Alabama World Affairs Council News

Slobodchikoff, Living in Russia's Neighborhood

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 01:41:45 GMT

Dr. Michael Slobodchikoff, professor and prolific author of books and articles on Russia and India, presented on Russia and Eastern Europe with maps of the expansion of NATO and the fall of the USSR and Warsaw Pact. He argued that President Clinton's expansion eastwards was based on a calculus of ethnic voters needed for his coalition -- and Russia's advances in Ukraine and feints towards other neighbors were based on a rational calculus of likely NATO responses.

Amb. Richard LeBaron spoke on the Middle East

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:01:28 GMT

Amb. Richard LeBaron spoke to ALWAC on the possibility of peace in the Middle East, by chance a day after the Trump-Netanyahu talks produced a comprehensive, draft plan with 20 points.

He cautioned that multiple actors would seek to modify the plan, and explained the recent half-century of efforts to establish peace agreements in the region.

Amb. LeBaron also called for the professionalism of diplomats and USAID officers to be protected.

https://youtu.be/ApABQwxeqss

Dr. McKinney spoke on deterrence in the Taiwan gap

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 07 May 2025 01:15:15 GMT

Dr. Jared McKinney gave incisive analysis on his forthcoming monograph, Closing the Deterrence Gap in the Taiwan Strait. He argued the threat to Taiwan has increased -- but cost-effective deterrence is possible, with defensive missiles and drone swarms. ALWAC.org

Updated 6 May event: Closing the Deterrence Gap in the Taiwan Strait

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:25:43 GMT

With the Chinese military forces conducting amphibious landing drills, implying a threat to Taiwan, we announce an updated topic and speaker.

Dr. Jared McKinney will speak on Closing the Deterrence Gap in the Taiwan Strait. McKinney studies, teaches and has publications on both East Asia and the principles of international relations.

He is Assistant Professor of International Security Studies, Air War College, and holds five degrees: the PhD, International Relations, Nanyang Technological University; MSc, International Affairs, London School of Economics; LLM, International Relations, Peking university; MSc, Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University; and the BA in History, from Patrick Henry College.

ALWAC recommends: Brookings panel on US & Europe

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 14:14:16 GMT

Ally to adversary? The United States and Europe in Trump’s second term
ALWAC recommends a Brookings panel on foreign policy, featuring Fiona Hill, one of our most forthright speakers at ALWAC

Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. EDT
Online only: https://www.brookings.edu/events/ally-to-adversary-the-united-states-and-europe-in-trumps-second-term/

Air War College faculty on Latin America, eastern Europe and southern Africa

Jeremy Lewis — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 19:43:10 GMT

Update for 2025: this event will feature Dr. Joshua Goodman on Latin America; Dr. Alex Lassner on Eastern Europe; Dr. Ashly Townsen on Southern Africa; and introduced by Dr. Margaret Sankey (Thailand and the Philippines).

Dr. Joshua Goodman | Dr. Alex Lassner | Dr. Ashly Townsen

This AWC faculty event often produces the liveliest exchanges of the year.

For over a quarter century, this has been one of the highlights of ALWAC's program offerings. The presentations are given soon after the return from regional tours, with fresh insights we have not usually heard from the television reporters and online media.

ALWAC recommends: Sen. Chris Murphy webinar on foreign policy

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:16:26 GMT

Foreign Policy Town Hall with

US Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT)

In partnership with World Affairs Council of Connecticut

Monday, March 31, 2025

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Zoom

Join Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and fellow citizens across the nation for a virtual town hall on U.S. Foreign Policy. This program will address the massive changes to the U.S. Department of State, the role of the U.S. in conflicts around the world, and relationships with allies and adversaries alike. Free and open to the public. Advance registration is required.

Register

Podcast with Humphreys on Ukraine

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:31:28 GMT

Here is a link to the full Stephen Humphreys episode on the Ukraine, of In Focus with Carolyn Hutcheson of Troy Public Radio:

https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xjw2m-18300fa

Stephen Humphreys on Ukraine

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:00:10 GMT

Stephen Humphreys's presentation with his photography of Ukraine was well received by our members. Humphreys discussed his volunteer trips to Ukraine to give advice on human rights law, teaching in a university without electric power, and taking photographs showing both the destruction of wartime and the resiliency of the people.

New ALWAC venture in Blue Sky social media

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:04:53 GMT

Heard that Blue Sky social is catching on rapidly since twitter turned into X? Heard that Blue Sky social was founded by the original founder of Twitter?

So did we.

Our new Blue Sky social account is @alwacworld.bsky.social.

Yes, we still post notices on X (twitter), Facebook and to this News Page, and videos to our Google Drive folder and to our YouTube channel.

Second speaker event for spring term 2025

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:25:17 GMT

On 4 March, Nathan Gonzáles will speak on Iran, the Middle East, and the fall of Assad.

Dr. Nathan Gonzáles Mendelejis is an international affairs specialist serving as Assistant Professor of Strategy and Security Studies at the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) in Montgomery, Alabama, where he works on the U.S. Air Force officers' distance learning curriculum, the Global College of Professional Military Education (PME), at Air University.

He has authored two books and several articles on Iran and its relations with neighbors. Currently, he is exploring the role of individual and group identity in terrorism and radicalization processes.

He holds the Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University in New York. He speaks Spanish, Iranian Persian, German, and Italian.

Dr. Chris Colley spoke on Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 02:37:54 GMT

Dr. Chris Colley of the Air War College, gave a lively briefing on China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Having studied in China for years, he was especially adept at explaining China's perspectives on her neighbors, as well as China's long term challenges in demographics, strategy, the economy and the military. Numerous well-off Chinese have gone to study abroad or work abroad permanently.

https://youtu.be/BNTIZDpj8ps

Camille Dawson luncheon, on US Indo-Pacific strategy, 7 Nov.

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 17:09:04 GMT

Camille P. Dawson, US State Dept., will speak on “US Indo-Pacific strategy,” 7 Nov 2024, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM in the Civic Room at Troy University Montgomery, AL. A box luncheon will be provided. Register ($20) at https://alwac.org/event-5928411

Speaker event on Extremism and Information Warfare

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 15:07:41 GMT

Dr. Elizabeth Peifer, AFCLC culturalist, will speak on Extremism, Radicalization and Information Warfare, Tuesday 22 October.

Civic Room, Troy University Montgomery, 231 Montgomery St, Montgomery, AL.

Reception at 5:30 pm CT, brief presentation at 6:15 pm, and question time till 7:30 pm.

Webinar via Zoom: login and social time, from 5:45 pm CT. This is a hybrid event.

Dr. Elizabeth Peifer, serving as assistant professor of Regional and Cultural Studies (Europe) at the Air Force Culture and Language Center, specializes in contemporary German society and culture.

She holds the Ph.D. in European History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has more than 20 years of university teaching experience in World History and European Studies.

Final speakers and topics announced for 14 May

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 01 May 2024 17:50:32 GMT

Our grand finale, 14 May, the Air War College Faculty, on “Regional Security Studies Tours of the World: the Reports”

Featuring Dr Ashly Townsen on Southern Africa; Dr Margaret Sankey on Southeast Asia; and Dr Alex Lassner on Eastern Europe.

See ALWAC.org.

Dr Ashly Townsen; Dr Margaret Sankey's book

Dr Alex Lassner

Grand Finale meeting of 2023-24

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 22:31:43 GMT

Our planned 30 April speaker event has been cancelled in order to bring you the grand finale of the season: the Air War College faculty's reports on 14 May of their tours of regions of the world.

No wonder this is often the most popular event of the year: the faculty will present fresh insights from their tours, in lively style and with plenty of question and answer time.

Often they have met leaders of more than one country and found lessons for the US in the defense of conflicted regions such as the Baltic, Ukraine, or eastern Africa.

Gen. Kee, "Arctic international challenges and opportunities"

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:18:28 GMT

Our next event will feature Maj. Gen. (Ret) Randy “Church” Kee, "Arctic international challenges and opportunities"

Thursday, 28 March 2024, Montgomery, AL and via Zoom.

Maj. Gen. (Ret) Randy “Church” Kee serves as Director of the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies. He will give an illustrated presentation on the range of security issues in the Arctic region.

Reception at 5:30 pm CT, brief presentation at 6:15 pm, and question time till 7:30 pm.

Webinar via Zoom: login and social time, from 5:45 pm CT.

See https://alwac.org/event-5614607 for details

New links to archives of notes, slides and video recordings

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 15:14:59 GMT

A number of you have inquired about recordings of past speaker events at ALWAC. (When the college shut down the faculty server, we did lose my archive of 20 years of my copious, classroom notes of the speakers' events.)

However, for some years now, we have archived all speaker video and audio recordings, plus any provided slides, in our Google Drive folder. I have circulated the link to this after each meeting. We also have been posting live-streamed and recorded videos to Facebook, and recently to our YouTube channel. Our Home Page now has these convenient links.

For our past notes, slides and videos:

Facebook | YouTube | Google Drive | X (Twitter)

23 January event: Kevin Doyle, Eastern Europe after the invasion

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:56:38 GMT

Kevin Doyle, State Dept., "Eastern Europe after two years of the Russian invasion"

23 Jan 2024, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Troy University Montgomery, AL — or via Zoom video

With the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaching in February, the State Department's Eastern Europe office is kindly providing us Kevin Doyle, their economic desk officer for Belarus and Moldova. Kevin, who works closely with the Ukraine desk, has served in Hungary and with NATO in Brussels, and will discuss current policy in the region, and the global impacts of the full-scale invasion as we approach the two-year mark.

Having studied in Russia on a State department fellowship, Kevin speaks Russian and some Hungarian, and holds a master's degree in international relations from Harvard. He grew up in Tuscaloosa, and still follows Alabama football.

Notes, slides and recordings of ALWAC events

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:24 GMT

Happy New Year! In the indoor season, you may be pining for ... more notes and recordings of past speaker events of ALWAC.

Fortunately, you can find many of them in our social media (the videos are streamed live on Facebook, the notes and slides as well as videos are stored on our Google Drive -- and our new YouTube channel holds a growing collection of videos. We also publish notices and links on X (formerly Twitter).

