But in this, if he really endoricng Obama, what has Powell tied himself to? I don't think anyone will argue that Obama does not tend toward negotiation in just about all cases.

An interesting thing occurred in Georgia over the last 24 hours that to my mind shows the utility of negotiation in some if not most situations.

It soon became clear that the six-point deal not only failed to slow the Russian advance, but it also allowed Russia to claim that it could push deeper into Georgia as part of so-called additional security measures it was granted in the agreement. Mr. Sarkozy, according to a senior Georgian official who witnessed the negotiations, also failed to persuade the Russians to agree to any time limit on their military action.

I can't think Powell would be overly happy about that aspect of an Obama Foriegn policy.

While I'm sure there's some allure to a black candidate, I think Powell is turned off by Bush 43's foreign policy -- the early part of which was done directly against his advice but with his vocal support -- and sees McCain as an extension of it.

I wouldn’t be at all shocked if Powell were to quietly endorse Obama. It’s not in his character, however, to make a big show of turning on the Republicans. It’s almost inconceivable that he’d go to the Democratic Convention and do a Zell Miller.

In some reports I've seen, he's stated flatly that he won't be in Denver, much less make a speech. I agree with your take there. You over-step a little however when you speak of 'turning' on the Republicans... by my read, he was never really WITH them. Nor is he overtly with the Democrats.

Which would seem to me to make him a fine addition to McCain's staff, come to think of it. Which, in turn, raises the question of what drives him in this case. I hesitate to say this, but it is logical to ask if race isn't a factor.