What became of General Powell?

Sir — The office of secretary of state is the most important political office after that of the President in the United States scheme of government. It is enshrined in the US Constitution. General (rtd) Colin Powel is the first black American to hold this office, to which he brought a wealth of experience and prestige, on account, inter alia, of his having served as chairman of joint chiefs of staff during the US-Iraq war, nicknamed Desert Storm. Yet for the last three weeks or so Powell’s name has not been mentioned in our local newspapers, radio or television except once, when the Monitor printed his photograph whilst welcoming President Joseph Kabila to the state Department, an activity that was not connected to the war America is waging against Osama bin Laden and the Talibans. The secretary of state of the United States is the maker and chief adviser to the president on all aspects of US foreign policy. Right now, the US anti-terrorist war foreign policy is apparently being conducted by defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, assisted by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, both of whom are globe-trotting to the Middle East, Russia, some former Soviet Union states, Pakistan, India, others, cementing the anti- Taliban alliance whilst Secretary Powell is conspicuous by his absence. This raises the obvious question: is four-star Gen. Powell, one of the heroes of Operation Desert Storm, first Afro-American to head the state Department being sidestepped, eased out or ditched? Yours in astonishment Abu Mayanja