Keeping a calm and amiable demeanor under attack by a slew of questions, former Ambassador to Cyprus and Consul General to Hong Kong Richard Boucher conveyed to a small Penn audience last night that the United States is a champion of democracy.
As part of the Distinguished Lectures Series of the National Resource Centers, Boucher was invited to discuss the United States' foreign policy and position in today's world.
Some attendees, apparently, were less than impressed with Boucher's statements, as they got up and left throughout the speech.
In his address, Boucher emphasized that America is the champion for democracy and liberty throughout the world.
Until June 2005, Boucher served as the State Department's deputy spokesman under six secretaries of state, including Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. He is well known as the "face" of American foreign policy to the press and public around the world.
Quoting John Kennedy, Boucher said that the United States' foreign policy has refocused on furthering the "success of liberty" after having temporarily reverted to "survival mode" after Sept. 11.
"There are no more Afghanistans where terrorists find [safe harbor]. ... We've obviously taken away that opportunity in ... Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere by working closely with their governments," he said.
Despite the rosy pictures he painted regarding the United States' role in the world, he added, "We're the first to admit that democracy is not a cure for terrorism, although it's a large part of our democracy agenda."
Foreign-aid programs -- such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation -- make up the other part of the cure, he said. Established in 2004, the MCC seeks to reduce poverty through economic development, particularly in those countries that have demonstrated good governance and responsibility toward their citizens.
"Linking people to people is crucial, too," Boucher added.
As a veteran of public diplomacy, Boucher knows all too well the United States' current efforts to improve its public image. "If democracy in Iraq succeeds, if human rights issues in Abu Ghraib are addressed, if the Israelis and Palestinians can reach peace, then America will improve its image," he said.
Some attendees, however, believed Boucher could have gone further in his responses.
Although Boucher received questions that spanned current issues from Turkey, Taiwan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, some found his responses too broad.
East Asian Studies graduate student Kesarin Phanarangsan said that Boucher was "a good speaker, but I didn't get any new information. He answered all the questions that were asked, but we didn't get much insight and the answers that we wanted."
College and Wharton freshman Seth Manoff also said that despite "the thought-provoking questions, a lot of Boucher's answers followed the same line of thought."
Yet Manoff noted that "only at Penn could I have listened to a veteran diplomat."
