Powell, Colin

From New World Encyclopedia
 
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{{epname|Powell, Colin}}{{Ready}}{{Images OK}}{{Approved}}{{Copyedited}}
{{otheruses4|the American politician|the English football (soccer) player|Colin Powell (footballer)}}
 
 
{{Infobox US Cabinet official
 
{{Infobox US Cabinet official
|honorific-prefix = <small>General</small><br>
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|honorific-prefix = <small>General</small><br/>
|name         = Colin Luther Powell
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|name = Colin Luther Powell
|honorific-suffix = <br><small>[[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath|KCB]] [[Meritorious Service Decoration|MSC]]
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|honorific-suffix = <br/><small>[[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath|KCB]] [[Meritorious Service Decoration|MSC]]
|image       = Colin Powell official Secretary of State photo.jpg
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|image = Colin Powell official Secretary of State photo.jpg
|order1       = 65<sup>th</sup>
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|order1 = 65<sup>th</sup>
|title1       = [[United States Secretary of State]]
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|title1 = [[United States Secretary of State]]
|term_start1 = January 20, 2001
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|term_start1 = January 20, 2001
|term_end1   = January 26, 2005
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|term_end1 = January 26, 2005
|president1   = [[George Walker Bush|George W. Bush]]
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|president1 = [[George Walker Bush|George W. Bush]]
|deputy1     = [[Richard Armitage (politician)|Richard Armitage]]
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|deputy1 = [[Richard Armitage (politician)|Richard Armitage]]
 
|predecessor1 = [[Madeleine Albright]]
 
|predecessor1 = [[Madeleine Albright]]
|successor1   = [[Condoleezza Rice]]
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|successor1 = [[Condoleezza Rice]]
|order2       = 12<sup>th</sup>
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|order2 = 12<sup>th</sup>
|title2       = [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
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|title2 = [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
|term_start2 = October 1, 1989
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|term_start2 = October 1, 1989
|term_end2   = September 30, 1993
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|term_end2 = September 30, 1993
|president2   = [[George H. W. Bush]]<br>[[Bill Clinton]]
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|president2 = [[George H. W. Bush]]<br/>[[Bill Clinton]]
|deputy2     = [[Robert T. Herres]] (1989)<br>[[David E. Jeremiah]] (1989-1993)
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|deputy2 = [[Robert T. Herres]] (1989)<br/>[[David E. Jeremiah]] (1989-1993)
 
|predecessor2 = [[William J. Crowe]]
 
|predecessor2 = [[William J. Crowe]]
|successor2   = [[David E. Jeremiah]]
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|successor2 = [[David E. Jeremiah]]
|order3       = 16<sup>th</sup>
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|order3 = 16<sup>th</sup>
|title3       = [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]]
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|title3 = [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]]
|term_start3 = November 23, 1987
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|term_start3 = November 23, 1987
|term_end3   = January 20, 1989
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|term_end3 = January 20, 1989
|president3   = [[Ronald Reagan]]
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|president3 = [[Ronald Reagan]]
|deputy3     = [[John Negroponte]]
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|deputy3 = [[John Negroponte]]
 
|predecessor3 = [[Frank Carlucci]]
 
|predecessor3 = [[Frank Carlucci]]
|successor3   = [[Brent Scowcroft]]
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|successor3 = [[Brent Scowcroft]]
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1937|04|5}}
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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1937|04|5}}
 
|birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.A.
 
|birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.A.
|death_date =
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|death_date = {{death date and age|2021|10|18|1937|4|5}}
|death_place =
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|death_place = [[Bethesda, Maryland]]
|party       = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
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|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|religion   = [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopalian]]
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|religion = [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopalian]]
|spouse     = [[Alma Vivian Johnson Powell]]
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|spouse = [[Alma Vivian Johnson Powell]]
|alma_mater = [[City College of New York]]<br>[[George Washington University]]
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|alma_mater = [[City College of New York]]<br/>[[George Washington University]]
|profession = [[Soldier]]<br/>[[Statesman]]
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|profession = [[Soldier]]<br/>[[Statesman]]
 
| image2 = [[Image:GEN Colin Powell.JPG|250p]]
 
| image2 = [[Image:GEN Colin Powell.JPG|250p]]
| allegiance         = United States of America
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| allegiance = United States of America
| branch             = [[United States Army]]
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| branch = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears       = 1958-1993
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| serviceyears = 1958-1993
| rank               = [[Image:US-O10 insignia.svg|35px]] [[General (United States)|General]]
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| rank = [[Image:US-O10 insignia.svg|35px]] [[General (United States)|General]]
| unit               = [[U.S. 3rd Armored Division|3rd Armored Division]]<br/>[[23rd Infantry Division (United States)|23rd Infantry Division]]
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| unit = [[U.S. 3rd Armored Division|3rd Armored Division]]<br/>[[23rd Infantry Division (United States)|23rd Infantry Division]]
| commands           = [[United States Army Forces Command|Forces Command]]
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| commands = [[United States Army Forces Command|Forces Command]]
| battles             = [[Vietnam War]]<br/>[[United States invasion of Panama|Invasion of Panama]]<br/>[[Gulf War]]
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| battles = [[Vietnam War]]<br/>[[United States invasion of Panama|Invasion of Panama]]<br/>[[Gulf War]]
| awards             = [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal|Defense DSM]] (4) <br/>[[Army Distinguished Service Medal|Army DSM]] (2) <br/>[[Defense Superior Service Medal]]<br/>  
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| awards = [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal|Defense DSM]] (4) <br/>[[Army Distinguished Service Medal|Army DSM]] (2) <br/>[[Defense Superior Service Medal]]<br/>  
 
[[Legion of Merit]] (2)<br/>[[Soldier's Medal]]<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]]<br/>
 
[[Legion of Merit]] (2)<br/>[[Soldier's Medal]]<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]]<br/>
 
[[Purple Heart]]
 
[[Purple Heart]]
}}[[Image:GEN Colin Powell.JPG|thumb|250px|Official Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff portrait]]
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}}
'''Colin Luther Powell''', [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath|KCB]], [[Meritorious Service Decoration|MSC]],  
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'''Colin Luther Powell''', [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath|KCB]], [[Meritorious Service Decoration|MSC]], (April 5, 1937 - October 18, 2021) was an [[United States|American]] statesman and a former four-star general in the United States Army. He was the sixty-fifth United States Secretary of State (2001-2005), serving under President [[George W. Bush]]. He was the first [[African American]] appointed to that position. During his [[military]] career, Powell also served as National Security Adviser (1987–1989), as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Forces Command (1989), and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the [[Gulf War]]. He was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(born April 5, 1937) is an American statesman and a former four-star [[General (United States)|general]] in the [[United States Army]]. He was the 65th [[United States Secretary of State]] (2001-2005), serving under [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]]. He was the first [[African American]] appointed to that position.<ref>[http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/637/The_first_African_American_secretary_of_state_Colin_Powell The first African American secretary of state, Colin Powell], The African American Registry</ref><ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/AfricanAm2003/powell.html Biographies - Colin Powell: United States Secretary of State], African American History Month, US Department of Defense</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9061121/Colin-Powell Colin Powell], Britannica Online Encyclopedia</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2246150.stm Profile: Colin Powell], BBC News</ref> During his military career, Powell also served as [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] (1987–1989), as Commander-in-Chief, [[United States Army Forces Command|U.S. Army Forces Command]] (1989) and as [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the [[Gulf War]]. He was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]].  
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[[Image:GEN Colin Powell.JPG|thumb|300px|Official Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff portrait]]
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[[History]] will probably be kind in remembering Powell, who, despite his mistake in telling the world that the invasion of [[Iraq]] was justified and legal on the grounds that [[Saddam Hussein]] had weapons of mass destruction, retained a reputation for integrity. Having backed the war in Iraq against his own better judgment, he since described the data as "dead wrong." As a soldier, he knew that war must always be the measure of last resort. As a [[diplomacy|diplomat]] he rarely advocated military intervention as the first solution to an [[international crisis]], instead prescribing [[negotiation]] and [[containment]]. Not all leaders have the grace and humility to admit that they have made a mistake. Powell's openness and honesty placed him in a rare category of public servants who hold themselves accountable for their stewardship of the public trust.
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==Life==
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Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937 in [[Harlem]], a neighborhood in the New York City [[borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Manhattan]] in 1937 to [[Jamaica]]n immigrant parents [[Luther Theophilus Powell]] and [[Maud Arial McKoy]] and was raised in the [[South Bronx]]. He also has [[Scottish American|Scottish]] and [[Irish American|Irish]] ancestry. Powell attended [[Morris High School (Bronx, New York)|Morris High School]], a former public school in The Bronx, [[New York City]], from which he graduated in 1954. While in school, he worked a local shop where he picked up [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]] from the shopkeepers and some of the customers.
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He earned a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[geology]] from [[City College of New York]], attaining only a C average, according to his 2006 graduation address at [[Marymount University]]. He earned an [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] from [[The George Washington University]], after his second tour in [[Vietnam]] in 1971.  
  
==Personal background==
 
Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937<ref name ="wargs">{{cite web
 
|url= http://www.wargs.com/political/powell.html
 
|author=Reitwiesner, William Addams
 
|accessdate = 2008-10-20
 
|title = Ancestry of Colin Powell
 
|publisher = wargs.com
 
}}</ref> in [[Harlem]], a neighborhood in the New York City [[borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Manhattan]] in 1937 to [[Jamaica]]n immigrant parents [[Luther Theophilus Powell]] and [[Maud Arial McKoy]] and was raised in the [[South Bronx]]. He also has [[Scottish American|Scottish]]
 
and [[Irish American|Irish]] ancestry.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/may/12/usa.world</ref><ref>http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0420.htm#ColinPowellsScottishAncestry</ref> Powell attended [[Morris High School (Bronx, New York)|Morris High School]], a former public school in [[The Bronx]], New York City, from which he graduated in 1954. While in school, he worked a local shop where he picked up [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]] from the shopkeepers and some of the customers.<ref name=NYDN_Daly_20000802>{{cite news
 
| first = Michael
 
| last = Daly
 
| title = Powell's Old Nabe Boss a Big Backer
 
| url = http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2000/08/02/2000-08-02_powell_s_old_nabe_boss_a_big.html
 
| work = [[New York Daily News]]
 
| date = August 2, 2000
 
| accessmonthday = October 19 |accessyear=2008
 
| quote = Powell explained that he had joined ROTC. He became an officer after graduation, leaving Sickser's with a smattering of Yiddish...
 
}}</ref> He earned a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[geology]] from [[City College of New York]], attaining only a C average, according to his 2006 graduation address at [[Marymount University]]. He earned an [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] from [[The George Washington University]], after his second tour in [[Vietnam]] in 1971.
 
 
In 1962, he married [[Alma Powell|Alma Johnson Powell]], who is now the co-chair of [[America's Promise]]. He is the father of [[Michael Powell (politician)|Michael Powell]], former chair of the [[Federal Communications Commission]].
 
In 1962, he married [[Alma Powell|Alma Johnson Powell]], who is now the co-chair of [[America's Promise]]. He is the father of [[Michael Powell (politician)|Michael Powell]], former chair of the [[Federal Communications Commission]].
  
Powell pronounces his name "KOH-lin."<ref name=WashingtonPost_OnPolitcs2000>{{cite news|accessdate=
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On October 18, 2021, Powell, who was being treated for [[multiple myeloma]], died at [[Walter Reed National Military Medical Center]] of complications from [[COVID-19]] at the age of 84.<ref>Amanda Macias, [https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/18/colin-powell-former-secretary-of-state-who-made-case-for-iraq-invasion-dies-of-covid-complications-at-84.html Colin Powell, former secretary of State who made case for Iraq invasion, dies of Covid complications at 84] ''CNBC'', October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.</ref> He had been vaccinated, but the treatment for multiple myeloma had compromised his immune system.<ref>Eric Schmitt, [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/us/politics/colin-powell-dead.html Colin Powell, Who Shaped U.S. National Security, Dies at 84] ''The New York Times'', October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.</ref>
|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/elections/gop2000guide/powellpost.htm
 
|title=Major Player: Gen. Colin L. Powell (Ret.)
 
|work=[[Washington Post]] |date=2000}}</ref> Public officials and radio and television reporters have used Powell's preferred pronunciation.
 
