, Columnist
Brent Scowcroft Never Hated His Enemies
His realist approach to global affairs came straight from “The Godfather.”
Realpolitiking.
Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
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As I was preparing to assume duties as supreme allied commander at NATO a decade ago, the two people I sought out for counsel were both generals: Colin Powell and Brent Scowcroft.
The advice from Powell, the former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was essentially personal, and it boiled down to: “Don’t start to think you are Charlemagne over there, Stavridis.” Meaning, don’t let your ego get out in front of you, and listen to your mentors and the chain of command.