Note: This was an interview ahead of a speech Albright gave in Cincinnati.
Q & A: Madeleine Albright: Ex-secretary of state enjoys freedom of
speaking on her own

FEOSHIA HENDERSON
The Enquirer
Sunday January 28, 2007

After her tenure ended in 2001, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright realized she had more
freedom to speak her mind, no longer constrained by her government role.

Now, Albright is speaking out against President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, calling his plan to send
21,500 additional troops "less a statement of policy than a prayer." In an interview with The Enquirer on
Saturday, Albright said she'll continue to speak about U.S. foreign policy and empowering women and the
poor.

Question. What sort of issues have you been focusing on since you left office?


Answer. I've been doing a lot of different things. I have a global consulting firm. I'm very interested in
democratization and figuring out how to try to end the divide between the rich and the poor. I am chair of
the National Democratic Institute. I am co-chair of an international commission that works on the legal
empowerment of the poor and I try to work on issues empowering women.

Q . How different is it trying to get things done in the private sector as opposed to being in office?

A. It took me a long time to get a voice that people can listen to, so I am not about to give it up. ... In many
ways (being in the private sector) is more liberating because I can express myself freely. It's a different way
of approaching things.

Q. You've been very vocal about criticizing the president's handling of Iraq and most recently
the 21,500 troops he wants to send over there. Why do you think it's important to speak out and is
it something you'll continue to do?

A. I do think those of us who have been involved in high-level national security decisions need to speak out
when we disagree. A lot of people who have criticized or spoken out have been called unpatriotic. (I
believe) it's patriotic to ask a lot of questions and speak out. I think that everybody has a certain
responsibility to speak out. I had dealt a lot with Iraq in the UN. What I have been saying is that I
understand the why of the war. I thought (ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein) was what Bush said he
was. I even thought he had weapons of mass destruction by deception. ... I did not think they posed a threat
to United States or the (Middle East) region. I thought we should be paying attention to Afghanistan, where
the (Sept.11 attackers) were from. We haven't finished the job in Afghanistan. ... And, yes, I will continue to
speak out.

Q . What are you going to talk about Tuesday?

A. This is a speech to a smart women's group, so I'll be talking about women's issues and the importance of
the political and economic power of women. I will probably give a foreign policy speech that explains what
the various problems are that we are dealing with. And my favorite part is the questions I'm asked, and I
love to do the answers.

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