Cohen explains new security role

Published: Thursday, October 29, 1998

Thursday, October 29, 1998

SPEECH: Protesters shout questions as secretary of defense speaks at UCLA

By Lawrence Ferchaw

Daily Bruin Staff

In front of an audience of students, faculty and community members, Secretary of Defense William Cohen addressed international relations and national security.

But the warm reception that Cohen received by the audience in Korn Convocation Hall of the Anderson School at UCLA was occasionally peppered with chants against the secretary and U.S. policy toward suspected terrorists.

After an outdoor reception, the audience filed into the auditorium and was greeted by Richard Rosecrance, director of the Center for International Relations.

Cohen's speech was part of the Bernard Brodie Distinguished Lecture Series. Rosecrance said he was "delighted" to present the speaker and went on to recall the life of Brodie, who was a professor at UCLA and scholar in the area of international relations.

"He's the kind of person after whom you would want to name a lecture series," Rosecrance said after the event.

Chancellor Albert Carnesale introduced Cohen, a former senator and congressman, and remembered testifying before congressional committees on which Cohen served.

"He was always nice to me," Carnesale said. Carnesale studied and taught nuclear strategy and engineering and testified as an expert before congressional committees.

Cohen led off his speech with a series of jokes and recognized some of the members of the audience, including former Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

Cohen went on to address past predictions in international relations that turned out to be inaccurate.

"Not long ago, as Europe emerged from the Cold War, many thought NATO would be confined to the dustbin of history. Now it's experiencing a rebirth," Cohen said.

He also outlined his strategy for international relations and the use of the military. The three components shape, respond, and prepare are aimed at forming a positive opinion of the United States abroad, responding quickly and appropriately to problems, and being prepared for the future with technology.

"We have to be nimble, flexible and muscular," Cohen said.

After quoting a number of historical figures, including Winston Churchill, Cohen concluded his remarks and began taking questions from the audience.

Christopher asked the first question about the impact of increasing the defense department's budget. Cohen was then challenged by Syed Rizvi, a student who wanted to know why the the military acted so quickly after the terrorist attacks on two U.S. embassies in Africa.

"It took the U.S. three hours to deploy and kill many civilians in the Sudan. Why has it taken three months to act in Kosovo?" asked Rizvi, a third-year business economics student.

Cohen responded that it was a good question, but when he began to explain his answer, a few members of the audience began to shout out, "Stop the lies. Stop the killing."

Other audience members told the protesters to stop, and applauded loudly at Cohen's response to drown out the protests. After a few more questions, another student challenged Cohen again.

"I'm very glad people had a chance to express their opinions against the secretary as well as in favor," Rosecrance said. "It would have been very bad if all we had there were essentially military-oriented people."

About 10 protesters were present during the event.

"We wanted to show that an event like that cannot go unopposed," said Ahmed Shama, president of the Muslim Students Association.

One audience member didn't mind the protests.

"I don't blame them for protesting, but I'm glad it didn't get out of hand," said Bridget Packett, a fourth-year political science student at Pepperdine University.

BAHMAN FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin

Secretary of Defense William Cohn spoke at The Anderson School and was protested by a few students. protested

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