"Far from being the Great Satan, I would say that we are the Great Protector. We have sent men and women from the armed forces of the United States to other parts of the world throughout the past century to put down oppression. We defeated Fascism. We defeated Communism. We saved Europe in World War I and World War II. We were willing to do it, glad to do it. We went to Korea. We went to Vietnam. All in the interest of preserving the rights of people. And when all those conflicts were over, what did we do? Did we stay and conquer? Did we say, "Okay, we defeated Germany. Now Germany belongs to us? We defeated Japan, so Japan belongs to us"? No. What did we do? We built them up. We gave them democratic systems which they have embraced totally to their soul. And did we ask for any land? No, the only land we ever asked for was enough land to bury our dead. And that is the kind of nation we are."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Academics from the United StatesMilitary leaders from the United StatesMemoirists from the United StatesUnited States Secretaries of StateDiplomats of the United States
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
MTV Global Discussion (14 February 2002).
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Colin_Powell
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell (b. 5 April 1937– d. 18 October 2021) was an American politician, diplomat and four-star general who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African-American Secretary of State. Prior to the elect
85 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Colin Powell →
Related Quotes
"Palestinians must accept that they can only achieve their goals through negotiation. That was the essence of the agre…"
"That's not really a number I'm terribly interested in."
"The policies — determining who would be drafted and who would be deferred, who would serve and who would escape, who …"
"The people had fled at our approach, except for an old woman too feeble to move... We burned down the thatched huts, …"
"If a [helicopter] spotted a peasant in black pajamas who looked remotely suspicious, a possible MAM, the pilot would …"
"The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting in above-average effort."
"The United Nations will spearhead our efforts to manage the new conflicts (that afflict our world)....Yes the princip…"
"Many of my generation, the career captains, majors, and lieutenant colonels seasoned in that war [Vietnam], vowed tha…"
"Dear Senator Leahy, thank you for your recent letter asking my views on the proposed flag protection amendment. I lov…"
"Our strategy in going after this army is very simple. First we are going to cut it off, and then we are going to kill…"