Former Secretary of State Colin Powell dies at 84

Leaders around the world paid tribute to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who died of complications from Covid - 19 on Monday at 84.

Colin embodied the highest ideals of both warrior and diplomat. Joe Biden is committed to our nation s strength and security above all, President Tinian said in a statement. Powell paid tribute to Biden's personal influence in foreign policy and trailblazing legacy as well as their foreign friends.

My friend was Colin. A trusted confidant in a good and difficult time. He could drive a Stingray like nobody s business, he said.

A retired four-star general who became the nation's first black secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff served twice in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action and later received the Soldier Medal for rescuing men from a burning helicopter. He rose through the military ranks before serving as national security adviser for former President George H.W., then chairman of the Joint Chiefs under former President Ronald Reagan. Before his tenure in Secretary of State, Bush and Bill Clinton were both good at the job.

He was a great public servant, starting with his period as a soldier during Vietnam, wrote former President George W. Bush, who Powell served as secretary of state in Vietnam and then left to serve as a military officer there. Many presidents relied on General Powell'advice and experience He was such a favorite of presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice. He was highly respected at home and abroad. Powell was completely vaccinated and was being treated at Walter Reed National Medical Center, his family said in a Facebook statement. Powell was affected by multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.

Today our nation mourns the passing of a truly great man, his successor, Condoleezza Rice said in a statement in lieu of Secretary of State. Colin Powell spent the entirety of his life in service to his country. He was a dear colleague and a trusted friend through difficult times. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called his predecessor a great leader and a extraordinary man. Blinken dedicated his life to public service because he never stopped believing in America, Powell said. And we believe in America, in no small part because it helped produce someone like Colin Powell. "I'm deeply saddened to learn that America has lost a leader and statesman", former Vice President Dick Cheney said in a statement. General Powell had a distinguished career and I was very fortunate to work with him. He was a man who served his country and loved it for long and well. As Secretary of State, Powell delivered a noteworthy speech to the United Nations Security Council in February 2003 that laid out the administration's rationale for invading Iraq, saying there was intelligence to back up the claim that the country had weapons of mass destruction. After U.S. troops invaded the following month, evidence was later shown to be incorrect.

In recent years, Obama supported Democrats and became the first president by backing President Powell. Powell was highly critical of former president Donald Trump and he said he couldn’t now call himself a Republican after the Jan. 6 riot at Capitol.

Both Democrats and Republicans were effusive in their praise of Powell.

Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., lost a trailblazing leader with the passing of Colin Powell, Senate Minority Leader and Mitch McConnell in a statement said in : Today we remember and honor a man who truly dedicated his entire life to serving his country. House speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. praised Powell as an American leader who dedicated his life to defending our nation and our families and a patriot who embodied the American Dream. Rep. Powell, D-Calif. a staunch critic of the Iraq War, called Barbara Lee a trailblazer, serving as the first Black Secretary of State. Gen. Powell a served this country with decency, integrity, and respect to everyone he encountered, she added.