Gen Powell: a lesson for Pakistanis

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

A COUPLE of years ago I read the autobiography of Gen Colin Powell, who later on served as US secretary of state.

While in active service, he was posted as national security adviser and this is what he has to say about his tenure there:

”I’d enjoyed many perks in my job as national security adviser but no home-to-work transportation was authorised by Congress in my new post.

So, there I was running a million person operation and driving to work in a gasping, gas-guzzling 16-year-old Chrysler station wagon, which left oil puddles in front of FORSCOM’s brand new $40 million headquarters.

But once I got to the office, Otis could legitimately chauffeur me around to my official appointments in a gleaming government-issued Mercury.

By the way, the general also fondly remember, playing racquetball with his driver, Otis Pearson. This should be an eye opener for Pakistanis.

HILAL AHMED Karachi

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Newspaper

KE monopoly has to come to an end

Private invigilators

Tragic disparity

John Pinto

Nov 08, 2012 12:18pm

I think rogue corrupt indian leaders would upstage pakistanis on this one. Like vijaya mallya said recently that it's better to be a khadi wearing billionaire politician in india than a businessman.

Recommend 0

Salman Chaudhry

Nov 09, 2012 04:19am

There are hundreds and thousands of eye opening things for Pakistanis but the eye is permanently closed.

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Saqib

Nov 08, 2012 10:34am

Collin Powels address to the United Nations security council: "My purpose today is to provide you with additional information, to share with you what the United States knows about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction as well as Iraq's involvement in terrorism, which is also the subject of resolution 1441 and other earlier resolutions."

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mubashar

Nov 08, 2012 01:35pm

you should also know what he has done to iraq in search for oil reserves and killing innocent muslims. dont think them as if they r the most pious in the world. we have much better ideals available with us in shape of our Holy Prophet PBUH and his 4 caliphs and even so our own Quaid-e- Azam..we dont have to look towards the americans for guidance!!

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Uza Syed

Nov 08, 2012 07:20am

Hilal Sahib, This is a great example! Please translate this in Urdu and send to all those among us who wish to be pampered and paid for all the pomp and lavish lifestyle by the ordinary citizens while they pretend public service.

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manghirmalani

Nov 08, 2012 06:56am

what are you trying to say

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Razzaq

Nov 08, 2012 07:59pm

I saw a picture of Obama carrying few boxes of Pizzas from one room to another room for waiting people may be his family or his election campaigners few days before the US election. Could you imagine any Pakistani VIP doing this?

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Ara

Nov 08, 2012 10:39pm

The same General Powell who killed hundreds of thousands in Iraq on the pretext of Weapons of mass destruction, and could not find any? And couldn't do even the lip service against those countries, who openly went nuclear? A good deed cannot wipe out the injustice done to the millions. These Paki Generals, however bad they might be, haven't killed humanity on the same scale.

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manomoni

Nov 08, 2012 08:49am

Never! Pakisthani Generals are of a different class and special!

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human

Nov 08, 2012 08:06am

He tells all Pakistanis that they are basically illiterate, including yourself.

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Javed Qamer

Nov 08, 2012 03:17pm

After General Powells lying in the UN Assembly I lost all respect for him. Reference your paragraph on Powell driving a old car. This is standard practice in America. There is no pomp or show in America. Just do your job. Everyboy is equal which is also what Islam is about.

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