Powell a diplomatist

Reading chapter 14 captioned National Security Advisor to the President (who was Ronald Reagan) of Colin Powell's book My American Journey, each paragraph was filled with exciting revelations of Powell's skillfulness and tactfulness as an advisor to president Reagan in top-level talks on the treaty concerning intermediate range nuclear forces. It is not without reason that Powell's name often emerged in connection with current references to the candidacy for the post of secretary of state.

Amid the latest news on CNN regarding the upcoming cabinet formation being contemplated by President Clinton was the hint that the strong candidate for secretary of state is George Mitchell, former Democratic majority leader and former member of the Senate Finance Committee. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that in any news report on the candidacy for secretary of state, Powell's name always popped up. Robert Novak, columnist of the Chicago Sun Times ruled out Powell as a candidate for the post by stating that Vice President Al Gore does not want him.

However, aside from Gore's personal disposition in that respect, Bill Clinton, in an interview with a senior reporter from CBS News, in response to the latter's question whether he would offer the post to Powell, only smiled amiably and said: "Of course. I have a high regard for General Colon Powell."

Not only Bill Clinton, but also well-known political figures like Ross Perot and former Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan expressed high regard for Powell.

An exchange of notes between Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska and the then presidential candidate George Bush took place just after Christmas 1987 and Jan. 5, 1988. Ted Stevens wrote: "Dear George, I am really impressed with Colin Powell. In my judgment, he should be on your short list for potential vice presidents." Bush replied: "Ted, you are right about Colin Powell. A class guy in every way."

Although Powell is a soldier by profession, nevertheless in his career, he has proven himself as a diplomatist. A "diplomat" denotes a person who deals with diplomacy merely by virtue of career or profession. A "diplomatist", however, embodies qualifications of extra skillfulness and craftsmanship in steering diplomacy.

Prototypes of a diplomatist are represented by Anthony Eden, Andrei Gromyko, John Foster Dulles, Carlos P. Romulo and Mamoru Shigemitsu. From an Indonesian perspective, Mochtar Kusumaatmadja may be included in the ranks of diplomatists.

If ever Colin Powell is selected to fill the post of secretary of state, within the policy of bipartisan cooperation on the cabinet level as a bridge to the 21st century, this will go down in the history of American diplomacy as the first African- American who served as secretary of state in the post Cold War era, and under a president who himself will leave an American legacy.

SAM SUHAEDI

Jakarta