LAS VEGAS -- In a curtain-closing keynote address at this year's NACS Show, Gen. Colin Powell wove together tales of a generous Chicago pizza restaurateur and a disputed island in the Mediterranean infested with goats. Linking these seemingly disparate elements, he suggested, is the role America and its people play in providing leadership on the world stage.
One of the nation's most respected statesmen, Gen. Powell put the finishing touches on a successful show, which survived a brush with adversity earlier this year when NACS had to relocate, [image-nocss] reschedule and repackage the 2005 event after Katrina's floodwaters deluged New Orleans in late August. Despite the change of venue, the show recorded strong attendance, as evidenced by the crowd at Powell's packed closing session on Friday afternoon.
Born to first-generation Jamaican immigrants and reared in the South Bronx section of New York City, Powell rose from modest means to become a four-star general in the U.S. Army and hold some of the U.S. government's highest posts, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989 to 1993)the highest military position in the Department of Defenseand, most recently, Secretary of State in President George W. Bush's first-term administration.
In remarks that were often humorous and always insightful, Powell outlined the challenges the U.S. faces politically, militarily and economicallyranging from denuclearizing North Korea and encouraging Iran to abandon its alleged weapons of mass destruction program (processes Powell believes can be handled diplomatically) and maintaining healthy relations with developing powers such as China (the only fly in the ointment being tensions between independence-seeking Taiwan and the Chinese mainland) to creating an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel (presently fomenting a tremendous amount of anti-American sentiment because the world expects America to mend the problem) and quelling the insurgency in Iraq.
People look to America for leadership, he said, noting that fact is an honor and a responsibility because the day you're not being brought problems is the day you're not leading. He cited a 2002 crisis situation in the Mediterranean in which Spain and Morocco were squabbling over a very small landmass (Powell described it as a rock) called Parsley Island. The island's total population: approximately 20 goats.
Apparently, a band of Moroccan soldiers had invaded the island and put up their country's flag. Two days later, the Spanish noticed and took back the island by dispatching gunboats and attack helicopters. The situation nearly erupted across political lines, as the European Union backed Spain, and the Arab League took Morocco's side. Spain's foreign minister, Ana Palacio, contacted Powell to intervene.
Ultimately, Powell helped the two distrustful countries establish and adhere to a written agreement, thereby keeping the status quo and cooling the dispute.
While very few people have the power to affect world events as Powell has, providing strong leadership in everyday events is a responsibility shared by all Americans that can have a positive impact on the world as a whole. He spoke of an opportunity last year in which he met with a dozen Brazilian students who came to America for two weeks to learn and absorb the culture. When he asked them what had been their most memorable experience in America, one student recited a tale of the group dining at a Chicago pizza restaurant. Among them, they didn't have enough money to cover the bill. The restaurant owner, learning of their status as foreign citizens gaining skills in the United States, asked the students to accept the meal as a personal gift from him.
These kids went back to Brazil, he said, and the image they will always have of America is a simple act of generosity by a restaurant owner in Chicago. That portrays us as the kind, welcoming nation we are.
On the morning of Powell's first day leading the State Department, his wife Alma cautioned him with a few simple wordsBehave yourselfreminding him that members of the department weren't the same as the soldiers he'd led throughout a 35-year military career that included two tours of duty in Vietnam. His first words to his new staffers, however, would have disappointed his wife.
I went to the lectern and told them, Good morning, troops,' he said. Leadership is leadership is leadership, whether it's the State Department or an infantry battalion or convenience store employees. The essence of leadership, he said, is trust. The troops will do anything you ask them if they trust you and if they trust each other. One sergeant who helped train me said, Lt. Powell, you'll know you're a good leader when people follow you out of curiosity; they want to know what happens next.'Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.