Exit from Afghanistan and Iraq: Great Decisions Lecture Series

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Event Details

Date:
Thursday, February 9, 2012
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM 
Location:
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
51 West 52nd Street (entrance on northeast corner of 6th Avenue at the CBS Building)
New York, NY
Event type
Lecture / Panel  

Event Transcripts and Video

The absence of clear policies in Afghanistan is preventing a successful mission, Ambassador Ronald Neumann told a packed audience at Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions lecture. The U.S. must articulate its plans to the Afghan people in order to build a state and army that can sustain themselves without a significant foreign presence. Ambassador Neumann stressed the importance of achieving this level of stability in order to curb enemies who continue to fight against the U.S. It is possible, he said, but only just.

READ TRANSCRIPT [PDF]

Part I:  Introduction by Robert Miller

 

Part II: Remarks by Ambassador Ronald Neumann

 

Part III: Q&A

Part IV: Event Slideshow (Photographed by Kenji Mori)

Event Speakers

    • Ambassador Ronald Neumann
      President, American Academy of Diplomacy

      Formerly a Deputy Assistant Secretary Ronald E. Neumann served three times as Ambassador; to Algeria, Bahrain and finally to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from July 2005 to April 2007. Before Afghanistan, Mr. Neumann, a career member of the Senior ForeignService, served in Baghdad from February 2004 with the Coalition Provisional Authority and then as Embassy Baghdad’s principal interlocutor with the Multinational Command, where he was deeply involved in coordinating the political part of military action. 

      Prior to working in Iraq, he was Chief of Mission in Manama, Bahrain (2001-2004). Before that, Ambassador Neumann served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near East Affairs (1997-2000), where he directed the organization of the first separately-funded NEA democracy programs and also was responsible for the bureau’s work in developing the North African Economic Initiative for Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. Before that assignment, he was Ambassador to Algeria (1994 to 1997) and Director of the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs (Iran and Iraq; 1991 to 1994). Earlier in his career, he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and in Sanaa in Yemen, Principal Officer in Tabriz, Iran and Economic/Commercial Officer in Dakar, Senegal. His previous Washington assignments include service as Jordan Desk officer, Staff Assistant in the Middle East (NEA) Bureau, and Political Officer in the Office of Southern European Affairs. Ambassador Neumann is the author of The Other War: Winning and Losing in Afghanistan (Potomac Press, 2009), a book on his time in Afghanistan.  He is the author of a number of monographs and articles.  At the Academy he has focused particularly on efforts to expand State and USAID personnel to enable these institutions to carry out their responsibilities.

    • Ambassador Ronald Neumann

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