Facebook | YouTube | Google Drive | X (Twitter)

Coming THURSDAY 30 November, La Guardia, "War Without End"

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 16:20:52 GMT

Anton La Guardia, diplomatic editor of The Economist, will speak on War Without End: Israelis and Palestinians, THURSDAY, 30 November 2023, in the Civic Room at 231 Montgomery St, Montgomery, AL -- and online. See https://alwac.org/event-5483165

Recommended: Poland’s election and democracy in Central Europe

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:07:43 GMT

Poland’s election and the direction of democracy in Central Europe
From the Brookings Institution, a free, streaming event

Thursday, October 12, 2023, 11 am -12 pm EDT

Register Online: https://www.brookings.edu/events/polands-election-and-the-direction-of-democracy-in-central-europe

Recommended: Transparency in the Ukraine

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:03:30 GMT

Transparency and Public Access in Ukraine: Past, Present, and Future

Tue, Oct 24, 1-2:30 EDT, online

Sponsored by ASAP: The American Society of Access Professionals

Dr. Oksana Nesterenko, Ukrainian legal scholar

Rob O’Donovan, VP, Eurasia Foundation (EF)

Moderator: Nate Jones, FOIA Director, Washington Post

Dr. Jared McKinney, “Avoiding War in the Taiwan Strait”

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 03:10:19 GMT

Dr. Jared McKinney will speak 17 Oct., on “Deterrence Gap: Avoiding War in the Taiwan Strait”, at ALWAC.org and online.
McKinney is Asst Prof of International Security Studies, Air War College. He holds 5 degrees from China, the US and the UK; and several published articles.

Registration is now open on Alwac.org

Fiona Hill to speak 12 Sep. on “Ukraine and the New World Disorder”

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 21:17:09 GMT

Dr. Fiona Hill is a distinguished senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Russia specialist, former member of the national intelligence staff, a former research director at Harvard University, Chancellor of Durham University, UK -- and author of several books and articles. She holds higher degrees from both St. Andrews and Harvard Universities.

An expert on Russian history, and author of a penetrating biography of President Vladimir Putin, her strategic view extends across eastern Europe. She will be a lively and well informed speaker, who has frequently been interviewed on national television. We are delighted to welcome her to ALWAC on 12 Sep. 2023.

Meeting, "Transatlantic Relations from a German Perspective"

Jeremy Lewis — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 01:51:21 GMT

Luncheon meeting, 21 July, at noon, with Michael Georg Link, German Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation, and parliamentarian.

Troy University Montgomery, 231 Montgomery St, Montgomery AL; free to members; register at ALWAC.org.

William Burns article, What intelligence needs to do

Jeremy Lewis — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 01:20:30 GMT

CIA Dir. William Burns, wrote an Op-Ed piece in the Post, based on his Ditchley Lecture, offering a strategic view of this "plastic moment" in international relations.

Challenges: (1) Rising China and declining Russia, (2) global problems such as pandemics and the climate crisis, and (3) technological revolutions which hurt traditional human espionage but assist open-source intelligence.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/07/cia-director-william-burns-ditchley-speech-adaptation/

Troy Public Radio's Speaking Globally: "Ukraine to Receive F-16's"

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 19:21:16 GMT

Listen to PodCast here: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1107409599/speaking-globally-from-t-r-o-y-university-t-r-o-y-public-radio

In May, President Biden announced that the U.S. will allow its allies to send F-16's to Ukraine. The announcement marked a striking reversal for the Biden administration, which had previously maintained that Ukraine did not need advanced fighter jets.

Join host Walter Givhan as he discusses what this change could mean for Ukraine, with retired Lt. General David Deptula, one of the world's foremost experts on military air power.

Regions and speakers for the Air War College faculty, Thurs. 11 May.

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 10 May 2023 02:13:05 GMT

The Baltic sea region, by Provost Mark Conversino and a Senior Foreign Service Officer

East Africa, by Dr Ashly Townsen, AWC Great Power Studies Course Director, and Lt Col Adrianne Ketelsen, Flight Nurse, USAF

South Asia, by Dr Margaret Sankey, Air Univ Research Coordinator, Sponsored Programs, and Lt Col William “Dice” Yoakley, Fighter Pilot, USAF

Speakers from Air War College faculty, Thursday 11 May

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 03 May 2023 17:36:14 GMT

Colonel J. David "Rock" Bottomlee, USAF, Dean of the Air War College. An F-16 pilot with 30 years' experience, Col. Bottomlee's assignments included NATO Director of Air Operations in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Dr. Ashly Townsen, Assistant Professor of International Security Studies, Great Power Studies Course Director, who is working on a book about the psychology of rebel group participants.

Dr. Margaret Sankey, Air University's research coordinator, is the author, most recently, of Blood Money: How Criminals, Militias, Rebels, and Warlords Finance Violence (Book, 2022).

Air War College speakers on world regions, THURSDAY 11 May

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 03 May 2023 02:25:53 GMT

The Grand Finale of the year is upon us. On 11 May, THURSDAY this time, the Air War College faculty will present their fresh perspectives on regions of the world.

Each year they lead students (USAF's brightest Majors) on study-tours of regions such as the Baltic, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa or Latin America.

Their reports are often the most popular event of the year.

Members may register on Alwac.org.

Recommended by ALWAC: Hap Arnold speaker series, 14 April at 8 am.

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 20:57:30 GMT

The Hap Arnold Outreach Program will be held on the Troy University, Montgomery Campus, April 14^th at 8:00am.

Panelists from the Air War College at Maxwell AFB will share their first-hand experience with values based leadership throughout their career. The panelists stories are always unique and inspiring. Panelists will speak about “Leading in Wild Times: Zoos and Hurricanes,” “What it Takes to Lead,” and “My American Dream.”

For more information and to RSVP, please visit the Troy University website: https://www.troy.edu/academics/continuing-education/hap-arnold-outreach-program.html

Jill Dougherty, veteran CNN reporter, speaks at ALWAC

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 20:42:47 GMT

The former Moscow Bureau Chief for CNN, Jill Dougherty, entertained ALWAC members in Montgomery and on Zoom, with many anecdotes drawn from her early career in TV reporting and on tour with USIA, then on life in Russia and with Russians. There followed a lively question time. The video recordings are on Facebook here (question time from 49 minutes; 81 minutes in total) and in Google Drive here.

Martin Nekola on Ukraine: effects on Europe

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 20:20:59 GMT

Prof. Martin Nekola's presentation on Ukraine and Europe was well received both by the live audience and those online. His slides, plus the video and audio recordings have been uploaded to our archive in Google Drive, and can be reviewed by members.

A feature of this year has been a growing satellite community of participants from Birchwood in Northern Virginia, who are active in our Zooms and in follow-up "Clubhouse Chats" in person. They include retired professionals from several countries, such as professors, a police officer, an international banker, intelligence officer and a diplomat.

Air War College faculty participants, 17 May 2022

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 05 May 2022 03:00:24 GMT

Air War College Faculty, “Regional Security Studies Tours of the World: the Reports,” 17 May 2022

Col. Mark Conversino, CAO, Air University, moderator

Dr. Josh Goodman (Middle East/Arab World)

Col. Joe Musacchia, USAF (SE Asia)

Dr. Doug Peifer (North Europe)

Dr. Ashly Townsen (East Africa)

Tuesday 17 May: the Air War College faculty report on regional tours

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 03 May 2022 18:06:45 GMT

Mark your calendars on Tuesday 17 May for our grand finale of the year, the reports by a panel of Air War College faculty on the regional tours with some of the finest USAF Majors.

Often the most popular event of the year, this has previously covered such topics as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, the Baltics, Africa and South East Asia.

Faculty return fresh from these tours, frequently with insights into each region's strategic issues but also into the leadership of countries.

Speakers on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, 22 March 2022

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 02:11:54 GMT

See https://alwac.org/event-4696867 for ALWAC's forthcoming, hybrid meeting on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, with Dr. Mark Conversino and Dr. Anna Batta as expert speakers. 22 March 2022 is the date; you may register for the free online conference, or for the in-person reception at TUM.

Dr. Batta in Odessa, 2018.

Morgan Stanley's Petraeus forum today on Russia-Ukraine

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 03:24:04 GMT

Excellent, incisive Morgan Stanley forum today with Gen. Petraeus on Russia and Ukraine: Russian military failing to integrate air and ground war, and logistics collapsed, leaving units without fuel or food. Quick victory was stymied by surprisingly engaged Ukrainian resistance. In northern Ukraine,

Unable to invade off-road over muddy ground, shut off internet and utilities -- or to dominate the cyber and info war.

Russian military, as in prior wars, will shift to scorched-earth policy, including bombarding residential areas of cities. Expect heavy casualties in both military and civilian populations.

More success on southern coast and in Donbas where Russia may succeed in capturing whole coastline and may threaten Moldova, where it already has occupying forces.

Update on Russia and Ukraine from CFR panel

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 03:06:32 GMT

Today in a fine Council on Foreign Relations panel forum on US-Russia Relations and Ukraine, there was remarkable consensus on these surprises: the failings on the Russian military; the military and political resilience of Ukraine; and the newly-found unity of the NATO allies in imposing diplomatic and economic sanctions.

Not surprising (in view of his past speeches, and past Russian military actions in Chechyna, and Georgia) is the determination of the Russian leadership, once resisted, to double down and reduce civilians and cities to rubble. The prognosis was that Ukraine will suffer very badly; the Russian military will suffer thousands of casualties; and there is no end game unless President Putin falls -- extremely unlikely. Russian demands are so extreme (taking all of Ukraine) that there is no diplomatic solution feasible.

Russian strategy was seen as failing: to split NATO and to restore the three Russias of the Czarist era to one empire (with Belorus and Ukraine). The invasion has instead united NATO and strengthened German foreign policy in particular.

Panelists were Richard Haas (presiding), Fiona Hill (former national security council senior staff), Amb. Ivo Daalder, and Prof. Mary Elise Sarotte (Johns Hopkins SAIS).

-- summary by Jeremy Lewis

Indo-Pacific regional issues and the South China Sea: Diplomacy

Jeremy Lewis — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 15:24:40 GMT

Amb. Daniel Shields, “The Diplomatic Instrument of Power in the Indo-Pacific Region: A Former Ambassador’s Perspective.”

