Colin Powell as Secretary of State is like holding a royal flush in a no-limit poker game. Powell went on to key positions in the Carter and Reagan administrations, where he worked closely with such big boys as Frank Carlucci and Caspar Weinberger. In August 1989, President George Bush made him Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he proved brilliantly adept at both the infighting within the D.C. Beltway and the tough slogging in situations like the 1989 invasion of Panama, which for him confirmed all the Clausewitzian lessons. Use all the force necessary and do not apologize for going in big if this is what it takes.
Decisive force ends war quickly and in the long run saves lives.
A year later, he was tested again when Iraq grabbed Kuwait. For sure, he learned from that bad call. Ten years later, the war that made him as high profile as Ike still grinds on. Ironically, it will be one of the many sticky problems he'll be taking over from the Clinton administration. But these days the Desert Storm force he skippered in 1991 is on its knees, barely capable of a desert shower.