Category: Events

November 17, 2014

Debate on Law Enforcement vs. Smartphone Encryption: Is FBI “Going Dark” or in a Golden Age of Surveillance?
Date: November 17, 4:00pm
Location: New America Foundation, 1899 L street NW, Suite 400, Washington DC

The recent decision by Apple and Google to enable encryption by default on new iPhones and Android smartphones, so that only the user can unlock his or her phone, has led to strong complaints from law enforcement agencies arguing that the move will deprive them of critical evidence. The Attorney General and the FBI Director have gone so far as to suggest that Congress may need to step in and tell companies to redesign their products, to ensure that government investigators can access encrypted data or wiretap online communications when they have appropriate legal authority like a search warrant. However, technologists and privacy advocates say that such a move would undermine the overall security of our data and devices while also putting US companies at a serious disadvantage in the global technology marketplace, and point to the fact that law enforcement and intelligence agencies already have access to more data about us, our communications, and our movements than at any other time in human history—a veritable “Golden Age” of surveillance. Which side is right?

Join New America for a lively debate on this timely technology policy issue, followed by a question and answer session with the audience. On one side: former FBI General Counsel Andrew Weissmann, arguing for law enforcement’s interests. On the other side: legal scholar and former White House technology policy czar Professor Peter Swire, arguing in favor of strong encryption without backdoors for the government. In between as moderator:Nancy Libin, former Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer at the Justice Department. Hosted by Kevin Bankston, Policy Director of New America’s Open Technology Institute.

Join the conversation online using #cryptodebate and following @OTI. RSVP here.

Israel: A Safe Haven for Christians in the Middle East
Date: November 17, 5:00pm
Location: EMET and The Israel Forever Foundation, Cannon House Office Building, Room 340, Washington DC

The Israel Forever Foundation and EMET are pleased to invite you to a discussion featuring Father Gabriel Naddaf from Israel, and Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO), on the plight of Christians in the Middle East and the freedoms they enjoy in Israel. Thousands of Christians throughout the Middle East are persecuted, slaughtered, and raped on a daily basis, because of their faith. Christians who refuse to convert to Islam are targets of radical Islamists and terrorists, and have been robbed of their basic liberties and freedom of worship. Christian communities that have lived in parts of the Middle East and Central Africa in peace for decades are rapidly decreasing. There is only one country in the Middle East where Christians are safe and have freedom of expression and worship – Israel.

Father Gabriel Naddaf is the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in the town of Yafia, near Nazareth in the North of Israel. He also serves as the spiritual leader of the Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum, a growing movement that empowers local Christians to volunteer for Israeli army service and fully integrate into mainstream Israeli society. Father Naddaf is a strong public voice of support for Israel and against the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. Father Naddaf’s activities have made him a controversial figure, drawing criticism from Arab MKs as well as threats against his family and attacks on himself from extreme anti-Israel communities. Last month Father Naddaf appeared before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to discuss the plight of Middle Eastern Christians.

RSVP here.

Project Sapphire 20 Years Later: Cooperative Threat Reduction and Lessons for the Future
Date: November 17, 5:30pm
Location: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1616 Rhode Island Ave NW, 2^nd Floor Conference Center, Washington DC

Twenty years ago, in November 1994, the United States and Kazakhstan completed an unprecedented, highly secret, joint operation removing approximately 600 kilograms of highly enriched uranium from a former Soviet nuclear plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk to permanent storage in the United States. The operation, dubbed “Project Sapphire”, was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Cooperative Threat Reduction (Nunn-Lugar) Program. This program helped secure nuclear warheads and fissile materials in the former Soviet Union and ensured their relocation to Russia from Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus. Kazakhstan’s early decision to become a nuclear weapon-free state made it a global leader in the non-proliferation movement.

To mark the 20th anniversary of these efforts, please join us for a discussion of the history and lessons of U.S.-Kazakhstan joint efforts.

Register here.

November 18, 2014

Subcommittee Hearing: Fighting Ebola: A Ground-Level View
Date: November 18, 10:00am
Location: U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC

Chairman Smith on the hearing: “In our third hearing over the past four months on the Ebola virus in West Africa, the subcommittee will examine this fight from the vantage point of people on the ground who have been contracted to provide services, including patient treatment, local medical efforts and community disease education. It is imperative that in Congress’ efforts to work with the Administration we know how successful efforts have been to date and whether adjustments are needed to more effectively achieve disease mitigation goals.”

Scheduled witnesses include, Mr. Rabih Torbay, Senior Vice President for International Operations in the International Medical Corps, Mr. Brett Sedgewick, Technical Advisor for Food Security and Livelihoods for Global Communities, and Darius Mans, Ph.D., President of Africare.

The Global Response to Managing the Humanitarian Crisis: Lessons from Syria
Date: November 18, 10:00am
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Kenney Auditorium, 1740 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036

António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, will be the keynote speaker and various speakers will discuss this topic on two panels during the conference.

Register here.

Post-Conflict State-Building and Public Health Recovery: What Does the Ebola Pandemic in Liberia Teach?
Date: November 18, 12:00pm
Location: GMU School for Conflict Analysis & Resolution, Johnson Center, Room A, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax VA

A native of Liberia, Samuel Wai Johnson, Jr. is a Graduate Lecturer at George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution undergraduate program. Last semester, he served as a Visiting Scholar at Eastern Mennonite University Department of Applied Social Sciences and Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Before leaving Liberia in 2006 for studies in the US, Sam worked with UNICEF as a Policy Communications Officer and a development consultant for local NGOs on issues of poverty reduction and sustainable development. He is a visiting faculty at the University of Liberia Department of Economics. Sam holds MAs in International Development and Economics from Ohio University and an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Liberia. He is a PHD candidate at George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. His research focuses broadly on conflict-sensitive development and the economic dimensions of conflict and peace building, with a specific focus on the relationship between post-conflict development finance and peace building. He spent last summer in Liberia conducting field research for his dissertation where he saw firsthand the horrific impact of the Ebola pandemic on the country.

Subcommittee Hearing: Iranian Nuclear Talks: Negotiating a Bad Deal?
Date: November 18, 2:00pm
Location: U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2200 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC

Chairman Poe on the hearing: “According to reports, not much progress has been made since the last extension of nuclear talks in July. If the Iranians are buying for time, they shouldn’t get additional sanctions relief simply to kick the can down the road another 4-5 months. It’s time for Congress to hold the line and ensure that this Administration and the P5+1 don’t make a dangerous deal. This hearing will examine concerns over the current negotiations and also outline what an acceptable deal might look like.”

Scheduled witnesses include, Ray Takeyh, Ph.D., Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, Mr. J. Matthew McInnis, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Mr. David Albright, President of the Institute for Science and International Security.

National Insecurity: American Leadership in an Age of Fear
Date: November 18, 5:30pm
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Kenney Auditorium, Nitze Building, 1740 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036

A SAIS Foreign Policy Institute discussion of David Rothkopf’s new book, with Rothkopf and Shirin Tahir Kheli of SAIS. David Rothkopf is CEO and editor of the FP Group.

For information or to RSVP, go to http://ow.ly/DDfZO.

Germany’s Russia Policy: Commercial Realism and Geopolitics
Date: November 18, 6:00pm
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Rome 806, 1619 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036

As the second largest exporter in the world and the pivotal power of Europe, Germany is one of the world’s leading geo-economic power. Like other geo-economic powers, Germany’s foreign policy can be characterized as one of commercial realism which defines the national interest in economic terms and elevates economic interests over more traditional strategic concerns, as we as over non-economic values such as human rights or democracy promotion. This strategic paradim is most evident in Germany’s relationship with Russia. This geo-economic approach toward Russia has been brought into question in the wake of Russian actions in Ukraine and now in northern Europe as well. How will Germany rebalance its economic and strategic concerns in its new relationship with Russia?

In his new book, Germany, Russia, and the Rise of Geo-Economics, Stephen F. Szabo provides a description and analysis of German policy towards Russia, revealing how unified Germany is finding a global role, in which interests do not always coincide with the United States or its European partners. He explores the role of German business and finance in the shaping of foreign policy and investigates how Germany’s Russia policy affects its broader foreign policy in the region and how it is perceived by key outside players such as the United States, Poland, and the European Union. Drawing on interviews with key opinion shapers, business and financial players, and policy makers, as well as a wide variety of public opinion surveys, media reports, and archival sources, this book is a key resource for all those wishing to understand the new geo-economic balance of Europe.

Stephen F. Szabo is a Professorial Lecturer at SAIS and executive director of the Transatlantic Academy, an independent research institute based at the German Marshall Fund of the United States in Washington, DC. He is the author of numerous books and articles focusing on transatlantic relations and German foreign policy including Parting Ways: The Crisis in German-American Relations(2004).

Commentary will be provided by Angela E. Stent, Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies and Professor of Government and Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She is also a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the Brookings Institution and co-chairs its Hewitt Forum on Post-Soviet Affairs. From 2004-2006 she served as National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council. From 1999-2001, she served in the Office of Policy Planning at the U.S. Department of State.

Register here.

November 19, 2014

The Iran Nuclear Talks: Problems and Prospects
Date: November 19, 12:00pm
Location: Heritage Foundation, Lehrman Auditorium, 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington DC

As the nuclear talks with Iran approach a November 24 deadline, what are the prospects for an agreement that would prevent an Iranian nuclear breakout or sneak-out? What problems need to be resolved in order to reach a successful outcome in the negotiations?

Join Heritage Foundation panelists as they discuss these and other issues related to Iran’s nuclear program.

Register here.

Understanding the Global Threat of Ebola
Date: November 19, 2:00pm
Location: Universal Peace Foundation, Washington DC

The deadliest Ebola outbreak in history has, to date, affected more than 10,000 people, and the numbers continue to rise. In March 2014, the ebola virus was identified as a severe public health threat in three West African countries: Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. By September, Ebola emerged in Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda.

While there are major efforts by the international health community to prevent and control the deadly disease, it is spreading rapidly across Africa and poses a significant threat to nearly all of the developing and industrialized world. Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian who traveled to Texas to visit his family, was confirmed as the first case (and fatality) in the United States. Since his tragic death, The Dallas Health Presbyterian Hospital has identified 114 persons who were also exposed to Mr. Duncan during his treatment.