On Tuesday 22 Feb., ALWAC's hybrid event will feature both a ticketed reception (from 5:30 pm Central, at 231 Montgomery St) and a free Webinar via Zoom (from 5:45 pm Central). You may register for either the in-person event or the Zoom only.

Ambassador (Ret.) Daniel Shields has served at the Army War College in addition to State Department posts as Ambassador or Chargé d’Affaires in Brunei, Singapore, Manila and ASEAN, working on South China Sea issues. Now a consultant on diplomacy, he speaks Japanese and Mandarin.

Excess deaths in COVID years, higher than reported deaths to COVID

Jeremy Lewis — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 15:11:01 GMT

The Economist chart shows countries in the Northern Andes have reported more excess deaths in 2020-21 than many others -- sadly, a truer measure of overall COVID deaths than official COVID reports. The US (with better health statistics than some) is not so badly off by this measure.

Recommended: online discussions of world affairs (4)

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:04:33 GMT

4) CSIS's Asia Chessboard podcast by Mike Green explores the AUKUS and changing dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Rory Medcalf, professor, National Security College at Australia National University, will discuss his book, "Indo-Pacific Empire: China, America and the contest for the world's pivotal region." Listen on the CSIS website, to the November edition:

https://www.csis.org/podcasts/asia-chessboard/aukus-and-changing-dynamics-indo-pacific

Recommended: online discussions of world affairs (3)

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:04:06 GMT

3) On December 1, Brookings will host a discussion with Martin Indyk, a well received ALWAC speaker, the former U.S. ambassador to Israel and special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, on his new book, “Master of the Game: Henry Kissinger and the Art of Middle East Diplomacy.” He explores the arc of American diplomatic peace-brokering in the Middle East through Henry Kissinger’s experience.

https://www.brookings.edu/events/kissinger-in-the-middle-east

Recommended: online discussions of world affairs (2)

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:03:31 GMT

2) On 17 November, foreign policy fellows from the Brookings Institution evaluated challenges to nuclear stability. Emerging technologies such as cyber, space, AI, hypersonic vehicles, and remote sensing pose new potential threats to the survivability of second-strike forces, while Russia, China, and the United States are all undergoing significant nuclear modernization efforts.

https://www.brookings.edu/events/russia-china-and-the-future-of-strategic-stability

Recommended: online discussions of world affairs

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 15:55:34 GMT

We can recommend a host of online discussions of world affairs from Brookings and from CSIS. After the online forums, recordings (and sometimes transcripts) are available. For examples this month:

1) On 16 November, Brookings Institution experts, with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, discussed the virtual summit on 15 November between President Biden and Xi Jinping.

https://www.brookings.edu/events/readout-from-the-biden-xi-virtual-meeting-discussion-with-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan

How youth see the 9/11 attacks from their history lessons

Jeremy Lewis — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 19:36:14 GMT

Damien Cave and Yousour al-Hlou, [link] "HOW STUDENTS IN 12 COUNTRIES ARE TAUGHT ABOUT 9/11." The New York Times, SEPT. 10, 2021

[Youth born after 9/11/2001 from Venezuela, Iraq, the United Kingdom, South Korea, France, Brazil, Germany, the United States, Australia, Russia, South Africa, and Pakistan, were interviewed on video.]

"Twelve teenagers born after 9/11 told us what they have learned about the event and its aftermath — and what has been left out."

What did the US leave behind in Afghanistan?

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 15:00:56 GMT

The BBC looks at the volume and condition of the materiel abandoned by the US forces in Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan: What was left behind by US forces?" By The Visual Journalism Team, BBC News, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-58393763

Review article of books on 9/11, the War on Terror, Afghanistan and Iraq

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 14:57:20 GMT

Twenty years of American values in the global war on terror and the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan: a good review article of books

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/interactive/2021/911-books-american-values/

FYI: Brookings forum on China's long game strategy

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 18:02:58 GMT

The long game: China’s grand strategy to displace American order

Recommended: an online forum at the Brookings Institution, Thursday, August 26, 2021, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EDT

Online: https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-long-game-chinas-grand-strategy-to-displace-american-order

China has emerged as a global superpower that could rival, if not eclipse, the United States. What does China want, does it have a grand strategy to achieve it, and what should the United States do about it? In his new book from Oxford University Press — “The Long Game: China’s Grand Strategy to Displace American Order” — Rush Doshi outlines how China’s grand strategy has evolved and offers solutions for an effective U.S. response.

On August 26, the Foreign Policy program at Brookings will host a webinar exploring the themes addressed in this new volume. The event will feature a moderated discussion with Rush Doshi, former director of the Brookings China Strategy Initiative and a former fellow in Brookings Foreign Policy, and Michael O’Hanlon, director of research in Brookings Foreign Policy, followed by a panel discussion with experts who will focus on analysis concerning the U.S.-China relationship and China’s grand strategy.

FYI: Afghan War Papers reported by National Security Archive

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:01:19 GMT

FYI: The National Security Archive has published a report on the Afghan War Papers

https://default.salsalabs.org/T7eb0a4b1-d0d2-41c0-b021-b6c253bea27a/01bc1fed-6147-4281-a634-6eb7bb2792c4

"Afghanistan 20/20: The 20-Year War in 20 Documents

Primary sources contradict Pentagon optimism"

https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/

#Afghanistan#security#foia#transparency#foreignpolicy

Program for Fall 2021

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 18:35:58 GMT

Watch this space (and ALWAC's Facebook page) for news of our Fall 2021 program, featuring hybrid events (in-person speaker evenings with a reception -- combined with online video conferences for those unable to attend in person.)

The first event will likely be with a panel of speakers on Afghanistan, at 5:30 pm CDT, on Tuesday 14 September. Details TBA.

FYI: Online Forum on German Future Security at CSIS

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 19:33:27 GMT

This may appeal to some members of ALWAC, particularly those with military experience.

FYI: Forum on The Future of German Security and Defense

Thursday, August 19, 2021, 3:30pm-4:15pm; Online - Webinar

Please join CSIS and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for a conversation on Germany’s security and defense policy ahead of Germany’s elections this September. Germany’s central role in NATO and the EU make it an important player in shoring up both transatlantic and European defense. What are the hallmarks and legacy of Chancellor Merkel’s security and defense policy, and how might Germany’s security and defense agenda change following the September elections? Specifically, what implications will the new German leadership have for the transatlantic relationship, particularly as allies withdraw from Afghanistan and the U.S. focuses increasingly on its domestic agenda and strategic competition with China?

Prof. Dr. Joachim Krause, Director of the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University, and Kori Schake, Senior Fellow and Director of Security and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, will join Rachel Ellehuus, CSIS Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, for an in-depth discussion on this topic. Paul Linnarz, Director of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s USA Office, will offer introductory remarks.

Third episode of NATO2030/WACA/ALWAC event with Camille Grand

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 14:53:52 GMT

The third program with Camille Grand in our NATO - Alabama World Affairs Council series is scheduled for broadcast today, Wednesday, at 12:40 p.m., during the noon news hour on Troy Public Radio's In Focus.

General Givhan gave the closing remarks, which illustrated the link between ALWAC and NATO's space domain agenda.

Soon after the program is broadcast, the three-part series will be posted as a podcast: www.npr.org; Search for In Focus with Carolyn Hutcheson

www.soundcloud.com/troypublicradio

Our NATO2030 event with Camille Grand to be broadcast

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 01:33:49 GMT

The second program of Troy Public Radio's three-part series with Camille Grand, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment, is scheduled for broadcast this Wednesday, July 21, at 12:40 p.m., during the noon news hour on Troy Public Radio's In Focus.

The program can be heard online at 12:40 p.m. at www.troypublicradio.org; Listen Online to HD-1.

Of course, it will be carried on the network's three radio stations Wednesday and soon will be posted as a podcast at www.npr.org; Search for In Focus with Carolyn Hutcheson.

Recommended CSIS Event: "The Role of Human Capital in U.S.-China Competition."

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 19 May 2021 19:51:41 GMT

CSIS Event: "The Role of Human Capital in U.S.-China Competition." Thursday, May 20th, 2021, livestream 9:00 am - 10:15 am. Watch at http://www.csis.org/events/role-human-capital-us-china-competition

The global ambitions of both countries depend on their ability to attract, develop, and keep foreign talent.

External event on subnational diplomacy

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 19 May 2021 19:16:27 GMT

How can mayors and governors be diplomats?

Brookings Institution event, "Strengthening US foreign policy through subnational diplomacy"

Thursday, May 27, 2021, 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. EDT

Online: https://www.brookings.edu/events/strengthening-us-foreign-policy-through-subnational-diplomacy/

Mike Heaney on the Scottish Independence Movement

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 11 May 2021 17:45:09 GMT

New speaker meeting: Michael T. Heaney, "The Scottish Independence movement," online, Wed 19 May 2021 at 6:10 pm CDT.

Reading link here to Heaney's 2020 article on the contentious politics of 'Scoxit.' This timely event happens following the 6 May elections, in which the Scottish national Party (SNP) gained a majority with its independence partners, the Scottish Greens. The stage is set for demands for "IndyRef2" and a confrontation with the UK Conservative and Unionist Party, which has at stake not only subsidies and sovereignty -- but also major airfields and naval bases (including nuclear submarines) in the deep water ports of Scotland. Heaney will join us from the University of Glasgow, where he is a Research Fellow. He holds the PhD from the University of Chicago, and has published widely on political and social movements.

Amb. Bill Taylor on Russia, the Ukraine and the US

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 20:38:49 GMT

Record number of ALWAC's Zoomers joined (Alabama World Affairs Council) for Ambassador Bill Taylor's lively session of questions and answers on Russia, Ukraine and the US. Thanks to Amb. Taylor for being such a good sport, the US Institute of Peace and Troy University for support, and Gen. Givhan for moderating. Let's hope Amb. Taylor can join us in person next year!

The Peace Corps at Sixty

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 20:32:18 GMT

March 31 speaker for ALWAC (Alabama World Affairs Council) Zoom webinar: Sue Miller, Huntingdon Grad, on "The Peace Corps at Sixty". Holds the MPA from Princeton in development studies, administers multimillion dollar projects for non-profits. Served Peace Corps in five countries, led 50 staff, trained 700+ interns. Lively speaker and a fine art photographer.

