By Jennifer Hanley
British Secretary of Defense speaks at Brandeis Law School
British Secretary of Defense Geoffrey Hoon spoke about the British perspective on the war on terrorism yesterday at the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law. The Muhammad Ali Institute for Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution sponsored the event.
Secretary Hoon spoke at 6 p.m. in the Allen Courtroom on how the British view their role in the fight against terrorism in the year following the September 11th attacks. Secretary Hoon has been quoted several times on his concern over threats to use nuclear weapons against Iraq.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been playing a low key role in supporting the efforts against terrorism so far by supplying intelligence and logistics support, but has been mum on the subject of attacking Iraq until recently, when he came out in support of the United States.
Some members of British Parliament have not been so quiet about their reservations on the topic. They argue that the UN charter precludes any preemptive strike on a sovereign nation, no matter how great the perceived threat may be. They support the idea of UN weapons inspectors in Iraq.
Michael Fowler, the director of the Muhammad Ali Institute, has worked hard to get the British Defense Minister to visit U of L. Secretary Hoon was a visiting professor at University of Louisville’s Law School in the 1979-80 school year, while he was a full professor at Leeds University in Hull, Great Britain. He practiced law in Nottingham from 1982 to 1984. He was elected into Parliament in 1992, and served as Opposition Whip in Parliament from 1994 to 1995. He was minister of state in the Lord Chancellor’s Office from 1998 to 1999 before being appointed as Secretary of State for Defense in October 1999 when his successor, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, took up the post of Secretary General of NATO.
As the Secretary of State for Defense, he is responsible for making defense policy, making sure that it is carried out, and making sure that the Armed Services are prepared for military action. Secretary Hoon is also the chairman of the Defense Council and its three boards, which include the Admiralty Board, the Army Board, and the Air Force Board.
Founded by the center’s namesake, The Muhammad Ali Center is set to open in 2004, and will house a museum featuring Muhammad Ali’s life and The Muhammad Ali Institute for Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution. The Muhammad Ali Institute for Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution has been sponsoring events designed to promote Muhammad Ali’s humanitarian ideals.
For more information on the Ali Center events or fund-raising, contact the Ali Institute at (502) 852-6372.
