Lugar addresses outgoing seniors

As IU's graduates exited Assembly Hall Saturday, they left with an idea of what Sen. Richard Lugar would like the future to be.\nAddressing the outgoing seniors in two different ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Lugar insisted that the United States and its allies should develop a global accountability system to track nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.\nBut some of the graduates weren't surprised by Lugar's remarks.\n"It seemed like a political speech filled with anti-terrorism propaganda and a little bit of war propaganda," said senior William Lee. "I didn't think it was appropriate. I was expecting something else."\nSenior Susan Fowler said she thought the senator's address was just part of a political campaign.\n"I kind of just stopped paying attention halfway through it," she said.\nIn his address, Lugar said an accountability system would help keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists.\n"This process will be expensive and painstaking, but international security and prosperity hang in the balance," he said. \nAn initiative Lugar developed with former Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia has led to the destruction of more than 6,000 U.S. and former Soviet nuclear warheads. He said that effort should be extended worldwide.\nHe said the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks proved that the United States cannot isolate itself.\n"Our power and status have conferred upon us a tremendous responsibility to humanity," Lugar said. "If the world is to be secure and just and prosperous, the United States and individual Americans must devote themselves to international leadership."\nLugar gave President Bush credit for trying to build international support for war with Iraq. But he has questioned the administration's postwar planning.\nA strong U.S. and international presence should remain in Iraq for five years, he said.\nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.