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January 31 |
Gulf Roundtable with Ahmed Saeed
While the Arab Gulf is enjoying a huge windfall as oil revenues have skyrocketed, the region continues to face serious economic challenges, according to Ahmed Saeed of Cerberus Capital. Saeed, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa and the Middle East at the U.S Department of the Treasury, analyzed the changing role of the Gulf in the global economy at a CSIS Gulf Roundtable held on January 31, 2008.
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January 31 |
Presentation by Genaro García Luna, Secretary of Public Security of Mexico
Listen to the Audio (mp3, 1:34:58)Since taking office on December 1, 2007, President Felipe Calderón has initiated a frontal campaign against organized crime, including drug cartels, human trafficking networks and money laundering rings. The heavily-armed drug cartels have in turn unleashed a wave of violence against Mexican law enforcement. To boost the Mexican Government’s security capability, President Calderón introduced legislation proposing to reorganize the country’s law enforcement agencies, merging them under the Secretariat of Public Security, directed by Secretary García Luna. The Secretariat is also slated to benefit from U.S. technical assistance through the Plan Mérida initiative. Secretary García Luna answered questions from the audience following his presentation.
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January 30 |
Global Space Agenda: Transforming India's Space Program
Featuring G. Madhavan Nair Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization As India enters its sixtieth year of independence, one of its national technological crown jewels- the space program- is undergoing a fundamental transformation as its focus turns outward. India's space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has mroe than 40 years of experience, with capabilities in launch systems, telecommunications, and Earth Observation. Last year, India announced its intention to join Russia, the US, and China as the only nations with human spaceflight capability. Now, against the backdrop of an Asian Space Race, India is focusing its space activities outwards, both towards other nations through increased bilateral ties and international engagement as well as towards exploration of the Moon. As Indo-American economic ties boom, the relationship between the oldest and largest democracies is exploring new frontiers - including technological cooperation in a wide array of areas. With only as few months to go before the launch of India's first lunar mission - which will carry American instruments - the head of the Indian space program, Mr. G. Madhavan Nair (Chairman, ISRO; Chairman, Space Commission; Secretary, Department of Space), made his first visit to the US to strengthen bilateral ties with his American counterparts. CSIS' Space Initiatives and South Asia Programs were pleased to host Chairman Nair and ISRO to discuss the transformation and future of the Indian space program as part of our Global Space Agenda series. The CSIS Global Space Agenda is a forum for parties in current and emerging space-faring nations to discuss their progress as well as potential interest in engagement with other groups. The Global Space Agenda is intended to augment existing dialog among international partners by providing a new, neutral venue for discussion, one in which all interested sectors can communicate openly and directly with each other. Listen to the Audio (mp3, 01:02:33) | Video (01:02:33 wmv) | Transcript (pdf)
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January 30 |
Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade on "Economic Engagement with a Rising China"
Listen to the Audio (mp3, 0:51:36)Under Secretary Padilla will preview the Administration's stance on trade and economic relations with China for the coming year, focusing on responses to concerns of Congress and the general public about Chinese trade practices that affect U.S. interests. He will also discuss the challenge of strengthened economic integration with China and the need for the intelligent use of leverage given the dynamic political and economic context on both sides of the Pacific. He will answer questions from the audience after his speech.Under Secretary Padilla is responsible for leading the International Trade Administration, which participates in the development of U.S. trade policy; identifies and resolves market access and compliance issues; promotes American competitiveness and the strenth of U.S. companies in the global economy; administers U.S. trade laws; and undertakes a range of trade promotion and trade advocacy efforts. The International Trade Administration has more than 2,200 dedicated individuals posted at U.S. embassies and commercial offices around the world.
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January 30 |
Mid-Course Corrections for NATO's Mission in Afghanistan
The CSIS Europe Program, in partnership with the Embassy of Germany, hosted a confernece on the challenges facing NATO security and stabilization efforts in Afghanistan. The off-the-record session included remarks by Kurt Volker, Principal Assistant Deputy Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Maj. Gen. Manfred Lange, Assistant Chief of Staff, Politico-Military Affairs, German Federal Ministry of Defense; and General (Ret.) James L. Jones, President & CEO, Institute for 21st Centurty Energy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and former Supreme Allied Commander Europe. The participants discussed current stabilization efforts, as well as ways of improving cooperation among NATO allies in this important mission.
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January 28 |
Statesmen's Forum: His Excellency Lulzim Basha Foreign Minister of Albania
Listen to the Audio (mp3, 0:49:43) | Video (00:53:49 wmv) | Transcript (pdf) The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) hosted a discussion with Lulzim Basha, the foreign minister of Albania, on Albania’s hopes for NATO membership and Kosovo’s status. Stephen Flanagan, senior vice president of CSIS, introduced Minister Basha and moderated the question-and-answer session.
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January 26 |
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke at a CSIS event about the need for "increasing the capacity of America's civilian tools of statecraft and for better integrating them with the hard power of our military." AUDIO (00:39:38, mp3) | TRANSCRIPT (pdf)
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January 25 |
Venezuela Forum: The Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic
Listen to the Audio (mp3, 1:15:50) Elsa Cardozo, Professor, School of International Studies, Universidad Central de Venezuela and Director, School of Liberal Studies, Universidad Metropolitana; Javier Corrales, Associate Professor and Chair of Political Science, Amherst College; and María Teresa Romero, Professor, School of International Studies, Universidad Central de Venezuela discussed Venezuela's foreign policy and foreign relations. Following their presentations, they answered questions from the public.
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January 24 |
A discussion with Imran Khan
The South Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in partnership with the Asia Society cordially hosted a discussion session with Mr. Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, titled "Pakistan’s Political Future: An Alternative Perspective". Mr. Imran Khan, a former cricket legend and now a vociferous political opponent of President Musharraf will share his insights about the rapidly evolving political scene in Pakistan and offer practical solutions to break the ongoing political impasse to facilitate the transition to democracy. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is boycotting the upcoming legislative election scheduled for February 18th and Mr. Khan has called for the resignation of President Musharraf. VIDEO (wmv, 01:17:36) | AUDIO (mp3, 01:17:36) | TRANSCRIPT
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January 24 |
Goldwater-Nichols: A Critical Look
CSIS’s International Security Program hosted a conference for prominent defense experts to voice their continued concerns over Goldwater- Nichols and its unintended consequences. Twenty-one years after the passage of the most cited defense reform in US history, this conference will inform future defense reform or broader national security reform efforts with its presentation of alternative viewpoints.
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