Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson bio
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Background information on Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson from his earliest days of his life to the present.
Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson is a retired United States Army Colonel and former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Here's some background information on him:
Early Life and Military Career:
- Lawrence Wilkerson was born in 1945 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.
- He attended Clemson University and earned a Bachelor's degree in 1966.
- After graduating, Wilkerson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
- He served for over 30 years in the Army, including tours of duty in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.
- Wilkerson's assignments included serving as an assistant instructor at the U.S. Naval War College and as a staff officer in the Marine Corps.
Time as Colin Powell's Chief of Staff:
- In 2001, Wilkerson was appointed as the chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell.
- He served in this role from 2001 to 2005, during Powell's tenure as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush.
- Wilkerson was involved in the decision-making process leading up to the Iraq War and was present during the administration's deliberations.
Post-Government Career and Criticism:
- After leaving the government, Wilkerson became an outspoken critic of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq War.
- He publicly stated that he and others in the administration were inadequately prepared for dealing with the aftermath of the invasion.
- Wilkerson has criticized the use of what he termed "bureaucratic advocacy" in the lead-up to the war, suggesting that intelligence was manipulated to support the decision to invade.
- He has also been critical of the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and the use of enhanced interrogation techniques.
Current Activities:
- Since leaving government, Wilkerson has been involved with various think tanks and organizations, including the New America Foundation and the Center for International Policy.
- He has written articles and books, including "Winning the War, Losing the Peace" (2009) and "Samantha Power and the Genocide Agenda" (2011).
- Wilkerson continues to be an active commentator and speaker on foreign policy and national security issues.
It's worth noting that Wilkerson's criticisms of the Bush administration and his involvement in the Iraq War decision-making process have made him a controversial figure, with both supporters and detractors weighing in on his role and perspectives.
Summarize the poignant points in the book: Winning the War but Losing the Peace