Great Decisions 2021 videos and Zooms

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 18:36:36 GMT

Great Decisions series of materials from the Foreign Policy Association includes $4 video lectures on each issue, $30 for the series, and $7 per Zoom discussion. The next one is on the most popular issue in our local seminars, Brexit.

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/gd21/

GoogOlympics Event: Mystery City Meetings by Metro

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 02:33:15 GMT

Thanks for an increasingly lively set of online seminar discussions! Owing to popular demand, we are going to extend the season with a new series of home-made seminars. If not already, register for the Great Decisions series and you will receive the Zoom link.

These are being created by Ted Hailes and Jeremy Lewis. We are evaluating brief readings on current foreign affairs issues from such journals as Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, The Economist and The New York Times.

Tuesday 16 Feb. at the usual time, a treat.

"GoogOlympics Events:" Mystery City Meetings by Metro

A mission briefing, a link to the map, and photos of locations, will be provided in a simple Google Form. You will be traveling virtually, around a foreign city, via its subway system. This can be a singles or couples event: you may act as a navigator and a communications specialist.

Great Decisions seminar on Global Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 17:36:54 GMT

Participants in the Great Decisions seminars explored US vulnerabilities to interruptions in US companies' and agencies' global supply chains, plus the risks to defense from hardware and software issues. The slides and recordings are posted to our Google Drive folder. Overall, members were concerned with the interdependency of China and the US on trade, and the risks of a newly nationalistic China to the US industrial base, particularly for defense supplies and processes. Join us on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for more of the Great Decisions seminars via Zoom video.

Great Decisions 2021, seminar: Arctic cooperation or conflict?

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 18:13:03 GMT

Thanks to Grant Hammond for leading a very lively Great Decisions seminar on the Arctic as a host for great power (and small Scandinavian countries) cooperation and competition. Discussion ranged from treaties, climate change, search and rescue, and nuclear icebreakers - to unmanned underwater vessels and nuclear submarines.

The Great Decisions series continues on Thursday evening with the question of whether the age of globalization is ending.

Seminar series in Great Decisions

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 12:49:12 GMT

Great Decisions 2021 book now published by the Foreign Policy Association, and we will begin our new series of free seminars online, Tuesdays and Thursdays 19 Jan.-18 Feb. from 5:30 pm Central Time. Register on ALWAC.org. The book can be read immediately in Kindle format on your laptop, iPad or smartphone - you do not need a Kindle device.

We will begin with the implications of Brexit.

Great Decisions 2021, seminar series

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:46:56 GMT

The popular series of seminars on world affairs is back! We discuss current issues based on the Foreign Policy Association's magazine -- this year, online via Zoom meetings.

5:30-7:30 pm CT, Tues. & Thursdays, Tue. 19 January -Tue.18 February 2021

Issues from the FPA's Great Decisions 2021 magazine.

Available by mail ($32 + shipping) from the FPA.org site, or ebook ($23) immediately from the Amazon.com site. The ebook can be read immediately in your browser (with Kindle cloud reader) or can be downloaded immediately to your device using Kindle software. (The hardcopy book, though, does have lavish, magazine quality production which is a pleasure to handle.)

Great Decisions 2021 topics

19 Jan. Brexit: taking stock and looking ahead
21 Jan. The World Health Organization's response to Covid-19
26 Jan. The coldest war: toward a return to Great Power competition in the Arctic?
28 Jan. The end of globalization?
2 Feb. Global supply chains and U.S National Security
4 Feb. The future of Persian Gulf security
9 Feb. China and Africa
11 Feb. The two Koreas

Plus two possible topics from 2020.

Note that, in the event of an ALWAC main speaker event coinciding with Great Decisions, GD will not meet that evening.

British Ambassador meeting on Zoom, Tuesday 12 Jan. at Noon ET, 1100 Central.

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 17:47:58 GMT

To join a free meeting on Zoom with the British Ambassador, please register with WAC Atlanta at this URL, which may appear broken into two lines:
http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=txile9dab&oeidk=a07ehhfilht5ce2ffe9

or paste this into your browser as a single line.

The event will be at noon ET, 1100 Central, on Tuesday 12 January 2021. Upon registering with an email address and entering ALWAC as your council, you will be supplied with a link.

Great Decisions 2020 seminar series via video

Jeremy Lewis — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 01:20:08 GMT

The popular Great Decisions 2020 seminar series is returning via video, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-17 Dec. (except for Thursday 3 Dec, when we have our speaker event). Topics have been selected based on your survey responses. Members please see and register on Alwac.org. Meeting link and information will be supplied upon registration. Download your Great Decisions 2020 booklet from Amazon instantly in Kindle format ($21), or order it by mail from FPA.org ($32).

December 3 event in two formats: in person and online

Jeremy Lewis — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 20:35:19 GMT

Members and their guests have two choices of formats for the 3 December event: a return to the usual location in the Gold Room at 231 Montgomery St (with 50 limit), or an online video alternative. Members may register for one "event" or the other.

(In the Gold room, the seating will be spaced and the reception will be adjusted to increase health and safety.)

Our visiting speaker, David R. Stilwell, is the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary on June 20, 2019, he served in the Air Force for 35 years, beginning as an enlisted Korean linguist in 1980, and retiring in 2015 in the rank of Brigadier General as the Asia advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

He served multiple tours of duty in Japan and Korea as a linguist, a fighter pilot, and a commander. He also served as the Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 2011-2013.

Most recently, Mr. Stilwell served as the Director of the China Strategic Focus Group at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii 2017-2019 and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the East West Center in Honolulu from 2016-2019.

He earned a B.S. in History from the U.S. Air Force Academy (1987), and a Master’s Degree in Asian Studies and Chinese language from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (1988) and is a 2009 graduate of the Executive Leadership program at the Darden School, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was awarded the Department of Defense Superior Service Award in 2015. He speaks Korean, Chinese and limited Japanese.

September program announcement, 2020

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 19:20:31 GMT

After much consideration of the pandemic, we are going ahead with speaker programs via video conference software such as Zoom. Up first will be Lt. Gen. James "Storch" Hecker, highly decorated pilot and Commander of Air University. Save the date for 6 pm on 29 Sep. An email will provide in advance a clickable link to the "waiting room" before the Zoom meeting. Free registration for members on ALWAC.org.

Troy CE&O partners with Maxwell AFB Air War College for Virtual event

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 03:04:08 GMT

Troy University’s Continuing Education & Outreach is excited to partner with the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base on the Hap Arnold Outreach Program, virtually.

Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday April 29, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Officers from the Air War College will present on “Values-Based Leadership.” They will share lessons learned from their time in the service, that each of us can apply in our personal and professional lives.

(Presentations will be different each day so register to attend one or both of the sessions.)

Presentations will last approximately 30 minutes, allowing time for Q&A afterwards.

Please Click Here to register to attend in order to receive the session log-in information.

All faculty, staff and students are invited to register. Student leaders, Military Science/ROTC and students studying or who have an interest in political science, public administration, business management, or leadership may find this particularly interesting.

Cancellation of event, 17 March 2020

Jeremy Lewis — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 22:49:28 GMT

In light of the coronavirus state of emergency nationally and locally and out of an abundance of caution for the health of our members, we have decided to cancel our Alabama World Affairs Council program on Tuesday, March 17th. We will look to reschedule this event when circumstances are more favorable and will keep you informed as to when we can resume our programs. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Values based executive leadership forum: Troy UM, March 24, 2020 at 8:00am

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 03:02:26 GMT

Continuing Education and Outreach, Troy University, has partnered with the United State Air Force Air War College on a Leadership Forum.

The “Values Based Executive Leadership Forum” is free to attend, and open to the public (must RSVP to attend).

Air War College Students will share their insights and lessons learned from personal experience in the service, and attendees will walk away from the panel discussion with a greater understanding of United States military service, military culture and the challenges military leaders face, and how we can relate those to our own organizations.

The panel discussion will be held on the Troy University Montgomery Campus on March 24, 2020 at 8:00am.

There is no cost to attend, but we ask that everyone RSVP to continuinged@troy.edu.

Photos and notes of 19 November event on Trade and Tech issues

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 21:04:40 GMT

Following a highly successful meeting on Tuesday 19 November, with a well-received speaker, discussion of Trade Wars, Tech, and Tools for Diplomacy -- and plenty of engagement at question time ...

We have uploaded an album of photos to our Facebook. Please "Tag" your friends, and please "Like" the page.

Did you know Facebook "nation", claimed to include 2 Billion humans, would be the second largest nation on earth, between China and India?

We will also upload these photos to the AWAC.US website, in the folder for '19-20 photos.

Notes will be polished and uploaded soon, to AWAC.US.

An additional video of Dr. Grant discussing her "back seat" experiences in dogfighting exercises, will be uploaded soon. This one will have you on the edge of your seat and (if you have seen the recent film, Midway) possibly in your straps.

Particular thanks are due to Gen. Walter Givhan, who invited the speaker to come to ALWAC.

Best wishes for the holiday season,

Jeremy Lewis, Vice-President

Dr. Rebecca Grant's TV appearances

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 04:42:56 GMT

If you would like to undertake some homework for your questions on Tuesday 19 November, here are some accessible sources. (If searching for videos, beware of two actresses with the same name who -- whatever their other talents -- are not experts on Air Force matters).

Dr. Rebecca Grant's TV videos on Fox, MSNBC and CNN from about 2017 are found on her IRIS website Media Page here. You will also find a national security Blog and some articles on adjacent IRIS pages.

For more up to date videos, here's a list of Grant's appearances on Fox News TV, with links.

Here's the link to Rebecca Grant explaining Space Force on Fox News with Tucker Carlson, 2 Feb. 2019, via Facebook or YouTube.

Here's Grant talking about Trump's diplomacy with North Korea in November 2017, on Fox and Friends.

Here's a demo tape of Grant answering questions about USAF aircraft on YouTube.

Researchers at the "NATO at Seventy" conference on 1-2 November

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:00:52 GMT

In addition to senior diplomats from the US, the Baltics and the Balkans, the "NATO at Seventy" conference on 1-2 November, will feature some distinguished researchers, including G. Doug Davis and Michael Slobodchikoff of Troy University.

