Uncertain confidence was the sentiment put forth by former Secretary of Defense William Cohen Thursday evening during Mississippi University for Women”s Welty Gala.

The former Republican senator from Maine stressed the unknown from the beginning of his speech by admitting he wasn”t sure what to say to the assembled crowd of alumni, special guests and students. That gave way to uncertainty over the reasons behind the 9/11 attacks, America”s ability to prevent a future attack and the best strategy for our battles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But Cohen reiterated his confidence at every turn. He referenced quotes as old as 4,200 years and just over 100 years old, both speaking of dark times, much like our own, with uncertain outcomes.

“Somehow we mustered the will and the courage to work our way through them,” said Cohen.

He segued into his chosen topic for the evening by recalling how the terrorist attacks of 9/11 shattered America”s confidence and illusion of invulnerability.

“I”m often asked how it happened and why it happened,” he said. “The how is we got lazy and dropped our guard. The why is more complicated.”

Cohen, who served as secretary of defense under President Bill Clinton from 1997-2001, described a love/hate relationship between the United States and the rest of the world that continues to this day. The danger, he says, is exacerbated by the fact that “we have democratized warfare.”

Whereas, in the past, few countries could pose a significant threat to America, now “many have the power to wreak destruction.”

He says the major threats don”t come from Russia or China, as they know the capabilities of our military and wouldn”t test them. The danger, he says, come from those who know our military capabilities but don”t care.

“You can”t deter terrorists. They”re willing to die,” said Cohen.

In the face of such a threat, he says the best America can do is be prepared. He stressed the need to prepare for another terrorist disaster just as we would for another natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina.

Cohen said President Obama must act decisively and expeditiously with regard to Iraq and Afghanistan, rather than linger on a strategy in which the administration or the military have no confidence.

“If we”re having second thoughts about the strategy, let”s change it,” he urged.

But he warned that there will be no clear end to our battles with terrorism. That we may never know a time when we can relax again.

“We”ve got to sacrifice comfort and ease,” said Cohen.

He followed that statement with a vote of confidence in America”s youth, many of whom he met with earlier in the day on the MUW campus.

Many of those same students, in attendance at the gala, were impressed with Cohen”s comments. Others were in attendance simply because it was a requirement for class.

“I think we need to learn about what”s going on today. Especially the younger generation. Because in years to come, it will fall into our hands,” Ashlee Rhoades, a freshman elementary education major. “When we think about the war, we think it”s over there. But now it”s really put in perspective.”

“I think he did a really good job of explaining everything and everything he mentioned he knows a lot about. I enjoy studying politics and his perspective is definitely another way to look at things,” said Autumn Mason, an undeclared freshman.

Carina Lewis, a senior English major, said she would have liked to hear Cohen”s thoughts on America”s ongoing standoff with North Korea.

Cohen, who said he”s been dealing with terrorism since 1978 and has written both fiction and non-fiction works on the topic, said before his address he sees national security as a non-partisan issue that shouldn”t be sabotaged by either party.

He admits he”s let other political issues slip off his radar, but says they don”t require the same level of bi-partisan commitment.

“If it comes down to health care policy, I think you have legitimate differences of approach. You may not get bipartisanship and it”s not essential that you do,” he said. “On foreign policy, it used to be the policy that all division stops at the water”s edge.”

Cohen says Washington is “about as divided as I”ve seen it in my time,” but believes the country will pull together when it counts the most.

He says Obama can only unite the two parties when they”re ready and willing to be united. He believes Obama”s style of governing may be what the country needs in relation to the world, but disagrees with some of his policies.

“I would question his policy on national missile defense, for example. I have real disagreements in terms of that issue in how we deal with Iran or how we deal with Russia and not giving up something without getting something in return. Unless they”ve had some kind of understanding I”m not aware of.

“I think he”s nonetheless good for the country in terms of the image of the U.S. willing to engage the rest of the world. They”ve been criticizing us for being too unilateral and now we”re saying ”OK. We”re going to be more multilateral. Now where are you?””

Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.

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