Powell Tells Students U.S. Is Still 'A Respected Place'

Thursday, September 13th 2007, 6:22 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Retired Army General Colin Powell says the United States' standing in the world has fallen in recent years, but the country is still respected around the world. The former secretary of state under President Bush addressed that issue and the Iraq war during a speech and a question-and-answer session at the University of Oklahoma Wednesday afternoon.

Powell focused on how the world political situation has evolved during a career that's included serving in Vietnam, visiting former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s and being part of President Bush's cabinet as the Iraq policy developed.

Powell only briefly mentioned reports on the status of the current troop surge from General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

He says the military surge has produced results, but a political surge from Iraqis to begin to resolve their differences and reconcile politically hasn't happened.

Powell says while he supported the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the removal of Saddam Hussein as that nation's dictator, the United States wasn't prepared for the aftermath.