University of Pittsburgh Ridgway Center for International Security Studies


Dr. Phil Williams, Professor and Director of the Matthew B. Ridgway Center for International Security Studies






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General Matthew B. Ridgway Biography
Richard Clarke visits GSPIA's Ridgway Center

Richard Clarke visits GSPIA's Ridgway Center In a politically motivated speech to over 200 people, Richard Clarke answered the following question: "Which Candidate is Better for National Security?" For Richard Clarke, the answer is Senator Barack Obama (D-IL).

According to Clarke, Senator Obama is more competent for two reasons:

  • First, he has a better economic plan for rescuing American economy, broken healthcare system, and the faltering social security.

  • Second, Obama has better judgment on national security issues. He has consistently opposed the invasion of Iraq, which he noted has nothing to do with 9/11. Obama understands that the Iraq war has distracted the American war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

Clarke defies the notion that Republican nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has a better national security portfolio. He describes this as a myth.

Regarding the conspiracy theories behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Clarke notes that there is no credence to these allegations.

Regarding the Israeli-Palestine peace process, Clarke contends that if Obama gets elected, he will take prompt initiatives for peace in the Middle East, and would not wait for the last months of his tenure, as President George W. Bush has done.

Speaker's Bio: Richard A. Clarke is an internationally-recognized expert on national security, intelligence, and counterterrorism. He is currently an on-air consultant for ABC News and teaches at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Clarke is also the author of the number one best-selling book "Against All Enemies" (Free Press, 2004) and its 2008 sequel "Your Government Failed You" (Ecco).

Clarke served the last three Presidents as a senior White House Advisor. Over the course of an unprecedented 11 consecutive years of White House service, he held the titles of:

  • Special Assistant to the President for Global Affairs
  • National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism
  • Special Advisor to the President for Cyber Security

Prior to his White House years, Clarke served for 19 years in the Pentagon, the Intelligence Community, and State Department.