Scientists believe that the United Kingdom may be the next country to report infected persons followed by France. The World Health Organization
has estimated that ultimately Ebola will affect 1.4 million lives. But the impact of the disease is not just measured in human lives. The Ebola outbreak has grim economic consequences which will be felt beyond the affected countries in West Africa. The World Bank has estimated that the costs associated with the containment of the disease and economic impact in tourism, agriculture, global development could be as high as 3.5 billion dollars by the end of 2015.

A powerful defense strategy is needed against this modern plague. The panel will discuss the medical, social and economic impact of Ebola, the facts about transmission, and best containment practices.

November 20, 2014

The Struggle for Pakistan
Date: November 20, 12:00pm
Location: Hudson Institute, 1015 15^th Street NW, 6^th Floor, Washington DC

Pakistan’s precarious situation has made its government periodically susceptible to military control and its population vulnerable to extremist ideologies. After the events of 9/11, the terrorists entrenched within Pakistan’s borders became a subject of global concern. Thirteen years later, military missions and foreign aid to Pakistan have been of little lasting benefit to the state itself. As the United States has drawn down its military presence in South Asia, the struggle in, and for, Pakistan rages on.

In The Struggle for Pakistan, Dr. Ayesha Jalal, Mary Richardson Professor of History at Tufts University, traces the international actors and domestic factors that have contributed to the continued militarization and radicalization of Pakistan. Jalal demonstrates how contested borders with India and Afghanistan as well as an inconsistent relationship with the United States have led Pakistan to place a premium on security above all else. The Pakistani military has successfully capitalized on this mentality. Domestically, ethnic and sectarian clashes have fostered extremist tendencies. Jalal illustrates how these factors continue to threaten the development of strong institutions and democratic ideals—and how the dangers for and within Pakistan are from over.

On Thursday, November 20th, Hudson Institute will host a conversation with Dr. Ayesha Jalal about her new book The Struggle for Pakistan: Muslim Homeland and Global Politics. The discussion will be moderated by Ambassador Husain Haqqani, Hudson Institute Director for South and Central Asia and former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States.

Register here.

November 21, 2014

Dialogue on the Crisis with Russia
Date: November 21, 12:00pm
Location: Aspen Institute, 1 Dupont Circle NW #700, Washington DC

A discussion featuring: Stephen J. Hadley, Principal, RiceHadleyGates LLC and Former National Security Advisor; Strobe Talbott, President, The Brookings Institution and Former Deputy Secretary of State; and Angela Stent, Director, Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies, Georgetown University.

Moderated by Nicholas Burns, Director, Aspen Strategy Group; Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics, Harvard Kennedy School

The Washington Ideas Roundtable Series is made possible with the generous support of Michelle Smith and the Robert H. Smith Family Foundation.

The Good War: Why We Couldn’t Win the War or the Peace in Afghanistan
Date: November 21, 12:15pm
Location: New America Foundation, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington DC

In its earliest days, the American-led war in Afghanistan appeared to be a triumph—a “good war”—in comparison to the debacle in Iraq. It has since turned into one of the longest and most costly wars in U.S. history and now, many wonder if Afghanistan will fall to Taliban control after the United States and NATO forces withdraw. The story of how this good war went so bad may well turn out to be a defining tragedy of the 21st century—yet as acclaimed war correspondent Jack Fairweather explains, it should also give us reason to hope for an outcome grounded in Afghan reality, rather than our own.

Please join New America as we welcome Jack Fairweather, a former foreign correspondent for the Daily Telegraph and the Washington Post, who won the British Press Award for his reporting on the Iraq invasion, to discuss his book with Peter Bergen, the Director of the International Security Program at New America.

RSVP here or watch the live webcast.

Preparing for the Future: Assessing the Conditions and Capacity for American Engagement with Russia
Date: November 21, 2:30pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 6^th Floor, Washington DC

The continuing diplomatic tensions between the United States and Russia have had a significant impact on programs that promote civic and individual contacts between Americans and Russians. Exchange programs serve as capacity-building initiatives influencing economic growth and jobs and how enterprises and individuals interact with their peers on the other side. A panel of experts and practitioners will discuss how organizations and individuals dedicated to the mission of engagement between Russian and the United States are pursuing their work in the current atmosphere.

RSVP here.

Reimagining ‘Post-Soviet’ Central Asia
Date: November 21, 3:30pm
Location: Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street NW, Suite 412, Voesar Conference Center, Washington DC

In the newly independent states of Central Asia, geopolitical practices and affinities cannot be understood in isolation from their Soviet heritage. However, after nearly 25 years since the collapse of the USSR, this near-automatic explanation of contemporary politics in terms of Soviet legacies is no longer sufficient for understanding Central Asia’s shifting geopolitics. In this paper, I analyze how geopolitical identities are narrated through urban development schemes in Astana, Baku, and Ashgabat – and in particular how they are increasingly connected to new flows of actors, ideas, and finance from the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Adopting a critical geopolitics approach, I compare and contrast elements of these capital city development schemes in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan with those in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Through this comparative analysis, I demonstrate how region-making and geopolitical orientations unfold not just at the level of rhetorical positioning, but can also develop through the material practices of cross- regional networks around highly specific political tactics, like capital city development. Also considering divergences, I note that although the urban landscapes these tactics materialize are very similar, there are important differences in the underlying political geographic and political economic factors that make them possible, as well as the political relations they sustain and produce.

RSVP here.

November 10, 2014

The U-2 Incident, Preserving Cold War History, and Honoring Cold War Veterans
Date: November 10, 5:00pm
Location: Institute of World Politics, 1521 16^th Street NW, Washington DC

In this lecture, Francis Gary Powers, Jr., Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Cold War Museum and son of the downed U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, will dispel common myths about the U-2 incident and discuss the importance of preserving Cold War history. This lecture will be in honor of the veterans of the Cold War.

Copies of Operation Overflight, written by pilot Francis Gary Powers, will be available for purchase at the event.

Register here.

Rethinking Seminar: Ambassador Gallucci on Impact and Implications of Iranian Nuclear Weapons on U.S. and Regional Security
Date: November 10, 6:00pm
Location: Marriott Residence Inn, Pentagon City, 550 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA

Ambassador Gallucci is currently the Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service where he served as dean for 13 years. He left in 2009, to become president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Previously, he had 21 years of distinguished service in a variety of government positions, focusing on international security. As Ambassador-at-Large and Special Envoy for the U.S. Department of State, he dealt with the threats posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Among other duties, he was chief U.S. negotiator during the North Korean nuclear crisis of 1994, and served as Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs and as Deputy Executive Chairman of the UN Special Commission overseeing the disarmament of Iraq following the first Gulf War. (Biography)

For the Rethinking Seminar, Ambassador Gallucci will discuss Iran and North Korea, their pursuit of nuclear weapons, as well as the current U.S. strategy to prevent nuclear proliferation. He will also share his thoughts on global zero, challenges to the paradigm, and the evolving thinking concerning the future role of nuclear weapons.

Register here.

Addressing Emerging Cyber Threats: A Discussion with Computer Scientist Dr. Costis Toregas
Date: November 10, 6:30pm
Location: Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street NW, Room B12, Washington DC

Join Delta Phi Epsilon: Professional Foreign Service Fraternity for a discussion with Dr. Costis Toregas, computer scientist and lead researcher at GW’s Cyber Security and Policy Research Institute.

Dr. Toregas will discuss cyber security issues and concerns, including:

• the new framework for cyber security promulgated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
• the concept of cyber insurance as a policy instrument to address cyber threats; and,
• a recent agreement signed between US and German government officials that will organize a long term, sustained program of academic exchanges, seminars and collaborative research.

This event is part of “International Affairs Week”, a week-long series of events hosted by GW’s various international affairs related student organizations.

Register here.

November 11, 2014

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and its Geopolitical Meaning
Date: November 11, 4:00pm
Location: GMU School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Metropolitan Building, Conference Room 5183, Arlington, VA

Often presented as being merely trade pacts, the Association Agreements that the EU has recently signed with Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia have a large meaning for the history, politics, and structure or Europe. If duly and fully ratified as well as consistently implemented, they will bring these three countries into the economic and legal sphere of the EU, and prepare them for membership. Given the size, culture, and location of Ukraine, the Ukranian Association Agreement will have large repercussions for the entire post-Soviet region, in that it could become a model for other former states of the USSR. Moscow undoubtedly understood this and reacted accordingly.

Europe’s Lost Decade and Its Strategic Consequences
Date: November 11, 6:00pm
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, 1619 Massachusetts Ave NW, Rome 806, Washington DC

Thomas Wright is a fellow at the Brookings Institution in the Project on International Order and Strategy. Previously, he was executive director of studies at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and senior researcher for the Princeton Project on National Security. Wright has a Ph.D. from Georgetown University, an M.Phil from Cambridge University and a B.A. and an M.A. from University College Dublin. He has also held a pre-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and a post-doctoral fellowship at Princeton University. Wright’s writings have appeared in the American Political Science Review, Orbis, Survival, The Washington Quarterly, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, and the Washington Post, as well as a number of international newspapers and media outlets. His currents projects include the future of U.S. alliances and strategic partnerships, the geopolitical consequences of the euro crisis, U.S. relations with rising power and multilateral diplomacy.

Register here.

November 12, 2014

Chinese Foreign Policy: The Challenge for Beijing
Date: November 12, 11:00am
Location: Georgetown University, Edward B. Bunn, S.J. Intercultural Center, 302-P, 37^th and O Streets NW, Washington DC

What are some of the most pressing issues in Chinese foreign policy today? In this presentation, Dr. Reardon-Anderson will review Chinese foreign policy decisions in the last few decades and discuss many new challenges faced by the government in Beijing, including the issues of Xinjiang, Tibet, island disputes, and energy.

Register here.

Cyber Warfare and Sino-American Crisis Instability
Date: November 12, 3:00pm
Location: International Institute for Strategic Studies-US, 2121 K Street NW, Suite 801, Washington DC

David Gompert and Martin Libicki will expand on the argument made in their recent piece in Survival: that while both Washington and Beijing recognize that an armed conflict between them will involve cyber warfare, there has been no systematic weighing of the tactical military advantages offered by cyber weapons against the strategic hazards they pose.

Register here.

