Thank you, Colin Powell

Since Colin Powell's February 5, 2003, UN speech and slideshow that "made the case" for attacking Iraq, I have been angry with him. When this eminent Republican announced yesterday that he was going to vote for Barack Obama, I believe that he substantially redeemed himself.

The retired Army General and former National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State spoke at length on MSNBC's Meet The Press about why he was choosing Obama and why an Obama victory "would not just electrify our country, it would electrify the world."

He also said something we should have heard from high places a long time ago:

"I'm also troubled by...what members of the [Republican] Party say... such things as 'Well, you know that Mr Obama is a Muslim'.

"Well the correct answer is, 'He's not a Muslim, he's a Christian, he's always been a Christian'.

"But the really right answer is, "What if he is?' Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is 'No', that's not America."

Thank you, Mr. Powell. Very much indeed.