So rare are people in the Bush Administration with integrity, that I delight when I see one acting in a very straightforward and honest manner.  And I must pass it on.

The man is Dick Armitage, the Deputy Secretary of State under Colin Powell.

Actually, he’s now the former Deputy Secretary of State.  Maybe that was why he was so honest when he sat down for this interview:

And Armitage’s disappointments? Not a lugubrious person, Armitage doesn’t nominate disappointments spontaneously. But he’ll answer a question honestly: "I’m disappointed that Iraq hasn’t turned out better. And that we weren’t able to move forward more meaningfully in the Middle East peace process."

Then, after a minute’s pause, he adds a third regret: "The biggest regret is that we didn’t stop 9/11. And then in the wake of 9/11, instead of redoubling what is our traditional export of hope and optimism we exported our fear and our anger. And presented a very intense and angry face to the world. I regret that a lot."

Me, too, Dick.  Me, too.