WASHINGTON–Colin Powell, the former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, called for an end to the “ugliness” that has come to the forefront in politics, telling credit unions that only “we the people” will be able to do something about it.
Meanwhile, addressing an immediate issue on which he has a unique viewpoint and doing so on the same day President Trump will be addressing Congress, Powell said that if the Defense Department requires more funds they should be provided, but not at the expense of the State Department. The Trump Administration is proposing a $50-billion increase in defense spending, and calling for funding the increase by cutting budgets at other departments, including State.
While serious issues, Powell also downplayed concerns over threats presented by China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, saying none of them are “existential” threats to the United States.
Speaking to CUNA’s GAC, Powell said the credit union audience was “typical” of other groups he has spoken to, where he senses a “great deal of concern and anxiety” over what is taking place in the country. He called much of the dialogue taking place “troubling.”
“But at the same time I see confidence and optimism. I want to take that confidence and pour it over the heads of our congressmen,” he said. “I am deeply concerned about our government. We can talk about the White House, but I’m more concerned about Capitol Hill not getting anything done. We are increasingly pushing our legislators to the far right or the far left. There is ugliness in our public dialogue. If you dare depart from the positions of the far left or far right you get tweeted to death for it.”
If The Constitution Required Just Three Months...
Powell reminded credit unions that the founding fathers of the country spent three months in Philadelphia in 1787 arguing, but also talking, with each other, and at the end of the process had written “this wonderful Constitution.”
“If they were able to do that in just a few months, how is it we have 525 people who can’t even pass an appropriations bill?” he asked, getting one of numerous rounds of applause. “We deserve better than that. It’s only going to be fixed by you. We the people are the ones who are going to change it. We the people are the ones who are going to have to push back against the polarization. This ugliness is not us. We must push back against this. This anti-Semitism, this black vs. white. That’s not us. People ask me ‘As a black man, are things getting better?’ Yes. When I graduated from high school I couldn’t go to some places. Now we’ve had a black president.”
Given the “Make America Great Again” slogan used by the Trump campaign, Powell said he is often asked by people whether he believes the country is still great.
“I say yes, but in my own life I have tried not to brag about it too much,” he said. “People all over the world are watching us and they are dismayed. The world is looking for us to be the better angels, and we’ve got to do a better job of it. Tomorrow morning at our consular offices all around the world, people will be lined up saying, ‘I want to go to America.’ This is their dream and their aspiration. As long as we never forget how beautiful this nation is, we will continue to lead a world that wants to be free.”
What About Russia, China, North Korea?
During a Q&A Powell was asked about his concerns related to various threats represented by other countries.
“We face no existential threat to the United States,” said Powell. “We have a lot of other problems, including several wars around the world. Several of my military friends talk about China, North Korea, Russia, Iran. China is not a threat. They have $1.5 trillion in U.S. paper (debt). Their whole business model is based exporting to Walmart. They are not going to blow that up. But they do expect to be treated with greater respect. As for Putin, I know him very well. I’ve been with him, had drinks with him. But he’s not going to be an enemy coming across the Iron Curtain. With respect to North Korea and Iran, they are playing with nuclear weapons. But they can’t use them, because only thing important to them is survival of their regimes. If they ever use one, in terms of Pyongyang, I would turn it into a charcoal briquette tomorrow. We should try to negotiate them out of it, but don’t become hysterical.”
Powell said he was unsure whether Russia interfered in the U.S. political process, but reminded everyone he was among those whose email account had been hacked, and it wasn’t done by a “14-year-old kid.”
Finally, Powell was asked about his views on the media.
“I am very proud of the profession,” responded Powell, “because I think the First Amendment is one of the greatest guardians of our democracy. In my career as a public servant I felt it was my obligation to tell the American people all that I could about what their government was doing. There is a way to make this all work and I found it useful: be accessible, and don’t lie to the press. There is no such thing as an alternative fact. But I also think the profession needs to start focusing on substance, not style.”