NATO Conference at the Troy University Montgomery Campus on November 1-2, 2019

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 12:58:38 GMT

NATO Conference at the Troy University Montgomery Campus on November 1-2, 2019

The Alabama World Affairs Council and Troy University will co-sponsor a conference titled “NATO at Seventy: A Strategic Examination of the Past, Present, and Future of the Atlantic Alliance,” which brings together generals, military experts, ambassadors, diplomats, and scholars to discuss the importance and the future of the Atlantic alliance. Troy University was awarded the NATO Public Diplomacy Grant to host an international conference of leading experts on NATO.

The conference will feature Ambassador Robert Hunter (the US ambassador to NATO from 1993 to 1998), His Excellency George Cristian Maior (The Romanian Ambassador to the US), Major General Cezary Wisniewski (Poland’s Military Attaché to the U.S), and diplomatic representatives from Lithuania, Latvia, and Croatia. In addition, there will be military officials, scholars, and government leaders from the United States and Europe. The conference features four panels that focus on the history of NATO, cyber and hybrid threats, current regional operations and threats, and future threats to the alliance. NATO will be sending a representative who will close out the conference on Saturday afternoon.

The event is free and open to the public, but attendees need to register by sending an email to Mrs. Melissa Neff at mneff@troy.edu. Snacks and a lunch on Saturday, Nov. 2^nd will be provided. For more information, visit www.troy.edu/nato70

The confirmed speakers include:

Ambassador Robert Hunter (US Ambassador to NATO from 1993-1995)
His Excellency George Cristian Maior—Romania’s Ambassador to the United States
Diplomatic Representatives from Lithuania, Latvia and Croatia
Major General Cezary Wisniewski—Military Attaché Republic of Poland
Ms. Lara Romano—Deputy Chief of Mission, Republic of Croatia
Mr. Robert Bell—NATO Diplomat
Dr. Vaidotas Urbelis—Defense Councillor, Embassy of Lithuania
Mr. Rolans Henins—Defense Councillor, Latvia

Here is a list of the confirmed presenters for each of the panels:

Friday, Nov 1

1:00-2:15 70th Anniversary (Panel 1)

Dr. John Schmidt (Troy University)

Jeff Mrazik (Air University)

Dr. Mary Hampton (Air University)

Maj. Gen. Cezary Wisniewski (Republic of Poland)

Robert Bell (NATO Diplomat)

2:30 Tour Rosa Parks

4:30-6:00 Ambassador in Residence Address

Ambassador Robert Hunter (U.S. Ambassador to NATO 1993-1998_

(evening gathering at Common Bond Brewers)

Saturday, Nov 2

9:30-10:45  Hybrid and Cyber Threats (Panel 1)

Dr. Robert Norton (Auburn University)

Tad Schnaufer (UCF)

Sandor Fabian (UCF)

Dr. Nicholas Sambaluk (Air University)

Dr. Karen Guttieri and Dr. Joshua Sipper (Air University)

11:00 to 12:15  Current Regional Operations (Panel 2)

Dr. Richard Ledet (Troy University)

Ms. Lara Romano (Deputy Chief of Mission, Croatia)

Dr. Boris Havel (University of Zagreb)

Dr. Chris Rein (Air University)

Mr. Rolans Henins (Defense Councillor, Latvia)

1:30 to 2:45 Future Threats

His Excellency George Cristian Maior (Romanian Ambassador to US)

Dr. Vaidotas Urbelis (Defense Councillor, Embassy of Lithuania)

Adelton Diaz (Brazilian Military, Faculty, WHINSEC)

Dr. Davis and Dr. Slobodchikoff (Troy University)

3:00 to 4:30 NATO Designee Address

US-Russian relations event

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:42:20 GMT

In a well-received discussion of US-Russian relations, Gen. Givhan (our President) reported on the Dartmouth conference of former officials of both countries, held recently outside Moscow. The conference, a cold-war thawing-device that has been revived in recent years to aid in mutual understanding, has been held annually. Dr. Conversino (our Executive Director) gave an over-the-pole strategic view in which there is not the same ideological conflict as in the cold war, yet Russia is seen as a revisionist power. Russian objectives are to fracture NATO and the EU, which is important to their survival. The recent US withdrawal from arms agreements is seen as hostile by both Russia and China. Russia has cooperated in some matters with China, Turkey and Israel. Despite the current President's rhetoric, the US has stepped up military cooperation with Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic states, but is still in reactive mode.

8 October event on US relations with Russia

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 02:40:04 GMT

Registration is now open for our 8 October presentation by Gen. Walter Givhan (ALWAC President) and Dr. Mark Conversino (ALWAC Executive Director) on US relations with Russia.

They will give perspectives informed by the summer 2019 Dartmouth conference of retired US and Russian officials who met in Russia to share their views on relations between their countries, in a series conducted since the trough of the cold war in 1960.

Our events begin at 5:30 pm with a reception, and end at 7:30 pm following a talk and question time. Find us at 231 Montgomery St, the Troy University building.

The argument of Sarah Chayes

Jeremy Lewis — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 20:36:57 GMT

On 11 Sep. 2019, Sarah Chayes presented a lively view of the scale and pervasiveness of international corruption, originating with her encounters with the US-supported leadership of the Karzai family in Afghanistan. Spreading her observations to other developing countries, she argued that a popular response to local experience of corruption (among police or other local government officials) was to undermine the authority of a regime in favor of alternative movements such as the Taliban.

She also analyzed corrupt movements among public and private bodies as vertically integrated from officials and bosses down to local officers, and horizontally integrated among both public and private (mafia-type) bodies.

Skeptical of anti-corruption measures, she reported that most of her practical ideas for the US occupation forces in Afghanistan were not adopted because they would have bucked the trend of funding warlords and elite families to fight against the enemies of the US.

She indicated that although she supported transparency measures such as open budgeting and freedom of information laws, they were unlikely to change political leaders' behavior in the countries studied.

Voters' revolts against corrupt regimes were no panacea for her: for example a comedian replacing a regime quickly became corrupt himself.

Overall, she concluded that corruption was itself a national security threat, stimulating local reactions to regimes.

New speaker program for 2019-20

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 02:08:37 GMT

The new program of speakers for 2019-20 has been listed on our Events page here, and on our restored archive web site for notes, AWAC.US.

Ms. Sarah Chayes will kick off the season on Wednesday 11 Sep, on International Corruption, the topic of her most recent book.

The 8 October offering will be a duet or possibly duel between Gen. Givhan (our President) and Dr. Conversino (Executive Director) on US-Russian relations.

The 19 November visitor will be Dr. Rebecca Grant, of IRIS independent research -- a national security analyst for the USAF and for Fox News, among others.

The Grand Finale, Tuesday 7 May 2019

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 03:43:23 GMT

Air War College faculty, fresh from their regional tours, will be featured in our final program of the year.

Mr. Bruce Kleiner, Air U’s State Department Representative, will discuss Argentina and Chile, and has served in Cuba.

Dr. Dawn Murphy will discuss China and Korea.

Dr. Dave Sorenson will discuss Israel and the UAE.

The AWC report on the regional tours is often the best received event of the year, and registration is now open.

Speakers announced for the Hap Arnold lecture series

Jeremy Lewis — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 17:43:45 GMT

The Hap Arnold Outreach Program

March 26, 2019 at the Troy University, Montgomery Campus

5:30 Presentation with reception to follow – Whitley Hall, 2nd Floor, Gold Room

RSVP to attend: continuinged@troy.edu

The roster of speakers for the Hap Arnold lecture series has been announced by the Air War College. ALWAC members are cordially invited.

Tiffany L. Herring, is a Senior Quality Assurance Specialist for the Defense Contract Management Agency.

Eli Lozano is a Lieutenant Colonel with the United States Army, serving in the Medical Service Corps.

Lieutenant Colonel Jared C. Nelson is a United States Air Force Officer with 21 years of active duty service and has served as instructor, weapons officer, and commander for a squadron of 50 nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Lieutenant Colonel John Popiak is a U.S. Army Cyber Warfare Officer with 22 years of active federal service.

Michael E. Salmon was the Deputy Program Manager for Nuclear Matters, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center.

ALWAC invited to Hap Arnold lecture series 2019

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 18:33:29 GMT

ALWAC members are invited to a free forum, "Values-based Leadership in Changing Times," at the Troy University Montgomery campus, 26 March 2019. Four senior officers from the Air War College will speak beginning at 5:30 pm for one hour; followed by a reception. The venue is at 231 Montgomery St, downtown Montgomery. For free admission, contact LHChambliss@Troy.edu. Corrected, 1/22/19: the other meeting will be in Troy itself.

Great Decisions 2019 seminar series

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 21:19:22 GMT

We now have revised dates with confirmed speakers for the GD 2019 series, which will now start on 30 January (not 23 Jan.):

Wed. January 30: Issue 2, The Middle East: Regional Disorder (Sorenson)

Wed. February 6: Issue 7, The United States and Mexico: Partnership Tested (Aguilera)

Wed. February 13: Issue 4, The Rise of Populism in Europe (Batta)

Wed. February 20: Issue 5, Decoding U.S.-China Trade (Murphy)

TUE. February 26: Issue 6, Cyber Conflict and Geopolitics (Yannakogeorgos)

Wed. March 6: Issue 3, Nuclear Negotiations: Back to the Future? (Deaile)

Wed. March 13: Issue 1, Refugees and Global Migration (Hammond)

Wed. March 20: Issue 8, State of the State Department and Diplomacy (DoS speaker)

Most participants have picked up their briefing books; if you have not, please contact <jLewis@huntingdon.edu> for pickup.

Great Decisions 2019

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 18:13:16 GMT

For those of you who have registered, the briefing books for Great Decisions 2019 have arrived in record time!

Great Decisions materials are on the way

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 21:20:08 GMT

The Foreign Policy Association is now shipping the briefing books for the Great Decisions 2019 and we are expecting ours to arrive before the seminar begins in January. The associated documentary video is already uploaded online here: Great Decisions 2019 video streaming.

Dr. Joshua Busby to speak on climate change and national security, THURSDAY 15 Nov.