Prospects for a Nuclear Agreement with Iran: A Discussion in Honor of Michael Adler
Date: November 12, 3:00pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 6^th Floor, Conference Room, Washington DC

The world’s major powers (the P5+1) and Iran have been negotiating since last January to convert an interim nuclear accord into a final agreement, and now face a November 24 deadline. As this critical date nears, please join us for this meeting to address the outcome of the negotiations—whether successful in yielding an agreement, extended to allow further negotiations, or at a point of breakdown. What are the implications for U.S. policy toward Iran moving forward, as well as for the broader global effort to forestall the proliferation of nuclear weapons? This event honors the late Michael Adler, distinguished journalist and Public Policy Scholar at the Wilson Center, whose illuminating work improved the quality of public discourse on this vital issue.

RSVP here.

The Ebola Crisis: U.S. Leadership and International Response
Date: November 12, 3:30pm
Location: Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

The deadly Ebola epidemic currently unfolding in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone is the most severe outbreak of the disease on record. The World Health Organization reports that more than 13,500 people have been diagnosed with the disease in those three African countries alone. Even as isolated cases emerge in the United States and Western Europe, the Ebola outbreak continues largely unchecked in West Africa, with the number of diagnosed cases increasing daily. The United States has responded to the Ebola crisis with the largest global health response in American history, providing immediate humanitarian assistance while also working to alleviate health, economic and social impacts of the outbreak in West Africa.

On Wednesday, November 12, the Brookings Institution will host a discussion on the current state of the Ebola crisis, featuring a conversation with USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, who will detail his recent trip to West Africa and the U.S. response to the crisis. Brookings President Strobe Talbott will moderate the discussion. Administrator Shah will also discuss USAID’s new effort, “Fighting Ebola: A Grand Challenge for Development,” the agency’s effort to generate new ideas to fight Ebola.

The discussion with the administrator will be followed by a panel discussion with Brookings Senior Fellows Elizabeth Ferris, Amadou Sy, Michael O’Hanlon and Oscar Bloh, who is chairperson of the Civil Society Organization Ebola Response Taskforce in Liberia and the country director of Search for Common Ground Liberia. The panelists will outline the humanitarian, economic, political and security dimensions of the crisis.

Register here.

Perspectives from Pakistan’s Changemakers
Date: November 12, 4:00pm
Location: Atlantic Council, 1030 15^th Street NW, 12^th Floor, West Tower, Washington DC

Youth are considered the asset of a country. With about half of the population under the age of 24, the country possesses an immense resource that will determine the success of Pakistan’s young democracy and future. The Emerging Leaders of Pakistan (ELP) fellowship supports and empowers the next generation of Pakistan’s leaders by creating a sustainable forum of collaboration to strengthen their engagement and impact in their communities. This year’s contingent of fifteen dynamic civil society leaders, who were selected through a highly competitive process, embody Pakistan’s ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity. They are educators, entrepreneurs, journalists, social activists, social innovators, and community organizers who are working to solve some of Pakistan’s most pressing challenges. The fellowship provides the opportunity to collaborate with each other, address misperceptions, and glean best practices from people and organizations they meet to foster creative ideas and lessons to apply in Pakistan.

We invite the DC community to meet the 2014 fellows, hear about their experiences addressing Pakistan’s challenges, and discuss outstanding issues facing their communities and country.

Register here.

November 13, 2014

Supporting Democracy Abroad
Date: November 13, 9:00am
Location: Freedom House, 1301 Connecticut Ave NW, 4^th Floor Conference Room, Washington DC

Please join us for the release of Freedom House’s study on “Supporting Democracy Abroad,” which provides qualitative ratings and in-depth analysis on the democracy assistance policies of 10 countries—Brazil, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, United States—and the European Union.

RSVP here.

Power or Promise: Do Online Health Campaigns Impact Offline Behavior?
Date: November 13, 12:00pm
Location: Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P Street NW, Washington DC

Twitter, Facebook and other digital platforms have forged a new frontier for public health campaigns, giving us many tools for promoting health communication initiatives that seek to encourage healthy lifestyles and move people to specific health behaviors. But how can we know if a digital campaign is actually affecting behavior?

The American Institutes for Research invites you to a conversation on how to evaluate digital communication’s impact on offline health behavior. What can such measures as page views, likes and other digital analytics tell us about online behavior, and how does that relate to offline behavior? Once people put their phones down and their laptops away, how can communicators know if Google ads, Twitter campaigns, Facebook memes or YouTube videos actually influence whether people cut down on sugar consumption, get tested for HIV or stop smoking? Our panelists will discuss these questions and share some groundbreaking private-sector work on understanding the relationship between digital communication and offline behavior.

Register here.

Combating the ISIS Threat: A Path Forward
Date: November 13, 12:30pm
Location: Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street NW, Lindner Family Commons, Room 602, Washington DC

Join GW’s Stephen Biddle and Marc Lynch for an in-depth discussion of the Obama administration’s current strategy toward the ISIS threat, the evolving security situation on the ground in Syria and Iraq, and next steps for regional and global stakeholders

RSVP here.

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Life in Biomedical Science
Date: November 13, 5:30pm
Location: Embassy of Canada, 501 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC

Fulbright Canada and the Embassy of Canada will host a public lecture by Dr. Shirley M. Tilghman. Dr. Tilghman is President Emeritus, Princeton University and will speak to the challenges facing the field of biomedical science.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to rsvp@fulbright.ca. Please include your name, title and affiliation.

November 14, 2014

Twenty Five Years Later: Memory Culture and Political Controversy over the Legacy of East Germany
Date: November 14, 10:00am
Location: Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street NW, Lindner Family Commons, Room 602, Washington DC

This symposium brings together two eye witnesses and two professors discussing East Germany, the Berlin Wall, and the East German secret police, the Stasi. In the morning, Mario Röllig (10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.) will discuss life in East Germany, his failed escape attempt and subsequent imprisonment by the Stasi, and Ralph Kabisch (11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.) will share his experience of being part of a group of university students in West Berlin who built a tunnel under the Berlin Wall which helped 57 people escape from East Berlin. In the afternoon session, Prof. Mary Beth Stein (12:40 p.m. -1:20 p.m.) will present her research on controversies surrounding the legacy of the Stasi, and the efforts by its victims and by historians to remember and educate the public at one memorial museum in Berlin. Prof. Hope M. Harrison (1:20 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.), who will have just returned from Berlin as a participant in the official celebrations surrounding the 25^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, will discuss the evolution of Germany’s approach to the history and memory of the Berlin Wall since 1989.

RSVP here.

Ukraine’s Pivotal Parliamentary Poll
Date: November 14, 2:00pm
Location: National Democratic Institute, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 608, Washington DC

On October 26, Ukraine held early parliamentary elections that international observers—including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe—assessed as largely positive, with the exception of the disenfranchisement of voters in Russian-occupied Crimea and southeastern Ukraine. The elections, which swept into power Ukraine’s most pro-Western parliament in history, represented a critical milestone in the country’s democratic evolution.

Experts from three major organizations with decades of on-the-ground experience in Ukraine will examine the conduct and results of the elections, as well as the potential for the newly elected parliament to confront the coming challenge of forging a democratic, secure, independent future for their strategically important country.

The following panelists are scheduled to participate:

• Olha Aivazovska, Board Chair, Ukrainian citizen network OPORA
• Katie Fox,  Deputy Director, Eurasia, National Democratic Institute
• Stephen Nix, Director of Eurasia, International Republican Institute

October 27, 2014

Ebola: U.S. Domestic and Foreign Policy Options
Date: October 27, 12:00pm
Location: Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave, NE, Lehrman Auditorium, Washington DC

Months after the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, the news of two American nurses becoming infected has sparked fear amongst the general U.S. population. With Ebola victims now in the United States, concerns are growing over the ability of the administration, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and hospitals to control the spread of disease.

Join us for a discussion of the very real risks of the Ebola virus, but without the fear brought on by speculation and hype. Through clear communication of the nature of the threat and what policy options are available in the U.S. and in West Africa, the U.S. can make clear, rational decisions as to how to best deal with the current situation.

RSVP here to attend in person or watch online here.

Modern War in Theory and Practice: A Discussion with Dr. John Nagl on his new book Knife Fights
Date: October 27, 1:15pm
Location: New America Foundation, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington DC

Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice by Dr. John Nagl, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and a former president of the Center for a New American Security, is a profound education in 21st Century warfare – its theory, its practice, and the often-tortured relationship between the two.

As an army tank commander in the first Gulf War, fresh out of West Point and Oxford, Dr. Nagl could already see that America’s military superiority meant that the age of conventional combat was nearing an end. He was an early convert to the view that America’s greatest future threats would come from asymmetric warfare – guerrillas, terrorists, and insurgents – and wrote Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife, a book that eventually became the bible of the counterinsurgency movement. Nagl argued it was necessary for the U.S. Army to understand the nature of the insurgency, but also to be more flexible in its response, adjusting its strategy to properly deal with the threat.

While Dr. Nagl worked with Gen. David Petraeus on rewriting core army doctrine in the middle of two wars, helping their new ideas win acceptance in one of the planet’s most conservative bureaucracies, he has not been blind to the cost or consequences of counterinsurgency, noting that in war, there are only bad choices; the question is really which ones are better and which ones are worse.

The New America Foundation is pleased to welcome Dr. Nagl for a discussion about his book, his work on the United States’ counterinsurgency efforts, and the revolution in modern warfare that he helped lead.

RSVP here to attend in person or watch online.

U.S.-Civil Military Relations After 9/11
Date: October 27, 1:30pm
Location: Alexander Hamilton Society-George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, East 201, Fairfax VA

The George Mason University chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society will host Mackubin Thomas Owens for a discussion on U.S.-Civil Military Relations After 9/11. No registration is required. Refreshments will be served.

Mackubin Thomas Owens recently retired as professor of national-security affairs at the Naval War College. He is the editor of Orbis and a contributing editor to the National Review Online.

Previously, Dr. Owens served as the National Security Adviser to Senator Bob Kasten (R-WI) and Director of Legislative Affairs for the Nuclear Weapons Programs of the Department of Energy during the Reagan administration.

He is the author of US Civil-Military Relations After 9/11: Renegotiating the Civil-Military Bargain.

The New Threat in Town: Iraq, ISIS, and Managing the Crisis
Date: October 27, 6:30pm
Location: AU School of International Service, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Mary Gordon Center, Butler Board Room, Washington DC

A panel discussion on the current security situation in Iraq regarding ISIS, the implications it has on the regional security of the Middle East, and how the United States can engage with the region in order to mitigate the situation from spiraling out of control. Panel speakers will include Dr. Tricia Bacon, Ambassador James F. Jeffrey from the Washington Institute, and Dr. Paul Salem from the Middle East Institute.

