Posted on 11/18/2002 2:30:23 PM PST by Vets_Husband_and_Wife
"Former president shares message of optimism at UC Davis event"
Chris Kaufman /Appeal-Democrat. Former President Bill Clinton connects with audience members at Freeborn Hall on the University of California, Davis campus during a visit there and the Mondavi Center on Sunday. Clinton's speech at the Mondavi Center drew an audience of about 3,000 people.
In the post Sept. 11 world, where nations' futures are darkened by threats from a host of social, political and religious ills, former President Bill Clinton still sees a light of hope for humanity.
Instead of fearing the challenges, Clinton believes the United States should be engaged by them and do whatever it can to help out the troubled parts of the world.
In the end, following an investment of heart - as well as cash - the whole world would win.
"I am, on balance, quite optimistic," Clinton said to 3,000 people at the University of California, Davis, on Sunday. "I think we will share the future because we will have no choice."
Clinton's speech was part of a lecture series of speakers at the Mondavi Center, which also includes such minds as renowned scientist Stephen Hawking. A simultaneous broadcast was played to students in Freeborn Hall, who watched for free.
Clinton's message focused on four points for building a better future: Building institutions, evaluating security strategies, forming positive strategies and developing habits of the mind and heart.
Nations of the world should become interdependent instead of isolating themselves from the world, he said.
Chris Kaufman /Appeal-Democrat. Former President Bill Clinton briefly spoke to about 635 people at Freeborn Hall after speaking for nearly an hour at the Mondavi Center, both at UC Davis, on Sunday.
Starting with security, Clinton praised efforts by President George W. Bush to eradicate al-Qaida terrorists and their networks worldwide.
"The goal should be to stop big bad things from happening," he said. "I think we should do whatever we can to do that."
Instead, he said government should work with private industries for information that is readily available and won't harm civil liberties.
He talked about one company that had listed Sept. 11 terrorist Mohammed Atta as living at 12 different addresses in one year. He believes that information should have raised suspicion.
Another terrorist had 30 credit cards with $250,000 in debt - another bit of information the government could have used to catch the terrorists, he said.
During his speech, Clinton also called for a larger investment in foreign aid to other countries who may otherwise invest in weapons or other destructive programs for money.
Less than 1 percent of the U.S. budget goes to foreign aid, Clinton said. He believes that amount should at least be doubled or tripled. It would still be less than the budget for a department of Homeland Security, he said.
"It will be the best money we ever spent," Clinton said as the audience burst into applause.
"There are people who say it's not effective," he said, but that's not true."
North Korea halted plans for development of a nuclear missile program because of U.S. investment in that country, Clinton said.
He said more work needs to be done after North Korea admitted attempting to build a nuclear weapon. North Korea is not really interested in threatening the world, he said.
"I think they are screaming to the world to say they still matter," Clinton said.
The United States should sign a comprehensive nuclear weapons test ban, he added.
During his administration, Clinton said the United States paid the salaries for about 20,000 foreign scientists - a win-win for the United States and the scientists.
The investment kept them away from working on mass weapons programs, yet gave people a way to feed their families.
Clinton said he has seen first-hand the good investment in foreign countries has done for people. Instead of taking up anti-American causes, he said, the villagers of one African country thanked him and the United States for investing in them and their families.
People who have hope are less likely to take up anti-American causes, he said.
Hope has been found elsewhere in the world, he said. Successful talks between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland have brought more peace to the province than they have had in decades, he said.
However, peace efforts in troubled parts of the world are still hard because people hold on to their old beliefs - beliefs that must be purged, Clinton said. The United States should be there to help countries along the way, he said.
"It's a grand effort," he said. "It will take years to do."
After receiving a standing ovation, Clinton departed for Freeborn Hall on the other side of the campus to meet with students who watched his speech. As he made his way through the hall, Clinton gave high-fives and thanked the largely student audience for listening to his message.
Clinton donated $15,000 of his $100,000 speaking fee to a student scholarship program at UC Davis.
Clinton's visit was marked by a handful of student, staff and faculty protesters in front of the Mondavi Center, who were unhappy with Clinton's policy, but they did not interfere with his speech.
Another terrorist had 30 credit cards with $250,000 in debt - another bit of information the government could have used to catch the terrorists, he said.
Clinton is AT HIS DOUBLE SPEAK AGAIN!!! Do any of the mindnumb ROBOTS who paid and attended this "rally" opps.. "speech" NOT SEE THE HYPOCRISY??
He speaks of "CIVIL LIBERTIES" constantly, then endorses the VERY THINGS that this administration is trying to do!!
Just amazing.... sheesh!!
BTW, I don't know how to change the font under the picture captions. So the paragraph following the pictures is what was said by the Photographer UNDER the photo's. Sorry...
He talked about one company that had listed Sept. 11 terrorist Mohammed Atta as living at 12 different addresses in one year. He believes that information should have raised suspicion.
Another terrorist had 30 credit cards with $250,000 in debt - another bit of information the government could have used to catch the terrorists, he said.
How is it that having the government obtain personal records from private companies as criminal evidence does not violate civil rights? I guess you just hire private goons to do the dirty work for you.
It didn't raise suspicion...because this scumbag was the President...who was more interested in surviving impeachment and his Oral...err...Oval Office distractions...
It happened on YOUR watch Bill...so you need to answer WHY it didn't raise suspicions....
Does that mean that the event came up $15,000 short on attendence proceeds,
..or, he needs the tax deduction cause he doesn't have enough left over underwear to donate to Goodwill????
Seems to me I remember different. Seems I remember investment happening in the 90s and N. Korea still building a nuclear arsenal which was discussed just last week.
He said more work needs to be done after North Korea admitted attempting to build a nuclear weapon. North Korea is not really interested in threatening the world, he said.
You could have fooled me. And the South Koreans, the Japanese, and half of Southeast Asia. But slick here has such a 'strong' relationship with the North Korean leadership that he's apparently privy to something the rest of Southeast Asia isn't. What an idiot. And yet there are some that want to continue this under Gore or even worse, Slick's wife?
Oh, that's just brilliant. Really shows off that Rhodes Scholar intellect, wouldn't you say? Who writes his material, Edward D. Wood Jr?
"We are all interested in the future, for that, my friend, is where you and I will spend the rest of our lives."
It happened on YOUR watch Bill...so you need to answer WHY it didn't raise suspicions...."
AMEN!!!
Of course he does. Hope, a crappy little town somewhere in Arkansas.....
???!!!
CLinton said: "North Korea is not really interested in threatening the world, he said".
You said: "You could have fooled me. And the South Koreans, the Japanese, and half of Southeast Asia. But slick here has such a 'strong' relationship with the North Korean leadership that he's apparently privy to something the rest of Southeast Asia isn't. What an idiot. And yet there are some that want to continue this under Gore or even worse, Slick's wife?"
I know. It DEFIES LOGIC!
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