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 14:49:19 GMT

Please note the change of speaker and date.
Joshua Busby is a distinguished scholar at the Strauss Center, nonresident fellow with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and a senior research fellow at the Center for Climate & Security, LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Busby has published widely on climate change, global health, transnational advocacy movements and U.S. foreign policy for various think tanks and academic journals, including International Security, International Studies Quarterly, Security Studies and Perspectives on Politics. His first book, Moral Movements and Foreign Policy, was published by Cambridge University Press in 2010. His second book, AIDS Drugs for All: Social Movements and Market Transformations, with Ethan Kapstein (Cambridge University Press, 2013) won the APSA’s 2013 award for the best book on science, technology and environmental politics). He has been a lead researcher on major research projects on “Climate Change and African Political Stability” (CCAPS) and “Complex Emergencies and Political Stability in Asia” (CEPSA) funded by the DOD. Dr. Busby is a life member in the Council on Foreign Relations. He received his Ph.D. in political science in 2004 from Georgetown University.

Special event, "Anti-Semitism and Populism in Europe"

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 22:46:34 GMT

Stefan Schlüter gave a well received talk, “Rising Anti-Semitism and Populism in Europe.” A former German Consul General, he is the Program Director, Diplomatic Academy in Berlin. He also addressed US-German and German-Israeli relations. Luncheon was provided by the catering service of Troy University Montgomery, and the event was graciously co-sponsored by The American Council on Germany (ACG)

October event

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 00:26:13 GMT

Our next speaker event will be on Tuesday 16 October: J. Stapleton Roy, Ambassador in Residence at Troy University, "The United States and China: A New Type of Great Power Relationship."

Ambassador Roy is the Founding Director Emeritus and a Distinguished Scholar at the Wilson Center's Kissinger Institute on China and the United States.

Cybersecurity presentation attracts large audience

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:34:21 GMT

Dr. Pano' Yannakogeorgos, Dean of the new Cyber College at the Air University, presented “A World at War With Itself: The Cyber Threat and Globalization.” With such a topical issue to discuss, there were a number of questions from the audience. Laying out a pattern of widespread and increasing vulnerabilities in US infrastructure and in internet usage, with numerous examples of data breaches, he argued that the US needs to avoid offensive cyber warfare and commit heavily to reducing vulnerabilities both in the internet and in consumers. The internet of things and the forthcoming 5G (fifth generation of the internet, with a leap forward in bandwidth, for the first time led by China) with multiply those vulnerabilities. In Tocquevillian fashion, he placed his faith in lawyers who will oblige industry to close down gaping holes in security. Full notes of the talk are now available in the archives at AWAC.US.

Speaker series announced for Autumn 2018

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 20:10:56 GMT

Three speakers are announced for Fall 2018, in a series on current and futuristic topics in world affairs. This is a timely departure from our past series exploring regions of the world.

Tuesday 11 September 2018: Dr. Pano Yannakogeorgos, “A World at War With Itself: The Cyber Threat and Globalization”.

The aim of this talk is to familiarize the audience with conflict that takes form in cyberspace. It is always evolving, the terrain is blurred between public and private entities, the weaponry is in a constant state of upgrade, and adversaries are indistinct and ubiquitous.

Dr. Pano Yannakogeorgos (Ph. D. Rutgers University) is the founding Dean of the Air Force Cyber College at Air University. His expertise includes the intersection of cyber power, national security, and military operations; international cyber policy; and Eastern Mediterranean security. His most recent publication is The Cyber Threat and Globalization: The Impact to National and International Security (Rowman Littlefield, 2018).

Tuesday 16 October 2018: Ambassador Roy, resident fellow at Troy University, "Modern Diplomacy".

Tuesday 13 November 2018: Dr. Grant Hammond, “The Revolution in Security Affairs”

We are in an era of “unrestricted warfare” declared by China in 1999 in which we are in competition, conflict and combat 24/7/365 around the globe, in space and cyber space. This presentation will examine how and why this has happened as it has and the implications, now and in the future.

Dr. Grant Hammond (PhD SAIS, Johns Hopkins University) recently retired from the USAF Center for Strategy and Technology after 29 years of federal service and as President of ALWAC. He is the author of 3 books (Countertrade Offset and Barter in International Political Economy; Plowshares into Swords: Arms Races in International Politics; The Mind of War: John Boyd and American Security), editor of a fourth (John Boyd’s Discourse on Winning and Losing) and has two more in progress.

Meet ALWAC's new President

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 18:58:53 GMT

Recently confirmed as our new President, is Maj. Gen. Walter D. Givhan, USAF, Retired, the Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement for Troy University. A native of Safford, AL, Maj. Gen. Givhan graduated in History from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, has several Master’s degrees including strategy and international relations, and was a Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

He served as the USAF liaison officer to the French ground forces for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and he led the effort to rebuild the Afghan air force. He also has commanded a combat training squadron, an operations group, an air base wing, an air expeditionary wing, and the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Maj. Gen. Givhan's staff assignments include the offices of the Secretary of the Air Force; Legislative Liaison; Chief, Combat Forces Division, Directorate of Programs; and Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group, HQ USAF. He also served in the US Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. He is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours in aircraft including the F-15 and A-10.

Notes of Air War College faculty presentations 8 May 2018

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:37:26 GMT

Notes of the faculty presentations on the Middle East, South Asia and Northeast Asia have been uploaded to AWAC.US.

Speakers from Air War College faculty, Tuesday 8 May

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 07 May 2018 16:42:02 GMT

UPDATE: the presentation on Tuesday 8 May by Dr. Dawn Murphy will cover her regional tour of Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Taiwan.

US Treasury sanctions Russia for 2016 election meddling

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:14:04 GMT

https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2018/03/hall-mirrors

Invitation to another national security forum: Air War College speakers

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:53:17 GMT

Huntingdon College, in partnership with the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, will host the Hap Arnold Lecture Series, "Leading and Serving in Changing Times," Wednesday, April 4, at 5:30 p.m. in the College's Ligon Chapel, Flowers Hall.
This year's lecture will feature Colonel Danielle L. Willis, commanding fighter pilot; Lieutenant Colonel Clayton B. Bartels, a command pilot who has flown for 2,000 fighter hours and more than 50 combat hours; Chief Master Sergeant Lavor A. Kirkpatrick, a career geospatial intelligence analyst; and LTC Timothy G. Dalton, who recently served as the chief of the Space Requirements Branch, Future Warfare Center of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
The speakers will address challenges they have faced in their professions and will answer questions from the audience. The public is invited to attend. There is no cost for the event.

Invitation to a national security forum

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 01:33:30 GMT

AWAC members are invited to AUM for the annual panel of military speakers, on April 12, 2018 (6.30 - 9.30 PM) in Taylor Center, Room 230 (off Taylor Rd, I-85 Exit 9). This is the 2018 General D. Eisenhower National Security Series of the US Army War College. Topics include nuclear deterrence, para-rescue of personnel, and accident investigation. Contact Dr. Kalu on 334-244-3695, or as kkalu@aum.edu

Professor Gabriel Aguilera spoke on “Venezuela Present and Past: The Rise and Decline of Chavismo.”

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 03:28:33 GMT

In a lively presentation, Dr. Aguilera led us from the arrival of democracy in Venezuela in with the Pact of Punto Fijo in 1958, via the Caldera regime to the rise of populism under Chavez and Maduro. He sketched out the economic resources (often squandered) and the differences among the regimes. Maduro has faced greater economic problems with fewer resources to maintain political support than did Chavez. Venezuela, unlike much of Latin America, gained democracy early but has seen it deteriorate into recent chaos. The full notes are found at our archive site, http://www.AWAC.US.

Prof. Gabriel Aguilera speaking on Venezuela, 13 Feb.

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 00:19:28 GMT

Since the Venezuelan regime has been under pressure in recent months, it is a good time to hear from our expert at Air War College.

Dr. Gabriel Aguilera, Associate Professor of International Security Studies, joined the Air War College faculty in 2011. He holds an MA and Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard University. He specializes in Latin American politics, comparative politics and international political economy. Previously, he has taught at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico and California State University, Chico, where he directed the International Relations Major. His two most recent publications appeared in Comparative Politics and the Harvard Review of Latin America. He is currently working on a book manuscript on the politics of civil military relations in democratic Mexico.

Amb. Jack Matlock spoke to AWAC on Russia

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:20:48 GMT

Amb. Matlock gave a lively presentation answering several questions concerning Russian involvement in the 2016 US Presidential Election. He explained that, while the Russians may have been in support of the Trump campaign, any tampering with election results was minimal. Additionally, Amb. Matlock provided insight on the distinction between the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union. He explained that the two events were independent of each other and, historically, are separated by approximately two years. He closed the presentation by expounding on the United States' favorable approval rating in Russia, as opposed to other countries, and the reason for the approval rating. Amb. Matlock’s presentation was stimulating and diminished several assumptions about the Soviet Union and Russia. -- Justala Simpson

Expert speaker on Venezuela, coming 13 Feb.

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 18:40:14 GMT

Professor Aquilera is Associate Professor of Security Studies, Air War College, and a specialist in Latin American Politics, Comparative Politics and International Political Economy. Educated at California State University, Chico, he holds an MA and PhD from Harvard. He will assess the implications of recent events in Venezuela.

Great Decisions 2018 seminar series

Jeremy Lewis — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 23:47:20 GMT

Register at ALWAC.org for this lively discussion series which features excellent readings and expert, local seminar leaders. The fee ($30 member /$40 guest) includes an excellent booklet of readings, maps and photos, produced by the Foreign Policy Association. The program begins on 16 January and runs for 8 consecutive weeks in the most popular time (Tuesday 2 pm) to assist more people to participate. Location is 106 Bartlett Hall, behind our usual Whitley building at 231 Montgomery St.

Great Decisions 2018 sessions, with dates: issue numbers, "topics" and speakers
January 16: Issue 1, "The Waning of Pax Americana," Grant Hammond, PhD, CSAT
January 23: Issue 2, "Russia's Foreign Policy," Mark Conversino, PhD, SAASS
January 30: Issue 3, "China and America: The New Geopolitical Equation," Buck Grinter, AWC Retd.
February 6: Issue 7, "South Africa's Fragile Democracy," Steve Burgess, PhD, AWC
February 13: Issue 5, "Turkey: A Partner in Crisis," Dave Sorenson, PhD, AWC
February 20: Issue 8, "Global Health: Progress and Challenges," Col. Paul Nelson, MD, AWC
February 27: Issue 4, "Media and Foreign Policy," Jeremy Lewis, PhD, Huntingdon
March 6: Issue 6, "US Global Engagement and the Military," Grant Hammond, PhD, CSAT

Amb. Jack Matlock will speak on 23 Jan. 2018

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 16:50:33 GMT

Amb. Matlock, longtime US diplomat to the Soviet Union and since then a senior academic observer of Russia, has been rescheduled for Tuesday 23 January 2018. In September 2017, his flight was cancelled due to a hurricane, but we are delighted to host him in calmer weather. This will make an extra event for ALWAC, and we are grateful that a sponsor has volunteered to provide the reception. Matlock's talk will explore the contrasts between the Soviet Union and current Russia.