  
 
==Military career==
 
==Military career==
Powell joined the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] at [[City College of New York|City College]] and later described it as one of the happiest experiences of his life; discovering something he loved and could do well, he felt he had "found himself." [[Cadet]] Powell joined the [[Pershing Rifles]], the [[ROTC]] fraternal organization and [[Military Drill Team|drill team]] begun by General [[John Pershing]]. Even after he had become a General, Powell kept on his desk a pen set he had won for a drill team competition. Graduating from City College in June 1958, he was received a commission as an [[United States Army|Army]] [[Second Lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]].<ref> {{cite web |title = Secretary of State Colin L. Powell (biography)|publisher = The White House|date = 2003-04-29|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/powell-bio.html|accessdate = 2007-02-03}}</ref> He was a professional soldier for 35 years, holding a variety of command and staff positions and rising to the rank of [[General (United States)|general]].<ref name=BiographyChannel>{{cite web
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{{readout||left|250px|Colin Powell began his military career in the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] at [[City College of New York]]}}
|url=http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9445708&page=print |accessdate=2007-05-31
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Powell joined the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] at [[City College of New York|City College]] and later described it as one of the happiest experiences of his life; discovering something he loved and could do well, he felt he had "found himself." [[Cadet]] Powell joined the [[Pershing Rifles]], the [[ROTC]] fraternal organization and [[Military Drill Team|drill team]] begun by General [[John Pershing]]. Even after he had become a General, Powell kept on his desk a pen set he had won for a drill-team competition. Graduating from City College in June 1958, he received a commission as an [[United States Army|Army]] [[Second Lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]]. He was a professional soldier for 35 years, holding a variety of command and staff positions and rising to the rank of [[General (United States)|general]].
|title= Colin (Luther) Powell Biography (1937 - )
 
|work=The Biography Channel|publisher=A&E Television Networks }}</ref>
 
  
While serving with the [[U.S. 3rd Armored Division|Third Armored Division]] in Germany as a [[Lieutenant|lieutenant]], he met [[Elvis Presley]], who was serving in that unit. Powell was a [[Captain_(United_States)#US_Army.2C_US_Air_Force.2C_and_US_Marine_Corps|captain]] during the [[Vietnam War]], serving as a [[South Vietnamese Army]] adviser from 1962 to 1963. While on patrol in a [[Viet Cong]]-held area, he was wounded by stepping on a [[punji stake]].<ref name=Kearny_p179>{{cite book
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While serving with the [[U.S. 3rd Armored Division|Third Armored Division]] in Germany as a [[Lieutenant|lieutenant]], he met [[Elvis Presley]], who was serving in that unit. Powell was a [[Captain_(United_States)#US_Army.2C_US_Air_Force.2C_and_US_Marine_Corps|captain]] during the [[Vietnam War]], serving as a [[South Vietnamese Army]] adviser from 1962 to 1963. While on patrol in a [[Viet Cong]]-held area, he was wounded by stepping on a [[punji stake]].
|authorlink=Cresson Kearny
 
|author=Kearny, Cresson H.
 
|title=Jungle Snafus...And Remedies
 
|publisher=Oregon Institute of Science & Medicine |location=Cave Junction, OR
 
|year=1996 |isbn=9781884067105 |oclc=41447083
 
|page= 179}}</ref> He returned to [[Vietnam]] as a [[Major (United States)|major]] in 1968, serving in the [[Americal Division]] (23rd Infantry Division), then as assistant [[Chief of staff (military)|chief of staff]] of operations for the Americal Division. He was charged with investigating a detailed letter by Tom Glen (a soldier from the [[11th Light Infantry Brigade]]), which backed up rumored allegations of the [[My Lai Massacre]]. Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between American soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent." Later, Powell's assessment would be described as [[Whitewash (censorship)|whitewash]]ing the news of the massacre, and questions would continue to remain undisclosed to the public. In May 2004 Powell said to [[Larry King]], "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored." <ref>
 
{{cite web
 
  |title = Interview on CNN's Larry King Live
 
  |publisher = U.S. Department of State |location=New York, New York
 
  |date=May 4, 2004
 
  |url = http://www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/32160.htm
 
  |accessdate = 2007-02-03
 
}}</ref>
 
  
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He returned to [[Vietnam]] as a [[Major (United States)|major]] in 1968, serving in the [[Americal Division]] (23rd Infantry Division), then as assistant [[Chief of staff (military)|chief of staff]] of operations for the Americal Division. He was charged with investigating a detailed letter by Tom Glen (a soldier from the [[11th Light Infantry Brigade]]), which backed up rumored allegations of the [[My Lai Massacre]]. Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between American soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent." Later, Powell's assessment would be described as [[Whitewash (censorship)|whitewash]]ing the news of the massacre, and questions would continue to remain undisclosed to the public. In May 2004, Powell said to [[Larry King]], "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored."
 
Powell served a [[White House fellowship]], a highly selective and prestigious position, under President [[Richard Nixon]] from 1972 to 1973.  
 
Powell served a [[White House fellowship]], a highly selective and prestigious position, under President [[Richard Nixon]] from 1972 to 1973.  
  
In his autobiography, ''My American Journey'', Powell named several officers he served under that inspired and mentored him. As a [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] serving in [[South Korea]], Powell was very close to General [[Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson]]. Powell said he regarded Emerson as one of the most caring officers he ever met. Emerson reputedly had an eccentric personality. For example, he insisted his troops train only at night and made them repeatedly watch the television film ''[[Brian's Song]]'' to promote racial harmony. Powell always professed, however, that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare.
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In his autobiography, ''My American Journey,'' Powell named several officers he served under that inspired and mentored him. As a [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] serving in [[South Korea]], Powell was very close to General [[Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson]]. Powell said he regarded Emerson as one of the most caring officers he ever met. Emerson reputedly had an eccentric personality. For example, he insisted his troops train only at night and made them repeatedly watch the television film ''[[Brian's Song]]'' to promote racial harmony. Powell always professed, however, that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare.
  
 
In the early 1980s, Powell served at [[Fort Carson, Colorado]]. It was there that he had a major clash with General [[John Hudachek]], his commander. Hudachek said in an efficiency evaluation that Powell was a poor leader who should not be promoted. Powell's rising military career was unhindered by Hudachek's evaluation report. After he left Fort Carson, Powell became senior military assistant to [[Secretary of Defense]] [[Caspar Weinberger]], whom he assisted during the [[Invasion of Grenada|1983 invasion of Grenada]] and the [[Bombing of Libya|1986 airstrike on Libya]].  
 
In the early 1980s, Powell served at [[Fort Carson, Colorado]]. It was there that he had a major clash with General [[John Hudachek]], his commander. Hudachek said in an efficiency evaluation that Powell was a poor leader who should not be promoted. Powell's rising military career was unhindered by Hudachek's evaluation report. After he left Fort Carson, Powell became senior military assistant to [[Secretary of Defense]] [[Caspar Weinberger]], whom he assisted during the [[Invasion of Grenada|1983 invasion of Grenada]] and the [[Bombing of Libya|1986 airstrike on Libya]].  
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*[[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]]: March 26, 1986  
 
*[[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]]: March 26, 1986  
 
*[[General (United States)|General]]: April 4, 1989
 
*[[General (United States)|General]]: April 4, 1989
 
===Awards and decorations===
 
====Badges====
 
*[[Combat Infantryman Badge]]
 
*[[Expert Infantryman Badge]]
 
*[[Ranger Tab]]
 
*[[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Parachutist Badge]]
 
*[[Pathfinder Badge (United States)|Pathfinder Badge]]
 
*[[Air Assault Badge]]
 
*[[Presidential Service Badge]]
 
*[[Secretary of Defense Identification Badge]]
 
*[[Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge]]
 
*[[Army Staff Identification Badge]]
 
 
====Military medals and ribbons====
 
{|
 
|-
 
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}
 
|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (with 3 [[Oak Leaf Clusters]])
 
|-
 
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
 
|[[Distinguished Service Medal (Army)|Distinguished Service Medal, Army]] (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
 
|-
 
|[[Image:US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]
 
|[[Defense Superior Service Medal]]
 
|-
 
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}}
 
|[[Legion of Merit]] (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
 
|-
 
|[[Image:Soldier's Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]
 
|[[Soldier's Medal]]
 
|-
 
|[[Image:Bronze Star ribbon.svg|60px]]
 
|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]]
 
|-
 
|[[Image:Purple Heart BAR.svg|60px]]
 
|[[Purple Heart]]
 
|-
 
|[[Image:Air Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]
 
|[[Air Medal]]
 
|-
 
|[[Image:Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg|60px]]
 
|[[Joint Service Commendation Medal]]
 
|-
 
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
 
|[[Army Commendation Medal]] (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
 
|-
 
|[[Image:PresFree.gif|60px]]
 
|''[[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]'' (order of precedence, if worn)
 
|-
 
|[[File:Prescitmed.gif|60px]]
 
|''[[Presidential Citizens Medal]]'' (order of precedence, if worn)
 
|-
 
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
 
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
 
|-
 
|{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
 
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] (with 1 Silver Service Star)
 
|-
 
|[[Image:Army Service Ribbon.svg|60px]]
 
|[[Army Service Ribbon]]
 
|-
 
|[[Image:Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|60px]]
 
|[[Army Overseas Service Ribbon]] (with [[award numeral|numeral]] 3)
 
|}
 
 
====Foreign decorations====
 
*[[Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]]
 
*[[Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
 
*Honorary [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] (KCB) (United Kingdom)
 
*[[Légion d'honneur]] (France)
 
*[[Meritorious Service Decoration (Canada)|Meritorious Service Cross]] (M.S.C.) (Canada)
 
*Order of Stara Planina in the First Order (Bulgaria)<ref name=Bulgara2004>{{cite web|accessdate=
 
|url=http://www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/39513.htm
 
|title=Remarks With Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov At Award Ceremony for the Stara Planina First Order Medal
 
|location=Presidential Palace, Coat of Arms Hall, Sofia, Bulgaria
 
|date=December 7, 2004
 
|publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref><ref name=Bulgaria2004photo>{{cite web|accessdate=
 
|url=http://www.president.bg/en/showphoto.php?id=398
 
|title=Parvanov-Powell |date= 2004-12-07
 
|quote=President Georgi Parvanov awarded US Secretary of State Colin Powell with the highest Bulgarian order "Stara Planina" for his extraordinary services to the advancement of Bulgarian-American relations and in connection with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the United States.
 
|publisher=President of the Republic of Bulgaria}}</ref>
 
  
 
==National Security Advisor==
 
==National Security Advisor==
[[Image:ReaganPowell.jpg|thumb|left|President [[Ronald Reagan]] and National Security Advisor Powell in 1988]]
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[[Image:ReaganPowell.jpg|thumb|right|400px|President [[Ronald Reagan]] and National Security Advisor Powell in 1988]]
 
At the age of 49, Powell became [[Ronald Reagan]]'s [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]], serving from 1987 to 1989 while retaining his Army commission as a [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]]. After his tenure with the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], Powell was promoted to a full [[General (United States)|general]] under President [[George H.W. Bush]] and briefly served as Commander-in-Chief (CINC) of the Army's [[United States Army Forces Command|Forces Command]] (FORSCOM), overseeing all Army, Army Reserve, and [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] units in the Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and [[Puerto Rico]].
 
At the age of 49, Powell became [[Ronald Reagan]]'s [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]], serving from 1987 to 1989 while retaining his Army commission as a [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]]. After his tenure with the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], Powell was promoted to a full [[General (United States)|general]] under President [[George H.W. Bush]] and briefly served as Commander-in-Chief (CINC) of the Army's [[United States Army Forces Command|Forces Command]] (FORSCOM), overseeing all Army, Army Reserve, and [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] units in the Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and [[Puerto Rico]].
  
 
==Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff==
 
==Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff==
[[Image:DA-SD-05-00599.jpg|thumb|200px|right|General Colin Powell, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, waves from his motorcade during the Persian Gulf War, Welcome Home Parade, held in New York City, New York.]]
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[[Image:DA-SD-05-00599.jpg|thumb|300px|right|General Colin Powell, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, waves from his motorcade during the Persian Gulf War, Welcome Home Parade, held in New York City, New York.]]
  
His last military assignment, from October 1, 1989 to September 30, 1993, was as the 12th Chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff#Chairman|Joint Chiefs of Staff]], the highest military position in the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]. At age 52, he became the youngest officer, and first [[Afro-Caribbean]] American, to serve in this position. In 1989, he joined [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and [[Alexander Haig]] as the third general since World War II to reach four-star rank without ever being a divisional commander. Powell was also the first JCS Chair who was not a collegiate graduate of a [[United States Service academies|United States Service academy]], but rather, through [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps|ROTC]].<ref name=noacad>
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His last military assignment, from October 1, 1989 to September 30, 1993, was as the twelfth Chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff#Chairman|Joint Chiefs of Staff]], the highest military position in the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]. At age 52, he became the youngest officer, and first [[Afro-Caribbean]] American, to serve in this position. In 1989, he joined [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and [[Alexander Haig]] as the third general since World War II to reach four-star rank without ever being a divisional commander. Powell was one of very few JCS Chairs who was not a collegiate graduate of a [[United States Service academies|United States Service academy]].
{{cite web
 
  | title = The 14 Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
 
  | agency = American Forces Press Service
 
  | publisher=Joint History Office, U.S. Department of Defense
 
  | date = August 10, 1999
 
  | url = http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43048
 
  | accessmonthday = April 24 |accessyear=2008}}
 
</ref>  During this time, he oversaw 28 crises, including the [[United States invasion of Panama|invasion of Panama]] in 1989 to remove General [[Manuel Noriega]] from power and [[Operation Desert Storm]] in the 1991 [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]]. During these events, Powell earned his nickname, "the reluctant warrior." He rarely advocated military intervention as the first solution to an [[international crisis]], and instead usually prescribed [[diplomacy]] and [[containment]].
 
  
[[Image:Powell, Schwarzkopf, and Wolfowitz at Cheney press conference, February 1991.jpg|thumb|left|Powell (left) sits alongside [[Paul Wolfowitz]] (right) and [[Norman Schwarzkopf]] (middle) listening as Secretary of Defense [[Dick Cheney]] hosts a press conference during the Gulf War.]]
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During this time, he oversaw 28 crises, including the [[United States invasion of Panama|invasion of Panama]] in 1989 to remove General [[Manuel Noriega]] from power and [[Operation Desert Storm]] in the 1991 [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]]. During these events, Powell earned his nickname, "the reluctant warrior." He rarely advocated military intervention as the first solution to an [[international crisis]], and instead usually prescribed [[diplomacy]] and [[containment]].
  
