The industry marked the anniversary of 9/11 last week at TFI’s World Conference, held in San Francisco. Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. President and CEO Bill Doyle noted that 9/11 occurred five years ago during TFI’s World Conference in Chicago (GM Sept. 17, 2001, p. 1). The 2001 conference, with an attendance of around 800, was canceled that day, leaving North American attendees scrambling to find a way home and overseas players stranded.
Keynote speaker General Hugh Shelton was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997-2001, including the day of 9/11. Shelton, the recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, assessed potential terror threats around the world, and noted that former nuclear scientists in Russia made less than the doorman of the Westin St. Francis. He said there is still distrust of the U.S. in Russia, and that we must work to assure good relations so as not to develop another Cold War.
Shelton said China can catch up on military technology by simply purchasing it off the shelf. He noted joint China-Russia military exercises as a concern.
Indonesia, after years of a bad government, is in danger of disintegrating. U.S. support of the government fomented anti-U.S. sentiments. Shelton is concerned that this country – the largest Muslim nation, with the world’s fourth largest population – may become a safe haven for al Qaeda.
In the Mideast, Shelton said the old adage about a good offense being the best defense is correct. He said the U.S. should have acted more aggressively after the attacks on the USS Cole and on U.S. Embassies abroad, which occurred prior to 9/11.
Currently, he said Iran is thumbing its nose at the U.S. and the United Nations.
As for the current war, he said the U.S. has only the 7th or 8th largest army in the world and is not keeping up the way it should. He added that equipment is quickly wearing out in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As for the Israeli/Arab peace process, he said we should exert more pressure for a balance between Israel and the Palestinians, as opposed to appearing so pro-Israel.
Attendance at this year’s conference was over 650, meeting TFI expectations, though down a little from the year-ago meeting in Toronto, where some 700 attended.