October 28, 2014               

Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror: A Discussion with Arun Kundani on his new book The Muslims are Coming!
Date: October 28, 12:15pm
Location: New America Foundation, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington DC

In The Muslims Are Coming!: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror, Arun Kundnani notes that the new front in the War on Terror is the homegrown enemy, domestic terrorists who have become the focus of sprawling counterterrorism structures in the United States and across Europe. Domestic surveillance by police forces and government agencies has mushroomed— at least 100,000 Muslims in America have been secretly under scrutiny. In Britain, police officers compiled a secret suspect list of more than 8,000 al-Qaeda “sympathizers,” and almost 300 children aged fifteen and younger were among the potential extremists investigated.

While the revelations by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden have caused some to question the rise, even the legality, of these national surveillance states, Western governments continue to focus on the threats posed by homegrown extremists, particularly as the Islamic State attracts foreign fighters from around the world

Based on several years of research and reportage, in locations as disparate as Texas, New York, and Yorkshire, and written in engrossing, precise prose, Kundnani’s The Muslims Are Coming! is the first comprehensive critique of Western counter-radicalization strategies. He notes that the new policies and policing campaigns have been backed by an industry of freshly-minted experts and liberal commentators, and looks at the way these debates have been transformed by the embrace of a narrowly-configured and ill-conceived anti-extremism stance.

The New America Foundation is pleased to welcome Mr. Kundnani for a discussion about his book, his findings, and the impact the War on Terror has had on its targets.

Register here to attend in person or watch live online.

The Future Army: Win in a Complex World
Date: October 28, 6:30pm
Location: World Affairs Council, 1900 K Street NW, 2^nd Floor, Washington DC

Today, the importance of national security rests heavily on the minds of many Americans. With multiple mounting crises around the world, it is often difficult to understand America’s role in foreign disputes and the necessary action our military must take to remain a mediating force in foreign lands.

General David G. Perkins is the Commanding General in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, who has experience in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East that affords him a distinct and experienced voice when speaking about the Army and the future of American security.

Join the World Affairs Council – Washington, DC in our Distinguished Speaker Series, as we host General David G. Perkins, as he speaks about ”The Future Army: Win in a Complex World.”

Register here.

October 29, 2014

Impressions from Putin’s 2014 Valdai Conference
Date: October 29, 12:00pm
Location: Georgetown University, McGhee Library, Room 301, 3700 O Street NW, Washington DC

Impressions From Putin’s 2014 Valdai Conference
CERES Director Dr. Angela Stent and IISS Senior Fellow Samuel Charap will report on their experience at the Valdai Discussion Club meeting. The Valdai Discussion Club is a global forum for the world’s leading experts on Russia to engage in a sustained dialogue about the country’s political, economic, social and cultural development. Since 2004, the Club has gathered annually in Russia and has regularly met with the leadership of the Russian Federation (including Vladimir Putin), as well as Russian business leaders, media, academics, and political groups.

Register here.

Ukraine Update: Elections, Conflict, and the Future of the EU’s Eastern Partnership
Date: October 29, 2:00pm
Location: The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

In 2009, the European Union established its Eastern Partnership to advance political association and economic integration with six neighboring nations to its east. However, in November 2013, Ukrainian President Yanukovych refused to sign an association agreement with the EU, triggering mass protests in Ukraine that ultimately led to his departure and accusations that the EU “sleepwalked” into a conflict in Ukraine. Although the EU long asserted that the framework was never directed against Russia, the agreement with Ukraine was perceived in Moscow as a step too far. In the wake of the ongoing crisis between Ukraine and Russia, some are questioning whether the EU’s Eastern Partnership should be fundamentally altered—and, if so, how?

Against the backdrop of simmering conflict in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian people will go to the polls on October 26 to elect a new parliament. The new parliament members will then have to form a majority coalition and begin to tackle the pressing challenges facing the country. The herculean tasks include not just the violent conflict in the east and the troubled relationship with Russia, but needed economic and political reforms as well as measures to curb corruption. Questions remain about Ukrainian public expectations and potential tensions in the immediate aftermath of the vote.

On October 29, the Center on the U.S. and Europe at Brookings and the Heinrich Böll Foundation will host a panel discussion assessing next steps for Ukraine and the EU’s Eastern Partnership. The first panel will explore the Ukrainian election and what it means for politics within Ukraine, the Ukrainian economy, and Ukraine’s relations with Russia and the West. The second panel will focus on international perspectives on the EU’s Eastern Partnership and the EU’s role in supporting Ukraine in this time of turmoil.

RSVP here.

October 30, 2014

Is Democracy Possible in Russia?
Date: October 30, 9:30am
Location: National Endowment for Democracy, 1025 F Street NW, Suite 800, Washington DC

Vladimir Putin returned to the Russian presidency in 2012, facing mass opposition protests and weak economic growth. His response was a sharp turn toward authoritarianism, a trend that began with criminal charges against dozens of protesters on Bolotnaya Square and has accelerated with Russia’s armed intervention in Ukraine. Political repression and anti-Western propaganda have reached levels previously unseen in post-Soviet Russia, with political opposition and participation and most independent media eliminated. At the same time, economic sanctions have pushed an already stagnant economy toward recession.

These developments have created the need to reconfigure the sources of the Putin regime’s legitimacy. Whereas the implicit accord of Putin’s first two terms was to offer Russia’s citizens stable economic growth in exchange for their political disengagement; in his third term Putin seeks to compensate for declining standards of living with an artificial vision of Russia reborn as a great power.

In the short term, this strategy appears successful. Putin’s approval ratings have been at record highs for several months. However, an in-depth examination of Russia’s social, political, and economic trends suggests that the current political strategy may not be sustainable. Panelists Lilia Shevtsova, Leon Aron and Denis Volkov will discuss the factors that will shape political developments in Russia and the opportunities those developments might provide for reform. Leonid Gozman will provide comments.

RSVP here.

Brown Bag—Liberia: Challenges to Managing the Ebola Outbreak
Date: October 30, 12:30pm
Location: GMU School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, 4400 University Drive, Metropolitan Building, Conference Room 5183, Fairfax, VA

Join Professor Agnieszka Paczynska and S-CAR PhD student Samuel Wai Johnson for a brown bag on Liberia and the challenges faced on both a state and local level in managing the Ebola outbreak.

Rules of Engagement—Pathogen Response to the Environment of Invasive Infection
Date: October 30, 12:30pm
Location: Georgetown University, Regents Hall 239, 3700 O Street NW, Washington DC

This open to the public seminar given by Dr. Aaron Mitchell of Carnegie Mellon University, will discuss pathogen response to the environment of invasive infection.

A Nuclear Deal with Iran? Weighing the Possibilities
Date: October 30, 2:00pm
Location: American Enterprise Institute, 1150 17^th Street NW, 12^th Floor, Washington DC

As global crises unfold, President Barack Obama appears to see one silver lining in the clouds on the foreign policy horizon: a nuclear deal with Iran. However, it appears increasingly likely that the November 24 deadline will come and go without a comprehensive agreement, and the stakes could not be higher. A bad deal that leaves too much of Tehran’s nuclear capabilities intact or enables Iran to develop nuclear weapons in the months or years to come could set off a nuclear arms race across the Middle East. Alternatively, a good deal could solve a problem at the heart of much of the turmoil in the region.

Are the United States and European powers prepared to renew sanctions if Iran refuses to comply with demands from the international community and International Atomic Energy Agency? Will the Iranians refuse to concede on any of their own red lines? Will the Obama administration sidestep Congress to achieve a nuclear deal? Please join us at AEI for a timely discussion just a few weeks ahead of the November deadline.

RSVP here.

October 21, 2014

Iranian Policy Toward the Iraqi and Syrian Crises
Date: October 21, 12:00pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC

Tehran has had a longstanding alliance with Damascus over the past 35 years, and its relations with Baghdad have steadily improved since the ouster of Saddam Hussein in 2003. This has resulted in close ties between Iran and these two key Arab states. However, this has all been called into question since the eruption of the Syrian revolt in 2011, and moreover, the recent rise of ISIS and its challenge to the Iraqi state. Iran has become heavily involved in both conflicts since it has much at stake. Jubin Goodarzi will provide an overview of the evolving situation and focus on Iran’s policies, perspectives, interests, and options in the ongoing Syrian and Iraqi crises.

RSVP here or watch the webcast here.

Development of Vaccines Against Pathogenic Human Polyomaviruses
Date: October 21, 12:00pm
Location: Georgetown University, 3900 Reservoir Road NW, Washington DC

Christopher Buck, Ph.D., Head of the Tumor Virus Molecular Biology Section of NCI (NIH) in Bethesda, MD will speak about the development of vaccines against human polyomaviruses.

Winning Paktika: Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan
Date: October 21, 4:30pm
Location: Institute of World Politics, 1521 16^th Street NW, Washington DC

Just days prior to deploying to combat in Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Walter Piatt, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry “Wolfhounds” announced this visionary statement in front of an assembly of 800 infantrymen and their families. Naturally, none of the soldiers listening to the Colonel’s rhetoric thought it was possible to actually win the war without killing a single person. That hardly sounded like “war” at all. In fact, that simple concept was the very antithesis of the previous 10 months they had all spent training to explicitly kill people with speed and violence. Destroying the enemy was the fundamental focus of every infantryman. It was, of course, the very reason the infantry existed in the first place.

The Colonel, an infantryman himself no less, challenged his battalion’s conventional thinking that day and throughout the ensuing campaign. His striking pronouncement was the theoretical extreme of counterinsurgency doctrine. It emphasizes the importance of nation-building instead of man-hunting, construction instead of destruction, and dropping schools and wells into villages instead of artillery shells. That was his vision and that is what he led his infantrymen to do.

This is the story of the Wolfhounds in 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company through the eyes of a young platoon leader. He details their adventures on the frontier in a little-known dangerous place called Paktika Province, centrally located along Afghanistan’s volatile border with Pakistan. It is the story of ordinary men, cast into a treacherous and unfamiliar world with the mission to destroy the enemy’s sanctuary, not just the enemy. It is the story of triumph and failure, elation and frustration through a hard-fought struggle with their identity as infantrymen, evolving from trained tactical killers to strategic nation builders in their quest to win Paktika.

