Powell Resigns as Secretary of State
Heads of Agriculture, Education and Energy Also Resign
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who has sparred for four years with the more hawkish members of President Bush's war cabinet, announced his resignation today, joining a growing list of departures from the administration's top ranks as Bush heads into a second term.
In a one-page resignation letter dated Friday and released by the White House today, Powell, 67, did not explain his decision, saying only that "the time has come for me to step down as Secretary of State and return to private life." Powell said he was resigning "effective at your pleasure." He went on to praise Bush's leadership.
"I am pleased to have been part of a team that launched the Global War Against Terror, liberated the Afghan and Iraqi people, brought the attention of the world to the problem of proliferation, reaffirmed our alliances, adjusted to the Post-Cold War World and undertook major initiatives to deal with the problem of poverty and disease in the developing world," Powell wrote.
In a briefing at the State Department after the letter was released, Powell said it had always been his intention to serve one term, but that he would stay on "for a number of weeks or a month or two" until his replacement is confirmed by the Senate.
He said the administration's unfinished business in foreign policy includes continuing to pursue the war on terrorism, consolidating gains in Afghanistan and defeating the insurgency in Iraq. In the weeks ahead, Powell said, he plans to keep working to strengthen U.S. alliances and seek solutions to the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs. He said he has a busy schedule of meetings and foreign trips planned that include work on advancing the Middle East peace process following the death last week of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Asked what he plans to do when he leaves office, Powell answered, "I don't know."
His departure -- along with the previously announced resignation of Attorney General John D. Ashcroft -- signals a transformation of Bush's national security team.
The resignation of Powell, a 35-year veteran of the Army who rose to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is among four that the White House announced today.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the other Cabinet officials resigning include Education Secretary Roderick R. Paige, 71, who informed the president of his wishes last week, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman, 55, and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, 52.
In addition to Ashcroft, Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans, 58, had earlier announced his resignation.
Administration officials said the departures would be staggered.
The exodus -- including the previously announced departure of Ashcroft, who is in charge of several aspects of the fight against terrorism -- raises questions about whether Bush will have the continuity that his staff has said he wanted.
The administration announced last week that White House counsel Alberto R. Gonzales would replace Ashcroft, becoming the first Hispanic to head the Department of Justice. However, the White House did not immediately announce replacements for Powell or the other departing Cabinet members.
Bush is launching the most ambitious legislative agenda of any of his years in office, and his aides are constantly cognizant of the possibility of having to respond to a terrorist attack.
(Continua)
- Washington Post
Heads of Agriculture, Education and Energy Also Resign
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who has sparred for four years with the more hawkish members of President Bush's war cabinet, announced his resignation today, joining a growing list of departures from the administration's top ranks as Bush heads into a second term.
In a one-page resignation letter dated Friday and released by the White House today, Powell, 67, did not explain his decision, saying only that "the time has come for me to step down as Secretary of State and return to private life." Powell said he was resigning "effective at your pleasure." He went on to praise Bush's leadership.
"I am pleased to have been part of a team that launched the Global War Against Terror, liberated the Afghan and Iraqi people, brought the attention of the world to the problem of proliferation, reaffirmed our alliances, adjusted to the Post-Cold War World and undertook major initiatives to deal with the problem of poverty and disease in the developing world," Powell wrote.
In a briefing at the State Department after the letter was released, Powell said it had always been his intention to serve one term, but that he would stay on "for a number of weeks or a month or two" until his replacement is confirmed by the Senate.
He said the administration's unfinished business in foreign policy includes continuing to pursue the war on terrorism, consolidating gains in Afghanistan and defeating the insurgency in Iraq. In the weeks ahead, Powell said, he plans to keep working to strengthen U.S. alliances and seek solutions to the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs. He said he has a busy schedule of meetings and foreign trips planned that include work on advancing the Middle East peace process following the death last week of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Asked what he plans to do when he leaves office, Powell answered, "I don't know."
His departure -- along with the previously announced resignation of Attorney General John D. Ashcroft -- signals a transformation of Bush's national security team.
The resignation of Powell, a 35-year veteran of the Army who rose to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is among four that the White House announced today.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the other Cabinet officials resigning include Education Secretary Roderick R. Paige, 71, who informed the president of his wishes last week, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman, 55, and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, 52.
In addition to Ashcroft, Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans, 58, had earlier announced his resignation.
Administration officials said the departures would be staggered.
The exodus -- including the previously announced departure of Ashcroft, who is in charge of several aspects of the fight against terrorism -- raises questions about whether Bush will have the continuity that his staff has said he wanted.
The administration announced last week that White House counsel Alberto R. Gonzales would replace Ashcroft, becoming the first Hispanic to head the Department of Justice. However, the White House did not immediately announce replacements for Powell or the other departing Cabinet members.
Bush is launching the most ambitious legislative agenda of any of his years in office, and his aides are constantly cognizant of the possibility of having to respond to a terrorist attack.
(Continua)
- Washington Post
publicado por MP às 21:42
