Colin Powell Who Firmed About His Calling

General Colin Powell was not only a successful military soldier, but also politician, diplomat, and statesman.

In the 1995s, he was a presidential icon and considered the most trusted man in the United States.

The author of this book, Jeffrey J. Matthews, wrote, “The Republicans, including some stalwart conservatives, also wanted Powell on board in any way they could entice him: as a governor, a senator, as vice president, or even president.”

Countless journalists had imagined him as a presidential candidate, one who would be supported by both Republican and Democratic voters. This is rare for a candidate who gets support from both parties.

U.S. News & World Report had published the cover story “Colin Powell Superstar: From Pentagon to the White House?”

But Powell resisted.

When he became the frontrunner in preliminary presidential election polls, he announced, “Ultimately, I had to look deep into my own soul, standing aside from the expectations and enthusiasms of others. Presidential politics is a calling I do not yet hear. And for me to pretend otherwise would not be honest to myself, it would not be honest to the American people.”

Powell, at that time was fifteen points ahead of Bill Clinton in the presidential race, stepped aside to open the path for the 2^nd term of Clinton. He chose to remain America’s “mystery man” until one day in 2001 George W. Bush asked him to be the secretary of state.

It's all about trust. And more than twenty years after that, the trust that American people put on Colin Powell remains alive. The Washington Post wrote an article on 19 Oct 2021 (written by columnist Kathleen Parker a day after Powell’s death) titled “Americans trust no one today as they trusted Colin Powell”.

Despite the success story, this book also criticizes Powell as one of the inner circle in the Bush administration in relation to the decision to invade Iraq. “Defender in Chief” --the final chapter of this book-- tells how Powell was very busy going everywhere to defend the policy and his boss. He indeed realized that and said, “Whether the going was rough or smooth, I always tried to do my best and to be loyal to my superior and the mission given to me.”

Powell was indeed an extraordinary man, but he was still an imperfect patriot.

***

Serpong, 10 Apr 2024

Titus J.

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