Listen up, students: Now is the time to take a stand against the problems that America faces. That was the message that General Wesley Clark brought to Saint Louis University on the night of Tuesday, April 8, as part of his speech, “U.S. Security in the New Millennium.” The retired four-star general spoke to about 400 in the St. Louis Room of the Busch Student Center.
Clark, former supreme allied commander of NATO in Europe and an MSNBC analyst, was welcomed by the Great Issues Committee, the SLU chapter of College Democrats and the Center for International Studies.
“This is a call for a generation to take change,” Clark said.
He said that this decade is “a difficult time for the United States” and that the generation of 20-somethings will be the generation to decide the direction of the country over the course of the next 50 years.
He cited the current Middle East conflicts and the waning economy as priorities for the next president and Congress.
Clark has been an opponent of the Iraqi invasion, and he elaborated on how the United States has fallen into the “greatest strategic blunder” in United States military history. Clark said that General David Petraeus, who is testifying to Congress about the war this week, is in a tough spot, but called him “brilliant and honest.”
“[The military doesn’t] know when to get out,” Clark said. “Petraeus’ job is success. That’s his mission. But progress is fragile.”
Clark credits the Iraq War to the “shock” of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. “Americans didn’t know what to do,” he said. “The attack became the rational for cleaning up the Middle East. We had no strategy.”
Clark described his plan to vacate the Middle East peacefully and productively, saying, “It’s time to go.” The plan involves diplomatic, political and economic initiatives in order to force results.
“The world has gone on,” Clark said. “This is America’s problem now.”
Clark admitted that there will be “nothing more difficult” than for the United States to disengage from Iraq. “We can’t do this alone,” he said.
While the Iraqi War dominated his speech, Clark also discussed problems facing Americans at home, such as rebuilding the infrastructure, and he called the U.S. the “only superpower that doesn’t get health care.” Clark was also adamant about restoring relations with the United Nations and Europe, saying the United States “need[s] our best friends” to help us combat a growing China.
Clark is also the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, and he has received honorary knighthoods from the British and Dutch governments. He served for 34 years in the U.S. Army.
Clark, a Democrat, endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton in her bid for president. Clark said that his name has been mentioned by both Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign as a possible vice presidential candidate. Clark served under former President Bill Clinton’s presidency and has known Sen. Clinton for 24 years.
Clark said he thinks that the Democrats will be able to engage Republicans on the issue of national security.
“The Democrats are going to try to win the election on other grounds, like the economy,” Clark said. “The Democrats aren’t the best on security. The Republicans are crazy about that. But they have made bad judgments that have left this country in jeopardy. And I think the Democrats will be able to argue that.”
Mary Wolf, program assistant for the Center for International Studies, said, “I thought Clark did a tremendous job . It was fascinating to hear where he thinks the United States is headed and where we should be headed.”
Senior Dan McGinnis, the GIC chair, said Clark was chosen because “he knows and represents the United States in the international community.”
Sophomore Matt Favoino, treasurer of the College Democrats, said his group sponsored Clark’s visit to SLU because “his advice and strength in military affairs highlights the Democrats’ readiness to tackle national security.”
Clark said he was “very excited” to be at SLU after having to cancel the original event on March 6 after being stranded in Dallas due to a snowstorm.
