Known as the chief speech writer and senior advisor for former President George W. Bush, as well as an outspoken advocate for military action in Iraq and Afghanistan, Marc Thiessen, a well-known conservative writer and commentator on foreign affairs, will speak at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy Monday night at 7 p.m.
Sponsored by Young Americans for Freedom, the talk, entitled “Radical Islam: America’s Failed Response,” will be centered around terrorist groups such as ISIS, Boko Haram and Hezbollah, as well as Thiessen’s opinion of America’s response to these groups in the past and how the country should respond in the future.
The perspective Thiessen will bring is based on eight years of work with the pentagon and the Bush Administration, working closely with the president and Secretary Rumsfeld during 9/11 and the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan that followed.
Thiessen has been named one of the “100 most influential conservatives in America,” and continues to write regularly for papers such as the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal while appearing occasionally on Fox News, CNN, ABC and BBC.
“He will explain how our country has failed to create a sound strategy to defeat those who are at war with our people and will offer evidence as to why they are a direct threat to Americans across the globe,” said Michael Hensley, chairman of the UT chapter of Young Americans for Freedom. “Additionally, he’ll discuss the nuclear negotiations with Iran, whose leaders have chanted ‘Death to America’ for many decades.”
While the intended purpose of the event is to encourage dialogue among students about American foreign policy in the Middle East, Hensley added that one of the primary objectives of the talk is to discuss the supposedly Islamic dogma the groups claim to adhere to.
“It’s this radical form of Islam the groups follow that our commander-in-chief refuses to recognize, which ultimately threatens the safety of our country,” Hensley said.
However, many student organizations, including College Democrats, caution students to come to the discussion with an independent understanding of the groups and conflicts up for discussion.
President of College Democrats Mitch Thompson added that students should be ready to recognize any political bias Thiessen might bring to the table as a result of his close affiliation to the Bush administration.
“Many of Mr. Theissen’s past statements resemble a fear mongering that is at best irresponsible and at worst dangerous,” Thompson said. “Baseless fear tactics for political points may be effective, but we as an educated voting block must hold ourselves above such rhetoric.”
