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I recommended to the president [George Bush] that our focus had to be on al-Qaida, the Taliban and Afghanistan. Those were the ones who attacked the United States of America on 9/11.

Colin Powell

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Colin Powell
Age: 87
Born: 1937
Born: April 5
Diplomat
Former United States Secretary Of State
Politician
Soldier
New York City
New York
Colin Luther Powell
Bush
Ones
Focus
United
Recommended
President
Attacked
America
Als
States
Afghanistan
George

More quotes by Colin Powell

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Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.
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Thee are such horrible weapons. And so no sane leader would ever want to cross that line to using nuclear weapons. And, if you are not going to cross that line, then these things are basically useless.
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Decision-making is lonely.
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One of the greatest talents of all is the talent to recognize and to develop talent in others.
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We are not going to dwell on those things that divide us. We are going to rejoice in those things that keep us together to make this a better country - to reach down and back to touch every young person in need!
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Always focus on the front windshield and not the review mirror.
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You know you're a good leader when people follow you out of curiosity.
Colin Powell
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Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard.
Colin Powell
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We all hoped in 2001 that we could put in place an Afghan government under President Karzai that would be able to control the country, make sure al-Qaeda didn't come back, and make sure the Taliban wasn't resurging. It didn't work out.
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There are lots of countries that are having these kinds of internal civil wars in other parts of the world and nobody is talking about intervening.
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Almost invariably, whoever doesn't win the argument is going to be unhappy.
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Once the information is in the 40 to 70 range, go with your gut.
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Leaders have followers. The primary role of a leader is to convey to those followers a sense of purpose, vision, and mission.
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Have a sense of humor to break the tension in times of great toil.
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Diplomacy never stops, and, with or without an election, it never stops.
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I would not presume from this distance, nor would America presume to say who should be the leader of the Iraqi nation.
Colin Powell
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Give me the right people and I don’t much care what organization you give me. Good things will happen. Give me the wrong people and it doesn’t matter what you do with the organization. Bad things will happen.
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But just as they did in Philadelphia when they were writing the constitution, sooner or later, you've got to compromise. You've got to start making the compromises that arrive at a consensus and move the country forward.
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For all the hardship, I was still excited to be on the trail, testing my endurance, feeling especially alive as strength and fatigue flowed alternately through my limbs.
Colin Powell
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Trust is the essence of Leadership.
Colin Powell