Reactions to the death of Colin Powell: "We will remember him as one of our great Americans"

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In memory of Powell, the flags in the United States will be hoisted at half-mast until Friday

Photo: MICHAEL REYNOLDS / EPA

After Colin Powell's death, companions and top politicians paid tribute to the former US Secretary of State. The retired four-star general died at the age of 84 from complications as a result of a corona infection, his family announced on Monday. He was therefore vaccinated against the virus. "We have lost an excellent and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great American," the family declared.

US President

praised Powell as a "reliable confidante in good and difficult times."

He and First Lady Jill Biden were "deeply saddened by the demise of our dear friend and a patriot of unsurpassed honor and dignity," said a statement from the President distributed by the White House.

"He will be remembered as one of our great Americans." As a former chief of staff and secretary of state, Powell embodied "the highest ideals of both the warrior and the diplomat."

By order of Biden, the flags in the USA will be hoisted at half-mast until Friday.

The decree applies to the flags on the White House, on all public buildings and military facilities in the country, as well as on US embassies and consulates around the world.

From 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush, the liberal-minded ex-military was the first African American in history to be the US Secretary of State.

Powell is known, among other things, for a controversial appearance before the United Nations Security Council in 2003, where he presented alleged evidence of weapons of mass destruction, which Iraq did not have at all, to justify a US invasion of Iraq.

Powell himself later described the appearance as an "eyesore" on his résumé.

"He was a great public servant, starting with his days as a soldier in Vietnam," said

, adding that Powell was "highly respected at home and abroad."

Former British Prime Minister

, who had strongly supported the US war in Iraq, said: “He was wonderful to work with, he showed loyalty and respect, and was one of those leaders who always treated his subordinates with kindness and care . "

US Secretary of State

said of his predecessor that he was "an exceptional leader and a great person."

“He was a man of ideas, but he wasn't ideological.

He was always listening, learning, adapting.

He could admit mistakes.

That was just another example of his integrity. "

Senate Republican Majority

said, "With the death of Colin Powell, America lost a groundbreaking leader." Has."

The Chairwoman of the House of Representatives, Democrat

paid tribute to Powell.

"Today the nation has lost a historical leader," she said.

His death is "another sad sign of the devastating toll that the coronavirus continues to take in our country."

Acting Secretary of Defense

said the deceased was one of the "greatest leaders we have ever met," and lamented the loss of "a great personal friend and mentor."

Austin, who is himself the first African-American Secretary of Defense, stressed Powell's pioneering role as the first black man in numerous top positions.

Federal Foreign Minister

(SPD) called Powell a "straightforward foreign politician".

Europe is losing “a transatlantic bridge builder”.

Powell was very attached to Germany "as a general at the time of reunification."

aar / dpa / AFP