U.S. President Thanks Secretary Powell
Statement by U.S. President Bush Colin Powell is one of the great public servants of our time. He is a soldier, a
diplomat, a civic leader, a statesman, and a great patriot. I value his friendship. He will be missed. On behalf of all
Americans, I thank him for his many years of service, and I wish him and Alma all the best.
In his four years as Secretary of State, Colin forged new alliances that are helping America win the war on terror and
reinvigorated old and honored friendships. He has helped to build two great coalitions that have liberated more than 50
million people in Afghanistan and Iraq from brutal dictators, and which are now helping those nations emerge as
successful democracies. He was a key architect of the Broader Middle East initiative, which is helping to spread freedom
and democracy in that region.
His diplomatic skills also helped to end regional conflicts and lower tensions on the Indian subcontinent. Through his
advocacy, he focused the world's attention on the plight of the suffering in Sudan, Liberia, and Haiti. His role in
resolving the EP-3 incident early in my Administration showed the calm judgment and steady resolve he has brought to our
foreign policy. Thousands of dedicated foreign policy professionals are grateful for his leadership in modernizing and
strengthening the Department of State. ###