In his autobiography, Powell said he is haunted by the nightmare of the Vietnam War and felt that the leadership was very ineffective. Powell served a tour in Vietnam as a military adviser, and was mildly injured when he stepped on a bamboo "[[punji stick]]." The large infection made it difficult for him to walk, and caused his foot to swell for a short time, shortening his first tour. It was also during his Vietnam service, his second tour, that Powell was decorated for bravery. He single-handedly rescued several men from a burning [[helicopter]], one of them being Maj. Gen. [[Charles Gettys]], the commander of the [[Americal Division]].
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[[Image:Powell, Schwarzkopf, and Wolfowitz at Cheney press conference, February 1991.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Powell (left) sits alongside [[Paul Wolfowitz]] (right) and [[Norman Schwarzkopf]] (middle) listening as Secretary of Defense [[Dick Cheney]] hosts a press conference during the Gulf War.]]
  
Additionally, Powell has been critical of other instances of U.S. foreign policy in the past, such as its support for the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état]].  From two separate interviews in 2003, Powell stated in one about the 1973 event "I can't justify or explain the actions and decisions that were made at that time. It was a different time. There was a great deal of concern about communism in this part of the world. Communism was a threat to the democracies in this part of the world. It was a threat to the United States."<ref>[http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2003/02/dos022003.html Remarks at the 2003 Groundhog Job Shadow Day Program, Secretary Colin L. Powell, Remarks and question and answer session with students, Washington, DC, January 31, 2003, excerpt on 1973 Chile coup, Federation of American Scientists</ref>  In another interview, however, he also simply stated "With respect to your earlier comment about Chile in the 1970s and what happened with Mr. Allende, it is not a part of American history that we're proud of."<ref>[http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2003/02/dos022003.html Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Interview On Black Entertainment Television's Youth Town Hall, February 20, 2003, excerpt on 1973 U.S. covert action in Chile, Federation of American Scientists</ref>
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In his autobiography, Powell said he is haunted by the nightmare of the [[Vietnam War]] and felt that the leadership was very ineffective. Powell served a tour in Vietnam as a military adviser, and was mildly injured when he stepped on a bamboo "[[punji stick]]." The large infection made it difficult for him to walk, and caused his foot to swell for a short time, shortening his first tour. It was also during his Vietnam service, his second tour, that Powell was decorated for bravery. He single-handedly rescued several men from a burning [[helicopter]], one of them being Maj. Gen. [[Charles Gettys]], the commander of the [[Americal Division]].
  
Powell opposed the majority of George H.W. Bush Administration officials who advocated the deployment of troops to the Middle East to force [[Iraq]]i leader [[Saddam Hussein]] to withdraw his armies from neighboring [[Kuwait]], believing the [[dictator]] could instead be contained through [[International sanctions|sanctions]] and a buildup of forces around [[Kuwait]].{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
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Additionally, Powell has been critical of other instances of U.S. foreign policy in the past, such as its support for the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état]]. From two separate interviews in 2003, Powell stated in one about the 1973 event "I can't justify or explain the actions and decisions that were made at that time. It was a different time. There was a great deal of concern about Communism in this part of the world. [[Communism]] was a threat to the democracies in this part of the world. It was a threat to the United States."<ref name=remarks>[http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2003/02/dos022003.html Remarks at the 2003 Groundhog Job Shadow Day Program, Secretary Colin L. Powell, Remarks and question and answer session with students, Washington, DC, January 31, 2003, excerpt on 1973 Chile coup, Federation of American Scientists.] ''fas.org''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref> In another interview, however, he also simply stated "With respect to your earlier comment about Chile in the 1970s and what happened with Mr. [[Allende]], it is not a part of American history that we're proud of."<ref name=remarks/>
 +
 
 +
Powell opposed the majority of George H.W. Bush Administration officials who advocated the deployment of troops to the Middle East to force [[Iraq]]i leader [[Saddam Hussein]] to withdraw his armies from neighboring [[Kuwait]], believing the [[dictator]] could instead be contained through [[International sanctions|sanctions]] and a buildup of forces around [[Kuwait]].
  
 
As a [[military strategist]], Powell has advocated an approach to military conflicts that maximizes the potential for success and minimizes casualties. A component of this approach is the use of overwhelming force, which he applied to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. His approach has been dubbed the "[[Powell Doctrine]]."
 
As a [[military strategist]], Powell has advocated an approach to military conflicts that maximizes the potential for success and minimizes casualties. A component of this approach is the use of overwhelming force, which he applied to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. His approach has been dubbed the "[[Powell Doctrine]]."
  
Colin Powell's experience in military matters made him a very popular figure with both American political parties. Many [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] admired his moderate stance on military matters, while many [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] saw him as a great asset associated with the successes of past Republican administrations. Put forth as a potential Democratic Vice Presidential nominee in the [[United States presidential election, 1992|1992 U.S. Presidential Election]]<ref name=PowellasDemVP>
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Colin Powell's experience in military matters made him a very popular figure with both American political parties. Many [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] admired his moderate stance on military matters, while many [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] saw him as a great asset associated with the successes of past Republican administrations. Put forth as a potential Democratic Vice Presidential nominee in the [[United States presidential election, 1992|1992 U.S. Presidential Election]], Powell defeated Bill Clinton 50-38 in a hypothetical match-up proposed to voters in the exit polls conducted on Election Day. Despite not standing in the race, Powell won the [[New Hampshire primary#Vice-Presidential results|New Hampshire Vice-Presidential primary]] on write-in votes.
{{cite web
 
  | last = Schram
 
  | first = Martin
 
  | title = Don't Count Out Colin Powell 
 
  | work = The Seattle Times
 
  | date = January 21, 1995
 
  | url = http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920121&slug=1471329
 
  | accessyear = 2008 |accessmonthday= October 24}}
 
</ref> or even potentially replacing Vice President [[Dan Quayle]] as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee<ref name=PowellasRepVP>
 
{{cite web
 
  | last = Van Dyk
 
  | first = Ted
 
  | title = Will Powell Run With Bush in '92?
 
  | work = The New York Times
 
  | date = September 6, 1990
 
  | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D91539F935A3575AC0A966958260
 
  | accessyear = 2008 |accessmonthday= October 24}}
 
</ref>, Powell eventually declared himself a Republican and began to campaign for Republican candidates in 1995. He was touted as a possible opponent of [[Bill Clinton]] in the [[1996 U.S. Presidential Election]], possibly capitalizing on a split conservative vote in Iowa<ref name=PowellinIowa>
 
{{cite web
 
  | last = Apple
 
  | first = R.W.
 
  | title = Life in Iowa May Not Have Changed, But the Political Turf Is Another Story
 
  | work = The New York Times
 
  | date = October 28, 1995
 
  | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3DC1F39F93BA15753C1A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
 
  | accessyear = 2008 |accessmonthday= October 20}}
 
</ref> and even leading New Hampshire polls for the GOP nomination<ref name=primarypoll>
 
{{cite web
 
  | last = Berke
 
  | first = Richard L.
 
  | date = October 19, 1995
 
  | title = New Hampshire Poll Finds Powell With an Edge
 
  | work =  The New York Times
 
  | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DB1530F93AA25753C1A963958260
 
  | accessyear = 2008 |accessmonthday=October 19}}
 
</ref>, but Powell declined, citing a lack of passion for politics.<ref name=declinepresidency>
 
{{cite web
 
  | last = Clines
 
  | first = Francis X.
 
  | title = The Powell Decision: The Announcement
 
  | work = The New York Times
 
  | date = November 9, 1995
 
  | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E5DB1439F93AA35752C1A963958260
 
  | accessyear = 2008 |accessmonthday=October 19}}
 
</ref> Powell defeated Clinton 50-38 in a hypothetical match-up proposed to voters in the exit polls conducted on Election Day.<ref name=PowellvsClinton>
 
{{cite web
 
  | last = Plissner
 
  | first = Martin
 
  | title = Ready for Obama Already
 
  | work = The New York Times
 
  | date = February 7, 2007
 
  | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/opinion/07plissner.html
 
  | accessyear = 2008 |accessmonthday= October 19}}
 
</ref> Despite not standing in the race, Powell won the [[New Hampshire primary#Vice-Presidential results|New Hampshire Vice-Presidential primary]] on write-in votes.{{Fact|date=November 2008}}
 
  
In 1997 Powell founded [[America's Promise]] with the objective of helping children from all [[socioeconomic]] sectors. Powell often wears the [[logotype|logo]] of the organization in the form of a red [[wagon]] pin on his [[lapel]].
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In 1997, Powell founded [[America's Promise]] with the objective of helping children from all [[socioeconomic]] sectors. Powell often wears the [[logotype|logo]] of the organization in the form of a red [[wagon]] pin on his [[lapel]].
  
In the [[U.S. presidential election, 2000|2000 U.S. Presidential Election]] Powell campaigned for Senator [[John McCain]] and later [[Texas]] Governor [[George W. Bush]] after the latter secured the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[presidential nomination|nomination]], serving as a key [[foreign policy]] advisor to the Bush campaign. {{Fact|date=October 2008}} At the same time, it was often hinted that Powell might have been appointed to a position within a Democratic administration, should [[Al Gore]] have won.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Bush eventually won, and Colin Powell was appointed Secretary of State.
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In the [[U.S. presidential election, 2000|2000 U.S. Presidential Election]] Powell campaigned for Senator [[John McCain]] and later [[Texas]] Governor [[George W. Bush]], after the latter secured the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[presidential nomination|nomination]], serving as a key [[foreign policy]] advisor to the Bush campaign. Bush eventually won, and Colin Powell was appointed Secretary of State.
  
 
==Secretary of State==
 
==Secretary of State==
[[Image:RicePowellBushRumsfeld.jpg|thumb|300px|Powell, National Security Advisor [[Condoleezza Rice]] and Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] listen to President [[George W. Bush]] speak.]]
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As [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] in the Bush administration, Powell was perceived as moderate. Powell's great asset was his tremendous popularity among the American people. Powell was unanimously voted in by the United States Senate. Over the course of his tenure, he traveled less than any other U.S. Secretary of State in 30 years.
As [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] in the Bush administration, Powell was perceived as moderate. Powell's great asset was his tremendous popularity among the American people.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} Powell was unanimously voted in by the United States Senate. Over the course of his tenure he traveled less than any other U.S. Secretary of State in 30 years.
 
  
On September 11, 2001, Powell was in [[Lima]], [[Peru]], meeting with President [[Alejandro Toledo]] and [[US Ambassador]] to Peru John Hamilton, and attending the special session of the [[General Assembly of the Organization of American States|OAS General Assembly]] that subsequently adopted the [[Inter-American Democratic Charter]].
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On September 11, 2001, Powell was in [[Lima]], [[Peru]], meeting with President [[Alejandro Toledo]] and [[U.S. Ambassador]] to Peru John Hamilton, and attending the special session of the [[General Assembly of the Organization of American States|OAS General Assembly]] that subsequently adopted the [[Inter-American Democratic Charter]].
  
 
After [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11]], Powell's job became of critical importance in managing America's relationships with foreign countries in order to secure a stable coalition in the [[War on Terrorism]].
 
After [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11]], Powell's job became of critical importance in managing America's relationships with foreign countries in order to secure a stable coalition in the [[War on Terrorism]].
  
In April 2002, he visited the site of the alleged [[Jenin Massacre]] in the [[West Bank]] and later said while testifying to Congress, "I've seen no evidence that would suggest a massacre took place." Details of the events were unclear at the time. [[Shimon Peres]] was quoted by ''[[Ha'aretz]]'' speaking of a [[Wiktionary:massacre|massacre]] and IDF estimates of the dead were in the 100s. Later investigations by [[human rights]] organizations and the [[United Nations]] placed the number of deaths among [[Palestinians]] at 52.
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In April 2002, he visited the site of the alleged [[Jenin Massacre]] in the [[West Bank]] and later said while testifying to Congress, "I've seen no evidence that would suggest a massacre took place." Details of the events were unclear at the time. [[Shimon Peres]] was quoted by ''[[Ha'aretz]]'' speaking of a [[Wiktionary:massacre|massacre]] and IDF estimates of the dead were in the hundreds. Later investigations by [[human rights]] organizations and the [[United Nations]] placed the number of deaths among [[Palestinians]] at 52.
  
