Colin Powell: American power and intervention from Vietnam to Iraq

237 Pages·2009·2.49 MB·English

by  Christopher D. O'Sullivan

Colin Powell
Biographies
IN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
Joseph A. Fry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Series Editor
The Biographies in American Foreign Policy Series employs the enduring
medium of biography to examine the major episodes and themes in the his-
tory of U.S. foreign relations. By viewing policy formation and implementa-
tion from the perspective of influential participants, the series humanizes
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her approach to U.S. foreign policy, and each individual’s role is placed in a
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Lawrence S. Kaplan, Thomas Jefferson: Westward the Course of Empire
Richard H. Immerman, John Foster Dulles: Piety, Pragmatism, and Power in
U.S. Foreign Policy
Thomas W. Zeiler, Dean Rusk: Defending the American Mission Abroad
Edward P. Crapol, James G. Blaine: Architect of Empire
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Thomas M. Leonard, James K. Polk: A Clear and Unquestionable Destiny
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Catherine Forslund, Anna Chennault: Informal Diplomacy and Asian
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Clarence E. Wunderlin Jr., Robert A. Taft: Ideas, Tradition, and Party in U.S.
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Howard Jablon, David M. Shoup: A Warrior against War
Jeff Woods, Richard B. Russell: Southern Nationalism and American Foreign
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Russell D. Buhite, Douglas MacArthur: Statecraft and Stagecraft in America’s
East Asian Policy
Christopher D. O’Sullivan, Colin Powell: American Power and Intervention
from Vietnam to Iraq
Colin Powell
American Power and Intervention from Vietnam to Iraq
Christopher D. O’Sullivan
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS, INC.
Lanham (cid:129) Boulder (cid:129) New York (cid:129) Toronto (cid:129) Plymouth, UK
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Published in the United States of America
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
O’Sullivan, Christopher D.
Colin Powell : American power and intervention from Vietnam to Iraq / Christopher
D. O’Sullivan.
p. cm. — (Biographies in American foreign policy Joseph A. Fry)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-7425-5186-2 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-7425-6535-7 (electronic)
1. Powell, Colin L. 2. Generals—United States—Biography. 3. African American
generals—Biography. 4. United States. Army—Biography. 5. Statesmen—United
States—Biography. 6. United States. Dept. of State—Biography. I. Title.
E840.5.P68O885 2009
327.730092—dc22
[B] 2008046759
Printed in the United States of America
(cid:2) ™
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
To my father, Gen. Curtis “Hoop” O’Sullivan

(cid:2)
Contents
Chronology ix
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 The Education of a Soldier, 1937–1980 7
Chapter 2 From the Pentagon to the White House, 1980–1987 23
Chapter 3 National Security Adviser at the End of the Cold
War, 1987–1989 45
Chapter 4 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, 1989–1993 71
Chapter 5 The Military and Diplomacy after the Cold War 97
Chapter 6 Secretary of State 125
Chapter 7 Powell, Iraq, and the “Fog of War” 159
Chapter 8 Conclusion 193
Bibliographical Essay 201
Index 209
About the Author 219
vii

(cid:2)
Chronology
1920 April 26: Luther Powell emigrates from Jamaica.
1929 Luther Powell and Arie marry.
1937 April 5: Colin L. Powell is born in Harlem.
1941 The Powell family moves to the South Bronx.
1943 T he Powells take up residence at 952 Kelly St. in Hunts Point, the
Bronx.
1950 September: Powell enters Morris High School.
1954 January: Powell graduates from Morris High School.
February: Powell enrolls at City College of New York (CCNY).
September: Powell signs up for the Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps (ROTC) and pledges Pershing Rifles.
1956 August: Powell is admitted to advanced, upper-division ROTC.
1957 P ower attends a six-week summer encampment at Fort Bragg,
North Carolina.
1958 J une 9: Powell becomes a Distinguished Military Graduate and is
commissioned a second lieutenant in the regular army.
June 10: Powell receives a BS in geology from CCNY.
He attends an eight-week basic infantry officer course, Ranger
School, and six weeks of airborne training.
1959 January: Powell is a platoon leader in Germany.
December: He is promoted to first lieutenant.
1961 J anuary: Powell is stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, as
company commander.
November: He meets Alma Johnson.
ix