An Albright perspective
Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Photo from commons.wikimedia.org
The small private dinner hosted by US Ambassador Sung Kim in honor of former US State Secretary Madeleine Albright turned out to be a very enlightening discussion on US-Philippine relations, with former Foreign Affairs Secretary Bobby Romulo, former Philippine Ambassador to the US Joey Cuisia, and GoNegosyo founder and presidential consultant for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion with us.
Currently the chair of the Albright Stonebridge Group as well as the Albright Capital Management, Mrs. Albright headlined the successful ANC Leadership Forum on Global Governance and World Economy. Describing the alliance between the United States and the Philippines as “crucial,” America’s first female Secretary of State also said the Philippines has the right to form alliances with other nations.
Called “Grandma Maddie” by her grandchildren, the proud immigrant (she was born Marie Jana Korbelova in Prague) has certainly earned her place in US politics and history. Nominated by then US President Bill Clinton as State Secretary in December 1996, her appointment was unanimously confirmed by a vote of 99-0.
It was during her stint as Ambassador to the United Nations (during the first term of Bill Clinton) that Albright earned the nickname “Madame Cojones.” This came about when, during a UN Security council meeting, she criticized Cuban jet fighters who boasted about downing a civilian plane, saying: “Frankly, this is not cojones; this is cowardice.”
While some colleagues were outraged, her remark delighted Cuban Americans and impressed Bill Clinton who described it as “probably the most effective one-liner in the whole (Clinton) administration’s foreign policy.”
Described as a decisive and methodical thinker, Madeleine Albright was also known for her symbolic/statement brooches that helped people gauge her moods as well as her thoughts or perspective on certain issues. A well-known story was in 1993 when she was US Ambassador to the UN. Albright wore an antique snake brooch in response to Iraq’s Saddam Hussein who called her “an unparalleled serpent.” Whenever Albright gave a speech about the Middle East, she would also wear a peace dove brooch.
Displaying the kind of outspokenness that she is known for when it comes to global affairs, Albright said, “the world is a mess” and urged democratic nations to stand together. “As during the Cold War, we will do best if nations work together, combining our strength,” she stated. - Photos by Ramon Joseph J. Ruiz
