanged his birthright for a bowl of lentil soup).

And of course when the awful truth was revealed, no one stepped up to stand beside him to say he had been required to hew to the party line. He was the scapegoat, staked out in the jungle upon which the predators could gorge themselves.