WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Colin Powell discusses school violence, Kosovo (New Haven-WTNH) _ As Connecticut authorities struggle to deal with threats of violence at the state's schools, retired General Colin Powell is weighing in on the issue. The former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff visited Southern Connecticut State University Thursday night. Powell is different kind of battle this time -- a battle for America's kids. News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports. Colin Powell: "I think parents have to get a grip. There is not a bomb waiting in every school." Colin Powell says the Littleton tragedy resulted from the actions of two homicidal and suicidal young men. He says we need to create a more cohesive community, and opportunities for America's youth, such as the Colorado gunmen, to channel their energies into creative things. Powell: "Perhaps tutoring elementary school or working in a hospital, get them out of themselves, get them out of that little dark room of despair that they had entered by having them share their lives with people in need." The retired chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is the current chairman of America's Promise, the Alliance for Youth, a national crusade to improve the lives of young people. But a group of about two dozen protestors say Powell has no business talking about improving kids' lives. They hold him responsible for the deaths of a hundred thousand Iraqi civilians in Operation Desert Storm and through sanctions still in effect today. Stanley Heller, Protestor: "We're protesting the continuing war on Iraqi civilians. they've paid enough. I mean Iraq was wrong in that invasion but the Iraqi civilians are the ones who have paid for that crime." Powell says he supports the current mission in Kosovo, and that hopes of a possible political settlement - if Slobodan Milosevic agrees to international peacekeeping forces - are no reason to end the bombing campaign. Powell: "I hope he'll agree to those terms and I think the president has no choice and NATO has no choice but to keep the military pressure up." And does the still popular retired general have any presidential ambitions? Powell: "No, thank you. I have no political desires, ambitions or inclination of that nature." Powell visited SCSU to kick of a new lecture series benefiting the school's scholarship fund. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Colin Powell discusses school violence, Kosovo
(New Haven-WTNH) _ As Connecticut authorities struggle to deal with threats of violence at the state's schools, retired General Colin Powell is weighing in on the issue. The former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff visited Southern Connecticut State University Thursday night. Powell is different kind of battle this time -- a battle for America's kids.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports.

Colin Powell: "I think parents have to get a grip. There is not a bomb waiting in every school."

Colin Powell says the Littleton tragedy resulted from the actions of two homicidal and suicidal young men. He says we need to create a more cohesive community, and opportunities for America's youth, such as the Colorado gunmen, to channel their energies into creative things.

Powell: "Perhaps tutoring elementary school or working in a hospital, get them out of themselves, get them out of that little dark room of despair that they had entered by having them share their lives with people in need."

The retired chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is the current chairman of America's Promise, the Alliance for Youth, a national crusade to improve the lives of young people.

But a group of about two dozen protestors say Powell has no business talking about improving kids' lives. They hold him responsible for the deaths of a hundred thousand Iraqi civilians in Operation Desert Storm and through sanctions still in effect today.

Stanley Heller, Protestor: "We're protesting the continuing war on Iraqi civilians. they've paid enough. I mean Iraq was wrong in that invasion but the Iraqi civilians are the ones who have paid for that crime."

Powell says he supports the current mission in Kosovo, and that hopes of a possible political settlement - if Slobodan Milosevic agrees to international peacekeeping forces - are no reason to end the bombing campaign.

Powell: "I hope he'll agree to those terms and I think the president has no choice and NATO has no choice but to keep the military pressure up."

And does the still popular retired general have any presidential ambitions?

Powell: "No, thank you. I have no political desires, ambitions or inclination of that nature."

Powell visited SCSU to kick of a new lecture series benefiting the school's scholarship fund.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.