Gen. Wesley K. Clark (ret.) presented “The End of the Post-Cold War: America in Crisis” at 6 p.m. Monday, January 24, 2022, at The David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. The Pryor Center Presents lecture series is part of the Pryor Center's expanded mission of education, research, and outreach.
Clark speaks about how the international position of the United States has changed from one he describes as “the indispensable nation” in the 1990s–2000s to that of one now “finding its values, interests and power under prolonged challenge by Russia, China and Iran.”
In his lecture, Clark also discusses the significance of this shift in the U.S. relationship with these three countries. Additionally, he shares whether he believes a response is needed, and if so, what that American response should be.
Clark retired as a four-star general after 38 years in the United States Army, having served in his last assignments as Commander of U.S. Southern Command and then as Commander of U.S. European Command/Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.
A Little Rock native, Clark graduated first in his class at West Point and completed degrees in philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University (B.A. and M.A.) as a Rhodes scholar.
He was the principal author of both the U.S. National Military Strategy and Joint Vision 2010, prescribing U.S. warfighting for full-spectrum dominance. He worked with Ambassador Richard Holbrooke in the Dayton Peace Process, where he helped write and negotiate significant portions of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement.
In his final assignment as Supreme Allied Commander Europe, he led NATO forces to victory in Operation Allied Force, a 78-day air campaign, backed by ground invasion planning and a diplomatic process, saving 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing. His awards include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Defense Distinguished Service Medal (five awards), silver star, bronze star, and purple heart.
Clark is a businessman, educator, writer and commentator, and currently serves as chairman and CEO of Wesley K. Clark & Associates, a strategic consulting firm. In 2019, Clark founded Renew America Together, a nonprofit organization designed to promote and achieve greater common ground in America by reducing partisan division and gridlock.
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
