War should be the politics of last resort. And when we go to war, we should have a purpose that our people understand and support.

The remark encapsulates Colin Powell’s long-standing view—shaped by Vietnam and his later role as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Secretary of State—that military force should be used only after political and diplomatic options have been exhausted. It also stresses democratic legitimacy: if a nation commits to war, leaders owe citizens a clear, limited objective that can be explained in plain terms and sustained by public consent. The quote aligns with what is often called the “Powell Doctrine,” emphasizing clarity of mission, broad support, and a realistic path to success rather than open-ended or ambiguous interventions.