O.K., He'll Stay

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

COLIN POWELL ISN'T GOING TO RETIRE EARLY AFTER ALL, DEspite a rocky first few months under President Clinton. In February he said he might vacate his position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff "a month or two" early; now Powell has decided to finish his entire term, which ends on Sept. 30. Why the change of heart? If he resigns early, critics might claim the split between Powell and Clinton over gays in the military and other issues drove him out. Powell may be a military man, but he'd rather not leave office under a shower of flak.