Happy Birthday!

Jeremy Lewis — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 13:59:49 GMT

We wish a Happy 90th Birthday and many more, to our long time Past President, Lt. Gen. Charles "Chick" Cleveland (Retd.). He did so much for ALWAC, with his organizing skills, leadership and wide network of friends.

Prof. Jorge Dominquez on Cuba, THURS. 16 Nov.

Jeremy Lewis — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 16:45:26 GMT

REGISTER BY NOON FRIDAY BEFORE THE EVENT AT WWW.ALWAC.ORG OR CALL 334-567-0953

An internationally known expert on Latin American politics, Professor Jorge I. Dominguez will address the Alabama World Affairs Council on Thursday, November 16^th and share his views on Cuba and Cuban-American relations, past, present, and future. He is the Antonio Madero Professor for the Study of Mexico and chair of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies at Harvard university. A noted scholar, he is the author or editor of various books, among them Challenges of Party-Building in Latin America; Debating U.S.-Cuban Relations: How Should We Now Play Ball?, 2nd ed.; Contemporary U.S.-Latin American Relations: Cooperation or Conflict in the 21st Century?, 2nd ed.; Mexico’s Evolving Democracy: A Comparative Study of the 2012 Elections; Routledge Handbook of Latin America in the World; Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America,4th ed.; Cuban Economic and Social Development: Policy Reforms and Challenges in the 21st Century; The United States and Mexico: Between Partnership and Conflict, 2nd ed.; Technopols: Freeing Politics and Markets in Latin America in the 1990s, and many other books and articles on domestic and international politics in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Professor Dominquez served as Harvard University’s vice provost for international affairs (2006-2015) and as director of Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs (1995-2006). A past president of the Latin American Studies Association and a past board chair of the Latin American Scholarship Program of American Universities, he currently serves on the editorial boards of Political Science Quarterly, Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica, Cuban Studies, Foro internacional, and Journal of Cold War Studies. He was series editor for the Peabody Award-winning Public Broadcasting System television series Crisis in Central America. He is a founding member of the Inter-American Dialogue and Adviser to the Club de Madrid. His current research focuses on the international relations and domestic politics of Latin American countries.

Prof. Loch Johnson on US foreign policy in a world both uncertain and dangerous

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 20:28:12 GMT

Notes of Prof. Loch Johnson's well-received presentation, on the US in an uncertain and dangerous world, have been uploaded to the AWAC.US web page: http://political-science.org/WACA/AWACNotes17-18.htm

Johnson laid out a multi-tiered threat assessment for the US. Then he called for a shift from the excessive and unproductive use of military force and aggressive use of intelligence assets for covert operations -- towards greater use of diplomacy and State Department resources.

Dr. Mark Conversino spoke on "Russia Then and Now"

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 21:39:53 GMT

Dr. Mark Conversino gave a lively presentation in Russia to members on 12 Sep. Since 2014, he explained, Baltic allies have been worried by large Russian military exercises (Zarpad 2017) and by active propaganda. The Russians are both post-imperial and post-colonial and therefore have to define themselves. They do not see themselves as a middling regional power, but a state attempting to protect Russian speakers (25 M) wherever they find themselves after the fall of Empire. The regime now wants to dial back the clock to a bygone era. Ukraine is an especially emotive issue, a brother slavic state. The Crimean incursion was well executed and so are the propaganda outlets, RT and Sputnik. NATO's countermeasures are limited, though there is now a tripwire force in the Baltics, facing up to a much larger Russian force. However, Russia is facing enormous losses of oil revenue and the nationalism helps to deflect public attention away from economic struggles.

Change of speaker, 12 Sep. 2017

Jeremy Lewis — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 21:36:04 GMT

Monday, 11 Sep. 2017: owing to the hurricane's disrupting our speaker's flight to Montgomery, Dr. Mark Conversino will stand in for Amb. Jack Matlock, “Russia, Then and Now”

Contact Dahdee Bullen at awacBullen@gmail.com (334-567-0953).

Dr. Mark J. Conversino is Deputy Commandant and Professor of Strategy and Security Studies at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS), Air University (AU), Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Alabama. As an award-winning professor, he is responsible for creating warrior-scholars of airpower. Dr. Conversino joined the faculty of the Air War College (AWC) as a civilian following his retirement from the Air Force and subsequently joined the faculty of SAASS in 2015. He specializes in military and airpower history and theory, Russian history and the politics of the former Soviet Union.

His book is Fighting With the Soviets: The Failure of Operation FRANTIC, 1944-1945, Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1997.

AWAC members already know him as a lively and witty speaker!

2017-18 Program announced

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 21:57:25 GMT

Tuesday, September 12, 2017: Ambassador (Dr.) Jack Matlock, “Russia”

Tuesday, October 17, 2017: Professor Loch Johnson, "American Foreign Policy in a World Both Uncertain and Dangerous"

THURSDAY, November 16, 2017: Professor Jorge Dominquez, “Cuba: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”

Tuesday, February 13, 2018: Professor Gabriel Aquilera, “Venezuela”

Tuesday, March 13, 2018: Open date—please check this website

Tuesday, April 10, 2018: General Michael Hayden, USAF (ret), “Global Security”

Tuesday, May 8, 2018: Air War College Professors, Regional Reports

Special Programs

Spring 2018, Great Decisions Program; Collaboration with Global Ties Alabama; Interaction with some of the International Officers stationed at Maxwell AFB

International Officers School: panels on Regional Issues, 24-27 July 2017

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 19:54:59 GMT

International Regional Overview, Summer 2017 (contact details revised)

Through an arrangement with the International Officers School at Maxwell, we have the opportunity to invite our members to a series of forums presented by International Officers from various regions around the world on the major political, economic and security issues in their region. These will be held at the Air Command and Staff College main Auditorium (Wood Auditorium) on the topics listed:

24 July: 0930-1000: Asia 1 | 1200-1330: Middle East

25 July: 0930-1100: Europe 1 (Northern and Western)

1200-1330: The Americas

26 July: 0930-1100: Europe 2 (Southern & Western)

1200-1330: Africa

27 July: 0930-1100: Asia 2

In order to arrange to attend—at no cost—participants will need to submit well in advance their full name, date of birth, driver’s license number to Major Michael J. Hardwick, at [corrected] michael.hardwick@us.af.mil or 334-953-5285/6938. Cell is (575) 749-2490.

We hope you may be able to avail yourself of this opportunity.

April 11, 2017, Ambassador Mark Grossman, "Turkey, Europe and the United States"

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 01:49:19 GMT

April 11, 2017—5:30 PM, please join us for
Ambassador Mark Grossman, "Turkey, Europe and the United States"

Amb. Grossman is one of America’s most experienced diplomats. A former US Ambassador to Turkey, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, as well as a US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, he is also a former Vice Chairman of The Cohen Group, a business consulting firm in Washington. Grossman is fluent in French and Turkish and the father of an adopted Turkish daughter. He is uniquely experienced to assess our future relations with an emerging regional power.

14 March 2017, John Pomfret, "US-Chinese Relations."

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 01:45:43 GMT

On March 14, 2017, John Pomfret, spoke on "US-Chinese Relations." Pomfret is an award-winning journalist who has spent two decades as a foreign correspondent for The Washington Post. He reported on China for the Post both as bureau chief in Beijing and as a senior diplomatic correspondent in Washington. He’s written a critically-acclaimed book on China, Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of the New China, and his second book is a monumental and acclaimed story of the Americans and the Chinese. For extensive notes on his remarks, click here.

10 Jan. 2017: US and Korean Officials, “A Celebration of Korea”

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 01:40:14 GMT

January 10, 2017 – 5:30 PM
US and Korean Officials, “A Celebration of Korea”
Panelists were Ms. Sarah Cho (Researcher, Economic Section, Embassy of the Republic of Korea); Mr. Mark Tokola (Vice President of the Korean Economic Institute) and Mr. James Applegate (Chief of the Democratic Republic of North Korea (DPRK) Unit, Office of Korean Affairs, US Department of State). This program was sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America's national office. For us, it celebrated the close ties between South Korea and the Montgomery community. For copious notes of the presentations, click here

A Requiem for Syria - briefing given to Alabama World Affairs Council

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:21:16 GMT

Dr. David Sorenson, professor at the Air University and former dean of the Air War College, presented the history, and modern social and political complexities of Syria. The country economy, society and highly prized antiquities, he argued, are now reduced to rubble. Multiple factions have torn each other apart in years of fighting, and the Syrian and Russian governments in particular will soon find themselves in charge of mountains of rubble. There is little strategic value left there for any external power save perhaps Turkey. Sorenson, as he has before, gave this depressing message in a lively style with many illustrations. See AWAC.US, our archive site, and select the Speaker notes 2016-17 page, for copious notes. For a direct link, click here: AWAC Notes '16-17: Sorenson.

Council on Foreign Relations’ Harris to address Council on Oct. 18

Thu, 06 Oct 2016 16:02:30 GMT

Jennifer M. Harris, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, will discuss the role of trade, investment and economic diplomacy in a presentation on “Geoeconomics” during a presentation of the Alabama World Affairs Council on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Troy University Montgomery.

The presentation will be in the Gold Room, located on the second floor of Whitley Hall, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. The presentation is free to members of the Alabama World Affairs Council and $20 for guests. a presentation on “Geoeconomics” during a presentation of the Alabama World Affairs Council on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Troy University Montgomery.

Prior to joining the Council, Harris was a member of the policy planning staff at the U.S. Department of State responsible for global markets, geo-economic issues and energy security. In that role, Harris was a lead architect of Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton’s Economic Statecraft agenda, which launched in 2011.

Before joining the State Department, Harris served on the staff of the U.S. National Intelligence Council (NIC), covering a range of economic and financial issues.

