Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
...Question: ...I was wondering, you talked about the situation in Asia and Obama's 'soft power'. I was wondering what you think is the best source for Obama in regards to foreign policy, especially tensions in Asia?
Richard Armitage: Well I think, uh, you'll see Mr. Obama go to Asia here shortly. First of all, let's see what he's done on Asia so far. He sent Hillary Clinton out there first [audience reaction], her first trip, which as normally for a Secretary of State, going to Europe. She went there and it was excellent signal to our Asian friends. Second, Mr. Obama, who lived in Indonesia for a time, is looking forward to going back, probably at the time of, of the APEC meeting which is held, I think, this year in Singapore. I can't remember where. But anyway, Mr. Obama will be, will be going. Uh, third, he has dramatically increased our interaction, uh, with Asian societies. In the last two years of Mr. Bush's administration the Assistant Secretary for East Asia focused almost entirely on North Korea - this is Ambassador Hill who's now in Iraq - to the exclusion of the others. And there were all kinds of stories in all the Asian press about America is passing over Asia etcetera, etcetera. Now this is one of the reasons that Secretary Gates was sent by Mr. Obama to Singapore to give this speech where he said we're a resident nation in Asia. So I think he's doing fantastically well for Asia now that we're back on track with Japan and South Korea and China on the six party talks. I think Mr. Obama ought to continue his personal interaction but not overlook the tenets of the Hippocratic Oath. You know what the Hippocratic Oath tells you to do? First, do no harm. It's what doctors are cautioned, first, do no harm. And this is what Mr. Obama should do first. Do no harm. And when he goes to Japan, when he goes to Korea, when he goes to China soon I think you'll see him do a hell of a lot of good for us. I'm pretty enthusiastic about his Asia team and his own views of Asia, not least of which because he used to live in Indonesia. [applause]...
Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage speaking at Missouri Boys State in Hendricks Hall on the campus of the University of Central Missouri.
....Question: ...I have two questions. My first one was, is that, as you know, a lot of what we sell, er, buy comes from China and Japan and the Asian countries. Uh, you can't really pick up anything without seeing 'made in China', Japan, Korea there. Do you think this affects anything at all, like our economy, or do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing? What are your thoughts?
Richard Armitage, former Deputy Secretary of State: That's the first one, what about the second question?
Question: And the second one was, what is Persepodas? You said that, uh, the Persians, when you cut them and bleed, they bleed Persepodas, or something like that, and we wanted to know what that was.
Richard Armitage: Okay. The question of, when we buy cheap goods from China, it's, used to be from Japan, not, not much anymore, theirs are kind of high tech goods. Uh, I don't think it bothers us much. We're not doing the manufacturing. Uh, we've benefited immensely of, uh, of the Chinese products that we were buying here before. Now exports are way down.
What does have a big effect on our economy is the number of treasury bills that China holds. China, Japan hold enormous amounts of our treasury. I think the image that you should have of the three of us is of three people in sort of a circle, each with a gun at the other's head. If China pulls out their t-bills our economy falters terribly, but their bills are not worth very much. The same is true of Japan. So, they kind of have to keep us rocking along to keep the value in the treasury bills. So, I think at this point in time, uh, we're still all, in the words of, uh, Ben Franklin, gonna have to hang together or else we'll hang separately on this...
Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in Hendricks Hall at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
Twitter posts on the speech by former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and the question and answer session which followed:
At Missouri Boys State covering speech by former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage for Show Me Progress. Starts in half an hour. about 3 hours ago from web
On mistakes and the outing of Valerie Plame:
Richard Armitage at Missouri Boys State: mistakes - "I am inadvertently responsible for leaking the name of a covert agent's identity." about 2 hours ago from web
Richard Armitage at Missouri Boys State: "Why am I not in jail [for leak]? I told the truth [to Justice Department]." about 2 hours ago from web
Today is the first day of the week long American Legion Boys State of Missouri program on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Approximately 1000 boys from across Missouri will participate this week.
Missouri Boys State citizens arrive by bus and car for the noontime start of registration.
It's about government and politics. Missouri Boys State, one of the largest in the nation, always has an impressive list of keynote speakers who are prominent in national and statewide government. That's one big reason why we cover it - the speeches and those question and answer sessions. Boys State citizens can and do ask some tough ones.
Following Opening Night Ceremonies of the 70th session of Missouri Boys State, Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt will deliver the keynote address to the Boys State general assembly. Congressman Blunt came to the United States House of Representatives in 1997 with a background as a public servant, university president and administrator. He became the Majority Whip earlier in his career than any Member of Congress in the last eight decades and also served as Majority Leader. Following his prepared remarks, Congressman Blunt will hold a question and answer session.
CONGRESSMAN SCOTT MURPHY Sunday, June 14, 2009
Congressman Scott Murphy will speak to the general assembly on Sunday evening in Hendricks Hall. Congressman Murphy was recently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives after a long contested and very close election in New York. He is a Missouri native and former Boys State Governor. Following his prepared remarks Congressman Murphy will hold a question and answer session.
FEDERAL JUDGE DUANE BENTON Sunday, June 14, 2009
U.S. Court of Appeals (8th Circuit) Judge Duane Benton will address Boys State on Sunday evening at Hendricks Hall. Judge Benton, a great friend to the Boys State program and member of The American Legion, will offer his best advice to participants of Boys State drawn from his experiences as MO Director of Revenue, MO Supreme Court Justice, little league baseball coach and his years on the federal bench. Judge Benton will hold a question and answer session following his remarks.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE (2001-2005)
RICHARD ARMITAGE Monday, June 15, 2009
Richard Armitage will accept the 21st Annual George W. Lehr Memorial Speakers Chair on Monday night at Hendricks Hall. As deputy secretary of state during one of the most tumultuous times in modern U.S. history, Richard Armitage crafted foreign policy to handle unprecedented challenges. Mr. Armitage offers his truly unique insight to audiences around the globe. As someone who has shaped U.S. foreign policy, Mr. Armitage will share observations about his role at the center of the world stage in a turbulent time speaking on leadership in action, the art of diplomacy, the future of Asia, humanitarianism in action, and the Middle East. Following his prepared remarks Mr. Armitage will hold a question and answer session.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR JAY NIXON Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon will deliver the keynote address at a special assembly on Tuesday evening in Hendricks Hall. Govenor Nixon has been an outstanding supporter of the Boys State program throughout his years as Missouri's Attorney General and we are very pleased to have him back to Boys State after winning the highest elected position in our state. The Governor will hold a question and answer session following his prepared remarks.
MISSOURI SECRETARY OF STATE ROBIN CARNAHAN Thursday, June 18, 2009
Missouri Secretary of State will deliver the keynote address and swear-in the newly elected state officials at the Joint Session of the Boys State House and Senate on Thursday evening at Hendricks Hall. Following her prepared remarks, Secretary of State Carnahan will swear-in the new MBS Governor and all new MBS constitutional officers and Supreme Court justices.
Parents, a few accompanying siblings, and Boys Staters queue up for registration.
