Having 'a sense for the world'

Former CIA deputy director brings
global analysis to Culver Academies.

By ADAM JACKSON
Tribune Staff Writer

CULVER -- The admiral doesn't seem like a guy named Bobby.

With the to-the-point confidence born of three decades in the military, the trim, straight-shooting retiree seems like he'd go by Robert, or maybe his first and middle initials.

But with a history like that of Admiral Bobby Inman, a former deputy director of the CIA and recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal for his service to the country, he can go by whatever name he wants.

On Thursday night, Inman visited Culver Academies to address students as the final speaker of this year's Global Studies Institute. And in keeping with the theme of this year's series -- A National Security Strategy for the 21st Century -- he wasted no time in delivering his world view to the audience.

"Before you can shape a strategy," he told the students, "... you have to have a sense for the world you are in."

Inman has a special knack for getting that sense. After graduating from the University of Texas in 1950, he joined the Navy, where his grasp of intelligence work saw him embarking on a steady climb through the ranks.

After a stint as director of Naval Intelligence, he was appointed to the top spot at the National Security Agency. And when President Reagan came to power, the four-star admiral's skills saw him tapped to be the deputy director of the CIA in the warming years of the Cold War.

He retired in 1982, putting his skills to work in the business world, seeing companies like Dell and Oracle through their initial public offerings as a member of their boards of directors, and investing in start-up technology companies.

Inman also walks the walk of academia, and is currently serving as the dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.

But the military bearing is still plenty apparent, as Inman showed Thursday with his lecture. The speech was a country-by-country walk through the world of today, from the point of view of a man who once spent his days watching other countries for a living.

"You don't need clandestine agents who buy information," Inman said. "You need people who know a society and their customs ... who can give you a frank picture of what is happening."

He weighed in with his take on nearly every country of note in the world, from tiny Central American governments moving steadily left to the up-and-coming big players on the global court, such as China.

The recurring theme throughout the talk was how the situation in those countries stood to affect the United States; such as in North Korea, where Inman believes that the reclusive country's growing military ambitions are going to mean a diplomatic balancing act for the U.S.

"If North Korea gets nuclear weapons, the stakes are going to be high," Inman said. "We will not stop them unless we put more on the table ... reducing the U.S. forces in South Korea."

One by one, he ticked off the countries. From trouble spots like Russia, where he warned that President Vladimir Putin is making worrisome moves to consolidate power. Or stories of hope, such as Libya's move to renounce nuclear aims in favor of closer ties with the West.

And indeed, Inman argued that there is hope out there -- even in places where it seems completely absent, such as Iran. While there's no doubt that the fiery rhetoric currently spewing from the country's leaders seems ominous, he said that negotiation might be able to hold off the nuclear issue just long enough for change to sweep the country, courtesy of freedom-loving young residents.

"Sixty percent of Iran's population is under 30," Inman said. "All they know is, the Ayatollah won't let them have any fun."

In conclusion, Inman related another belief he holds: That the U.S. need not use military might to solve the world's problems, wherever they arise.

There is, he said, another way.

"I do not believe we should try to be the policeman to the world," he said. "But on the other hand, we might be the logistician to these peacekeeping efforts."

Culver note: The 2005-2006 GSI program has been funded by Mr. Paul J. Much '68 and Ms. Judy Fay, GP, and by Houlihan Lokey Howard and Zukin.