Sandy Berger, national security advisor under Bill Clinton, spoke last night in the Rotunda Dome Room about the importance of fostering a global community.
Berger also spoke earlier in the day at the Law School, where he addressed law in international affairs.
America's power brings great responsibility, Berger said at the Rotunda.
"We are living in a new global community," he said. "Globalism is inevitable. But globalism's benefits - a safe world for America and the triumph of our values - are not ... We need to harness globalism."
Berger outlined several principles for the new Bush administration to follow in its national security policies.
He said the United States should change its alliances in Europe and Asia. For instance, he said it should try to include more Eastern European countries in NATO.
America should cultivate "firm but constructive" relationships with Russia and China, he added.
The new administration also should recognize that "local conflicts [in other countries] can have national consequences," Berger said.
He praised Clinton's peacemaking efforts in various countries and criticized the "lazy idea that because we can't do everything, to be consistent, we should do nothing."
The United States must change its priorities to cope with new national security threats, he said. The country needs more effective defense against terrorism by individuals, including the use of biological and chemical weapons, he added.
"It didn't take an intercontinental ballistic missile to attack the USS Cole or the World Trade Center," Berger said.
He questioned what he sees as President Bush's willingness to move forward with plans for a missile defense system.
He said several questions need to be answered before proceeding with such a system, including whether the United States actually can build a defense system that works and whether we are willing to violate the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Berger also spoke of America's role in the world.
The United States also should work to stop the spread of diseases such as AIDS in other countries, he said.
Finally, he said, the United States should try to "alleviate or eliminate economic disparity."
America should forgive some foreign debt and provide foreign aid to countries left behind in the global economy, he added.
Both speeches were open to the public, but the Rotunda event was better publicized, Law Democrats President Adam Green said. Berger spoke to about 80 students in an almost-full Dome Room.
The University Democrats and the Law Democrats were the main sponsors of the Rotunda speech.
Ten other groups also helped organize the event.
Berger was national security advisor during Clinton's second term and seved as a close advisor to Clinton during his in his first term. He previously worked in the State Department.
He now has a daughter in the Law School's Class of 2003.
"This is the first time I've paid $35,000 to give a speech," he joked.
Read More
Students have federal internship offers rescinded due to hiring freeze
By Nina Broderick | 2 days agoUntil July 15, no presently vacant federal civilian positions may be filled, and no new positions may be created.
Man dies from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the Rotunda
By Ford McCracken | 2 days agoThe investigation is ongoing, and additional details are not available at this time.
Virginia primary elections feature contested race for Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate
By Nicolas Biernacki | 3 days agoEligible voters can find more information about early voting by consulting the City Department of Voter Registration & Elections website or the County Department of Elections website.
