I just finished previewing an upcoming PBS program on the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The segment is part of the Great Decisions in Foreign Policy television series produced by the Foreign Policy Association and hosted by former CNN World Affairs Correspondent Ralph Begleiter. This is the 42nd season it has been aired on PBS stations nationwide. As they say on their web site, Great Decisions is also “America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The name is shared by a national civic-education program and publication of the Foreign Policy Association. Published annually, the Great Decisions briefing book highlights eight of the most thought-provoking foreign policy challenges facing Americans today. Great Decisions provides background information, current data and policy options for each issue and serves as the focal text for discussion groups.”
Joining Begleiter in studio were Dr. Nora Bensahel, Deputy Director of Studies and Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security and Michael Knights, Lafer Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy. A host of other experts such as Stephen Hadley, Former National Security Advisor, General Michael Hayden, Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency and Former Director, National Security Agency, were also featured on the episode.
I think the producers did an outstanding of job breaking down a very complex constantly evolving topic into segments that could be easily understood even if the viewer had little familiarity with the topic. I found the episode informative, insightful and thought provoking. The only thing I thought was missing was having a couple of senior military or civilian experts who are currently involved in U.S. military operations in the region participate. They could have provided insights from the perspective of people who are currently or who have recently worked hand in hand with the Iraqis and Afghans on implementing U.S. policy in the region.
I’m not implying that the other participants were not qualified to speak on the topic, far from it. They all had strong backgrounds in national security. In fact three had an extensive military background: Retired Air Force General Michael Hayden (one of the greatest intelligence officers in history), Dr. John Nagl, and Celeste Ward Gventer. Dr. John Nagl is a retired Army officer with extensive experience in the Middle East and Celeste Ward Gventer, before joining the Rand Corporation, was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability Operations Capabilities from 2007 – 2009.
My point is since the theme of the program was, do Iraq and Afghanistan still pose a threat and what is the return on the investment made by the U.S. and its allies; it would have been useful to see what people who are currently working the issues had to say. I’ve had the privilege of participating in interviews with many senior military and civilian officials in both Iraq and Afghanistan and have found the experience extremely valuable in understanding what’s going on in the region from an insider’s perspective.
That said Ralph Begleiter did an excellent job laying the groundwork for the discussion by making effective use of questions to keep the discussions on the main topic. The format for the show ensured there was none of the theatrics and lack of professional decorum that now runs rampant in similar programs in the mainstream media. The in studio guests spoke in turn and did not interrupt or put down the other person. After the in studio guests spoke, Begleiter showed the audience responses to the same questions given earlier by various national security experts.
I thought the questions Begleiter posed were spot on. They included things like:
If you want to know the answers the participants gave, you’ll have to watch the program or you can go the Foreign Policy Association web site (www.fpa.org) and order the Great Decisions DVD and a copy of a briefing book with extensive background material on both Iraq and Afghanistan. Think I’ll end here.
