Colin Powell Shares Global Perspectives at the University of Rochester's Meliora Weekend

"It's one thing to be a political democracy. Political democracy does nor create an economic democracy," stated retired General Colin Powell during his keynote address at the University of Rochester this past weekend.

Powell made these remarks in front of an audience of about 1,600 people during the university's annual traditional Meliora Weekend where alumni events are combined with parent's weekend.

Powell, in his address, implied that other growing economic world powers like China had come to the realization that average citizens just like those at the top of the corporate and economic ladder should financially benefit from economic benefits of a growing economy, not just those at the top of the economic chain.

Powell said this in his example of the Chinese government and its economy. Their leader, Deng Xiaoping, had been in prison which helped him as a person. Powell said, "He understood that the Chinese citizens were going nowhere in poverty. He had to change the economic system."

Deng Xiaoping at the time said, "I no longer care about communism or socialism...wealth creation. I want to be rich and create a better life for our people. In 10-15 years China could be the largest economy on the face of the earth. Wealth creation, not guns is the way to improve the lives of its citizens."

Powell said that the Chinese know more than anyone else to not promote conflict but rather instigate free trade with the United States and others. Powell said, "The only thing they want to fight with us about is more shelf space in Walmart."

"The world that I see now in my older age is a world that is a different playing field. All of these countries realize there is a better life with a functioning economy that participates in a global economy," he said. The world has experienced an "information revolution, connecting people in ways unthinkable 20 years ago."

Yet, Powell wondered: "Where is the energy going to come from to fuel all this growth?"

"As we grow, and produce more energy, we put the climate at greater risk."

Al Gore well deservedly won the Nobel prize; the issue is real; the issue is before us. We have to do something about it."

Powell also said in regard to the war in Iraq: "I'm glad Saddam Husein is gone. I fully supported the President in dealing with this regime, but we made some very serious errors in the execution of these strategies. We didn't respond with the right kind of strategy. The strategy has to be to push Iraqi's towards reconciliation(between Sunnis and Shiites). Between Iraq and the Middle East, we don't have a good reputation. If we do something about Iraq it would move the Middle East peace process along."

"Iran is a different issue I fully supported talking to Iranians. It is important not only to talk to friends, but talk to enemies."

In the Q&A session following the speech, Powell answered several questions, one of which was in regard to winning the war against terror. Powell said: "Economic reform is much needed in the Arab world. The Arab world , the center of civilization has fallen behind. There's no reason why we can't start today what China is doing." He also said that high unemployment fueled terrorism and that "there will always be people out there so disaffected with the world as we see it; there will always be terrorism."

On a more hopeful note, earlier in his presentation, Powell cited his experience with Russian diplomacy as victories and reason for hope in the world.

He said, in regard to Russia and other world powers at the time when he served as National Security Adviser for President Ronald Reagan: 'My mission as a young lieutenant was to contain these empires from destroying us. Contain was our strategy, at a time when thousands of missiles were pointed at us in all directions. As National security Adviser for Ronald Reagan, the Russians were throwing a wild card at us. The Russian leader wasn't following the script. Gorbachev was very affable. Gorbachev was promoting 'glasnost' openness of ideas; ideas are more powerful than money."

Powell said that Reagan at the time was willing to listen and talk to Gorbachev. It was time for President Reagan to go to Moscow. Reagan said to Powell: "You go first."

Powell said that during the meeting, things didn't seem to be going well. Gorbachev finally stated, "I'm doing things you never expected a Russian leader to do."

He stated further: "General, I am so very very sorry, but you'll have to find a new enemy." Powell says he replied sarcastically, "I don't want to; I've been working on this for 30 years." Powell said that within 2 years of their meeting the Soviet Union was gone.

Powell still holds deep respect for Gorbachev today.

"He will always be a hero in my book. I stay in touch with him regularly. The Soviet Union is never coming back. The Russian Federation is half the size of the Soviet Union," Powell said in regard to Russia. "What a tremendous success for American politics. We have to be sure we remain engaged."

Powell, the former U.S. secretary of state, is most known for promoting democratic values throughout the world . He is also recognized for leading the fight against terrorism not just through military action, but also for his belief in diplomacy.

Following the presentation and the Q&A session with the audience, Powell also met with attendees in a meet and greet event immediately following the speech.