Posted on 07/07/2006 1:04:38 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell was sitting in an ambulance Thursday night after falling ill while having dinner with friends.
Powell, 69, could be seen on Hopkins Avenue sitting up in an ambulance at 11 p.m. while his wife, Alma Vivian Johnson, and an aide looked on and two paramedics attended to his care. After sitting up for several moments, paramedics had him lie down inside the ambulance.
The four-star general was having dinner at Campo de Fiori with a large entourage that included former President Bill Clinton and Aspen businessman Michael Goldberg.
A source inside the dinner party said Powell was displaying symptoms compatible with altitude sickness and that the situation did not appear to be serious. No further information about the status of his health was immediately available.
Powell served as the nation's 65th secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. Before that, he was a professional soldier for 35 years, holding numerous command and staff positions before rising to the rank of a four-star general.
He served as the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the U.S. Department of Defense, from 1989 to 1993. During that time, he oversaw Operation Desert Storm as well as other national emergencies. He has earned numerous honors including two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal and the Congressional Gold Medal.
The former secretary of state is in town for the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Prayers
"The four-star general was having dinner at Campo de Fiori with a large entourage that included former President Bill Clinton . . . "
Start there, Sherlock.
The conspiracy theories on Huffington will center on Powell trying to make a deal with Fitzgerald to testify against Bush regarding Joe Wilson, requiring a toxin be poured into his drink or dinner as a warning.
The conspiracy theories on Free Republic will center on Powell against Bush by wanting to stop Mexican immigration, requiring a toxin be poured into his drink or dinner as a warning.
The Huffingtonites will be more entertaining.
Having been in Aspen I think he saw the check for the meal and it made him sick
he went over to the dark side a long time ago this was the same man who had one time loathed slick willie for his amoral behavior what's next pigs flying and the beast having sex with a human of male gender
It's alimentary, my dear Watson.
Aspen's elevation is 7,800 feet. That seems a little low for altitude sickness, but it's a very variable thing.
Alma: "You wouldn't listen to me, Colin."
LOL!!! It's late; maybe that's why I'm laughing like a maniac over this...
I used to work in Aspen several times each summer. You can go 4 years and not be bothered and get sick the 5th time you go. Or you can get off the plane and be sick for the next few days. Probably one person got sick from the altitude at every meeting that we had. (yes, I was one of those terrible DC think tank folks meeting in Aspen with the big wigs...)
Google results for Walter Isaacson, Aspen Institute CEO Walter Isaacson
I hope it wasn't Brookings?
Aspen Inst.
Knew a lot of Brookings people, tho. Small world.
I have C-SPAN on and they are replaying a Brookings event from yesterday. It's on the upcoming G-8 summit. I see Strobe Talbott is now the president.
Hey, I just looked at your profile page. The Drumheller fountain. Do you know who it's named after? Yesterday, on Washington Journal, there was a retired CIA, Director of Ops fellow with the same last name.
Naw, I just think that being in the same room as the Human Stain made him sick.
Not a typical name, but probably not the same guy. I just did a quick look around and it seems that the guy who gave the fountain to the UW was a state legislator. I didn't see a DC connection, but again, I just did a quick look.
My heart bleeds.
Boo hoo.
Bingo.
Thanks. I also looked on C-SPAN and then I remembered he was on MSNBC with Nora O'Donnell. Probably not his real fake name anyway.
Joining your prayers.
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