Colin Powell quits the Bush cabinet

[Donut]

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Colin Powell to quit Bush cabinet

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has resigned but says he will stay in his post until a successor is found.

He said it was always his intention to serve just one term, and it was time to return to a private life.

National security adviser Condoleezza Rice and UN ambassador John Danforth are tipped as possible successors.

Mr Powell's resignation was announced along with three other cabinet members, bringing to six the number of key figures to leave the 15-member cabinet.

"It has been my great honour and privilege to serve my nation," said Mr Powell, announcing his resignation at a State Department briefing.

"I will always treasure the four years I spent working with President Bush and the wonderful men and women of the department. I think we accomplished a great deal."

He said he and President Bush had discussed his eventual departure for some weeks, and they mutually decided it was the right time for him to go.
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, and Education Secretary Rod Paige also announced their intention to step down.


White House spokesman Scott McClellan said all had agreed to stay in their posts until a successor could be found and approved by the Senate.
Earlier, officials quoted by the Associated Press said Mr Powell's departure date was likely to be some time in January.

Mr Powell said he would still go ahead with a visit to Chile on Wednesday, and on to the Middle East next week, as well as meeting with European leaders in December.

Mr McClellan paid tribute to Mr Powell: "He has been a tireless and dedicated public servant throughout his life...

"He made a commitment to serve the president for the first term and we appreciate all he has done."

State department officials said Mr Powell submitted his resignation to President George W Bush on Friday, and informed his staff on Monday morning.

The 67-year-old reportedly promised his wife he would serve only one term as secretary of state. He said in his resignation letter it was time to return to a private life.

The son of Jamaican immigrants, he rose to the rank of four-star general in a military career that spanned 35 years.

As chairman of the joint chiefs of staff - the highest military position in the US - he led the Gulf War coalition to victory against Iraq in 1991 under George Bush senior.

One of the most consistently popular members of the cabinet, he was seen as a crucial asset to the younger President Bush in the early days of his first term.

Iraq, and the Middle East, came to dominate his four years as Secretary of State.

Correspondents say he proved a popular and successful American envoy, often seen by the international community as a moderating force.

Mr Powell said that winning a diplomatic victory in Iraq was just as important as military success.

But his views on Iraq reportedly often put him at odds with the White House.


One of his most high-profile moments was his appearance before the UN Security Council on 5 February, 2003, to argue that Saddam Hussein must be removed because of Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction.

He later admitted that some of the information in that speech - particularly about mobile laboratories allegedly used for making biological weapons - "appeared not to be ... that solid."

[Timber Loftis]

A very interesting read, there, Donut. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Donut]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: A very interesting read, there, Donut. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Bogger! I did check before I posted - honest!!