What Colin Powell Did on 9/11
His insistence during an overseas trip on championing democracy in foreign policy is now a relic.
On September 11, 2001, Secretary of State Colin Powell was having breakfast with Peru’s president in Lima, when he received word of the 9/11 attacks. Despite the tragedy in the United States, Powell chose to remain in Lima to assist in drafting a new hemisphere-wide democracy charter. Fears of further attacks led to the closure of U.S. airspace, leaving many senior Cabinet members unaware of President George W. Bush's whereabouts.
Powell's decision to stay reflected his belief that strong democracies were key to ensuring the security of the United States and its allies. By 12:30 p.m. eastern time, the charter was adopted by consensus and Powell departed for Washington, D.C. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Tommy Piggott, a State Department spokesperson, noted how Powell's emphasis on linking democracy promotion to national security has been eclipsed by the political climate of the time.
Under the Trump administration, the focus has shifted towards the "Donroe Doctrine," prioritizing American preeminence and national interests over promoting democracy and social change in Latin America.
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