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(KSL News) Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke at the Sundance Resort today, during an event which highlights the work of different authors.
Albright talked to the audience about her book, which she describes as a "to-do list" for the next president.
After an introduction from Sundance founder Robert Redford, Albright took the podium at the Sundance Resort. She was here to speak to Utahns about her new book "Memo to the President Elect."
"I wrote this book because I think the next president is going to need a lot of advice, whoever that person is," she said.
Albright says her book first sets up how the national security system works and then identifies five big issues she believes the new president will need to tackle.
"How to fight terrorism without creating more terrorists," she said. "Then how to deal with a broken immigration system."
She says another difficult task for the president will be restoring the good name of America.
"If you are going to protect America's interest, which is the president's job, other countries and other peoples have to have a certain respect for us, and that's gone," she said.
Albright believes energy and global warming issues and the growing gap between the rich and poor will also take center stage.
"It's important to realize that a lot of things have to be fixed, and that it's going to take some time," she said.
Albright does not believe the U.S. should spent more time in Iraq. Calling the war "the greatest disaster in American foreign policy," she said the U.S. needs to withdraw.
"America has been weakened by the war in Iraq, I think, not strengthened," she added.
The first female Secretary of State was not shy about voicing her support of Sen. Barack Obama. But she said whoever takes the helm of the country needs to be able to listen.
"I want to see a president who can deal with a variety of different issues," she said.
The media asked Albright today if she'd take a cabinet position in the new administration. She said she doesn't think about that because she's already had the best job in the world.