Register here.

October 22, 2014

Ensuring a Strong U.S. Defense for the Future: Findings of the National Defense Panel
Date: October 22, 10:00am
Location: Bipartisan Policy Center, 1225 I Street NW, Washington DC

In recent months, the U.S. military has been dispatched to the Middle East to fight ISIS, to Africa to combat Ebola and to Eastern Europe to deter Russia. Yet, automatic reductions to the defense budget, known as “sequestration,” remain the law of the land. Highlighting this tension between national security and fiscal restraint, Michèle Flournoy and Eric Edelman, members of the bipartisan, congressionally-mandated National Defense Panel, warned in a recent op-ed, “without budgetary relief, the U.S. armed forces soon will be at high risk of not being able to accomplish the national defense strategy.”

Join us for a discussion of the new findings of the National Defense Panel, the effects of sequestration on the U.S. military and how our national security can be sustainably resourced.

Register here.

A Dangerous World? Threat Perception and U.S. National Security
Date: October 22, 12:00pm
Location: Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

Featuring the editors John Mueller, Woody Hayes Senior Research Scientist, Mershon Center, Professor of Political Science at Ohio State University, and Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; and Christopher Preble, Vice President, Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute; with comments by Frank Hoffman, Senior Research Fellow, National Defense University; and James Fallows, National Correspondent, The Atlantic; moderated by John Samples, Vice President and Publisher, Cato Institute.

In 2012, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey contended that “we are living in the most dangerous time in my lifetime, right now.” In 2013, he was more assertive, stating that the world is “more dangerous than it has ever been.” Is this accurate? A Dangerous World? brings together leading experts on international security to assess the supposed dangers to American security. They examine the most frequently referenced threats, including wars between nations and civil wars, and discuss the impact of rising nations, nuclear weapons proliferation, general unrest, transnational crime, and state failures. Please join us for an illuminating analysis of current and future American national security.

To attend email here, or watch live online here.

Attack of the Drones: Responding to the Newest Type of Provocation
Date: October 22, 2:00pm
Location: Korea Economic Institute, 1800 K Street NW, Washington DC

Recently, North Korean drones have been found in South Korea. One of the drones was found to have flown near the Blue House. Pictures of the South Korean President’s residency, troops along the border islands with North Korea, and North Korea’s media reporting that Kim Jong Un viewed a military exercise that incorporated drone strikes all illustrate a new dynamic on the Korean peninsula. Intelligence gathering capabilities and potential for military attacks makes the usage of drones the latest threat the U.S.-South Korea alliance must address.

Join KEI as it hosts Dr. Van Jackson, Council on Foreign Relations and Center for a New American Security, who will examine North Korea’s drone and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capacity while providing his recommendations on how the United States and South Korea should appropriately respond to avoid an escalation of military conflict. Dr. Jackson will, for the first time ever, present his framework on how to deal with future drone provocations.

RSVP here.

Ukraine Elections: An End to the Crisis?
Date: October 22, 2:00pm
Location: Center on Global Interests, 1050 Connecticut Ave NW, 10^th Floor, Washington DC

The past 12 months have seen unpredicted and unprecedented disruption in Ukrainian politics. As the deadly conflict in the country’s east continues and economic indicators plummet, the outcome of Ukraine’s upcoming parliamentary elections will be a crucial factor in determining the future course of the country. Will the Petro Poroshenko Bloc’s “party of peace,” expected to win control of the parliament, be able to overcome the crisis facing Ukraine?

In anticipation of the Oct. 26 elections, please join CGI for a panel discussion exploring the recent changes in Ukraine’s domestic politics, the effects of the election on Ukrainian unity, and the implications for U.S.-Ukraine and Russia-Ukraine relations.

RSVP here.

Corruption, Crime, and Terrorism
Date: October 22, 3:00pm
Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

The entangled threat of crime, corruption, and terrorism remain important security challenges in the twenty-first century. In her new book, Dirty Entanglements: Corruption, Crime, and Terrorism, Louise Shelley argues that their continued spread can be traced to economic and demographic inequalities, the rise of ethnic and sectarian violence, climate change, the growth of technology, and the past failure of international institutions to respond to these challenges when they first emerged.

Join Carnegie for a discussion with Louise Shelley. Milan Vaishnev will act as discussant, and Moisés Naím will moderate.

Register here.

Cyber Risk Wednesday: Landscape of the Cyber Threat
Date: October 22, 3:00pm
Location: Atlantic Council, 1030 15^th Street NW, 12^th Floor, West Tower, Washington DC

On 22 October, the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative will relaunch Cyber Risk Wednesdays, a series of events dedicated to a deeper discussion and understanding of solutions to systemic cyber risks.

Please join us for the first event in the series that will mark National Cybersecurity Awareness Month with a moderated discussion on the current cyber threat environment with Dmitri Alperovitch, cofounder & CTO at CrowdStrike and Tom Corcoran, senior policy advisor of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, moderated by Jason Healey, director of the Cyber Statecraft Initiative.

This year has had some of the worst headlines ever, with intrusions into trusted companies and not one but two Internet-wide vulnerabilities. Please join us on October 22 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Atlantic Council for engaging and timely discussion on the current cyber threat landscape.

Register here.

Ukraine, Russia, and the International Order
Date: October 22, 3:00pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 5^th Floor, Washington DC

Over the last twenty-five years, the ideal of an integrated Euro-Atlantic community including Russia has gradually faded, as new dividing lines seem to be hardening on the European continent. The Ukrainian crisis and conflict with Russia have effectively brought an end to the post-Cold War era; it remains an open question what will be the outlines and nature of the new era that follows. Please join us as William H. Hill, former head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, looks at the events in Ukraine from multiple vantage points. What happened in Ukraine and what are the prospects?  What motivated Russia’s conduct during the crisis, and what are Moscow’s likely courses of action in the near and medium term? What are U.S. perceptions, motives, and likely responses to the crisis?  Finally, what are the implications of the crisis for the Euroatlantic and global international order? Professor Hill will share his analysis on these questions and Kennan Institute Public Policy Scholar Michael Kofman will provide commentary.

RSVP here.

“No End in Sight” Documentary Screening & Discussion on Iraq
Date: October 22, 5:00pm
Location: Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington DC

The Middle East Policy Forum will show the documentary “No End in Sight,” which provides a critical and comprehensive look at the Bush Administration’s approach at the time of the U.S. intervention and its aftermath. Three experts featured in the film—Ambassador Bodine, Colonel Hughes, and Colonel Wilkerson—will discuss their experiences in Iraq and provide a contextual basis for the country’s ongoing descent into chaos.

This is a special event broken into different parts:
5:00 – 6:30 pm: Documentary Screening
6:30 – 7:00 pm: Light Supper
7:00 – 8:30 pm: Panel & Discussion

Awkward Engagement: Reflections on Doctor’s Without Borders’ Work in North Korea
Date: October 22, 6:00pm
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, 1619 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

Please join Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the US-Korea Institute at SAIS and the Sejong Society of Washington, DC, for an intimate discussion about MSF’s experience negotiating and working with North Koreans in past decades.

The panel will feature Laurence Binet, author of the soon to be released MSF and North Korea 1995-1998, which takes a critical look at the history of MSF’s activities linked to North Korea, including the difficult decision to withdraw from the country in 1998. She will be joined by MSF-USA Executive Director Sophie Delaunay, who was MSF’s Head of Mission for assistance programs for North Korean refugees in Asia in the period directly following the program closure.

Audience Q&A will follow the panel discussion. This event is free and open to the public. All remarks are strictly off the record. No cameras or video allowed. Seating is limited and granted on a first come, first serve basis.

RSVP here.

The Future of Weapons of Mass Destruction in 2030
Date: October 22, 7:30pm
Location: George Mason University, Merten Hall 1202, Fairfax, VA

Nuclear weapons are likely to play a more significant role in an increasingly multipolar global system, and technological advances will enable new forms of chemical and biological weapons. The proliferation and use of these weapons could be harder to prevent. To discuss the impact of technological change and the evolving geopolitical environment on the future of weapons of mass destruction, this Biodefense Policy seminar will feature John P. Caves, Jr., and Dr. W. Seth Carus of the Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction at National Defense University.

October 23, 2014

Reflections on Islamism: From the Muslim Brotherhood to the Islamic State
Date: October 23, 12:30pm
Location: Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Once again, Islamism has taken center stage in the Middle East. A generation ago, the pivotal events were the takeover of the Mecca mosque and the Islamic Revolution in Iran; a half-generation ago, the pivotal events were the horrific attacks of September 11. With the counterrevolution against the world’s oldest Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and the sudden and bloody emergence of its newest, the “caliphate” called the Islamic State, the complex face of Islamism is again capturing the attention of governments, journalists, analysts, and popular imagination. To inform our understanding of the changing face of Islamism and provide a scholarly context for the decisions policymakers need to make, The Washington Institute is pleased to host its seventh annual Zeev Schiff Memorial Lecture, featuring distinguished Israeli historian and diplomat Shimon Shamir.

This event will be live cast here.

China: Threat or Partner
Date: October 23, 5:00pm
Location: U.S. Navy Memorial Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC

The protests in Hong Kong over the past few weeks serve as a stark reminder:  Despite the progress China has made as a global economic power, and the vital U.S.-Chinese economic relationship, China continues to repress human rights and democracy.  It is putting pressure on foreign companies inside China, while sewing up strategic resources in developing countries.  And its military build-up and claims on air and sea space in the East and South China Seas – even challenging U.S. military aircraft – remind us that China is a growing military challenge to the status quo in Asia.

Given all this – how should the United States formulate its own policy toward China?  Is strategic engagement still working – building a platform for a long-term, mutually beneficial U.S.-Chinese relationship, with China ultimately becoming a “responsible stakeholder” in the global community?  Or is such engagement failing – allowing China to dismiss human rights concerns and challenge security in Asia with no real pushback from the United States and its Allies.  And if the United States is to “get tough” with China – exactly what would that mean in practice?

We look forward to a lively debate, as leading U.S.-China experts tackle the question:  “China: Is Engagement Still Working?” the latest in our Debate and Decision Series events at the McCain Institute.

Register here.

