Advisor John Bolton and others in their positions of power now are orchestrating a scenario whereby Donald Trump, for political reasons or whatever, can use force in a significant way against Assad and ultimately Iran, because Iran's forces are there, and ultimately against Russia, because their forces are there in Syria, and this is most disquieting." The neoconservatives' military plan, argues Wilkerson, is "a recipe for" the U.S. military being in the region for "the next generation" with significant force "mired even deeper in this morass" and with the "day after day" attrition of dollars and lives. Role of military relative to climate change Wilkerson stated in a 2022 Massachusetts Peace Action YouTube video, that climate change and nuclear war overshadow all other concerns. In a May 2022 editorial for the Quincy Institute, he considered the role of the U.S. and other militaries in coping with famines that result from climate change and war. Personal life Wilkerson heads the Colin Powell Leadership Club, a group of MacFarland middle school students in Washington, D.C. His wife, Barbara Ann Wilkerson, passed away last year at the age of 71. Awards Wilkerson was the 2009 recipient of the Sam Adams Award for Integrity in Intelligence. References External links "Colonel Finally Saw Whites of Their Eyes", Dana Milbank, The Washington Post, 20 October 2005 Transcript of Wilkerson's speech at the New America Foundation, Washington Note Archives, October 19, 2005. Lawrence Wilkerson. "The White House Cabal", Los Angeles Times, October 25, 2005. Transcript of Wilkerson interview, BBC Today program, 29 November 2005 Interview with Lawrence Wilkerson: "A Leaderless, Directionless Superpower", Der Spiegel, December 6, 2005 Transcript of Wilkerson Interview, PBS NOW (series), "Iraq Pre-War Intelligence," February 3, 2006. "... I'd prefer to see the squabble of democracy to the efficiency of dictators." "They Have Stolen My Party and I Want it Back", blog piece, The Washington Note, 22 March 2006 Interview where Colonel Wilkerson gives examples of Cheney and Rumsfeld's influence., National Public Radio, November 3, 2005. Sworn Testimony over prisoners held in Guantanamo 1945 births Living people United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War American people of the Iraq War American whistleblowers College of William & Mary faculty Critics of neoconservatism Elliott School of International Affairs faculty George Washington University faculty Naval War College alumni Non-interventionism People from Gaffney, South Carolina South Carolina Republicans United States Army colonels United States Department of State