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Colin Powell's Stance on Condoms Draws Fire
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Powell Talks to Teenagers Through MTV Teleconference (AP)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Comments by Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) encouraging the use of condoms to fight the spread of AIDS (news - web sites) have drawn fire from some conservative supporters of the Bush administration who suggested the remarks were at odds with White House policy.
During a teleconference on the music television network MTV on Thursday, Powell told a global audience he believed condoms were part of the solution to the HIV (news - web sites)/AIDS crisis and encouraged their use by young people who were sexually active.
In my own judgement, condoms are the way to prevent infection and, therefore, I not only support their use, I encourage their use,'' he said in response to a question from a young Italian.
Powell added, ``Forget about taboos, forget about conservative ideas with respect to what you should tell young people about it. It's the lives of young people that are put at risk by unsafe sex, and therefore protect yourself.''
The administration of Republican President Bush (news - web sites) has not taken a stance against condoms. But the White House strongly advocates abstinence as the best option for preventing sexually transmitted diseases and promotes ``abstinence-only'' programs to curb teen-age pregnancies.
Former Republican presidential candidate and Christian activist Gary Bauer (news - web sites) said on Thursday that condoms gave people a ''false sense of security'' and told Powell to ``follow the lead of the Bush administration which he serves.''
The conservative organizations Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council said Powell's comments directly contradicted the policy of his boss.
``Colin Powell is a career soldier. He knows what it means to follow the commander in chief. We have to assume he wouldn't contradict his boss without approval,'' said Dr. James Dobson, president of Focus on the Family. ``If that's not the case, the president needs to publicly repudiate these statements immediately.''
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) told The Washington Post that Powell's message was consistent with White House policy. He said Powell ``limited his answer to people who are sexually active.''
Photos
Reuters Photo
Audio/Video
Powell Talks to Teenagers Through MTV Teleconference (AP)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Comments by Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) encouraging the use of condoms to fight the spread of AIDS (news - web sites) have drawn fire from some conservative supporters of the Bush administration who suggested the remarks were at odds with White House policy.
During a teleconference on the music television network MTV on Thursday, Powell told a global audience he believed condoms were part of the solution to the HIV (news - web sites)/AIDS crisis and encouraged their use by young people who were sexually active.
In my own judgement, condoms are the way to prevent infection and, therefore, I not only support their use, I encourage their use,'' he said in response to a question from a young Italian.
Powell added, ``Forget about taboos, forget about conservative ideas with respect to what you should tell young people about it. It's the lives of young people that are put at risk by unsafe sex, and therefore protect yourself.''
The administration of Republican President Bush (news - web sites) has not taken a stance against condoms. But the White House strongly advocates abstinence as the best option for preventing sexually transmitted diseases and promotes ``abstinence-only'' programs to curb teen-age pregnancies.
Former Republican presidential candidate and Christian activist Gary Bauer (news - web sites) said on Thursday that condoms gave people a ''false sense of security'' and told Powell to ``follow the lead of the Bush administration which he serves.''
The conservative organizations Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council said Powell's comments directly contradicted the policy of his boss.
``Colin Powell is a career soldier. He knows what it means to follow the commander in chief. We have to assume he wouldn't contradict his boss without approval,'' said Dr. James Dobson, president of Focus on the Family. ``If that's not the case, the president needs to publicly repudiate these statements immediately.''
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) told The Washington Post that Powell's message was consistent with White House policy. He said Powell ``limited his answer to people who are sexually active.''