Islam, Gender, and Democracy
Date: October 23, 5:00pm
Location: Georgetown University, Healy Hall, Riggs Library, 37^th and O Streets NW, Washington DC

Since the Arab Awakening, the question of women’s rights has become, in the view of Western commentators, the litmus test for Muslim societies in the age of democracy and liberalism. The issue is often framed as the opposition between liberal advocates of secular democracy and religious opponents of women’s full equality.

A panel of scholars, including the Berkley Center’s José Casanova and Jocelyne Cesari, will examine this binary opposition and reframe the debate around Islam and women’s rights. Participants will provide a broader comparison across religious traditions and cultures through a discussion of religion, secularism, democracy, and gender equality in France, Iran, Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, and the United States.

This event is cosponsored by the Berkley Center and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security. A reception will follow.

For more information and to RSVP, please visit the event page.

October 14, 2014

U.S. Postal Inspection Service: Managing Global Threats to U.S. National Security and International Commerce
Date: October 14, 4:00pm
Location: Institute of World Politics, 1521 16^th Street NW, Washington DC

U.S. Mail comprises nearly 50% of the world’s total mail volume, and a significant amount is sent to or from countries around the globe. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies, and its Global Security and Investigations Team of U.S. Postal Inspectors, ensures the security of all U.S. Mail, including military and diplomatic mail, which transits to and from foreign postal administrations and U.S. installations overseas. Postal Inspectors protect postal revenues generated by international business development, liaison with foreign stakeholders and international organizations, and ensure that the sanctity of the mail is not hindered as it crosses national borders.

Join us as Postal Inspector in Charge Gregory S. Crabb of the Postal Inspection Service’s Revenue, Product & Global Security Group, discusses various topics, including:

– The Global Security and Investigations Team mission
– International mail security, including United Nations activities
– Post-Yemen parcel bomb security
– National security requirements, particularly export screening
– Prohibited mail, including intellectual property offenses and drugs and guns in inbound international mail
– Cyber security threats

Following the presentation, recruiters from the Postal Inspection Service will discuss how you can apply for a position as a federal U.S. Postal Inspector. Information on Inspector assignments and investigations will be shared as well.

Register here.

Marine Corps Intelligence and the “New Normal”
Date: October 14, 5:00pm
Location: Institute of World Politics, 1521 16^th Street NW, Washington DC

General Michael S. Groen will address the convergence of chaos, instability and advanced technology and the Marine Corps’ approach to dealing with these factors.  He will review the Marine Corps philosophy towards professional development, the current state of affairs which he characterizes as the “New Normal,” and the Marine Corps’ plan for adapting to this new circumstance: the Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Enterprise Plan.

Register here.

October 15, 2014

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Has the U.S. Failed?
Date: October 15, 9:30am
Location: Phoenix Park Hotel, Ballroom, 520 North Capitol Street NW, Washington DC

The Middle East Policy Council invites you and your colleagues to our 78^th Capitol Hill Conference. Live streaming of this event will begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15^th and conclude at noon. A questions and answers session will be held at the end of the proceedings. Refreshments will be served.

RSVP acceptances only: info@mepc.org, 202-296-6767

Senator Levin on the New U.S.-Afghan Partnership
Date: October 15, 9:30am
Location: United States Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC

The inauguration on September 29th of Dr. Ashraf Ghani as the new president of Afghanistan, and head of a national unity government that includes runner-up candidate Abdullah Abdullah as chief executive, marks the first democratic and peaceful transition of power of one elected president to another in Afghanistan’s history. One of the first acts of the new government was to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States. This long-awaited agreement enables US troops to remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014, supporting the Afghan security forces and the new government, and paved the way for NATO to sign a similar agreement. This shift  offers an opportunity for Afghanistan and the US to restore a bilateral relationship that was badly strained during the final years of President Karzai’s term. For a discussion of the opportunities and pitfalls ahead, please join us in welcoming Senator Levin, closely involved with the U.S. effort in Afghanistan since 2001, and Stephen J. Hadley, Chairman of the Board at USIP and former assistant to the president for National Security Affairs.

RSVP here.

Crisis Communications: Protocols, Pitfalls, and Perceptions
Date: October 15, 12:00pm
Location: Bread for the World Institute, 425 3^rd Street SW, Suite 1200, Washington DC

Join us for an off-the-record conversation about crisis communications led by Media Expert Ainsley Perrien of FleishmanHillard, a leading global public relations and communications consultancy. Perrien has significant expertise in print and new media, risk management, brand development, crisis communications, and litigation support.

Ainsley will lead a discussion about how development organizations should navigate the tricky waters of crises that happen in the field, and in the home office, with DAI’s Director of Communications, Steven O’Connor, and USAID’s Evan Matthew Papp, who manages the Public Affairs and Outreach portfolio for USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives in the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance.

RSVP here.

Afghanistan’s National Unity Government: The Road Ahead
Date: October 15, 12:30pm
Location: Georgetown University, 37^th and O Streets NW, Edward B. Bunn, S.J. Intercultural Center, ICC 270, Washington DC

Afghanistan just underwent a brutal political crisis that almost broke its executive office and significantly damaged Afghans confidence in electoral processes. With the direct intervention of the US government, President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah formed a unity government that stands to be fraught with discord and power-wrangling. On the other hand, both leaders have committed to a range of much needed reforms; the recently inaugurated Ghani has already taken a number of steps to suggest that he is committed to their enactment. After the successful conduct of the first round of elections in April, what happened? And where will Afghanistan’s executive take the country from here?

Register here.

Fighting ISIS: The Future of American Foreign Policy in the Middle East
Date: October 15, 3:00pm
Location: American University School of International Service, Atrium, New Mexico and Nebraska Ave NW, Washington DC

Speakers include: Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University’s School of International Service; Susan Glasser, Editor of POLITICO; and David Ignatius, Foreign Affairs columnist at the Washington Post. Moderated by David Gregory, Distinguished Journalist-in-Residence at American University’s SIS.

RSVP here or stream live here.

October 16, 2014

Pakistan: Audience Realities in an Unstable Media Landscape
Date: October 16, 9:00am
Location: Gallup World Headquarters, 901 F Street NW, Washington DC

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and Gallup invite you to attend a research briefing on media use in Pakistan.

Pakistan remains relatively dangerous for journalists. In recent months, the two most-watched broadcasting channels — government broadcaster PTV and independent TV station Geo News — have been stormed by anti-government protesters. The country’s government also uses blasphemy laws to stifle both online and offline dissent.

Please join the BBG and Gallup for a conversation about media trends in Pakistan. The speakers will share data from research conducted June 3-30, 2014 on media use in the country, and review attitudinal data from the Gallup World Poll.

Register here.

The Future of European Collective Defense
Date: October 16, 10:00am
Location: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1616 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington DC

Please join us for a dialogue with Major General Walter Piatt on the future of European collective defense and our relationship with regional NATO and non-NATO partners. MG Piatt will discuss Secretary General Rasmussen’s concept of a Connected Forces Initiative and U.S. Army Europe’s participation in the Connected Training Initiative.

Register here.

Terrorist Financing Networks in the Middle East and South Asia: A Comparative Assessment
Date: October 16, 12:00pm
Location: Middle East Institute, 1761 N Street NW, Washington DC

The ascent of the Islamic State has raised critical questions about how terrorist organizations are being financed. A comparison of terrorist financing networks in South Asia and the Middle East can offer insights into the differences and similarities in the funding of global terrorist efforts and how money is making its way into the hands of violent terrorist groups.

The Middle East Institute’s Louis R. Hughes Lecture Series is pleased to present Dr. Amit Kumar (Center of National Policy, Georgetown University) for a discussion on the methods, motivations, and efficacy of terrorist financing networks. By comparing financing networks in South Asia and the Middle East, Dr. Kumar will explore possible linkages between the two regions and how these similarities can inform strategies to prevent terrorist financing. He will also examine implications for policy. MEI’s Marvin Weinbaumwill moderate.

Stabilizing Iraq: Lessons for the Next Chapter
Date: October 16, 4:45pm
Location: Center for Strategic and International Studies

The Center for Strategic and International Studies presents: The CSIS-Schieffer Series Dialogues Stabilizing Iraq: Lessons for the Next Chapter. This event is hosted by: Bob Schieffer, Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News, Anchor, CBS News “Face the Nation.” It will include panelists: Dr. Kathleen Hicks, Senior Vice President; Henry A. Kissinger Chair; Director, International Security Program, CSIS; Stuart W. Bowen Jr., Former Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (2004-2013), Senior Adviser, CSIS; Karen DeYoung, Associate Editor and Senior National Security Correspondent, The Washington Post.

Register here.

October 17, 2014

Modi’s Transformative Moment?
Date: October 17, 9:00am
Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

The first one hundred days of a new government can be tumultuous as power shifts hands and leaders make dramatic decisions, as evidenced by then Indian prime minister Vajpayee’s nuclear test soon after he assumed office in 1998. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thus far proceeded in a more nuanced fashion, making an assessment of his first four months in office more complicated.

Has continuity prevailed in India’s economic and foreign policies? Or does the new budget, new developmental initiatives, and recent summits with leaders of Japan, China, and the United States reflect a fundamentally new dispensation? Has change come about through Modi’s leadership, or through larger shifts in India’s social and institutional landscape? Christophe Jaffrelot and Milan Vaishnav will discuss Modi’s first few months in office and what it could mean for India.

Register here.

The North Korea Human Rights Act: A Decade Later
Date: October 17, 9:30am
Location: Korea Economic Institute, 1800 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington DC

While much of the attention on North Korea relates to its nuclear weapons program, the regime has a long record of human rights violations. In the fall of 2004, the United States Congress took up this issue with the intent of finding ways to improve the human rights situation in North Korea. The culmination of those efforts were the North Korea Human Rights Act, which was signed into law on October 18, 2004 by President George W. Bush. As the recent UN Commission of Inquiry report indicates, the issue of human rights in North Korea remains one of grave importance.

RSVP here.

Can the Obama Administration’s ISIS Strategy Work?
Date: October 17, 12:00pm
Location: Hudson Institute, 1015 15^th Street NW, 6^th Floor, Washington DC

Criticism of the Obama administration’s Middle East strategy is no longer restricted to the president’s usual opponents. Former defense secretary and CIA director Leon Panetta – the latest in a series of departed senior officials to go public with their misgivings – now suggests that the president’s own policies helped make possible the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. “When we stepped out of Iraq,” Panetta observed in a recent interview, “we created this vacuum” – and ISIS is currently filling the space.