Powell came under fire for his role in [[Rationale for the Iraq War|building the case]] against the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]]. In a press statement on February 24, 2001 he had said that [[sanctions]] against Iraq had prevented the development of any weapons of mass destruction by [[Saddam Hussein]]. As was the case in the days leading up to the [[Persian Gulf War]], Powell was initially opposed to a forcible overthrow of Hussein, preferring to continue a policy of containment. However, Powell eventually agreed to go along with the Bush administration's determination to remove Hussein. He had often clashed with others in the administration, who were reportedly planning an Iraq invasion even before the September 11 attacks— an insight supported by testimony by former terrorism czar [[Richard A. Clarke|Richard Clarke]] in front of the [[9/11 Commission]]. The main concession Powell wanted before he would offer his full support for the Iraq War was the involvement of the international community in the invasion, as opposed to the unilateral approach some advocated. He was also successful in persuading Bush to take the case of Iraq to the United Nations, and in moderating other initiatives. Powell was placed at the forefront of this diplomatic campaign.
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Powell came under fire for his role in [[Rationale for the Iraq War|building the case]] against the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]]. In a press statement on February 24, 2001 he had said that [[sanctions]] against Iraq had prevented the development of any weapons of mass destruction by [[Saddam Hussein]]. As was the case in the days leading up to the [[Persian Gulf War]], Powell was initially opposed to a forcible overthrow of Hussein, preferring to continue a policy of containment. However, Powell eventually agreed to go along with the Bush administration's determination to remove Hussein. He had often clashed with others in the administration, who were reportedly planning an Iraq invasion even before the September 11 attacks—an insight supported by testimony by former terrorism czar [[Richard A. Clarke|Richard Clarke]] in front of the [[9/11 Commission]]. The main concession Powell wanted before he would offer his full support for the Iraq War was the involvement of the international community in the invasion, as opposed to the unilateral approach some advocated. He was also successful in persuading Bush to take the case of Iraq to the United Nations, and in moderating other initiatives. Powell was placed at the forefront of this diplomatic campaign.
  
[[Image:IraqMobileProductionFacilities.jpg|thumb|305px|Computer-generated image of an alleged [[Mobile weapons laboratory|mobile production facility for biological weapons]], presented by Colin Powell at the UN [[The UN Security Council and the Iraq war|Security Council]]. On 27th May 2003, US and UK experts examined the trailers and declared they had nothing to do with biological weapons.<ref name=WashingtonPost_Warrick_20060412 >{{cite news|accessdate=
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Powell's chief role was to [[The UN Security Council and the Iraq war|garner international support]] for a multi-national [[coalition]] to mount the invasion. To this end, Powell addressed a plenary session of the [[United Nations Security Council]] on February 5, 2003 to argue in favor of military action. Citing numerous anonymous Iraqi defectors, Powell asserted that "there can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more." Powell also stated that there was "no doubt in my mind" that Saddam was working to obtain key components to produce nuclear weapons.
|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/11/AR2006041101888.html?sub=AR
 
|title=Lacking Biolabs, Trailers Carried Case for War; Administration Pushed Notion of Banned Iraqi Weapons Despite Evidence to Contrary |author=Warrick, Joby |date=April 12, 2006| page=A01
 
|work=Washington Post}}</ref>]]
 
  
Powell's chief role was to [[The UN Security Council and the Iraq war|garner international support]] for a multi-national [[coalition]] to mount the invasion. To this end, Powell addressed a plenary session of the [[United Nations Security Council]] on February 5, 2003 to argue in favor of military action. Citing numerous anonymous Iraqi defectors, Powell asserted that "there can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more."<ref name=UNSC_Powell_20030205>
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Most observers praised Powell's oratorical skills. However, Britain's Channel 4 News reported soon afterwards that a [[Iraq Dossier|UK intelligence dossier]] that Powell had referred to as a "fine paper" during his presentation had been based on old material and plagiarized an essay by an [[Ibrahim al-Marashi|American graduate student]].<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/07/sprj.irq.uk.dossier/index.html UK accused of lifting dossier text] ''CNN'', February 7, 2003. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
{{cite web
 
  |title = Remarks to the United Nations Security Council
 
  |publisher = U.S. Department of State
 
  |first=Secretary Colin L. |last=Powell
 
  |location=New York City
 
  |date=February 5, 2003
 
  |url = http://www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/2003/17300.htm
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref> Powell also stated that there was "no doubt in my mind" that Saddam was working to obtain key components to produce nuclear weapons.<ref name=UNSC_Powell_20030205/>
 
 
 
Most observers praised Powell's oratorical skills. However, Britain's Channel 4 News reported soon afterwards that a [[Iraq Dossier|UK intelligence dossier]] that Powell had referred to as a "fine paper" during his presentation had been based on old material and plagiarized an essay by an [[Ibrahim al-Marashi|American graduate student]].<ref name=truthout_Pitt_20030207>{{cite web|accessdate=
 
|url=http://truthout.org/docs_02/020803A.htm
 
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20030208115923/http://truthout.org/docs_02/020803A.htm
 
|archivedate=2003-02-08|date=February 7, 2003
 
|title=Blair-Powell UN Report Written by Student |author=Pitt, William Rivers
 
|work=t r u t h o u t}}</ref><ref name=CNN_20030207>
 
{{cite news|accessdate=
 
|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/07/sprj.irq.uk.dossier/index.html
 
|publisher=CNN.com
 
|title= UK accused of lifting dossier text|date=February 7, 2003  
 
}}</ref>
 
 
A 2004 report by the [[Iraq Survey Group]] concluded that the evidence that Powell offered to support the allegation that the Iraqi government possessed [[weapons of mass destruction]] (WMDs) was inaccurate.  
 
A 2004 report by the [[Iraq Survey Group]] concluded that the evidence that Powell offered to support the allegation that the Iraqi government possessed [[weapons of mass destruction]] (WMDs) was inaccurate.  
  
A Senate report on intelligence failures would later detail the intense debate that went on behind the scenes on what to include in Powell's speech. State Department analysts had found dozens of factual problems in drafts of the speech. Some of the claims were taken out, but others were left in, such as claims based on the [[yellowcake forgery]].<ref name=LAT_Miller_20040715>
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A Senate report on intelligence failures would later detail the intense debate that went on behind the scenes on what to include in Powell's speech. State Department analysts had found dozens of factual problems in drafts of the speech. Some of the claims were taken out, but others were left in, such as claims based on the [[yellowcake forgery]].<ref>Greg Miller, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-15-na-powell15-story.html Flaws Cited in Powell's U.N. Speech on Iraq] ''Los Angeles Times'', July 15, 2004. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref> The administration came under fire for having acted on faulty intelligence. Reports have indicated that Powell himself was skeptical of the evidence presented to him. Powell later recounted how Vice President Cheney had joked with him before he gave the speech, telling him, "You've got high poll ratings; you can afford to lose a few points." Larry Wilkerson later characterized Cheney's view of Powell's mission as to "go up there and sell it, and we'll have moved forward a peg or two. Fall on your damn sword and kill yourself, and I'll be happy, too."<ref name=DeYoung2006>Karen DeYoung, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700106.html Falling on His Sword: Colin Powell's most significant moment turned out to be his lowest] ''The Washington Post'',  October 1, 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
{{cite news
 
  |last = Miller
 
  |first = Greg
 
  |title = Flaws Cited in Powell's U.N. Speech on Iraq
 
  |work= Los Angeles Times
 
  |publisher = reprinted by CommonDreams.org
 
  |date = July 15, 2004  
 
  |url = http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0715-05.htm
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref> The administration came under fire for having acted on faulty intelligence. Reports have indicated that Powell himself was skeptical of the evidence presented to him.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}<!-- anyone have a link? —> Powell later recounted how Vice President Cheney had joked with him before he gave the speech, telling him, "You've got high poll ratings; you can afford to lose a few points." Larry Wilkerson later characterized Cheney's view of Powell's mission as to "go up there and sell it, and we'll have moved forward a peg or two. Fall on your damn sword and kill yourself, and I'll be happy, too."<ref name=DeYoung2006>
 
{{cite news
 
  |last = DeYoung
 
  |first = Karen
 
  |title = Falling on His Sword: Colin Powell's most significant moment turned out to be his lowest
 
  |work = Washington Post
 
  |date = October 1, 2006
 
  |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700106.html
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref>
 
  
In September 2005, Powell was asked about the speech during an interview with [[Barbara Walters]] and responded that it was a "blot" on his record. He went on to say, "It will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It's painful now."<ref name=ABC_20050908>
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In September 2005, Powell was asked about the speech during an interview with [[Barbara Walters]] and responded that it was a "blot" on his record. He went on to say, "It will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It's painful now."<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Politics/story?id=1105979&page=1 Colin Powell on Iraq, Race, and Hurricane Relief] ''ABC News'', January 6, 2006. Retrieved December 20, 2021.</ref>
{{cite news
 
  |title = Colin Powell on Iraq, Race, and Hurricane Relief
 
  |work = 20/20
 
  |publisher=ABC News
 
  |date = September 8, 2005
 
  |url = http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Politics/story?id=1105979&page=1
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref>
 
 
 
Mr. Powell's longtime [[aide-de-camp]] Colonel [[Lawrence B. Wilkerson]] said that he participated in a [[hoax]] on the American people in preparing Mr. Powell's erroneous testimony before the United Nations Security Council.<ref name=PBS_Brancaccio_20060203>
 
{{cite news
 
  |last = Brancaccio
 
  |first = David
 
  |title = Iraq Pre-War Intelligence
 
  |work=[[NOW (PBS)|NOW]]
 
  |publisher = PBS
 
  |date = February 3, 2006
 
  |url = http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/wilkerson.html
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref>
 
  
 
Because Powell was seen as more moderate than most figures in the administration, he was spared many of the attacks that have been leveled at more controversial advocates of the invasion, such as [[Donald Rumsfeld]] and [[Paul Wolfowitz]]. At times, infighting among the Powell-led State Department, the Rumsfeld-led Defense Department, and Vice President [[Dick Cheney]]'s office had the effect of polarizing the administration on crucial issues, such as what actions to take regarding Iran and North Korea.
 
Because Powell was seen as more moderate than most figures in the administration, he was spared many of the attacks that have been leveled at more controversial advocates of the invasion, such as [[Donald Rumsfeld]] and [[Paul Wolfowitz]]. At times, infighting among the Powell-led State Department, the Rumsfeld-led Defense Department, and Vice President [[Dick Cheney]]'s office had the effect of polarizing the administration on crucial issues, such as what actions to take regarding Iran and North Korea.
  
[[Image:Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.jpg|thumb|left|Secretary Powell with NATO Secretary General [[Jaap de Hoop Scheffer]].]]
+
[[Image:Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Secretary Powell with NATO Secretary General [[Jaap de Hoop Scheffer]].]]
  
After Saddam Hussein had been deposed, Powell's new role was to once again establish a working international coalition, this time to assist in the rebuilding of post-war Iraq. On September 13, 2004, Powell testified before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee,<ref name=WashingtonPost_Pincus_20040914>
+
After Saddam Hussein had been deposed, Powell's new role was to once again establish a working international coalition, this time to assist in the rebuilding of post-war Iraq. On September 13, 2004, Powell testified before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, acknowledging that the sources who provided much of the information in his February 2003 UN presentation were "wrong" and that it was "unlikely" that any stockpiles of WMDs would be found. Claiming that he was unaware that some intelligence officials questioned the information prior to his presentation, Powell pushed for reform in the intelligence community, including the creation of a national intelligence director who would assure that "what one person knew, everyone else knew."
{{cite news
+
[[Image:Powell-anthrax-vial.jpg|thumb|400px|Colin Powell holding a model vial of [[anthrax]] while giving a presentation to the [[United Nations Security Council]]]]
  |last = Pincus
 
  |first = Walter
 
  |title = Support for Intelligence Plan
 
  |work = Washington Post
 
  |date = February 14, 2004
 
  |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18890-2004Sep13.html
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref> acknowledging that the sources who provided much of the information in his February 2003 UN presentation were "wrong" and that it was "unlikely" that any stockpiles of WMDs would be found. Claiming that he was unaware that some intelligence officials questioned the information prior to his presentation, Powell pushed for reform in the intelligence community, including the creation of a national intelligence director who would assure that "what one person knew, everyone else knew."
 
[[Image:Powell-anthrax-vial.jpg|thumb|300px|Colin Powell holding a model vial of [[anthrax]] while giving a presentation to the [[United Nations Security Council]]]]
 
  
Colin Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State on Monday, November 15, 2004. According to the ''[[Washington Post]]'', he had been asked to resign by the president's chief of staff, [[Andrew Card]].<ref name=DeYoung2006 /> Powell announced that he would stay on until the end of Bush's first term or until his replacement's confirmation by Congress. The following day, George W. Bush nominated National Security Advisor [[Condoleezza Rice]] as Powell's successor. News of Powell's leaving the Administration spurred mixed reactions from politicians around the world— some upset at the loss of a statesman seen as a moderating factor within the Bush administration, but others hoping for Powell's successor to wield more influence within the cabinet, and thus be a more credible negotiator.
+
Colin Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State on Monday, November 15, 2004. According to the ''[[Washington Post]],'' he had been asked to resign by the president's chief of staff, [[Andrew Card]].<ref name=DeYoung2006 /> Powell announced that he would stay on until the end of Bush's first term or until his replacement's confirmation by Congress. The following day, George W. Bush nominated National Security Advisor [[Condoleezza Rice]] as Powell's successor. News of Powell's leaving the Administration spurred mixed reactions from politicians around the world—some upset at the loss of a statesman seen as a moderating factor within the Bush administration, but others hoping for Powell's successor to wield more influence within the cabinet, and thus be a more credible negotiator.
  
