In a speech Tuesday in Charlotte, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the only credible threats to the nation’s global supremacy lie within. (Photo: Glenn H. Burkins

Despite economic threats and global challenges, the United States will remain the world’s pre-eminent leader, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a Charlotte audience Tuesday.

The only credible threat to the nation’s global supremacy, she said, is “the United States of America gone bad” -- a nation that fails to deal with its internal problems.

Among those problems she listed a private sector that isn’t creating jobs, a “crisis” in K-12 education and the nation’s failure to deal with comprehensive immigration reform.

Rice, who currently teaches at Stanford University, said one of America’s global advantages has been its steady stream of immigrants who renewed its economy and culture. Now that source of renewal is threatened, she said.

“The United States had better reaffirm, and reaffirm quickly, that we are a country of immigrants,” she said, her voice rising slightly. “It’s true that people should obey our laws. But when did immigrants become the enemy?"

Rice made he remarks during a wide-ranging speech to some 2,000 people at the Belk Theater. The event was sponsored by the Learning Society of Queens University.

Rice, 56, is on a speaking tour, having recently written a 734-page memoir, "No Higher Honor," which is set to be released Nov. 1. Much of the book deals with her years in the administration of President George W. Bush, first as national security advisor and later as secretary of state.

A small group of protestors gathered outside the Belk Theater in uptown Charlotte Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, to denounce former former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who delivered a speech inside. (Photo: Glenn H. Burkins)

In some cities, Rice has been heckled by audience members opposed to Bush policies in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In Charlotte, the only visible protesters were a handful of people on Tryon Street, some carrying placards denouncing Rice as a “war criminal” and demanding her arrest.

Inside the theater, Rice told the audience that the United States is not always liked in the world, especially because of its “economic strength” and “cultural penetration.” But what people the world over do admire, she said, is that fact that, in America, a person can rise from humble beginnings to achieve great things.

She said the state of K-12 education “may very well be our greatest national security crisis,” noting that the quality of a child’s education in America may largely be predicted by the zip code.

Although Rice generally steered clear of current politics, she said the nation’s private sector cannot create jobs without “low taxation and low regulation.”

In some of her lighter moments, she talked about growing up in segregated Birmingham, Ala., and the importance of having parents and extended family who encouraged her.

She also talked about a memorable moment on the day of the terrorist attacks, when Bush, against the advice of his advisors, insisted on flying back to Washington.

"I raised my voice to the president of the United States. I said, 'You stay where you are. The United States of America is under attack.' "

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