Wednesday, Febraury 21, 2007

The State of the Global War on Terrorism

Retired General Barry R. McCaffrey spoke to viewers of about 150 students at Spangler Auditorium. Barry McCaffrey, president of McCaffrey Associates and chairman of the board of HNTB Federal Services, served in the United States Army for 32 years and to leave as a four-star General. At retirement he was the most highly bedecked serving General, having been awarded three Purple Heart medals for wounds received in his four battle tours-as well as twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest award for valor.

He also twice was awarded the Silver Star for courage. For five years after departure the military, Barry McCaffrey served as the nation's Cabinet Officer in charge of U.S. Drug Policy. He was established for this position by unanimous vote of the U.S. Senate. The presentation consisted of about thirty minutes during which General McCaffrey gave tremendously candid observations on the ongoing U.S. War on Terror. Two of these observations followed piercing questions from Kennedy and HBS students in the audience.