In mid-November, Colin Powell stated that he had seen new evidence suggesting that [[Iran]] was adapting missiles for a nuclear delivery system.<ref name=NYT_Sciolino_20041118>
+
In mid-November, Colin Powell stated that he had seen new evidence suggesting that [[Iran]] was adapting missiles for a nuclear-delivery system.<ref>Elaine Sciolino, [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/18/world/middleeast/exiles-add-to-claims-on-iran-nuclear-arms.html Exiles Add to Claims on Iran Nuclear Arms] ''The New York Times'', November 18, 2004. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref> The accusation came at the same time as the settlement of an agreement between the [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]], the [[European Union]], and [[Iran]].
{{cite news
 
  |last = Sciolino
 
  |first = Elaine
 
  |title = Exiles Add to Claims on Iran Nuclear Arms
 
  |work = New York Times
 
  |date = November 18, 2004
 
  |url = http://www.nci.org/04nci/11/pbs/ExilesAdd.htm
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 8}}</ref> The accusation came at the same time as the settlement of an agreement between the [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]], the [[European Union]] and [[Iran]].
 
 
 
On December 31, 2004, Powell rang in the [[New Year]] by throwing the ball in [[Times Square]] with New York City Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], ushering in the year 2005. He appeared on the networks that were broadcasting [[New Year's Eve]] specials and talked about this honor, as well as being a native of New York City.<ref name=CNN_Anderson_20041231>
 
{{cite news
 
  |last = Anderson
 
  |first = Cooper
 
  |title = Transcripts: ''New Year's Eve Special''
 
  |publisher = CNN
 
  |date = December 31, 2004
 
  |url = http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0412/31/se.01.html
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Life after diplomatic service==
 
==Life after diplomatic service==
After retiring from the role of Secretary of State, Powell returned to private life. In April 2005, he was privately telephoned by Republican senators [[Lincoln Chafee]] and [[Chuck Hagel]],<ref name=WashingtonPost_VandeHei_20050422>{{cite news|accessdate=
+
After retiring from the role of Secretary of State, Powell returned to private life. In April 2005, he was privately telephoned by Republican senators [[Lincoln Chafee]] and [[Chuck Hagel]], at which time Powell expressed reservations and mixed reviews about the nomination of [[John R. Bolton]] as ambassador to the [[United Nations]], but refrained from advising the senators to oppose Bolton (Powell had clashed with Bolton during Bush's first term). The decision was viewed as potentially dealing significant damage to Bolton's chances of confirmation. Bolton was put into the position via a [[recess appointment]] because of the strong opposition in the Senate.
|author=VandeHei, Jim and Robin Wright
 
|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7420-2005Apr21.html
 
|title=Powell Playing Quiet Role in Bolton Battle
 
|work=Washington Post
 
|date=April 22, 2005}}</ref> at which time Powell expressed reservations and mixed reviews about the nomination of [[John R. Bolton]] as ambassador to the [[United Nations]], but refrained from advising the senators to oppose Bolton (Powell had clashed with Bolton during Bush's first term).<ref name=Guardian_Borger_20050423>
 
{{cite news
 
  |last = Borger
 
  |first = Julian
 
  |title = Powell's remarks harm Bolton's chances of UN job
 
  |work =[[The Guardian]]
 
  |date = April 23, 2005
 
  |url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1468438,00.html
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref>  The decision was viewed as potentially dealing significant damage to Bolton's chances of confirmation. Bolton was put into the position via a [[recess appointment]] because of the strong opposition in the Senate.
 
 
 
[[Image:Ki-moon Powell.jpg|thumb|Powell with [[United Nations]] Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]].]]
 
On April 28, 2005, an opinion piece in the ''[[The Guardian]]'' by [[Sidney Blumenthal]] (a former top aide to President [[Bill Clinton]]) claimed that Powell was in fact "conducting a campaign" against Bolton because of the acrimonious battles they had had while working together, which among other things had resulted in Powell cutting Bolton out of talks with Iran and [[Libya]] after complaints about Bolton's involvement from the British. Blumenthal added that "The foreign relations committee has discovered that Bolton made a highly unusual request and gained access to 10 intercepts by the [[National Security Agency]]. Staff members on the committee believe that Bolton was probably spying on Powell, his senior advisors and other officials reporting to him on diplomatic initiatives that Bolton opposed."<ref name=Guardian_Blumenthal_20050428>
 
{{cite news
 
  |last = Blumenthal
 
  |first = Sidney
 
  |title = The good soldier's revenge
 
  |work = The Guardian
 
  |date = April 28, 2005
 
  |url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1471879,00.html
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref>
 
 
 
In July 2005, Powell joined [[Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers]], a well-known [[Silicon Valley]] [[venture capital]] firm, with the title of "strategic limited partner."
 
  
In September 2005, Powell criticized the response to [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref name=BBC_20050909>
+
[[Image:Ki-moon Powell.jpg|thumb|350px|Powell with [[United Nations]] Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]].]]
{{cite news
+
On April 28, 2005, an opinion piece in the ''[[The Guardian]]'' by [[Sidney Blumenthal]] (a former top aide to President [[Bill Clinton]]) claimed that Powell was in fact "conducting a campaign" against Bolton because of the acrimonious battles they had had while working together, which among other things had resulted in Powell cutting Bolton out of talks with Iran and [[Libya]] after complaints about Bolton's involvement from the British. Blumenthal added that "The foreign-relations committee has discovered that Bolton made a highly unusual request and gained access to ten intercepts by the [[National Security Agency]]. Staff members on the committee believe that Bolton was probably spying on Powell, his senior advisors and other officials reporting to him on diplomatic initiatives that Bolton opposed."<ref>Sidney Blumenthal, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1471879,00.html The good soldier's revenge] ''The Guardian'', April 28, 2005. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
  |title = Powell criticises storm response
 
  |publisher = BBC News
 
  |date = 9 September 2005
 
  |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4229238.stm
 
  |accessdate =
 
}}
 
</ref> Powell said that thousands of people were not properly protected, but because they were poor rather than because they were black.
 
  
On January 5, 2006, he participated in a meeting at the [[White House]] of former Secretaries of Defense and State to discuss United States foreign policy with Bush administration officials. In September 2006, Powell sided with more moderate Senate Republicans in supporting more rights for detainees and opposing President Bush's terrorism bill. He backed Senators [[John Warner]], [[John McCain]] and [[Lindsey Graham]] in their statement that U.S. military and intelligence personnel in future wars will suffer for abuses committed in 2006 by the U.S. in the name of fighting [[terrorism]]. Powell stated that "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of [America's] fight against terrorism."<ref name=BBC_20060915>
+
In September 2005, Powell criticized the response to [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4229238.stm Powell criticises storm response] ''BBC News'', September 9, 2005. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref> Powell said that thousands of people were not properly protected, but because they were poor rather than because they were black.
{{cite news
 
  |title = Senators defy Bush on tribunals
 
  |publisher = BBC News
 
  |date = 15 September 2006
 
  |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5347564.stm
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref>
 
  
Also in 2006, Powell began appearing as a speaker at a series of motivational events called ''Get Motivated'', along with former New York Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]]. In his speeches for the tour, he openly criticized the Bush Administration on a number of issues. Powell has been the recipient of mild criticism for his role with ''Get Motivated'' which has been called a "get-rich-quick-without-much-effort, feel-good schemology."<ref name=AmericanSatellite_Wilken_20080907>{{cite web
+
On January 5, 2006, he participated in a meeting at the [[White House]] of former Secretaries of Defense and State to discuss United States foreign policy with Bush administration officials. In September 2006, Powell sided with more moderate Senate Republicans in supporting more rights for detainees and opposing President Bush's terrorism bill. He backed Senators [[John Warner]], [[John McCain]], and [[Lindsey Graham]] in their statement that U.S. military and intelligence personnel in future wars will suffer for abuses committed in 2006 by the U.S. in the name of fighting [[terrorism]]. Powell stated that "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of [America's] fight against terrorism."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5347564.stm Senators defy Bush on tribunals] ''BBC News'', September 15, 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
|url=http://www.americansatellite.org/2008/08/down-rabbit-hole.html
 
|accessdate=2008-10-10
 
|title=Down the Rabbit Hole |author=Wilken, Dennis
 
|date=September 7, 2008
 
|work=American Satellite Magazine}}</ref>
 
  
Most recently he joined the Board of Directors of [[Steve Case]]'s new company [[Revolution Health Group|Revolution Health]]. Powell also serves on the [[Council on Foreign Relations]] [[Board of directors]].<ref name=CFR>{{cite web |url= http://www.cfr.org/about/people/board_of_directors.html |title=Board of Directors |publisher=Council on Foreign Relations |accessdate=2007-12-06}}</ref>
+
Also in 2006, Powell began appearing as a speaker at a series of motivational events called ''Get Motivated,'' along with former New York Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]]. In his speeches for the tour, he openly criticized the Bush Administration on a number of issues.  
  
Powell, in honor of [[Martin Luther King Day]], dropped the ceremonial first puck at a [[New York Islanders]] [[hockey]] game at [[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum|Nassau Coliseum]] on January 21, 2008. On November 11, 2008, Powell again dropped the puck in recognition of [[Military Appreciation Day]] and [[Veterans Day]].[http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2008/11/philadelphia-3-islanders-1islanders-power-play-kills-islanders/][http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=391846]
+
He joined the Board of Directors of [[Steve Case]]'s company [[Revolution Health Group|Revolution Health]], and also served on the [[Council on Foreign Relations]] [[Board of directors]].
  
Recently, Powell has encouraged young people to continue to use new technologies to their advantage in the future. In a speech at the [[Center for Strategic and International Studies]] to a room of young professionals, he said, "That’s your generation…a generation that is hard-wired digital, a generation that understands the power of the information revolution and how it is transforming the world. A generation that you represent, and you’re coming together to share; to debate; to decide; to connect with each other."<ref name=CSIS_20080708>{{cite web|accessyear=2008|accessmonthday=October 20
+
Powell encouraged young people to continue to use new technologies to their advantage in the future. In a speech at the [[Center for Strategic and International Studies]] to a room of young professionals, he encouraged the next generation to involve themselves politically on the upcoming Next America Project, which uses online debate to provide policy recommendations for the upcoming administration.
|url=http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_events/task,view/id,1721/
 
|work=CSIS Launch of Next America
 
|publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies
 
|title=Keynote Address &mdash; A New Vision for America's Future: Young Leaders Shaping an International Agenda
 
|author=Powell, General Colin L, USA (Ret.)
 
|date=July 8, 2008
 
}}</ref> At this event, he encouraged the next generation to involve themselves politically on the upcoming Next America Project, which uses online debate to provide policy recommendations for the upcoming administration.
 
  
In 2008, Powell served as a spokesperson for [[National Mentoring Month]], a campaign held each January to recruit volunteer mentors for at-risk youth.<ref name=mentor2008>{{cite web|accessdate=
+
In 2008, Powell served as a spokesperson for [[National Mentoring Month]], a campaign held each January to recruit volunteer mentors for at-risk youth.
|url=http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy2008/Celebrities/colin_powell.html
 
|title=Who Mentored Colin Powell?
 
|publisher=President and Fellows of Harvard College
 
|year=2008}}</ref>
 
  
Soon after [[Obama]]'s 2008 election, Powell began being mentioned as a possible [[cabinet]] member.[http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/11/11/al-gore-colin-powell-caroline-kennedy-in-obamas-administration.html].
+
Soon after President [[Barack Obama]]'s 2008 election, Powell began being mentioned as a possible [[cabinet]] member. He was not nominated.
  
 
==Political views==
 
==Political views==
A moderate [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], Powell is well known for his willingness to support [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] or [[centrist]] causes.<ref name="issues">[http://www.ontheissues.org/Colin_Powell.htm Colin Powell's biography from] [http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm 'On The Issues'].</ref> He is [[pro-choice]] regarding [[abortion]], and in favor of "reasonable" [[gun control]].<ref name="issues"/> He stated in his autobiography that he supports [[affirmative action]] that levels the playing field, without giving a leg up to undeserving persons because of racial issues. Powell was also instrumental in the implementation of the military's [[Don't ask, don't tell]] policy.<ref name="issues"/>
+
A moderate [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], Powell is well known for his willingness to support [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] or [[centrist]] causes. He is [[pro-choice]] regarding [[abortion]], and in favor of "reasonable" [[gun control]]. Powell stated in his autobiography that he supports [[affirmative action]] that levels the playing field, without giving a leg up to undeserving persons because of racial issues. He was also instrumental in the implementation of the military's [[Don't ask, don't tell]] policy.
  
The Vietnam War had a profound effect on Powell's views of the proper use of military force. These views are described in detail in the autobiography ''My American Journey''. The [[Powell Doctrine]], as the views became known, was a central component of US policy in the [[Gulf War]] (the first U.S. war in Iraq) and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|U.S. invasion of Afghanistan]] (the overthrow of the [[Taliban]] regime in [[Afghanistan]] following the events of [[9/11]]). The hallmark of both operations was strong international cooperation, and the use of overwhelming military force.
+
The Vietnam War had a profound effect on Powell's views of the proper use of military force. These views are described in detail in the autobiography ''My American Journey.'' The [[Powell Doctrine]], as the views became known, was a central component of U.S. policy in the [[Gulf War]] (the first U.S. war in Iraq) and the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|U.S. invasion of Afghanistan]] (the overthrow of the [[Taliban]] regime in [[Afghanistan]] following the events of [[9/11]]). The hallmark of both operations was strong international cooperation, and the use of overwhelming military force.
  
