Powell initially opposed the use of force in the Gulf, against the wishes of the then Defence Secretary, Dick Cheney. However, operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield were a success and brought Powell's name to an international audience. Powell remained Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the early months of the new Clinton presidency but he found it difficult to work alongside a more liberal administration. He clashed with the new president over the issue of allowing gay people to join the military, and had a public disagreement with Madeleine Albright, then US ambassador to the UN, over military intervention in Bosnia.
Powell firmly believed that only a threat to US interests justified a military response. He left the army in and devoted time to writing his autobiography - it topped the New York Times best-seller list - and engaging in charity work. Freed from his obligations as a serving officer, he began to involve himself in politics. With admirers in both main parties, he was touted as a vice-presidential nominee for both Democrats and Republicans. He declared himself a Republican in There was talk of him standing against Bill Clinton in the presidential election, but Powell decided he lacked the passion for a political career.
In , George W Bush appointed Powell as secretary of state, the post responsible for US relationships with foreign countries. Powell, sticking to his own doctrine, opposed US involvement in Iraq but, in an about-face, agreed to support Bush. His reputation as a man of integrity certainly helped persuade the United Nations of the case for war when he appeared before the Security Council in Just 18 months later, with Saddam Hussein toppled, Powell admitted that intelligence suggesting the Iraqi dictator had possessed "weapons of mass destruction", was almost certainly wrong.
His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University. Secretary Powell is the recipient of numerous U. Several schools and other institutions have been named in his honor and he holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the country.
This is historical material, "frozen in time. Powell was the youngest person, as well as the first Black person, to serve as chairman of the joint chief of staff during the George HW Bush administration. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in , Powell underwent surgery at the Walter Reed army medical center. He was criticized for presenting questionable intelligence to the United Nations in a minute speech, which he later called a blot on his record. Following the 6 January insurrection, Powell said he no longer considered himself a Republican.
While there, he coordinated technical and policy advisers during Reagan's summit meetings with Soviet President Gorbachev and his conferences to topple the pro-Communist Sandinista government in Nicaragua. It was discovered that the administration had arranged for covert and illegal shipments of U.
Proceeds from the sale of the weapons would go to support the counter-insurgency movement in Nicaragua, which was aimed at toppling the Sandinistas. Such support had been prohibited by Congress since Powell was asked to testify before Congress about the incident, but he was not implicated in any wrongdoing. In , President George H. The post is the highest military position in the Department of Defense, and Powell was the first African American officer to receive that distinction.
As chief military strategist, he developed what became known as the "Powell Doctrine," an approach to military conflicts that advocates using overwhelming force to maximize success and minimize casualties. He continued as chairman of the Joint Chiefs in the first few months of the Clinton administration. He publicly disagreed with the president on the issue of admitting gays into the military, although he eventually agreed to the "don't ask, don't tell" compromise.
Powell retired from the Army in In , he joined Senator Sam Nunn and former President Carter on a last-minute peacekeeping expedition to Haiti, which resulted in the end of military rule and a peaceful return to elected government in that country.
In , he published a best-selling autobiography, My American Journey , which chronicles his life and its influences, the ins and outs of military bureaucracy, and what he learned in his life about personal rules and character.
From to , he was chairman of America's Promise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering character and competence in young people. Powell and his wife, Alma, now co-chair the organization, which has a presence in more than communities in all 50 states.
In , President George W. Bush appointed Powell secretary of state, and Powell was unanimously confirmed by the U. At that time, this was the highest rank in civilian government ever held by an African American. During his tenure, Powell came under fire for his role in building the case for the invasion of Iraq. Powell believed the policy of containment was sufficient to control the Iraqi regime. He warned Bush that a military invasion would consume the president's first term and that if an attack were to occur, it should use overwhelming force and have broad international support.
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