Harris’ work has appeared in “The New York Times,” “The Washington Quarterly” and “The World Economic Forum,” among other outlets. Harris is the author of the book, War by Other Means: Geoeconomics and Statecraft, co-authored with Robert Blackwell.

A Truman and a Rhodes scholar, she holds degrees in economics and international relations from Wake Forest University (BA) and Oxford University (MPhil), and a JD from Yale Law School.

The Alabama World Affairs Council sponsors lectures and programs on current and recent events of national and international interest throughout the year with the aim to increase individuals’ knowledge of world affairs and how they impact the United States. The Council also serves as a platform to showcase some of the world-class faculty at Maxwell Air Force Base’s Air University. The Council has partnered with Troy University, bringing all Council events to the University’s Montgomery Campus.

To register for the event, visit alwac.org/events or contact Donna Gilliand (334-241-9501) or Dahdee Bullen at dahdeekb@yahoo.com (334-567-0953).

International Security Issues lecture series kicks off Thursday

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 19:56:38 GMT

The Alabama World Affairs Council will present an eight-week International Security Issues lecture series beginning Sept. 29 at Troy University Montgomery.

The lecture series is designed to cover and discuss a number of security challenges facing the U.S. and provide an opportunity to showcase some of the world-class faculty at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base. Lectures will be held each Thursday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sept. 29-Nov. 17, in the Rosa Parks Museum Auditorium at Troy University Montgomery.

Troy University Montgomery will serve as host to Council events thanks to a partnership agreement signed on Sept. 7.

“In an election year, this series will examine some of the issues that the new administration will have to face, the seriousness of security challenges facing the United States over the coming years and how these challenges could and should be dealt with,” said Dr. Grant Hammond, AWAC president. “The purpose of this program is to provide a forum in which members of the community, particularly prior service and retired military, as well as college students and others interested, can have an opportunity to learn and discuss these issues.”

Lecture topics and presenters are:

· Sept. 29 – “Nuclear Deterrence in the 21^st Century,” Dr. Blake McMahon, Integration Cell, Air University;
· Oct. 6 – “The Revolution in Security Affairs,” Dr. Grant Hammond, USAF Center for Strategy and Technology and President of AWAC;
· Oct. 13—““The Middle East Quagmire,” Dr. David Sorenson, USAF Air War College;
· Oct. 20 – “Putin’s Russia,” Dr. Mark Conversino, USAF School of Advanced Air and Space Studies;
· Oct. 27 – “Europe and NATO in Disarray,” Dr. Mary Hampton, USAF Air Command and Staff College;
· Nov. 3 – “The China Problem,” Dr. Dawn Murphy, USAF Air War College;
· Nov. 10 – “Challenges to Northeast Asian Allies,” Dr. Buck Grinter, Auburn University, USAF Air War College Professor Emeritus; and
· Nov. 17 – “Foreign Policy in the Next Administration,” Dr. Jim Nathan, Executive Director of AWAC and former Eminent Scholar, Auburn University Montgomery.

Each class will consist of a 30 to 45 minute presentation followed by a question-and-answer and discussion segment. There will be a $20 fee for AWAC members and a $40 fee for non-members. Payment should be made in advance by mail to the Alabama World Affairs Council, P.O. Box 241462, Montgomery, AL 36124. Those interested may also request registration by calling Donna Gilliand at 334-241-9501 or Dahdee Bullen at 334-567-0953.

Parking for these events will be available in the Troy University Montgomery lot adjacent to the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts, as well as behind the Rosa Parks Museum.

Movie 'Fair Game' based on memoirs of Joseph Wilson, Valerie Plame

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 17:09:00 GMT

View a clip from the movie "Fair Game," featuring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn. The 2010 film, directed by Doug Liman, is based on Valerie Plame's memoir, "Fair Game:My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House," and Joseph C. Wilson's memoir, "The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies that Led to War and Betrayed My Wife's CIA Identity."

In this scene, Penn, who portrays Wilson, speaks to a class about the 16 words in President George Bush's State of the Union Address that led to war with Iraq.

Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson to address Alabama World Affairs Council on Sept. 20

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 16:33:08 GMT

Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson will discuss relations between the U.S. and Africa during a presentation of the Alabama World Affairs Council on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Troy University Montgomery.

The presentation, “Africa and the U.S.: Past and Present,” will be held in the Gold Room, located on the second floor of Whitley Hall, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. The presentation is free to members of the Alabama World Affairs Council and $20 to guests.

Wilson’s historic career in international relations spans more than three decades, with service under five U.S. presidents — Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr., and Clinton. Widely recognized for his diplomatic leadership, Wilson was hailed “a true American hero” by President George H.W. Bush for his efforts to free more than 100 American hostages in Iraq.

The last American official to confront Saddam Hussein before the start of the Gulf War, Wilson served as the acting U.S. Ambassador in Iraq throughout Operation Desert Shield. He has held

numerous senior government positions, including Ambassador to Gabon and to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe. As Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council, Wilson was responsible for the coordination of U.S. policy to the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa.

Under direction from the Bush Administration, in 2002, Wilson was sent to investigate reports that Saddam was seeking uranium yellowcake from Niger for Iraq’s nuclear program. After his visit, Wilson became the first to openly challenge the administration on its justification for war. Eight days after Wilson stated his conclusions in a New York Times article, “What I Didn’t Find in Africa,” his wife’s identity as a covert CIA officer was revealed. The revelation led to investigations and the subsequent conviction of then-Vice President Dick Cheney’s Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby, on four counts of perjury, lying to federal investigators and obstruction of justice.

In 2004, Wilson chronicled his diplomatic career and battle with the Bush administration in his national bestselling book, “The Politics of Truth.” In 2010, the Wilsons’ story was made into a major motion picture starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts, entitled “Fair Game,” after Valerie Plame’s memoir.

To register for the event, visit alwac.org/events or contact Donna Gilliand (334-241-9501) or Dahdee Bullen at dahdeekb@yahoo.com (334-567-0953).

Alabama World Affairs Council partners with Troy University

Jeremy Lewis — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 19:27:13 GMT

World affairs group signs deal with Troy

Brad Harper, Montgomery Advertiser4:12 p.m. CDT September 7, 2016

A group that regularly brings in prominent, global speakers has signed a partnership with Troy University and its Montgomery campus.

It’s a deal that could help both parties. The Alabama World Affairs Council is a non-profit focused on helping people understand the world stage – from economic shifts to political upheaval. It will add to the curriculum at Troy

Montgomery, including hosting a series of daytime

lectures at the school’s Rosa Parks Museum. Meanwhile, the school will work to expand the non-profit’s presence.

AWAC President Grant Hammond said the deal with the state’s “international university” seems like a natural relationship. Troy enrolls students from 76 countries.

Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. said the deal will help the school keep pace with the world of the future.

“The world is changing, and we want to change with it,” Hawkins said at a Wednesday ceremony in downtown Montgomery. “That’s why we’ve embraced the concept of becoming an element of the global village.”

(Photo: Brad Harper / Advertiser)

International Security Issues Program Announcement

Jeremy Lewis — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 02:42:36 GMT

Just what are the issues a new administration will have to face? How serious are the security challenges the US faces in the next few years? How could/should we attempt to deal with these? These are but a few of the issues to be addressed in a new program to be held this fall sponsored by the Alabama World Affairs Council (AWAC). In this Presidential election year, these are among the most important issues facing the nation.

The purpose of the program is to provide a forum in which members of the community, particularly prior service and retired military, as well as college students and interested others, can have an opportunity to learn and discuss the latest assessments of a number of security challenges facing the United States. A secondary purpose is to showcase some of the national and internationally known faculty at Air University at Maxwell AFB and share their expertise with the community.

This program is part of a new partnership and set of initiatives between the Alabama World Affairs Council and Troy University, Alabama/s international university, utilizing the facilities of Troy University Montgomery. The program will be held at the Rosa Parks Museum auditorium on the Troy, Montgomery campus and offered on consecutive Thursday afternoons from 1:00- 2:30 in the afternoon. The topics and those making a presentation followed by time for questions, answers and discussion are as follows:

29 Sep. Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century; Dr. Blake McMahon, USAF Center for Strategy and Technology
6 Oct. The Revolution in Security Affairs; Dr. Grant Hammond, USAF Center for Strategy and Technology
13 Oct. The Middle East Quagmire; Dr. David Sorenson, USAF Air War College
20 Oct. Putin’s Russia; Dr. Mark Conversino, USAF School of Advanced Air and Space Studies
27 Oct. Europe and NATO in Disarray, Dr. Mary Hampton, USAF Air Command and Staff College
3 Nov. The China Problem; Dr. Dawn Murphy, USAF Air War College
10 Nov. Challenges to Northeast Asian Allies; Dr. Buck Grinter, Auburn University; USAF Air War College Professor Emeritus
17 Nov. Foreign Policy in the Next Administration; Dr. Jim Nathan, Former Eminent Scholar, Auburn University, Montgomery

[Dates revised, 12 Sep.]

Each class will consist of a 30-45 minute presentation followed by questions and answers and group discussion of the issues raised. There will be a fee $20 for AWAC members and of $40 for non-members. Payment should be made in advance by mail to the Alabama World Affairs Council, P. O. Box 241462, Montgomery, AL 36124. Parking is available in the Troy University lot adjacent to the Davis Theater and behind the Rosa Parks Museum.

Those interested may request register for the program by calling Ms. Donna Gilliand at (334) 241-9501 or Ms. Dahdee Bullen at (334) 567-0953. Registration for the program should be completed by Thursday, 22 September.

Great Decisions Program pre-announcement

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 19:28:22 GMT

We are planning a Great Decisions discussion program for Spring, 2017 – to be held from 1:00-2:30, with eight issues, one per week beginning in January 2017. (Days and dates to be determined when program is formally announced). The splendid new location will be the Rosa Parks Museum Auditorium, Troy University, central Montgomery. The program has for many years been sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association of the United States. Discussion leaders will be experts on US foreign policy and world affairs, including award-winning instructors from local universities and colleges.
A series of eight topics (not yet selected) for study by hundreds of groups across the country is supported by study guides, videos and PBS presentations -- and concluded by a national opinion ballot to solicit views from the American public on critical issues facing the nation. Fee: $20 for AWAC members; $40 for non-members.