Powell was the subject of controversy in 2004 when, in a conversation with British [[Foreign Secretary]], [[Jack Straw (politician)|Jack Straw]], he reportedly referred to [[neoconservatives]] within the Bush administration as "fucking crazies."<ref name=Guardian_Blumenthal_20041118>
+
In a letter to Sen. [[John McCain]], General Powell expressed opposition to President Bush's push for [[military tribunals]] of those formerly and currently classified as [[enemy combatants]]. Specifically, he expressed concern of Bush's plan to "amend the interpretation of Article III of the [[Geneva Conventions]]." He also pointed out that perception of the [[War on Terror]] may be losing moral support saying, "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism."  
{{cite news
 
  |last = Blumenthal
 
  |first = Sidney
 
  |title = Colin and the crazies
 
  |work = The Guardian
 
  |date = November 18, 2004
 
  |url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1353796,00.html
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref> In addition to being reported in the press (though generally, the expletive was censored in the U.S. press), the quote was used by [[James Naughtie]] in his book, ''The Accidental American: Tony Blair and the Presidency'', and by [[Chris Patten]] in his book, ''Cousins and Strangers: America, Britain, and Europe in a New Century''.
 
 
 
In a letter to Sen. [[John S. McCain III|John McCain]], General Powell expressed opposition to President Bush's push for [[military tribunals]] of those formerly and currently classified as [[enemy combatants]]. Specifically, he expressed concern of Bush's plan to "amend the interpretation of Article III of the [[Geneva Conventions]]." He also pointed out that perception of the [[War on Terror]] may be losing moral support saying, "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism."<ref name=CNN_Barrett_20060915>
 
{{cite news
 
  |author = Barrett, Ted and Andrea Koppel
 
  |title =  GOP split as Senate panel bucks Bush on terror tribunals
 
  |publisher = CNN
 
  |date = 2006-09-15
 
  |url = http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/14/congress.tribunals/index.html
 
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=February 3}}</ref>
 
  
 
===View of the U.S. war in Iraq===
 
===View of the U.S. war in Iraq===
In an interview in July 2007, Powell revealed that he had spent two and a half hours trying to persuade George W. Bush not to invade Iraq but that he did not prevail. At the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado<ref>See [http://www.aifestival.org/ Official website: Aspen Ideas Festival ]</ref> Powell stated, "I tried to avoid this war. I took him [Bush] through the consequences of going into an Arab country and becoming the occupiers."<ref>{{cite web
+
In an interview in July 2007, Powell revealed that he had spent two and a half hours trying to persuade George W. Bush not to invade Iraq but that he did not prevail. At the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado Powell stated, "I tried to avoid this war. I took him [Bush] through the consequences of going into an Arab country and becoming the occupiers."<ref name=Baxter>Sarah Baxter, [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/powell-tried-to-talk-bush-out-of-war-5mqztzpzskl Powell tried to talk Bush out of war] ''The Sunday Times'', July 8, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
|url=http://www.aifestival.org/library/transcript/Powell-Lehrer_transcript.pdf
 
|title=Conversation with Colin Powell
 
|publisher=Aspen Ideas Festival
 
|format=PDF
 
|month=July
 
|year=2007
 
|accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref>
 
  
Powell went on to say that he believed Iraq was in a state of [[civil war]]. "The civil war will ultimately be resolved by a test of arms. It's not going to be pretty to watch, but I don't know any way to avoid it. It is happening now." He further noted, "It is not a civil war that can be put down or solved by the armed forces of the United States," and suggested that all the U.S. military could do was put "a heavier lid on this pot of boiling sectarian stew."<ref name=SundayTimes_Baxer_20070908>{{cite news
+
Powell went on to say that he believed Iraq was in a state of [[civil war]]. "The civil war will ultimately be resolved by a test of arms. It's not going to be pretty to watch, but I don't know any way to avoid it. It is happening now." He further noted, "It is not a civil war that can be put down or solved by the armed forces of the United States," and suggested that all the U.S. military could do was put "a heavier lid on this pot of boiling sectarian stew."<ref name=Baxter/>
|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2042072.ece
 
|title=Powell tried to talk Bush out of war.
 
|work=The Sunday Times |location=UK
 
|date=July 8, 2007 |first=Sarah |last=Baxter
 
|accessdate=2008-02-22<!-- archived at http://www.webcitation.org/5QGmAUY9q—>}}</ref>
 
  
 
===Role in presidential election of 2008===  
 
===Role in presidential election of 2008===  
Powell donated the maximum amount to [[John McCain]]'s campaign in the summer of 2007 <ref name=CNN_Henry_20070809>
+
Powell donated the maximum amount to [[John McCain]]'s campaign in the summer of 2007 and in early 2008, his name was listed as a possible [[running mate]] for Republican nominee McCain's bid during the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 U.S. presidential election]]. However, on October 19, 2008, Powell announced his endorsement of [[Barack Obama]] during a ''[[Meet the Press]]'' interview, citing "his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign." He additionally referred to Obama as a "transformational figure."<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/19/colin.powell/ Colin Powell endorses Obama]. ''CNN''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
{{cite news
+
 
  |last = Henry
+
Powell further questioned Senator [[John McCain]]'s judgment in appointing [[Sarah Palin]] as the vice-presidential candidate, stating that despite the fact that she is admired, "now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be [[president of the United States]], which is the job of the [[vice president]]." He pointed out how he thought Barack Obama's choice for vice-president, [[Joe Biden]] was ready to be president. He also added that he was "troubled" by the "false intimations that Obama was Muslim." Powell stated that "[Obama] is a [[Christian]]—he's always been a Christian…," and continued, "But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America." Powell then referenced [[Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan]], a [[List of North American Muslims|Muslim American]] soldier in the [[U.S. Army]] who served and died in the [[Iraq War]]. He later stated, "Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower [] I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me."  
  |first = Ed |title = Powell donates to McCain
+
<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/19/powell.transcript/ Powell: Support for Obama doesn't mean Iraq war wrong] ''CNN''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
  |publisher = CNN
+
 
  |date = August 9, 2007
+
==Legacy==
  |url = http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/09/powell-donates-to-mccain/
+
Besides serving in a number of key military, governmental, and private positions throughout his long and storied [[career]], Colin Powell was also the first and so far only African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the first African American U.S. Secretary of State. But beyond these powerful positions, Powell also had an equally strong [[reputation]] as a man of [[integrity]], a man of his [[word]]. When Colin Powell said something, you knew he meant it.  
  |accessyear = 2007 |accessmonthday=August 9}}</ref> and in early 2008, his name was listed as a possible [[running mate]] for Republican nominee McCain's bid during the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 U.S. presidential election]].<ref name=Reuters_Holland_20080305>{{cite web |accessyear=2008 |accessmonthday=April 14
 
|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/05/mccain_now_has_to_pick_a_vice_presidential_nominee/
 
  |last = Holland
 
  |first = Steve
 
  |title = McCain now has to pick a vice presidential nominee
 
  |agency = Reuters |work=Boston Globe
 
  |date = March 5, 2008}}</ref> However, on October 19, 2008, Powell announced his endorsement of [[Barack Obama]] during a ''[[Meet the Press]]'' interview, citing "his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities," in addition to his "style and substance." He additionally referred to Obama as a "[[transformational figure]]."<ref name=obamaendorse/><ref name=transcript/> Powell further questioned Senator [[John McCain]]'s judgment in appointing [[Sarah Palin]] as the vice presidential candidate, stating that despite the fact that she is admired, "now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be [[president of the United States]], which is the job of the [[vice president]]." He pointed out how he thought Barack Obama's choice for vice-president, [[Joe Biden]] was ready to be president. He also added that he was "troubled" by the "false intimations that Obama was [[Muslim]]." Powell stated that "[Obama] is a [[Christian]] — he's always been a Christian...," and continued, "But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America." Powell then referenced [[Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan]], a [[List of North American Muslims|Muslim American]] soldier in the [[U.S. Army]] who served and died in the [[Iraq War]]. He later stated, "Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower [...] I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me."  
 
<ref name=obamaendorse>{{cite news
 
  |title = Powell endorses Obama for president; Republican ex-Secretary of State calls Democrat ‘transformational figure’
 
  |work=Meet the Press
 
  |publisher = MSNBC and NBC News
 
  |date = October 19, 2008
 
  |url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27265369/
 
  |accessyear = 2008 |accessmonthday=October 19
 
}}
 
</ref><ref name=transcript>
 
{{cite news
 
  |title =Meet the Press' transcript for Oct. 19, 2008
 
  |publisher = MSNBC
 
  |date = 2008-10-19
 
  |url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27266223/
 
  |accessdate = 2008-10-19
 
}}
 
</ref> Powell concluded his [[Sunday morning talk show]] comments, "It isn't easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that [...] I think we need a [[transformational figure]]. I think we need a president who is a [[generational change]] and that's why I'm supporting [[Barack Obama]], not out of any lack of respect or admiration for [[John McCain|Sen. John McCain]]."<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-10-19-1007802625_x.htm Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama for president]</ref> Later in a December 12, 2008 [[CNN]] interview with [[Fareed Zakaria]], Powell reiterated his belief that during the last few months of the campaign, [[Sarah Palin]]  pushed the Republican party more to the right and had a polarizing impact on it. <ref> [http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/12/12/gps.powell.limbaugh.cnn Powell on Rush Limbaugh]</ref>
 
  
==Civilian awards==<!-- This section is linked from [[List of coats of arms]] —>
+
===Recognition===
 
Powell's civilian awards include two [[Presidential Medal of Freedom|Presidential Medals of Freedom]], the President's [[Presidential Citizens Medal|Citizens Medal]], the [[Congressional Gold Medal]], the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal, and the [[Ronald Reagan Freedom Award]]. Several schools and other institutions have been named in his honor and he holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the country.
 
Powell's civilian awards include two [[Presidential Medal of Freedom|Presidential Medals of Freedom]], the President's [[Presidential Citizens Medal|Citizens Medal]], the [[Congressional Gold Medal]], the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal, and the [[Ronald Reagan Freedom Award]]. Several schools and other institutions have been named in his honor and he holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the country.
  
*In 1991, Powell was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans,<ref>
+
In 1991, Powell was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, which "honors the achievements of outstanding individuals in U.S. society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education." On November 9, 1993, Powell was awarded the second [[Ronald Reagan Freedom Award]], by [[Ronald Reagan|President Ronald Reagan]]. Powell served as Reagan's [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] from 1987-1989. On November 15, 1993, Colin Powell was made an honorary Knight Commander of the [[Order of the Bath]] by Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom]].  
{{cite web
 
  |title =  Colin L. Powell
 
  |publisher = The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans
 
  |date = undated
 
  |url = http://www.horatioalger.org/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=pow91
 
  |accessdate = 2007-02-03
 
}}
 
</ref> which "honors the achievements of outstanding individuals in U.S. society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education."
 
*On November 9, 1993, Powell was awarded the second [[Ronald Reagan Freedom Award]], by [[Ronald Reagan|President Ronald Reagan]]. Powell served as Reagan's [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] from 1987-1989.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=
 
|url=http://www.reaganfoundation.org/programs/cpa/awards.asp
 
|title=The Ronald Reagan Freedom Award
 
|publisher= Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library}}]</ref>
 
*On December 15, 1993, Colin Powell was made an honorary Knight Commander of the [[Order of the Bath]] by Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom]].  
 
*In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious [[Sylvanus Thayer Award]] by the [[USMA|United States Military Academy]] for his commitment to the ideals of "Duty, Honor, Country."
 
*The 2002 [[Liberty Medal]] was awarded to Colin Powell on July 4 in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. In his acceptance speech, Powell reminded Americans that "It is for America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, to help freedom ring across the globe, unto all the peoples thereof. That is our solemn obligation, and we will not fail."<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=
 
|title=2002 Liberty Medal Acceptance Speech |author=Powell, Colin |date=July 4, 2002
 
|location=Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 
|url=http://www.constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal/recipient_2002_speech.html |publisher=National Constitution Center}}</ref>
 
*The Coat of Arms of Colin Powell was granted by the [[Lord Lyon]] in [[Edinburgh]] on February 4, 2004. Technically the grant was to Powell's father (a British subject) to be passed on by descent. Scotland's [[King of Arms]] is traditionally responsible for granting arms to Commonwealth citizens. Blazoned as:<blockquote>''Azure, two swords in saltire points downwards between four mullets Argent, on a chief of the Second a lion passant Gules. On a wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest the head of an American bald-headed eagle erased Proper. And in an escrol over the same this motto, "DEVOTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE."''</blockquote>The swords and stars refer to the former general's career, as does the crest, which is the badge of the 101st Airborne (which he served as a brigade commander in the mid-1970s). The lion may be an allusion to Scotland. The shield can be shown surrounded by the insignia of an honorary Knight Commander of the Most honorable [[Order of the Bath]] (KCB), an award the General received after the first Gulf War.
 
*In 2005 Powell received the [[Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award]] for his contributions to Africa.
 
*[[AARP]] honored Powell with the 2006 AARP Andrus Award, the Association’s highest honor. This award, named in honor of AARP’s founder, Dr. [[Ethel Percy Andrus]], is presented biennially to distinguished individuals who have generated positive social change in the world, and whose work and achievements reflect AARP’s vision of bringing lifetimes of experience and leadership to serve all generations.
 
