Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05LIMA4822
2005-11-14 12:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lima
Cable title:  

PROGRAM EVALUATION: SPECIAL WINTER FY-05

Tags:  OEXC SCUL KPAO PE 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 004822 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA/A/E/USS (NANCY L. MEYERS)
WHA/PDA (SLEBENS),WHA/AND (JMONSERRATE)
NEW YORK FOR ECA/PE/V/C/N (DSHIRREFFS)

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO PE
SUBJECT: PROGRAM EVALUATION: SPECIAL WINTER FY-05
ECA/A/E/USS STUDY OF THE U.S. INSTITUTE ON "U.S. FOREIGN
POLICY" (January 3-February 13, 2005) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
DELAWARE - Peruvian participant Mr. Jose Antonio SIFUENTES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 004822

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA/A/E/USS (NANCY L. MEYERS)
WHA/PDA (SLEBENS),WHA/AND (JMONSERRATE)
NEW YORK FOR ECA/PE/V/C/N (DSHIRREFFS)

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO PE
SUBJECT: PROGRAM EVALUATION: SPECIAL WINTER FY-05
ECA/A/E/USS STUDY OF THE U.S. INSTITUTE ON "U.S. FOREIGN
POLICY" (January 3-February 13, 2005) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
DELAWARE - Peruvian participant Mr. Jose Antonio SIFUENTES


1. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY: The program was designed to
provide grantees with a variety of perspectives on issues of
U.S. National Security and Foreign Policy. The group
visited think-tanks, international organizations, non-
governmental organizations, and governmental agencies.


2. DATE, FISCAL YEAR AND QUARTER: January 3-February 13,
2005; FY-05, Second Quarter.


3. MISSION PERFORMANCE PLAN THEME: Democratic System and
Practices (National Security and Foreign Policy.)


4. RESULT/IMPACT: Exceptional. Mr. Sifuentes mentioned
that this program broadened his knowledge of the radical
change that U.S. Security Policy has had in political,
diplomatic, national and international defense strategies.
The methodology used by the University of Delaware during
classes permitted participants to examine controversial
issues from an academic point of view, and also from a
political perspective during visits to government agencies.
This contributed substantially to being thoroughly aware and
informed about principles of U.S. democracy and freedom of
expression.


5. AUDIENCE REACHED: Eighteen participants from different
countries: five from Latin America; five from Europe; four
from Asia; two from Africa; and two from India. Some were
members of the armed forces, teaching national security to
both the military and civilians, and others were advisors to
their governments, so this program is already having a
multiplying effect.


6. OFFICER ESCORTS: Assistants of the University of
Delaware staff escorted participants at all times, helping
them with administrative and logistic issues. There was no
need for translators.


7. QUALITY OF SUPPORT FROM ECA: This program was hosted by
the University of Delaware, Center for International
Studies, Department of Political Science and International
Relations, and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Study of the
U.S. Branch.

At Lima Post, Mr. Sifuentes received all the necessary
information before his trip.


At the University of Delaware, Professor Mark Miller and
Sean Cox "were extraordinary."


8. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM:
-- The ethical conduct of the staff responsible for the
excellent organization and program planning at the
University of Delaware; the professors' freedom of
expression, which permitted them to have very enlightening
group discussions and, in some cases, also controversial
ones.
-- Despite being a very intensive course, which left little
time for other activities in Boston, participants attended a
concert with the Symphonic Orchestra, and in New York, a
Broadway show.
-- Something rewarding for Mr. Sifuentes was that the
participants were allowed to give a short conference on
their countries to regular students attending the University
course on political history.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT:
-- Off-campus visits would allow participants to tour the
local area after each program day. The University of
Delaware is located on a small campus where there is not
much to see, especially during winter.
-- The hotel in Delaware had all the necessary facilities,
but the rooms did not have enough light, or a comfortable
desk to read and work. The bureau had a microwave, a coffee
pot, and a TV. Maybe placing a small desk with a lamp would
be enough to work better. The other hotels in Cambridge,
New York, West Point, and Washington, D.C. were comfortable;
however "it would be more convenient to assign a room to
each participant to have some privacy."
-- From all the brilliant conferences the participants had,
there is one that Mr. Sifuentes mentioned was not "at his
personal expectation standards." This was a conference
programmed as an alternate lecture by Professor Cynthia
Enloe, on "Feminism in the Foreign and Defense Policies."
The professor seemed to have a very slanted tendency, and
the theme was too specific. IV thought the group could have
had a more important and interesting session.
-- The most frustrating moment was the final research task,
where each participant was supposed to have thirty minutes
to lecture. At the end, the time was reduced and this was
done "marathonically" in one day, something that is not
adequate, academically speaking.


9. LONG-TERM RESULTS: The program permitted the group to
start a forum where, at present, they exchange and discuss
their viewpoints, and professional interests. The program
enabled the IV to understand U.S. defense policy changes
after 9/11, to understand U.S. policy implementation and the
need to combat international terrorism worldwide.
What Mr. Sifuentes has learned, has helped him to understand
U.S. opinion towards foreign policies, and the strategy
developed to combat new threats that should be applied
immediately. This program has also helped him in his
research work, and to teach a course on world security. Mr.
Sifuentes is applying his acquired knowledge in conferences
and lectures he has given throughout this year.


10. COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS:
The group attended a number of conferences at different
universities such as Princeton, Harvard, MIT, Columbia, and
NYU. These conferences would have been enhanced if the
participants had a full-day program at each campus, in order
to compare educational aspects.

SUGGESTIONS FOR POSSIBLE PROGRAMS IN PERU:
-- Dr. Robert Dorff, on security policy issues, and the geo-
strategic environment. Dr. Dorff was very clear in his
concepts and allowed the group to see the influence of
globalization in the formulation of policies.
-- Dr. K.C. Johnson, on the role of the Congress in the
formulation of security policies, to be able to compare how
the U.S. Congress has worked historically. This could be
very useful to Peruvian researchers, or to those
professionals working in that topic.
-- Professors Barry Posen and Harvey Sapolsky, on
development of big strategies. They were very direct and
critical of present security policies.
-- Professor Chris Mitchell, on his overview of Latin
America and Andean movements.
-- Professor Ralph Beglitier, on media issues in the global
context. Prof. Beglitier knows this theme in detail, and
briefs in an ample and dynamic way to encourage discussion.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:
-- At the beginning of the program, the participants
received numerous books related to the program theme, some
of them as required reading for the upcoming conferences.
Mr. Sifuentes suggests that it would be more advantageous
that in addition to each participant receiving the main
books necessary for the course, they could be given a
special credit to buy these books from the university's book
stores. In this way, they would be able to select the books
by themes and authors, adjusting them to their needs.
-- It would be convenient if each participant received a
notebook for use during the course, in order to use while in
the hotel, or during the weekends. The Library at the
university has internet facilities, but the distance between
the campus and the hotel is quite far, especially during
winter and at night, when the bus system is not running on
time.

STRUBLE