Can the same administration now make good its mistakes and repair the damage? Will a strategy limited to coalition aerial bombardment and ancillary assistance to local fighters be sufficient to “degrade and destroy” ISIS, or are the U.S. military officials and regional allies who argue that ground troops will be required correct? In either case, to what extent are longstanding, region-wide issues – like the anti-Sunni policies pushed by Iranian assets in Iraq and Syria – a fundamental obstacle to complete success against ISIS?

To address these and other directly related questions of Middle East strategy and diplomacy, Hudson Institute will host a timely discussion on October 17 with Lee Smith, Andrew J. Tabler, Faysal Itani, andHussain Abdul-Hussain.

Register here.

October 8, 2014

NATO in the Face of a Rising Russia
Date: October 8, 2:00pm
Location: Center on Global Interests, 1050 Connecticut Ave NW, 10^th Floor, Washington DC

As a result of the Ukraine crisis, Russia-NATO relations have reached their lowest point since the Cold War, with Russia’s annexation of Crimea awakening many in the alliance to the fact that Russia is prepared to use force to defend its interests in Eastern Europe.

Please join us for a discussion with former NATO consultant John Wallace as part of CGI’s new program exploring the long-term consequences of the conflict in Ukraine. Wallace will address, among other topics, NATO cohesion in the face of a reemerging Russia, the appointment of new Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and the long-term prospects for Russia-NATO relations.

The Ukraine Crisis: Is Nuclear Conflict Likely?
Date: October 8, 3:00pm
Location: National Press Club, 529 14^th Street, 13^th Floor, Zenger Room, Washington DC 20045

Australia’s Dr. Helen Caldicott – a longtime advocate of citizen action to address nuclear and environmental crisis, founding President of Physicians for Social Responsibility and a 1985 Nobel Peace Prize nominee – believes the current crisis in Ukraine is evidence that the Cold War has not only returned and could well morph into a nuclear exchange between Russia and the U.S.

For the first time in recent history, Russia and the U.S. are in a state of confrontation. Both nations have recently conducted nuclear war games, and some reports suggest that the state of alert of their nuclear arsenals has been raised.

At a National Press Club Newsmakers news conference on Wednesday, October 8, Caldicott will argue that the Cold War has not only returned, but is heating up. The nuclear exchange she fears would result in ozone depletion, radioactive contamination, massive fire storms and a nuclear winter. Even without a nuclear confrontation, Ukraine hosts 15 nuclear power plants. Conventional warfare could cause several of them to melt down.

Like all Newsmakers events, the news conference is open to credentialed media and club members, free of charge. No advance registration is required.

Handwashing Inovations & Inspirations: A Discussion & Reception
Date: October 8, 4:30pm
Location: FHI 360, 1825 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC

Handwashing. It’s a simple behavior with a big impact. But, it is oftentimes overlooked. Given the role that hygiene can play in public health–from preventing the common cold to slowing the spread of infections like Ebola—embracing innovations in design, behavior change, and programming is becoming increasingly important.

Just one week before Global Handwashing Day, you are invited to join the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing, FHI 360, Devex, & WASH Advocates to talk about what’s new in hygiene.

From hygiene integration to innovations in handwashing to insights into behavioral drivers, this year has been an exciting one for handwashing. Hear fast-paced talks from a diverse range of handwashing innovators to inform, inspire, and make us think. Then join us for a pre-Global Handwashing Day reception immediately after the presentations, to mingle and discuss how we can bring handwashing innovation into our programs to improve health around the world. This is a must-attend Global Handwashing Day event for anyone with an interest in the promotion of hygiene and health around the world.

Register here. 

October 9, 2014

Building a Cybersecurity Roadmap: Developing America’s Edge
Date: October 9, 9:30am
Location: Center for National Policy, 1250 I Street NW, Suite 500, Washington DC

The Center for National Policy and The Christian Science Monitor invite you to join us for the second in a series of cybersecurity events convening and promoting the most original thought leaders and cutting-edge practitioners in the field.

From Target to Transportation Command, 2014 has been characterized by a steady stream of reports of high profile cyber intrusions. This event will explore how the U.S. can develop the workforce, education and policy frameworks to slow the trend of cyber events.

Register here.

ISIS and the End of the Middle East as We Know It
Date: October 9, 12:30pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 5^th Floor Conference Room, Washington DC

While Western attention is caught by the rise of the so-called “Islamic State”, the real story may be the dissolution of order in the Middle East. How do we understand ongoing political and geopolitical shifts in the region and the rise of new types of actors such as the “Islamic State”? And what, if anything, can and should Western powers do?

Volker Perthes is the executive chairman and director of Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Berlin. He received his doctorate from the University of Duisburg in 1990 and his habilitation in 1999. From 1991 to 1993, Perthes was an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut; he joined SWP in 1992 and headed the Research Group “Middle East and Africa” for several years. His previous teaching positions include the universities of Duisburg, Münster, and Munich; currently, Perthes is a professor at Humboldt University Berlin and Free University of Berlin. In addition, Perthes serves on various national and international bodies such as the Advisory Research Council of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) (as chairman), the International Advisory Council of the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS), the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), the TCCI Advisory Board of the Turkish Industry & Business Association (TÜSIAD), and the TTIP Advisory Council of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Perthes is a frequent commentator in German and international media.

Live webcast available here.

Yemen: Rethinking Fragile States and Counterterrorism
Date: October 9, 2:30pm
Location: Atlantic Council, 1030 15^th Street NW, 12^th Floor, West Tower, Washington DC

Please join the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East for an off-the-record discussion with Admiral Dennis Blair, former Director of National Intelligence, to discuss the US counterterrorism approach in Yemen and the need to develop a more effective operational model for the United States to address security threats emanating from fragile states with weak institutions.

Despite the importance of stability in the Arabian Peninsula for core US interests, there is scant evidence of innovative, ambitious thinking in Washington about how to effectively address the factors driving the growth of extremist networks and potential state failure. The discussion will explore the need for the United States to develop a longer-term, more integrated approach to mitigate such dangers beyond the current short-term tactical responses of drone strikes and investing in elite counterterrorism units.

This event will also mark the release of two Atlantic Council reports: “A Blueprint for US Policy in Yemen,” by former US Ambassador to Yemen Barbara K. Bodine and Deputy Director Danya Greenfield and; “Are Drone Strikes Undermining US Security Objectives in Yemen,” by Danya Greenfield and Assistant Director Stefanie A. Hausheer.

Register here.

Statesmen’s Forum: Secretary Jeh Johnson of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Border Security in the 21^st Century
Date: October 9, 3:00pm
Location: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1616 Rhode Island Ave NW, 2^nd Floor Conference Center, Washington DC

CSIS is pleased to host Secretary Jeh Johnson for a public address on border security in the 21st century. He will address the state of security on the southwest border, the status of unaccompanied migrant children, and national immigration reform. Secretary Johnson was sworn in on December 23, 2013 as the fourth Secretary of Homeland Security. Previously, Secretary Johnson served as general counsel for the Pentagon and the Air Force, as well as being a private practice attorney.

RSVP here.

Russia and Ukraine: Hybrid War in the Donbas
Date: October 9, 3:30pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 5^th Floor Conference Room, Washington DC

Much discussion has taken place about the political implications and outcomes of the conflict in Ukraine, but these have been shaped by military realities on the ground. Michael Kofman will discuss the current military balance and the actual state of Ukraine’s military and defense industry. The tactics employed in this summer’s fighting by all sides will have implications that reverberate throughout the process of ceasefire and political settlement. It is important to understand the military nuances in order to gain perspective on Ukraine’s options in the future.  

RSVP here.

Don’t Wait for the Next War: A Discussion on Strategy with General Wesley K. Clark, USA (Ret.)
Date: October 5, 9:30am
Location: Atlantic Council, 1030 15^th Street NW, 12^th Floor, West Tower, Washington DC

Please join the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security to hear from General Wesley K. Clark (Ret.) as he outlines a strategy for American growth and global leadership. As a former supreme allied commander Europe and renowned military leader, General Clark is widely noted for being an exceptional strategic thinker. As the United States winds down from a decade of war and finds itself once again at the precipice of a new prolonged conflict, the country must chart a new strategic course to achieve success. Beyond those issues, terrorism, cybersecurity, financial instability, the rise of China, and global climate change will pose challenges and opportunities for the United States which, without a defined and robust strategy, would prove very difficult to effectively manage.

To meet these challenges, General Clark will outline what the United States should do to remain the global leader and prosper in this new global environment. He also will provide his rationale for why the United States should relearn the art of strategy to succeed now and into the future.

General Clark is a retired four-star general in the United States Army, and served as supreme allied commander Europe, where he led NATO forces to victory in Operation Allied Force, the war in Kosovo. He is chairman and CEO of Wesley K. Clark & Associates, a strategic consulting firm, and is the author of Winning Modern Wars and Waging Modern War. He serves as a board director of the Atlantic Council.

Register here.

September 29, 2014

An Assessment of President Rouhani’s Visit to the United States
Date: September 29, 12:00pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 5^th Floor, Washington DC

During his U.S. trip to attend the UN General Assembly meeting last year when hopes were high for some kind of Iran-U.S. reconciliation, Iran’s newly-elected president, Hassan Rouhani, even had a friendly telephone conversation with President Obama. The frostier environment created by Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, makes a repeat of that exchange or negotiations between Iranian and American officials highly unlikely. Still, U.S. officials and the international community will be eager to hear what Mr. Rouhani has to say in his UN speech and in his media appearances regarding Iranian policy on Syria and Iraq, ISIS, the current negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, Russia’s incursions on Ukraine, and his promise to revive the economy and ease political controls at home. Please join us for an assessment of Mr. Rouhani’s 2014 trip to UNGA.

RSVP here.

Cybersecurity for Government Contractors
Date: September 29, 3:00pm
Location: Homeland Security Policy Institute, The Elliott School for International Affairs, 1957 E Street NW, 7^th Floor, City View Room, Washington DC

This symposium will present a case study of a hypothetical government contractor as it suffers a cyber attack, navigates the real-world legal fallout, and considers an integrated approach to cyber risk management. The discussion will be based on the Briefing Paper, Cybersecurity for Government Contractors, available here.

