lloyd austin the defence secretary who said that mister powell was one of the greatest leaders the world has witnessed but also he said i lost a tremendous friend and mentor, ifeel as if i have lost a tremendous friend and mentor, i feel as if i have a lost a tremendous friend and mentor, ifeel as if i have a hole in my heart. you also had quite a strong tribute from tony blair who said that colin powell was a towering figure in american military and political leadership. but again somebody who is hugely likeable and warm with a warm personality and a grand companion. you getting both of these elements coming in quite full simile. the professional side but also the personal side. so tributes from some. criticism from others. the journalist spencer ackerman tweeted "whatever else colin powell achieved in life, and it was a lot, he was the only man who could have stopped the iraq war and instead he chose to swallow his doubts about the disaster he knew it would be and sell the invasion." colin powell later came to say that episode was a "blot" on his reputation. warren strobel is national security