Little new in Rice's speech

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's Friday speech, billed as a "major foreign policy address," provided a strong defense of President Bush's policy in the Middle East but offered little in the way of a departure from the administration's previously stated position.

The address "was an eloquent restatement of the Bush administration policy on Iraq and democracy," said international affairs professor John Ikenberry.

Wilson School Dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80, who has previously criticized the administration for its often unilateral approach, nevertheless applauded Rice's emphasis on multilateralism — seemingly a departure from past rhetoric.

"She very clearly emphasized that we need to work through institutions with the support of our allies, which is not usually what we hear," Slaughter said, adding that she was also impressed by Rice's ability to marshal history in support of her argument.

Joseph Nye '58, former dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, praised Rice's speech but took issue with the parts of the secretary's position.

"She did a good job of explaining what has been a veiled policy," Nye said, but added, "She has a vision of democracy in the Middle East as a means of eliminating terrorism, but there is an inadequate roadmap for implementing that strategy. We just didn't hear about it."

"They're nice ideals, appropriate especially in this setting celebrating Woodrow Wilson, but they're not enough," Nye, a former Clinton administration official, said. "The strategy wasn't there and it hasn't been there."

President Tilghman, in an interview at a reception following the address, noted that vigorous debate about Rice's remarks is central to the goal of a University.

"There's simply no question how well-informed, how very much on top of the facts [Rice] is," Tilghman said. "I would take issue with some of the things she said, but the great thing — the entire purpose — is to debate things such as that."

Wilson School lecturer Wolfgang Danspeckgruber said that though Rice did not say anything new, she "gave a truly meaningful speech, a contribution to the celebrations ... The symbolism was matched with substance."

An announcement of a policy shift would be unlikely in a setting such as today's, said Michael O'Hanlon '82 GS '87 '91, visiting professor and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

"Frankly, breaking new ground is an unrealistic expectation for a speech that is scheduled in advance for a celebration at Princeton," O'Hanlon said. "If Dr. Rice wanted to break new ground, she would do it on her own schedule."

Praise for Slaughter

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At the same reception, held in the atrium of Carl Icahn Laboratory, several notable individuals took time to praise Slaughter for her work since coming to the University in 2002.

"I have had my most consistent interest in public service, in improving the administration of government at all levels," said Paul Volcker '49, former chairman of the Federal Reserve and co-chair of the Wilson School's 75th Anniversary Committee. "I think [the school] had moved away from that, but Anne-Marie Slaughter is bringing it back."

"Her own professional interests coincide with the original mission of the school," Volker added. "She's gone a long way in bringing it back on track."

Sen. Paul Sarbanes '54 (D-M.D.), who also serves as a University trustee, offered words of praise too.

"I think she's providing extraordinary leadership," Sarbanes said in an interview. "She's brought in some very distinguished faces, a lot of energy and life into the school. I really admire her."

Praise, if somewhat tongue-in-check, was even forthcoming from Nye, the former dean of Harvard's Kennedy School.

"She has enormously improved the Wilson School," Nye said. "I've said to my successor, you've got to look over your back."