Shrader Calls on Leaders at World Economic Forum to Act Against Threats
February 1, 2002 — Remarks delivered by Dr. Ralph Shrader (Booz Allen Chairman & Chief Executive Officer) at the World Economic Forum (WEF).
"Are we now a target?" "The answer is yes," said Shrader.
"There are no more innocent by-standers. None of us can opt-out," he continued. "Today, there is no place to hide — so it is incumbent upon us as leaders to plan and be aggressive about what we can do to make a difference."
Shrader spoke at the World Economic Forum session that addressed Asymmetric Threats to Peace — specifically, the potential for bands of terrorists to carry out attacks against nations' economic, political, and military centers using cyberterrorism, bioterrorism, and weapons of mass destruction.
Dr. Ralph Shrader
He called on industry and government leaders to rise to the dual challenge of strategic leadership and people leadership. "Strategy and security must be integrated. Security can no longer be bolted on. In the corporate world, this commitment needs to start with the CEO" and span all functions within the organization and beyond.
Shrader emphasized the critical importance of people leadership in the post 9/11 world and cited former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as a superb example. "It's essential to rebuild not just buildings, but the confidence of our people," Shrader said. "How Mayor Giuliani rallied the people of New York City was a tremendous gift, and without his strong people leadership, I believe the recovery would have taken much longer."
Other participants at the WEF session included Ronald Noble, Secretary General of Interpol; Senator Robert Graham (D-FL), Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence; Sergei Karaganov, Chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy with the Russian Federation; former Senator Sam Nunn; and other senior business, government, and academic leaders from around the world.
Together, they emphasized the importance of leaders providing credible, accurate information and setting an appropriate context for threats; the need for enhanced international police funding and information sharing; the mandate for the private sector to take the lead in protecting potentially-hazardous facilities and materials; and the value of proactively identifying places ripe for the development of terrorist cells such as unstable countries that lack effective government and rule of law.