Featured speakers include: The Honorable Michael Chertoff, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Chairman of The Chertoff Group, and Chairman, George Washington University Cybersecurity Initiative; Robert Nichols, David Fagan, and Other Experts from Covington & Burling LLP and The Chertoff Group

Register here.

September 30, 2014

Security and Justice in Post-Revolution Libya: Dignity, Dawn, and Deadlock
Date: September 30, 10:00am
Location: U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC

Following the 2011 Libyan revolution that removed Muammar Qaddafi from power, state security and justice institutions have struggled to reemerge to meet the needs of the people. In the resulting security vacuum, armed groups have assumed a role in security provision, many as quasi-state actors and yet outside of state command and control. Formal security and justice actors have been threatened, attacked, and assassinated.

With state security and justice institutions largely nonfunctioning, some communities have turned to vigilante justice, tribal leaders and elders, or resorted to self-help when faced with conflicts and disputes. As levels of violence intensify, many are left wondering: How did we get here, and what could be done to change the situation? To address these questions, on September 30 the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) will host a discussion on Libya’s security and justice landscape and the country’s current crisis. It will feature findings from new research by USIP and Altai Consulting on the landscape, perceptions and experience of security and justice in Libya.

RSVP here.

Understanding Islamism
Date: September 30, 12:00pm
Location: Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Lehrman Auditorium, Washington DC

The rapidly shifting political terrain in parts of the Middle East and North Africa over the last four years has been marked by the rise of Islamist parties. Religious-based political parties have long played an important role in the politics and democratic evolution of countries throughout the greater Middle East. However, the ideological underpinnings and anti-democratic practices of the Islamist elements among them pose risks to U.S. counterterrorism objectives and threaten religious freedom and other fundamental rights of the citizens in the countries in which they operate. In this context, how can the United States develop consistent policy approaches that simultaneously bolster liberal democratic development, help counter terrorist movements, and support American strategic interests? Join us as our panel discusses these important questions and offers their recommendations for U.S. policy moving forward.

RSVP here.

Meet Syria’s Rescue Workers: Saving Lives, Building Peace
Date: September 30, 2:00pm
Location: U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC

Syria is the world’s most dangerous place to be a civilian. But there is another side to the conflict: those focused on caring for civilians in the conflict are also seeking to build peace. Volunteers are coming to the rescue with no regard for sect or creed. Join the U.S. Institute of Peace, The Syria Campaign and the Syrian American Medical Society on September 30 as they bring together two of these courageous rescuers to discuss the future of peacebuilding in Syria.

Some 600 Syrians known as “White Helmets” or Syrian Civil Defense units, are organized volunteers who act as rescue workers in areas like Aleppo and Idlib provinces in the country’s northwest. They are unarmed and impartial, and operate on principles on “solidarity, humanity and impartiality,” as laid out in the Geneva Convention. In the last six months, they have recorded more than 2,500 lives saved. They run out after barrel bombs have dropped and dig through the rubble, often with their bare hands, in search of life.

The United States Institute of Peace, The Syria Campaign and the Syrian American Medical Society bring together two of these courageous rescuers to discuss the future of peacebuilding in Syria.

RSVP here.

Effective Multilateralism: The Experience of Chemical Weapons Elimination in Syria
Date: September 30, 5:00pm
Location: Georgetown University, Healy Hall 301, Riggs Library, 37^th and O Streets NW, Washington DC

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands as Special Coordinator of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-United Nations Joint Mission to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic on 16 October 2013.

Ms. Kaag will speak on her experiences in dealing with the extreme challenges she and her team encountered in eliminating the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal in the unpredictable storm of the Syrian Civil War.  She will address the problems, challenges, and potential opportunities that lie in constructive multilateral approaches to addressing chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic.

Ms. Kaag brings a wealth of experience in international organizations and the diplomatic service, combined with country experience, notably in the Middle East. Prior, Ms. Kaag was Assistant Secretary-General of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She was Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Amman, Jordan (2007-2010), and earlier as Chief of Staff to the Executive Director and Deputy Director of Programmes in New York.

RSVP here.

Putin’s Grand Strategy: The Eurasian Union and Its Discontents
Date: September 30, 5:30pm
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Kenney Auditorium, 1740 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

Svante Cornell, director of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and adjunct professor of European and Eurasian Studies; S. Frederick Starr, founding Chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and adjunct professor of European and Eurasian Studies; James Sherr, associate fellow and at Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs; Stephen Blank, senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council; Richard Weitz, senior fellow and director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at the Hudson Institute, Johan Engvall, research fellow at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute; and Mamuka Tsereteli, research director at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, will discuss the launch of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program’s new book Putin’s Grand Strategy: The Eurasian Union and Its Discontents.

A reception will precede this event at 5:00 p.m. Register here.

The Iranian Nuclear Talks: A View from London
Date: September 30, 6:00pm
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, The Rome Building, Room 806, 1740 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

Mark Fitzpatrick, Director of the Non-proliferation and Disarmament Program at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, will discuss this topic.

RSVP here.

Exploring ISIL: Context and Repercussions
Date: September 30, 6:30pm
Location: World Affairs Council, MAA Carriage House, 1781 Church St NW, Washington DC

Join World Affairs Council – Washington, DC for a discussion about ISIL; one of the most momentous and imposing insurgent groups facing America today. What is it? What is the United States’ response, and how will this impact the security of the region?

Our speaker panel includes the knowledgeable and versed voices of Dr. Shadi Hamid, fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of  Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East; Thomas Sanderson, the co-director and senior fellow in the Center for Strategic International Studies Transnational Threats Project, and Kate Brannen; a senior reporter at Foreign Policy covering the defense industry and influence on Capitol Hill who will be moderating the event.

Register here.

October 1, 2014

The Cost and Value of Biomedical Innovation: Implications for Health Policy
Date: October 1, 9:00am
Location: Brookings Institution

High-cost drugs and devices that address significant unmet medical needs have generated much attention lately. New treatments for many cancers and for infections like Hepatitis C have the potential to increase life expectancy and quality of life for affected patients. Many more such treatments are in development. While a number of important breakthroughs have occurred in the past several decades, the increasing ability to target treatments based on a better understanding of genomics, systems biology, and other biomedical sciences could lead to more technologies with broader effects for targeted populations. Thus, biomedical innovation may have substantial future implications for population health and health care costs.

On Wednesday, October 1, the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform and theUSC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics will host a half-day forum to discuss the serious coverage challenges that accompany breakthrough treatments, such as the much-discussed new treatment for Hepatitis C, Sovaldi. Researchers will present economic modeling simulations that illustrate the value and long-term effects of such treatments; and explore potential policy solutions for financing  biomedical innovations.

Please note that this event is currently at capacity and in-person attendance is no longer available, but you may view the event via webcast by registering here.

Vladimir Putin and Russia’s Increasingly Aggressive Nuclear Threat
Date: October 1, 9:00am
Location: Hudson Institute, 1015 15^th Street NW, 6^th Floor, Washington DC

Over the past few weeks, President Vladimir Putin—already seeking to modernize his nuclear forces in violation of the 1987 Intermediate Nuclear Forces Reduction Treaty—has moved Russia into an increasingly visible and aggressive nuclear posture. In late August, Putin implicitly threatened to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear nations including Ukraine and the Baltic States. Moreover, while Russian strategic bombers repeatedly violate U.S. and Canadian air defense space, Putin is in the midst of establishing a naval base on the New Siberian Islands.

What are Putin’s aims? What do these actions portend for the state of U.S. nuclear deterrence, arms control treaties, and the nuclear-free movement which President Barack Obama, among others, has championed? How should the U.S., NATO and Ukraine respond?

To explore these questions and others, please join us on Wednesday, October 1st at 9:00 am as noted experts Andrei Piontkovsky and William Schneider, Jr., both Hudson Institute fellows, and Roland Freudenstein, Deputy Director and Head of Research at the Wilfred Martens Centre for European Studies, as they discuss the ominous implications of Putin’s actions. Hudson Institute President and CEO Kenneth Weinstein will moderate the panel.

Register here.

Russia’s Stake in Ukraine
Date: October 1, 2:00pm
Location: Institute of World Politics, 1521 16^th Street NW, Washington DC

David Satter, a former Moscow correspondent of the Financial Times of London, will discuss Russia’s Stake in Ukraine. He is the author of three books on Russia and the director of a documentary film and has followed Russian events for almost four decades. In May, 2013, he became an adviser to Radio Liberty and in September, 2013, he was accredited as a Radio Liberty correspondent in Moscow. Three months later, he was expelled from Russia becoming the first U.S. correspondent to be expelled since the Cold War.

David Satter is a fellow of the Foreign Policy Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), a senior fellow of the Hudson Institute and a senior fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia. He has also been a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He teaches a course on Russian politics and history at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced Academic Programs and has been a visiting professor at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Register here.

Putin’s Kleptocracy—Who Owns Russia?
Date: October 1, 3:30pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 6^th Floor, Washington DC

Former Wilson Center Public Policy Scholar, Karen Dawisha, will present her new book “Putin’s Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia?” with Elizabeth A. Wood joining her as a discussant. The book traces Putin’s sudden rise to power and examines the network of individuals who rose to power and riches along with him. Dawisha’s provocative new study further addresses the nature of Putin’s power vertical and the endemic corruption that accompanies his system.

RSVP here.

October 2, 2014

Book Talk: A Time to Attack: The Looming Iranian Nuclear Threat
Date: October 2, 5:00pm
Location: AU School of International Service, Beacon Conference Room (SIS 300), 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

Georgetown University professor Matthew Kroenig will discuss his new book, A Time to Attack: The Looming Iranian Nuclear Threat. This event will be moderated by SIS professor Neil Shenai.

October 3, 2014

The UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent and the Chevaline Program: An Overview
Date: October 3, 12:00pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 5^th Floor, Washington, DC

Chevaline was the codename given to a highly-secret program begun in 1970 to improve the penetration performance of the UK’s force of Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missiles in order to give them the capability to overcome Soviet ABM defenses deployed around Moscow. After much delay and cost escalation the new system was finally introduced in 1982, but it had already attracted major criticism for the expenditure involved, claims of project mismanagement, the rationale that underpinned its development, and its concealment from proper parliamentary scrutiny.

In this presentation Matthew Jones, UK Official Historian of the Chevaline program, will explore the program’s background, why it ran into so many problems, and how it became one of the most controversial episodes in post-war British defense policy.

A light lunch will be served at the event. RSVP here.