In introducing him to the community, Patuxent Partnership Executive Director Bonnie Green called him “A True American Hero.” A listing of the accomplishments of Ambassador Richard L. Armitage goes on for pages and pages of service to the United States of America. Armitage was guest speaker Wednesday at a Patuxent Partnership forum at the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department social hall.
Armitage’s resume includes Deputy Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and Ambassador to the countries of the former Soviet Union. He is a Vietnam War combat veteran.
Armitage said his talk would include “Globalony: A little of this and a little of that.” Noting that Jimi Hendrix was an airborne ranger as well as a famous musician, Armitage quoted from “All Along the Watchtower:” “There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke
But you and I, we’ve been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late”
He said he would follow Hendrix’ advice and tell the truth during his talk in which he verbally walked his way around many of the countries in Asia and elsewhere giving his assessment of their current position in the world. They included:
Asian Overview
Armitage said Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state, made a mistake saying “We are back in Asia.” He said she did correct herself and now the Obama Administration uses the phrase “rebalancing” when talking about Asia. He called the gaffe “inarticulate” but noted, “We are still playing catch up right now.”
China
There is a “re-rise in China,” he said, asking if other countries will have problems with the “so-called new kid on the block,” in the person of China’s new leadership. During China’s decadal leadership reshuffle
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