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The United Nations, nation building and the challenges of managing the post-war crisis in Iraq were all subjects of a speech by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson this week.
Tuesday marked the inaugural event of the Distinguished Lecture Series held at the Maine Center for the Arts. Sponsored by the governor’s office and the University of Maine, the event featured Richardson, who is also former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former secretary of energy under President Bill Clinton.
The title of Richardson’s speech was “The United Nations, Iraq and the United States: Meeting the Challenge, Sharing the Burden.”
Also speaking at the event was UMaine President Peter Hoff, Student Body President Matthew Rodrigue and Maine Gov. John Baldacci.
Rodrigue opened the series by briefly introducing himself and his views on the job description of a student body president. Rodrigue said the lecture series is one of many events crucial to Student Government’s goals and that a primary focus of his position is to craft new leaders for student body service.
“This event is a sign that Maine is on the right track,” Rodrigue said.
He praised the selection of Richardson as a speaker for the series, saying the choice would contribute to the university’s goal of adding a multicultural element to students’ life and education.
Hoff welcomed the audience and said the lecture series will become an annual tradition at UMaine. Hoff spoke highly of Richardson, noting that the former ambassador’s credentials make him an excellent choice for the series’ inaugural speaker. Hoff also thanked attendees, taking special time to thank Woodland High School students for attending the event.
Hoff concluded by introducing Gov. Baldacci, whose speech was delayed by a standing ovation from the audience and those on stage. Baldacci, a UMaine graduate, thanked Hoff and praised the opportunity to discuss multicultural issues in a university setting. He spoke of current efforts underway by his administration to expand trade with Canada through the Northeast Atlantic Region trading zone, as well as the east-west highway.
“We recognize the importance of international collaboration and international commerce and that we, in fact, live in a global economy,” Baldacci said.
The governor said he is working to continue trade with New Brunswick and other Maritime provinces in Canada. He also spoke of capital projects and investments, including the growth of biotechnology research in Orono, which will begin to combat the problem of graduates leaving the state to seek employment.
Later in the month, Baldacci said he will lead a group of business and education leaders to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Citing the work of former Sen. George Mitchell in the Irish peace process, Baldacci said the country is an obvious first choice for his first oversees trip as governor.
Following his presentation, Baldacci introduced Richardson as a “good friend, colleague, and the best third baseman [the] congressional baseball team had.”
Richardson began his speech by outlining three points – U.N. involvement with Iraq, Iraq’s effect on U.S. foreign policy, and post-war challenges in Iraq.
Richardson discussed preconceived notions about the United Nations and pros and cons of the organization as a whole.
“I concede the point that the U.N. has its weaknesses,” Richardson said.
He acknowledged that the United Nations is largely bureaucratic and that the balance of power can shift to certain regions of the globe. However, Richardson said the United Nations has many positive aspects that greatly benefit humanity.
“The U.N. does more than any other body on the planet for … protecting human rights and women’s rights … providing health care … keeping children safe [through UNICEF] … promoting schooling and access to education … controlling arms proliferation … and peace-keeping,” he said.
Richardson cited the current involvement of the United Nations in six out of eight current conflicts on the African continent. He stressed that the United Nations plays an integral role in current events and that its place is essential in the world political and social scene.
“The United Nations is a vehicle for moving the human condition forward,” Richardson said.
He continued by saying it is in the United States’ best interest to cooperate with the United Nations to build a multinational coalition to combat evils facing the global society.
Turning to Iraq, Richardson said he supported President Bush’s decision to enter Iraq. He spoke of the evils committed by Saddam Hussein’s regime through intimidation, dilution of his nation’s resources, torture chambers and the murder of Iranians following the Iran-Iraq war.
“The world is a better place without Saddam Hussein,” the governor said.
However, Richardson said an international coalition should have been assembled with U.N. approval for the mission.
“This was a war of choice … Afghanistan was a war of necessity,” he said. Richardson continued by stressing the need for the U.S. to reach out to other countries through the United Nations and seek financial and political support for the rebuilding of Iraq’s infrastructure and government.
“Having allies would allow us to share this [financial] burden,” he said.
Iraq’s assets, specifically its oil reserves, should be used as the base for reconstruction, and America should not carry an $87 billion burden to rebuild Iraq, Richardson said.
Focusing on the challenges facing the United States in the post-war setting, Richardson stressed the need for America to not ostracize itself from the outside world.
“The reconstruction of Iraq, the building of a Middle East peace, is an international obligation,” he said.
Richardson concluded his lecture with a reminder that the enemies of the future won’t be the traditional ones of the past.
“It’s going to be enemies that you cannot see or trace,” he said. “It’s going to be initiatives that somehow have legitimacy, but are wrought deep beneath hatred and intolerance.”
The governor closed by quoting author Walter Lippmann, who spoke to the American people at the outset of the Second World War. “For everything you cherish, there is a duty you must fulfill. For every good that you wish to preserve, you must sacrifice your ease and comfort. There is nothing for nothing, anymore.”
Bangor Daily News