Bush Picks Powell as Secretary of State
Dec. 16 -- In his first Cabinet appointment, President-elect George W. Bush named retired Gen. Colin Powell as secretary of state today as he begins laying the groundwork for the administration.
“Gen. Powell is an American hero, an American example and a great American story,” Bush said from an elementary school in Crawford, Texas.
He praised Powell for his long service in the Army, which included a stint as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
During the announcement ceremony, Powell talked about a number of global issues that would confronthim as secretary of state adding that the new administration, Powell said, “We are up to the task.”
Regarding the Mideast, Powell said he would monitor any peace talks during the waning days of the Clinton administration. “It isabsolutely a given that under a Bush administration, America willremain very engaged in the Middle East.”
Led During Gulf War
Powell, who as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff oversawthe U.S. military during the Gulf War, said Iraq had not lived upto the obligations of the 1991 truce, which called for Baghdad toaccount for any weapons of mass destruction it possessed and armstechnologies programs.
“They have not yet fulfilled those agreements and my judgment is that sanctions in some form must be kept in placeuntil they do so,” Powell said. “We will work with our allies tore-energize the sanctions regime.”
Powell showed a lighter side when he jokingly thanked Bush for not holding the ceremony at the Texas governor’s nearby ranch.
“I’m from the South Bronx,” Powell said, “and I don’t carewhat you say, those cows look dangerous.”
Powell, 63, is certain to be a popular choice, given that he isone of the most admired figures in the Republican Party anddemonstrates Bush’s avowed intent to assemble a diverseCabinet.
Political General
While his public personna was the tough talking military leader, Powell was known as one of the most political generals in history — meaning that he know how to use the system to get what he wanted.
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