Secretary of State's Open Forum Distinguished Public Service Award
Presented by: Alan Lang, Chairperson, Open Forum
May 30, 2001
On May 30, 2001, Chairperson Alan Lang presented General Wesley Clark with the Secretary of State's Distinguished Public Service Award.
The Secretary's Open Forum was established by Secretary of State Dean Rusk in 1967 during U.S. involvement in the Vietnam conflict. The Open Forum strengthens the American foreign policy process by encouraging creative thinking on vital policy issues, including presentations of differing visions and viewpoints.
The Open Forum, headed by an elected Chairperson who serves directly under the Secretary of State, brings new or alternative policy recommendations to the Secretary and other principals from U.S. Government employees, at all levels, of the Department of State and USAID. The Open Forum provides opportunities for any employee to express professional views (including dissenting views) candidly, free of bureaucratic constraints, and under safeguards against pressures or penalties.
In presenting the award Distinguished Public Service Award to General Clark, Alan Lang said:
In presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to General Clark, President Clinton noted that the stakes in Kosovo were monumental.
Almost a million people had been driven from their homes, solely because of their ethnic and religious background. Success would save lives, strengthen NATO, advance the cause of freedom, democracy, and unity in Europe. Failure would leave much of the continent awash in a sea of refugees and end the 20th century on a note of helpless indignation in the face of evil.
The president went on to say that Wes Clark understood well the perils of the Balkans, for he had already played a vital role in ending the role in Bosnia and beginning the long process of building a stable, multi-ethnic democracy in that country.
He summoned every ounce of his experience and expertise as a strategist, soldier, and a statesman to wage our campaign in Kosovo. He prevailed miraculously without the loss of a single combat casualty.
At the apex of a long and distinguished military career that goes back to his outstanding performance as a cadet at West Point over thirty years, the president said, he was assigned a challenge many experts thought was mission impossible. Instead, thanks to General Clark we can now declare mission accomplished. General Clark, please accept this Distinguished Public Service Award on behalf of a grateful nation.
Source:
