Powell to review technology, promote diversity at State Department

Has made 'healthy request' for extra funds

From CNN State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a meeting with hundreds of State Department employees Thursday, Secretary of State Colin Powell said he'd already made a "healthy request" to the White House for more resources.

"You need the resources to do the job well," Powell told the employees at the meeting, who greeted his remarks and answers to their questions with a standing ovation.

Much as he did during his Senate testimony last week, Powell emphasized he will also lobby Congress for more money at the State Department.

"As soon as I have put together the specific programs and the dollar details to support these programs, I'll be back," he said. "Put it on your calendars."

Powell said there would be a "reallocation of resources," a few of which could be announced in "a couple of days."

Among some of the changes: a pilot program at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico that would allow spouses to work at the facility and some form of childcare at the Foreign Service Institute.

Security review

In addition, Powell said a security review of the State Department -- its building and procedures -- was under way to see "what it makes sense to do."

Powell also paid tribute to the employees and referred to U.S. diplomats serving overseas as the "front-line troops" of the post-Cold War world.

Powell is a retired four-star general who served 35 years in the Army before retiring in 1993.

Throughout the meeting, Powell spoke about the special significance he placed on the "information technology revolution" and its power to transform.

"Even in Iraq and Iran," he said, "they have to believe in it."

AOL to examine department's technology

Powell said that, as a former board member of American Online, he had already spoken with CEO Steve Case as well as executives Michael Dell and Andy Grove and asked them to "come in and find out what we can do" about improving the State Department's information technology.

AOLTimeWarner is the parent company of CNN.

Powell said the United States faces new threats in the world, including weapons of mass destruction, drugs and international crime.

As the first African-American to serve as secretary of state, Powell repeated the importance he places on diversity at the State Department and said he plans to visit high schools to recruit young minority applicants.

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