2006-2007 DISTINGUISHED LECTURER RICHARD CLARKE BRINGS CROWDS TO CLARK COLLEGE
Former counterterrorism czar and bestselling author Richard Clarke was the second
speaker to visit Clark College as part of the institution’s Distinguished Lecture
Series.
During an afternoon session for students and keynote address on the evening of May
7, Clarke outlined for audience members his perspective, based on his role as a senior
White House advisor under three different administrations, on terrorism and the war
in Iraq. “There was no relationship between Iraq and 9/11,” Clarke said.
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Students listened intently as Clarke described the relationship between the terrorist
attacks of 2001
and the country’s current involvement in Iraq. |
Clarke asserted his disagreement with President Bush’s position that the people we
(the United States) are fighting in Iraq are the people who attacked us on September
11. He went on to outline the world’s response to that action as having a negative
impact on our country. “The circle of who supports – politically and financially –
al-Qaida is growing because Americans are in Iraq,” said Clarke.
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| Students James Owens, ASCC President Amanda Mayoral, and ASCC Finance Director Nicole
Porter stop for a picture with Richard Clarke following his afternoon lecture. |
“The war in Iraq is simply a mistake,” said Clarke. “It was a mistake to go in. It
is a mistake to stay in.” Clarke advocated for ending the war in Iraq and for, in
his words, “bringing our soldiers home and treating them as the heroes they are,”complete
with full benefits and support.
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| Following his keynote lecture, Clarke met audience members and signed books. |
The Clark College Distinguished Lecture Series was established to bring regionally
and nationally renowned speakers to the college to engage students, faculty and the
greater community on issues of regional, national and global importance.
Clarke’s appearance was sponsored by Clark College, the Associated Students of Clark
College and the Clark College Foundation.
