Former chief terrorism czar Richard Clarke at X.U. tomorrow

Crime, Espionage and War in Cyperspace will be the topic of discussion when former counter terrorism czar Richard Clarke appears at Xavier University tomorrow evening. Can terrorists shut down our electrical grids? Can criminals bring down our financial systems? Are our military secrets at risk? Is any of our personal information really safe? In an era of ever-increasing connectivity, governments, corporations and individuals need to reassess how they view national security.

For thirty years Richard Clarke was a central figure in the U.S. federal government, serving seven presidential administrations and acting as a key advisor on national security issues the last four presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush , Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. He was especially integral during the George W. Bush administration when, because of his expertise, he was appointed special assistant to the president following the terrorist attacks on Washington, D.C., and New York City on September 11, 2001. Despite being such a high-profile figure in Washington, D.C., Clarke maintained a low personal profile. In fact, few outsiders had ever heard of the civil servant. That changed in March of 2004 when Clarke released a tell-all book called Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror. In the book, in subsequent interviews, and in testimony before the 9-11 Commission Clarke openly blasted President Bush for his mismanagement of the investigation of the September 11 attacks. Overnight, Clarke became a media celebrity; he also became the target of criticism. The American public wondered if Richard Clarke was a heroic whistle-blower or a disgruntled government official who was simply clouding the facts.

The discussion is free and open to the public. For more information, call 745-3922.
When: Thursday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: The James and Caroline duff Banquet Center in the Cintas Center,
Xavier University