2008 Woodie Awards
Decorated general to speak on campus
Matthew Schroyer
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: A&E
Retired four-star general Barry McCaffrey's resume is enough to make any Tom Clancy buff blush.
McCaffrey graduated from West Point in 1964 and later went on to study at the American University and in the Harvard University National Security Program. He also served in Vietnam and took part in four combat tours, coming back with two Silver Stars and three Purple Heart medals.
During his 32 years of service to the military, McCaffrey commanded the 24th Infantry Division through Desert Storm in 1990 as a two-star general. McCaffrey retired a four-star general, and is currently an adjunct professor at West Point.
At 8 p.m. Saturday, McCaffrey will bring his experiences to the Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom, where he will discuss strategies in the War on Terror and related issues dominating the nation's headlines. McCaffrey will speak as part of the Arts and Issues calendar.
Grant Andree, director of Arts and Issues, said McCaffrey was an important and timely figure to bring to SIUE.
"(Terrorism) is one of the biggest problems in the world, and will be for some time," Andree said.
Andree said regardless of positions people may take on the war in Iraq, McCaffrey is an important voice to listen to.
"He's been right in the middle of it," Andree said. "Whether you're for the war (in Iraq) or against it, you've got a right to be informed."
McCaffrey initially was optimistic about Iraq's condition in a testimony he gave before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. After a visit to Iraq in June 2005, McCaffrey predicted the violence from the Iraqi insurgency to peak between January and September 2006, and said the "Iraqi elections… have fostered a supportive political base."
His tone changed in April 2006, after he returned to Iraq and wrote a report calling the Iraqi government "astonishingly corrupt and incompetent." The same report called the outlook for Iraq "perilous, uncertain and extreme, but far from hopeless."
McCaffrey graduated from West Point in 1964 and later went on to study at the American University and in the Harvard University National Security Program. He also served in Vietnam and took part in four combat tours, coming back with two Silver Stars and three Purple Heart medals.
During his 32 years of service to the military, McCaffrey commanded the 24th Infantry Division through Desert Storm in 1990 as a two-star general. McCaffrey retired a four-star general, and is currently an adjunct professor at West Point.
At 8 p.m. Saturday, McCaffrey will bring his experiences to the Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom, where he will discuss strategies in the War on Terror and related issues dominating the nation's headlines. McCaffrey will speak as part of the Arts and Issues calendar.
Grant Andree, director of Arts and Issues, said McCaffrey was an important and timely figure to bring to SIUE.
"(Terrorism) is one of the biggest problems in the world, and will be for some time," Andree said.
Andree said regardless of positions people may take on the war in Iraq, McCaffrey is an important voice to listen to.
"He's been right in the middle of it," Andree said. "Whether you're for the war (in Iraq) or against it, you've got a right to be informed."
McCaffrey initially was optimistic about Iraq's condition in a testimony he gave before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. After a visit to Iraq in June 2005, McCaffrey predicted the violence from the Iraqi insurgency to peak between January and September 2006, and said the "Iraqi elections… have fostered a supportive political base."
His tone changed in April 2006, after he returned to Iraq and wrote a report calling the Iraqi government "astonishingly corrupt and incompetent." The same report called the outlook for Iraq "perilous, uncertain and extreme, but far from hopeless."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Margaret
posted 10/27/07 @ 11:20 PM CST
I have to say, I went to this event and I was very saddened by the lack of turnout from the SIUE students. There were THREE students there who were not in the ROTC. (Continued…)
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