*In 2005 Colin and Alma Powell were awarded the [[Woodrow Wilson Awards|Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service]] by the [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars]] of the [[Smithsonian Institution]].
 
*Colin Powell was initiated as an honorary brother in [[Sigma Phi Epsilon]].
 
*Powell is a recipient of the [[Silver Buffalo Award]], the highest adult award given by the [[Boy Scouts of America]].
 
*A street in [[Gelnhausen]], Germany was named after him: "General-Colin-Powell-Straße".<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=
 
|url=http://www.1-33rdar.org/genpowell.htm
 
|title=Gen. Colin Powell
 
|publisher=www.1-33rdar.org}}</ref>
 
*In [[2002]], scholar [[Molefi Kete Asante]] listed Colin Powell on his list of [[100 Greatest African Americans]].<ref>Asante, Molefi Kete (2002). 100 Greatest African Americans: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Amherst, New York. Prometheus Books. ISBN 1-57392-963-8. </ref>
 
  
 +
In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious [[Sylvanus Thayer Award]] by the [[USMA|United States Military Academy]] for his commitment to the ideals of "Duty, Honor, Country."
 +
In 2005, Colin and Alma Powell were awarded the [[Woodrow Wilson Awards|Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service]] by the [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars]] of the [[Smithsonian Institution]].
  
 +
==Notes==
 +
<references/>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
+
*DeYoung, Karen. ''Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell.'' New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. ISBN 1400041708
 
+
*Harari, Oren. ''The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell.'' New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2002. ISBN 9780071388597
==Further reading==
+
*Means, Howard B. ''Colin Powell: Soldier/Statesman—Statesman/Soldier.'' New York, NY: D.I. Fine, 1992. ISBN 9781556113352
*Powell, Colin A. and Joseph Persico, ''My American Journey,'' [[Ballantine Books]], 1995. ISBN 0-345-40728-8
+
*Powell, Colin A., and Joseph Persico. ''My American Journey.'' New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1995. ISBN 0345407288
**[http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,983438,00.html Excerpts from ''My American Journey,''] ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', September 18, 1995
 
*DeYoung, Karen, ''Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell,'' [[Alfred A. Knopf]], 2006. ISBN 1-4000-4170-8
 
*{{Citation
 
|url=http://web.mac.com/jamesdwithrow/iWeb/Site/Blog/0C7FF890-B6D6-4BB1-82B6-A6273F647B88.html
 
|title=Alex Haley’s Other Roots: African-Americans with Irish Ancestors
 
|date=February 25, 2006
 
|accessdate=2008-02-22}}
 
 
 
== Video ==
 
*[http://www.africanconnections.com/Colin_Powell_pre.html Address to the National Summit on Africa] - Washington, DC - February, 2000 - '''Technical Note:''' playback requires [http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?promoid=BUIGP Flash 10 Player]
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
*[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/051031/31powell.htm Colin Powell: America's Best Leaders from US News & World Report]
+
All links retrieved January 7, 2024.
*[http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wariniraq/colinpowellunsecuritycouncil.htm Complete text, audio, video of Colin Powell's Remarks to the UN Security Council]AmericanRhetoric.com
+
*[http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/colin_l_powell/index.html Colin Powell] ''The New York Times''
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/Colin_Powell.htm "Colin Powell On the issues"]
+
*[http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wariniraq/colinpowellunsecuritycouncil.htm Complete text, audio, video of Colin Powell's Remarks to the UN Security Council] AmericanRhetoric.com.
*[http://www.army.mil/africanamericans/ African Americans in the U.S. Army]
+
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/Colin_Powell.htm Colin Powell at "On the issues"].  
*[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB234/index.htm "Curveball" Revelations Indicate falsified info used to start Iraq war and esp used for Powell's UN presentation on Iraq WMDs]
+
*[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB234/index.htm THE RECORD ON CURVEBALL: Declassified Documents and Key Participants Show the Importance of Phony Intelligence in the Origins of the Iraq War].
*[http://www.quotationcollection.com/author/Colin_Powell/quotes Colin Powell Quotes]
+
*[http://www.quotationcollection.com/author/Colin_Powell/quotes Colin Powell Quotes].
*{{worldcat id|id=lccn-n87-926095}}
+
*[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=47138#axzz1Oijnm2Vu William J. Clinton Remarks on the Retirement of General Colin Powell in Arlington, Virginia] ''The American Presidency Project''.
  
 
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Latest revision as of 22:30, 7 January 2024

Colin Luther Powell
Colin Powell

12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
In office
October 1, 1989 – September 30, 1993
Under President George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Preceded by William J. Crowe
Succeeded by David E. Jeremiah

16th National Security Advisor
In office
November 23, 1987 – January 20, 1989
Under President Ronald Reagan
Preceded by Frank Carlucci
Succeeded by Brent Scowcroft

Born April 5 1937 (1937-04-05) (age 87)
New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Died October 18 2021 (aged 84)
Bethesda, Maryland
Political party Republican
Spouse Alma Vivian Johnson Powell
Profession Soldier
Statesman
Religion Episcopalian

Colin Luther Powell, KCB, MSC, (April 5, 1937 - October 18, 2021) was an American statesman and a former four-star general in the United States Army. He was the sixty-fifth United States Secretary of State (2001-2005), serving under President George W. Bush. He was the first African American appointed to that position. During his military career, Powell also served as National Security Adviser (1987–1989), as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Forces Command (1989), and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the Gulf War. He was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Official Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff portrait

History will probably be kind in remembering Powell, who, despite his mistake in telling the world that the invasion of Iraq was justified and legal on the grounds that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, retained a reputation for integrity. Having backed the war in Iraq against his own better judgment, he since described the data as "dead wrong." As a soldier, he knew that war must always be the measure of last resort. As a diplomat he rarely advocated military intervention as the first solution to an international crisis, instead prescribing negotiation and containment. Not all leaders have the grace and humility to admit that they have made a mistake. Powell's openness and honesty placed him in a rare category of public servants who hold themselves accountable for their stewardship of the public trust.

Life

Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937 in Harlem, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan in 1937 to Jamaican immigrant parents Luther Theophilus Powell and Maud Arial McKoy and was raised in the South Bronx. He also has Scottish and Irish ancestry. Powell attended Morris High School, a former public school in The Bronx, New York City, from which he graduated in 1954. While in school, he worked a local shop where he picked up Yiddish from the shopkeepers and some of the customers.

He earned a bachelor's degree in geology from City College of New York, attaining only a C average, according to his 2006 graduation address at Marymount University. He earned an MBA from The George Washington University, after his second tour in Vietnam in 1971.

In 1962, he married Alma Johnson Powell, who is now the co-chair of America's Promise. He is the father of Michael Powell, former chair of the Federal Communications Commission.

On October 18, 2021, Powell, who was being treated for multiple myeloma, died at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center of complications from COVID-19 at the age of 84.[1] He had been vaccinated, but the treatment for multiple myeloma had compromised his immune system.[2]

Military career

Did you know?
Colin Powell began his military career in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at City College of New York

Powell joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at City College and later described it as one of the happiest experiences of his life; discovering something he loved and could do well, he felt he had "found himself." Cadet Powell joined the Pershing Rifles, the ROTC fraternal organization and drill team begun by General John Pershing. Even after he had become a General, Powell kept on his desk a pen set he had won for a drill-team competition. Graduating from City College in June 1958, he received a commission as an Army second lieutenant. He was a professional soldier for 35 years, holding a variety of command and staff positions and rising to the rank of general.

While serving with the Third Armored Division in Germany as a lieutenant, he met Elvis Presley, who was serving in that unit. Powell was a captain during the Vietnam War, serving as a South Vietnamese Army adviser from 1962 to 1963. While on patrol in a Viet Cong-held area, he was wounded by stepping on a punji stake.

He returned to Vietnam as a major in 1968, serving in the Americal Division (23rd Infantry Division), then as assistant chief of staff of operations for the Americal Division. He was charged with investigating a detailed letter by Tom Glen (a soldier from the 11th Light Infantry Brigade), which backed up rumored allegations of the My Lai Massacre. Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between American soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent." Later, Powell's assessment would be described as whitewashing the news of the massacre, and questions would continue to remain undisclosed to the public. In May 2004, Powell said to Larry King, "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored." Powell served a White House fellowship, a highly selective and prestigious position, under President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1973.

In his autobiography, My American Journey, Powell named several officers he served under that inspired and mentored him. As a lieutenant colonel serving in South Korea, Powell was very close to General Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson. Powell said he regarded Emerson as one of the most caring officers he ever met. Emerson reputedly had an eccentric personality. For example, he insisted his troops train only at night and made them repeatedly watch the television film Brian's Song to promote racial harmony. Powell always professed, however, that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare.

In the early 1980s, Powell served at Fort Carson, Colorado. It was there that he had a major clash with General John Hudachek, his commander. Hudachek said in an efficiency evaluation that Powell was a poor leader who should not be promoted. Powell's rising military career was unhindered by Hudachek's evaluation report. After he left Fort Carson, Powell became senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, whom he assisted during the 1983 invasion of Grenada and the 1986 airstrike on Libya.

In 1986, he took over the command of V Corps in Frankfurt, Germany, from Robert Lewis "Sam" Wetzel. In 1989, prior to being named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Powell served as the Commander in Chief, Forces Command headquartered at Fort McPherson, Georgia.

Dates of rank

  • Second Lieutenant: June 9, 1958
  • First Lieutenant: December 30, 1959
  • Captain: June 2, 1962
  • Major: May 24, 1966
  • Lieutenant Colonel: July 9, 1970
  • Colonel: February 1, 1976
  • Brigadier General: June 1, 1979
  • Major General: August 1, 1983
  • Lieutenant General: March 26, 1986
  • General: April 4, 1989

National Security Advisor

President Ronald Reagan and National Security Advisor Powell in 1988

At the age of 49, Powell became Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor, serving from 1987 to 1989 while retaining his Army commission as a lieutenant general. After his tenure with the National Security Council, Powell was promoted to a full general under President George H.W. Bush and briefly served as Commander-in-Chief (CINC) of the Army's Forces Command (FORSCOM), overseeing all Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard units in the Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

General Colin Powell, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, waves from his motorcade during the Persian Gulf War, Welcome Home Parade, held in New York City, New York.

His last military assignment, from October 1, 1989 to September 30, 1993, was as the twelfth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense. At age 52, he became the youngest officer, and first Afro-Caribbean American, to serve in this position. In 1989, he joined Dwight D. Eisenhower and Alexander Haig as the third general since World War II to reach four-star rank without ever being a divisional commander. Powell was one of very few JCS Chairs who was not a collegiate graduate of a United States Service academy.

During this time, he oversaw 28 crises, including the invasion of Panama in 1989 to remove General Manuel Noriega from power and Operation Desert Storm in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. During these events, Powell earned his nickname, "the reluctant warrior." He rarely advocated military intervention as the first solution to an international crisis, and instead usually prescribed diplomacy and containment.

Powell (left) sits alongside Paul Wolfowitz (right) and Norman Schwarzkopf (middle) listening as Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney hosts a press conference during the Gulf War.

In his autobiography, Powell said he is haunted by the nightmare of the Vietnam War and felt that the leadership was very ineffective. Powell served a tour in Vietnam as a military adviser, and was mildly injured when he stepped on a bamboo "punji stick." The large infection made it difficult for him to walk, and caused his foot to swell for a short time, shortening his first tour. It was also during his Vietnam service, his second tour, that Powell was decorated for bravery. He single-handedly rescued several men from a burning helicopter, one of them being Maj. Gen. Charles Gettys, the commander of the Americal Division.

Additionally, Powell has been critical of other instances of U.S. foreign policy in the past, such as its support for the 1973 Chilean coup d'état. From two separate interviews in 2003, Powell stated in one about the 1973 event "I can't justify or explain the actions and decisions that were made at that time. It was a different time. There was a great deal of concern about Communism in this part of the world. Communism was a threat to the democracies in this part of the world. It was a threat to the United States."[3] In another interview, however, he also simply stated "With respect to your earlier comment about Chile in the 1970s and what happened with Mr. Allende, it is not a part of American history that we're proud of."[3]

Powell opposed the majority of George H.W. Bush Administration officials who advocated the deployment of troops to the Middle East to force Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to withdraw his armies from neighboring Kuwait, believing the dictator could instead be contained through sanctions and a buildup of forces around Kuwait.

As a military strategist, Powell has advocated an approach to military conflicts that maximizes the potential for success and minimizes casualties. A component of this approach is the use of overwhelming force, which he applied to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. His approach has been dubbed the "Powell Doctrine."

Colin Powell's experience in military matters made him a very popular figure with both American political parties. Many Democrats admired his moderate stance on military matters, while many Republicans saw him as a great asset associated with the successes of past Republican administrations. Put forth as a potential Democratic Vice Presidential nominee in the 1992 U.S. Presidential Election, Powell defeated Bill Clinton 50-38 in a hypothetical match-up proposed to voters in the exit polls conducted on Election Day. Despite not standing in the race, Powell won the New Hampshire Vice-Presidential primary on write-in votes.

In 1997, Powell founded America's Promise with the objective of helping children from all socioeconomic sectors. Powell often wears the logo of the organization in the form of a red wagon pin on his lapel.

