Powell Doctrine

The Powell Doctrine is named after General Colin Powell who was an important leader in the US military. The Powell Doctrine is a set of guidelines for when the US military should get involved in conflicts abroad. The Doctrine says that if the US decides to use military power, it should only be used when there is a clear goal and exit strategy, when there is a great public support for military action, and when the military action has a realistic chance of success. The main idea is to avoid military action unless it is absolutely necessary and to make sure the US is prepared and ready to act if it must.