WASHINGTON — Credit unions can play a primary role in the success of budding democracies overseas, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Tuesday morning during her Governmental Affairs Conference address.

“One discussion we always have is which comes first – political or economic development,” she said. “The answer is both, because people want to vote and they want to eat, too. Credit unions can be a key component in that.”

Albright also discussed foreign relations and current events during her speech and later during a question and answer session with Moderator Paul Berry.

A reduction in ground troops, recently announced by the Pentagon as part of its budget proposal, doesn't necessarily present a risk to the United States, because wars aren't fought the way they used to be, she said.

“Today's dangers in the world don't require large land forces,” she said.

Berry followed up with a question about drones and the legal and ethical consequences of their use in warfare.

Albright recalled when she was Secretary of State overseeing the war in Kosovo, which was an air war and didn't require any U.S. ground troops. At the time, that strategy involved a long discussion that debated the ethics of fighting a war without risking the lives of ground troops on both sides. Albright said she doesn't think that should be an issue.

However, she added that drones and the National Security Agency's spying activities need to be addressed in more detail by the American people.

“We aren't fulfilling our responsibilities as citizens on these issues if we don't educate ourselves and start a public discussion,” she said.

Albright drew laughs when describing what she called a new trend of cyber exhibitionism.

“Everybody puts all this information about themselves out there, but then they get mad if somebody knows it,” she said.

Instant Insights /

Albright Talks Credit Unions, World Events: Onsite at GAC

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