"War on terrorism is a linguistically nutty phrase," said Richard Holbrooke, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 1999 to 2001, in a conversational discussion at the Cornell Club in New York City, Oct. 30. The reason, he noted, is because "terrorism is a tactic and not the enemy."

The discussion, conducted by Joseph Pascal, president of the Oxonian Society, whose mission is to stimulate provocative dialogue with the world's most interesting minds, heavily drew on Holbrooke's knowledge of the inner workings of the United Nations, his ability to broker the deal that ended the war in Bosnia and his political responsibilities as a member of President Bill Clinton's cabinet. Now an investment banker, Holbrooke has served as U.S. ambassador to Germany and as assistant secretary of state in both Asia and Europe.

In response to a question on whether terrorism could be defeated, Holbrooke said, "Terror and its perpetrators will always continue to exist. Our enemy is the ideology of organizations like al-Qaida that form the root cause of destruction not only in the West but also in secular Islamic countries."

He blamed the current Bush administration for using misleading phrases like "war on terror." In contrast to the current situation, he said, "a distinct enemy was always defined, whether it was the Second World War or the Gulf War."

Speaking to a full house, Holbrooke, who has been hailed by The New York Times as the master of impossible missions, talked extensively on achieving peace in the Balkan region. "There is no doubt that the Balkans will be at peace. Much like Ireland, the sectarian passion is sure to burn out," he said. It was Holbrooke who brokered the end of hostilities in Bosnia, leading to the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995.

Asked whether a similar solution for Iraq existed, Holbrooke replied, "There has to be a solution to everything. Though, it may not always be a good one. The U.S. cannot stay in Iraq indefinitely simply because of the overwhelming damage that it is causing our country."

However, he recognized the need to tread cautiously with regard to withdrawal from Iraq. "Getting out is many times harder than getting in. This will be the toughest problem for the next president. Also, there is little chance that the present administration will make it easier for the next person in [the White House]," he said.

Holbrooke, who began his diplomatic career in Vietnam in 1962 at age 22, concluded the discussion with constructive advice for aspiring young American diplomats. He urged them to join the U.S. government only if they were seriously committed to public service.

"Do not join the government for money," he said, adding, "look for difficult assignments early on. Follow orders, but at the same time always think in policy terms and question the parameters of assessment."

The talk was followed by a book signing of Holbrooke's "To End a War," which was named as one of the 11 best books in 1998 by The New York Times.

Kanika Arora, MPA '07, is a Cornell Chronicle writer in New York City.