Request for Speaker to Address U.S. Foreign Policy

UNCLAS AMMAN 002063 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/PPD - ZAIBACK; IIP/G/NEA - LECHTENBERG-KASTEN; NEA/ELA - RANA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO SCUL JO SUBJECT: Request for Speaker to Address U.S. Foreign Policy ¶1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: U.S. Speaker program addressing U.S. foreign policy ¶2. TIME FRAME: Fourth Quarter, FY-07; 3-day program. ¶3. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM: PA Amman would like to program an expert in U.S. foreign policy for three days of talks and media interviews. Educated Jordanians are familiar with our policies toward Iraq, Iran and Israel/Palestine (although often skeptical of our motives); but have many misperceptions about what the U.S. is trying to achieve in the rest of the world. While post has a number of people, including the Ambassador, willing and able to address audiences on U.S. foreign policy in the region, we seek a speaker who would speak in broad terms about U.S. foreign policy toward China, India, and Europe, as well as the NEA region. In other words, we would like a "name" professor or pundit who can address America's current role in the world, its shifting priorities and relationships, and the trends in American foreign policies no matter which political party is in power. ¶4. AUDIENCES: We request a speaker for three days to address students and professors of international relations, local think tanks, the media, Foreign Ministry diplomats, and general public audiences. ¶5. PROPOSED TOPICS AND NATURE OF EVENTS: Lectures, discussion programs, media roundtables and interviews, and other representational events in which the speaker would discuss U.S. foreign policy. ¶6. TYPE OF SPECIALIST REQUIRED: Post seeks a writer, professor or think tank fellow. Walter Russell Mead, of the Council on Foreign Relations, has been a speaker for the Department on many occasions and would be an ideal choice. Should he not be available, any other expert with name recognition would be appreciated. ¶7. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS: Spoken Arabic language proficiency preferred, but not required. ¶8. REQUESTS FOR SUPPORTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC MATERIALS: None. ¶9. POST CONTACT INFORMATION: Public Diplomacy Officer Cynthia Harvey (address: American Embassy Amman, Public Affairs Unit 70205, APO AE 09892; office: 962-6-590-6289; e-mail: harveycr@state.gov, and Cultural Affairs Assistant Tania Haddad, office tel. 962-6-590-6573; e-mail: haddadta@state.gov. ¶10. FUNDING: Post I-Bucks. ¶11. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Post's preferred time frame is three days (between Sunday-Thursday) between June 1 and August 30, 2007. We would welcome additional nearby posts' interest in picking up the speaker for additional programming. Hale