Colin Powell a Four Star General

In 1987 he became National Security Adviser that lasted till the end of the Reagan administration. He coordinated technical and policy advisers during Reagan’s summit meetings with Soviet President Gorbachev and conferences to topple the pro-Communist Sandinista government in Nicaragua. It was found out that the administration had arranged for covert and illegal shipments of U.S. Weapons to Iran in exchange for hostage releases. The profits would go to support the counter-insurgency movement in Nicaragua, to help topple the Sandinistas. This support had been prohibited by Congress since 1982. Powell testified before Congress about this, but was found not guilty of any wrongdoing.

In 1991, President George H. W. Bush made Colin Powell the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and took over the Army Forces Command. Powell was the first African-American officer to receive the highest military position in the Department of Defense. General Powell became famous as a chief military strategist during Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations in Iraq. He developed the “Powell Doctrine,” an military approach to conflicts that favored using overwhelming force to maximize success and minimize casualties. He was still chairman of the Joint Chiefs at the beginning of the Clinton administration, but publicly disagreed with the presidents approval of gays in the military. He later conceded to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” compromise.

Colin Powell retired in 1993 from the army. In 1994 he joined President Jimmy Carter and Senator Sam Nunn on a peacekeeping trip to Haiti, this ended military rule and a return to elected government,

In 1995 he published his best-selling autobiography, My American Journey.

America’s Promise made Powell chairman of their nonprofit organization from 1997 to 2000. He and his wife co-chair the organization, which fosters character and competence in young people. The organization services 500 communities in all 50 states.

In 2000 Colin Powell was appointed Secretary of State and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He held the highest rank in civilian government, ever held by an African-American.

Powell during his tenure came under fire in helping to build the 2003 case of invading Iraq. Powell warned President Bush that a military invasion would consume the president’s term, and if an attack was iminent, overwhelming force should be used and having a broad international support would be the key to rebuilding Iraq.

When Bush went to war, Powell supported the president by appearing before the U.N, Security Council on February 2003. He presented evidence Iraq had concealed a weapons development program. Powell’s reputation convinced Congress and the country that Iraq posed a huge threat.

Colin Powell tried to establish an international coalition to aid in rebuilding Iraq. In 2004 he testified before Congress that his intelligence sources were wrong, and stated there were no weapons of mass destruction compiled by Saddam. He advised that it was necessary to reform the intelligence community to improve its gathering and analysis. After acknowledging that Iraq didn’t possess weapons of mass destruction, he resigned as secretary of state.

Powell remains busy during his retirement, he is vocal on political topics, and criticizing the Bush administration on several issues.

In 2006 he joined Senate Republicans who supported more rights and better treatment of detainees at the Guantanamo detention facility. He was also a speaker at Get Motivated, a special series along with former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

In 2008, Colin Powell announced his endorsement of Barack Obama.