In Prague, Madeleine Albright questions logic of Iraq invasion
Former U.S. secretary of state says North Korea is most dangerous nation
By Jarka Hálková
Staff Writer
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told university students in Prague Oct. 21 that she opposed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, arguing that Saddam Hussein wasn't an immediate threat and that there were solutions to the crisis other than war.
The Prague-born American diplomat said the most dangerous country in the world was North Korea. "They would choose a gun before butter," she said of the North Korean leaders, adding that she is hopeful that negotiations between North Korea and several nations, including the United States, will bring positive results since both sides want to make a deal.
During the meeting with students at the CERGE economic institute, Albright covered a range of other issues as well, including the Czech Republic's entry into the European Union and the role of women in politics.
Albright was in Prague to promote her autobiography, Madame Secretary, and to participate in the Forum Conference in early October. Her visit lasted five days.
Albright told students it is important for the Czech Republic to be involved in Europe and to keep in touch with the United States.
"I can´t imagine anything that makes less sense than for the Czech Republic to be out of the EU movement," said Albright. She added that the country's entry into NATO was a step in the right direction.
Albright, America's first female secretary of state, said she would like to see more women in politics and the field of economics. In her own career, she said she hadn't experienced any gender discrimination abroad, but that she had to put up with many derogatory comments from people in the U.S. government.
Albright said she wrote her autobiography to remake the image she had cultivated as a woman who had to act as a man to get the job done.
As secretary of state in the Democratic administration of Bill Clinton, Albright held the highest position ever of a woman in U.S. politics. She has held various other posts, including that of U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and president of the Center for National Policy.
The first child of a Czechoslovakian diplomat, Albright was born in Prague in 1937. The family spent World War II in London, returned here briefly, then fled a second time after the February 1948 Communist takeover.
Albright obtained her American citizenship many years later and states it was one of the most important moments in her life.
Her marriage to a journalist ended in divorce. She is the mother of three daughters.
Michael Zantovsky, the translator of Albright's book, moderated the discussion.
Jaroslava Hálková can be reached at jaroslavahalkova@hotmail.com.
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Last issue date: Dec. 12, 2003
