1) Bush/Cheney lied to everyone, including Powell apparently, and leaned on the CIA to produce intelligence that supported their lies and desires for war
2) We have NOT won in Iraq as we are still there, HOWEVER, if we invaded with the proper level of forces as dictated by the Powell Doctrine we would have won YEARS AGO
3) I don't really know what Powell said about the surge, I really doubt he said it couldn't be successful, but could be wrong. Refer to #2 as to why #3 is completely irrelevant, as the initial invasions should have INCLUDED the surge forces.
Why don't you just admit that you don't like Powell any more because he endorsed Obama? Do us all a favor and just be honest with yourself and us here rather than flip flopping around with positions to justify your recent realignment?
One word that hasn't been mentioned here is RUMSFELD, and HE is the guy that is at the root of all this. He was at odds with the reality based strategy that Powell tried to lean the administration toward. Rumsfeld was a disaster, Bush should have had Powell be Sec. of Defense rather than State, and should have listened to him. Then again, that's why Bush put him where he did in the first place....
Irie