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During a speech in St. Louis Park, Gen. Colin Powell said terrorism is a "mere technique" and doesn't have the power to change people's lives the way Communism did. (MPR Photo/Annie Baxter)

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was in the Twin Cities area on Sunday night to deliver a lecture ar the Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park. Powell presented his views on a host of foreign policy issues. And he offered some timely ruminations on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

St. Louis Park, Minn. — About 800 people convened at the Beth El Synagogue to hear Gen. Colin Powell (ret). His speech culled together his experiences both as a statesman and as a military man. Powell was a soldier for 35 years and rose to the rank of four star general. He then served as national security advisor, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and in 2001 he became secretary of state under President George W. Bush.

Powell distilled his wide-ranging experiences into an optimistic overview of world affairs. He held forth on the significance of the current political stability in Europe and Asia. And he argued that some of the threats the world faces, such as terrorism, are less sinister than Communism or fascism. He said terrorism is a mere technique and doesn't have the power to change people's lives the way Communism did.

Powell's positive tone resonated with Marvin Bloom, who attended the lecture.

"His bright outlook on the way the world is going, the global, economies, and how we fit in, was... I now see the world in a different light. And I'd like to see him in the white house for eight years," he said.

Bloom says he agreed with Powell's assessment of big issues, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Powell insisted that the Mideast peace process must include the creation of a Palestinian state.

Beth El congregation member Penny Glassman said she liked Powell's message overall, though she was somewhat wary of his hopes for Palestinian statehood.

"I appreciated that he feels we need to be optimistic in order to really see anything happen. I think the challenge is still there, that there are doubts still in our minds, that how will we ever really compromise, be able to live with people that are anxious to see Israel destroyed," she said.

Powell expressed concern in his speech for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's health. The prime minister suffered a stroke last week and it's unclear if he'll recover. Powell praised Sharon for his peacemaking efforts in shutting down Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. And he said he's confident either Sharon or a successor will continue to carry the torch of the peace process.

Powell delivered his remarks as a part of Beth El synagogue's national speaker series.