In the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election Powell campaigned for Senator John McCain and later Texas Governor George W. Bush, after the latter secured the Republican nomination, serving as a key foreign policy advisor to the Bush campaign. Bush eventually won, and Colin Powell was appointed Secretary of State.

Secretary of State

As Secretary of State in the Bush administration, Powell was perceived as moderate. Powell's great asset was his tremendous popularity among the American people. Powell was unanimously voted in by the United States Senate. Over the course of his tenure, he traveled less than any other U.S. Secretary of State in 30 years.

On September 11, 2001, Powell was in Lima, Peru, meeting with President Alejandro Toledo and U.S. Ambassador to Peru John Hamilton, and attending the special session of the OAS General Assembly that subsequently adopted the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

After September 11, Powell's job became of critical importance in managing America's relationships with foreign countries in order to secure a stable coalition in the War on Terrorism.

In April 2002, he visited the site of the alleged Jenin Massacre in the West Bank and later said while testifying to Congress, "I've seen no evidence that would suggest a massacre took place." Details of the events were unclear at the time. Shimon Peres was quoted by Ha'aretz speaking of a massacre and IDF estimates of the dead were in the hundreds. Later investigations by human rights organizations and the United Nations placed the number of deaths among Palestinians at 52.

Powell came under fire for his role in building the case against the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. In a press statement on February 24, 2001 he had said that sanctions against Iraq had prevented the development of any weapons of mass destruction by Saddam Hussein. As was the case in the days leading up to the Persian Gulf War, Powell was initially opposed to a forcible overthrow of Hussein, preferring to continue a policy of containment. However, Powell eventually agreed to go along with the Bush administration's determination to remove Hussein. He had often clashed with others in the administration, who were reportedly planning an Iraq invasion even before the September 11 attacks—an insight supported by testimony by former terrorism czar Richard Clarke in front of the 9/11 Commission. The main concession Powell wanted before he would offer his full support for the Iraq War was the involvement of the international community in the invasion, as opposed to the unilateral approach some advocated. He was also successful in persuading Bush to take the case of Iraq to the United Nations, and in moderating other initiatives. Powell was placed at the forefront of this diplomatic campaign.

Powell's chief role was to garner international support for a multi-national coalition to mount the invasion. To this end, Powell addressed a plenary session of the United Nations Security Council on February 5, 2003 to argue in favor of military action. Citing numerous anonymous Iraqi defectors, Powell asserted that "there can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more." Powell also stated that there was "no doubt in my mind" that Saddam was working to obtain key components to produce nuclear weapons.

Most observers praised Powell's oratorical skills. However, Britain's Channel 4 News reported soon afterwards that a UK intelligence dossier that Powell had referred to as a "fine paper" during his presentation had been based on old material and plagiarized an essay by an American graduate student.[4] A 2004 report by the Iraq Survey Group concluded that the evidence that Powell offered to support the allegation that the Iraqi government possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) was inaccurate.

A Senate report on intelligence failures would later detail the intense debate that went on behind the scenes on what to include in Powell's speech. State Department analysts had found dozens of factual problems in drafts of the speech. Some of the claims were taken out, but others were left in, such as claims based on the yellowcake forgery.[5] The administration came under fire for having acted on faulty intelligence. Reports have indicated that Powell himself was skeptical of the evidence presented to him. Powell later recounted how Vice President Cheney had joked with him before he gave the speech, telling him, "You've got high poll ratings; you can afford to lose a few points." Larry Wilkerson later characterized Cheney's view of Powell's mission as to "go up there and sell it, and we'll have moved forward a peg or two. Fall on your damn sword and kill yourself, and I'll be happy, too."[6]

In September 2005, Powell was asked about the speech during an interview with Barbara Walters and responded that it was a "blot" on his record. He went on to say, "It will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It's painful now."[7]

Because Powell was seen as more moderate than most figures in the administration, he was spared many of the attacks that have been leveled at more controversial advocates of the invasion, such as Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz. At times, infighting among the Powell-led State Department, the Rumsfeld-led Defense Department, and Vice President Dick Cheney's office had the effect of polarizing the administration on crucial issues, such as what actions to take regarding Iran and North Korea.

Secretary Powell with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

After Saddam Hussein had been deposed, Powell's new role was to once again establish a working international coalition, this time to assist in the rebuilding of post-war Iraq. On September 13, 2004, Powell testified before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, acknowledging that the sources who provided much of the information in his February 2003 UN presentation were "wrong" and that it was "unlikely" that any stockpiles of WMDs would be found. Claiming that he was unaware that some intelligence officials questioned the information prior to his presentation, Powell pushed for reform in the intelligence community, including the creation of a national intelligence director who would assure that "what one person knew, everyone else knew."

Colin Powell holding a model vial of anthrax while giving a presentation to the United Nations Security Council

Colin Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State on Monday, November 15, 2004. According to the Washington Post, he had been asked to resign by the president's chief of staff, Andrew Card.[6] Powell announced that he would stay on until the end of Bush's first term or until his replacement's confirmation by Congress. The following day, George W. Bush nominated National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as Powell's successor. News of Powell's leaving the Administration spurred mixed reactions from politicians around the world—some upset at the loss of a statesman seen as a moderating factor within the Bush administration, but others hoping for Powell's successor to wield more influence within the cabinet, and thus be a more credible negotiator.

In mid-November, Colin Powell stated that he had seen new evidence suggesting that Iran was adapting missiles for a nuclear-delivery system.[8] The accusation came at the same time as the settlement of an agreement between the IAEA, the European Union, and Iran.

Life after diplomatic service

After retiring from the role of Secretary of State, Powell returned to private life. In April 2005, he was privately telephoned by Republican senators Lincoln Chafee and Chuck Hagel, at which time Powell expressed reservations and mixed reviews about the nomination of John R. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations, but refrained from advising the senators to oppose Bolton (Powell had clashed with Bolton during Bush's first term). The decision was viewed as potentially dealing significant damage to Bolton's chances of confirmation. Bolton was put into the position via a recess appointment because of the strong opposition in the Senate.

Powell with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

On April 28, 2005, an opinion piece in the The Guardian by Sidney Blumenthal (a former top aide to President Bill Clinton) claimed that Powell was in fact "conducting a campaign" against Bolton because of the acrimonious battles they had had while working together, which among other things had resulted in Powell cutting Bolton out of talks with Iran and Libya after complaints about Bolton's involvement from the British. Blumenthal added that "The foreign-relations committee has discovered that Bolton made a highly unusual request and gained access to ten intercepts by the National Security Agency. Staff members on the committee believe that Bolton was probably spying on Powell, his senior advisors and other officials reporting to him on diplomatic initiatives that Bolton opposed."[9]

In September 2005, Powell criticized the response to Hurricane Katrina.[10] Powell said that thousands of people were not properly protected, but because they were poor rather than because they were black.

On January 5, 2006, he participated in a meeting at the White House of former Secretaries of Defense and State to discuss United States foreign policy with Bush administration officials. In September 2006, Powell sided with more moderate Senate Republicans in supporting more rights for detainees and opposing President Bush's terrorism bill. He backed Senators John Warner, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham in their statement that U.S. military and intelligence personnel in future wars will suffer for abuses committed in 2006 by the U.S. in the name of fighting terrorism. Powell stated that "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of [America's] fight against terrorism."[11]

Also in 2006, Powell began appearing as a speaker at a series of motivational events called Get Motivated, along with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In his speeches for the tour, he openly criticized the Bush Administration on a number of issues.

He joined the Board of Directors of Steve Case's company Revolution Health, and also served on the Council on Foreign Relations Board of directors.

Powell encouraged young people to continue to use new technologies to their advantage in the future. In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies to a room of young professionals, he encouraged the next generation to involve themselves politically on the upcoming Next America Project, which uses online debate to provide policy recommendations for the upcoming administration.

In 2008, Powell served as a spokesperson for National Mentoring Month, a campaign held each January to recruit volunteer mentors for at-risk youth.

Soon after President Barack Obama's 2008 election, Powell began being mentioned as a possible cabinet member. He was not nominated.

Political views

A moderate Republican, Powell is well known for his willingness to support liberal or centrist causes. He is pro-choice regarding abortion, and in favor of "reasonable" gun control. Powell stated in his autobiography that he supports affirmative action that levels the playing field, without giving a leg up to undeserving persons because of racial issues. He was also instrumental in the implementation of the military's Don't ask, don't tell policy.

The Vietnam War had a profound effect on Powell's views of the proper use of military force. These views are described in detail in the autobiography My American Journey. The Powell Doctrine, as the views became known, was a central component of U.S. policy in the Gulf War (the first U.S. war in Iraq) and the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan (the overthrow of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan following the events of 9/11). The hallmark of both operations was strong international cooperation, and the use of overwhelming military force.

In a letter to Sen. John McCain, General Powell expressed opposition to President Bush's push for military tribunals of those formerly and currently classified as enemy combatants. Specifically, he expressed concern of Bush's plan to "amend the interpretation of Article III of the Geneva Conventions." He also pointed out that perception of the War on Terror may be losing moral support saying, "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism."

View of the U.S. war in Iraq

In an interview in July 2007, Powell revealed that he had spent two and a half hours trying to persuade George W. Bush not to invade Iraq but that he did not prevail. At the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado Powell stated, "I tried to avoid this war. I took him [Bush] through the consequences of going into an Arab country and becoming the occupiers."[12]

Powell went on to say that he believed Iraq was in a state of civil war. "The civil war will ultimately be resolved by a test of arms. It's not going to be pretty to watch, but I don't know any way to avoid it. It is happening now." He further noted, "It is not a civil war that can be put down or solved by the armed forces of the United States," and suggested that all the U.S. military could do was put "a heavier lid on this pot of boiling sectarian stew."[12]

Role in presidential election of 2008

Powell donated the maximum amount to John McCain's campaign in the summer of 2007 and in early 2008, his name was listed as a possible running mate for Republican nominee McCain's bid during the 2008 U.S. presidential election. However, on October 19, 2008, Powell announced his endorsement of Barack Obama during a Meet the Press interview, citing "his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign." He additionally referred to Obama as a "transformational figure."[13]

Powell further questioned Senator John McCain's judgment in appointing Sarah Palin as the vice-presidential candidate, stating that despite the fact that she is admired, "now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president." He pointed out how he thought Barack Obama's choice for vice-president, Joe Biden was ready to be president. He also added that he was "troubled" by the "false intimations that Obama was Muslim." Powell stated that "[Obama] is a Christian—he's always been a Christian…," and continued, "But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America." Powell then referenced Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, a Muslim American soldier in the U.S. Army who served and died in the Iraq War. He later stated, "Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower […] I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me." [14]

Legacy

Besides serving in a number of key military, governmental, and private positions throughout his long and storied career, Colin Powell was also the first and so far only African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the first African American U.S. Secretary of State. But beyond these powerful positions, Powell also had an equally strong reputation as a man of integrity, a man of his word. When Colin Powell said something, you knew he meant it.

Recognition

Powell's civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award. Several schools and other institutions have been named in his honor and he holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the country.

In 1991, Powell was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, which "honors the achievements of outstanding individuals in U.S. society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education." On November 9, 1993, Powell was awarded the second Ronald Reagan Freedom Award, by President Ronald Reagan. Powell served as Reagan's National Security Advisor from 1987-1989. On November 15, 1993, Colin Powell was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy for his commitment to the ideals of "Duty, Honor, Country." In 2005, Colin and Alma Powell were awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution.

Notes

  1. Amanda Macias, Colin Powell, former secretary of State who made case for Iraq invasion, dies of Covid complications at 84 CNBC, October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. Eric Schmitt, Colin Powell, Who Shaped U.S. National Security, Dies at 84 The New York Times, October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Remarks at the 2003 Groundhog Job Shadow Day Program, Secretary Colin L. Powell, Remarks and question and answer session with students, Washington, DC, January 31, 2003, excerpt on 1973 Chile coup, Federation of American Scientists. fas.org. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  4. UK accused of lifting dossier text CNN, February 7, 2003. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  5. Greg Miller, Flaws Cited in Powell's U.N. Speech on Iraq Los Angeles Times, July 15, 2004. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Karen DeYoung, Falling on His Sword: Colin Powell's most significant moment turned out to be his lowest The Washington Post, October 1, 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  7. Colin Powell on Iraq, Race, and Hurricane Relief ABC News, January 6, 2006. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  8. Elaine Sciolino, Exiles Add to Claims on Iran Nuclear Arms The New York Times, November 18, 2004. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  9. Sidney Blumenthal, The good soldier's revenge The Guardian, April 28, 2005. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  10. Powell criticises storm response BBC News, September 9, 2005. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  11. Senators defy Bush on tribunals BBC News, September 15, 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Sarah Baxter, Powell tried to talk Bush out of war The Sunday Times, July 8, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  13. Colin Powell endorses Obama. CNN. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  14. Powell: Support for Obama doesn't mean Iraq war wrong CNN. Retrieved December 21, 2021.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • DeYoung, Karen. Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. ISBN 1400041708
  • Harari, Oren. The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2002. ISBN 9780071388597
  • Means, Howard B. Colin Powell: Soldier/Statesman—Statesman/Soldier. New York, NY: D.I. Fine, 1992. ISBN 9781556113352
  • Powell, Colin A., and Joseph Persico. My American Journey. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1995. ISBN 0345407288

External links

All links retrieved January 7, 2024.


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