UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000678

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR IIP/S - RTRIPP; IIP/SV; EAP/PD - GMCLOUGHLIN; EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO NZ

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR DVC WITH BRUCE HOFFMAN FOR COUNTERTERRORISM
SEMINAR


1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Post requests a DVC with Bruce Hoffman,
terrorism expert in Georgetown University's Security Studies Program
at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC.


2. PREFERRED DATE AND TIME OF PROGRAM, FISCAL YEAR, QUARTER:
Request November 5, 3:00pm Washington DC = 9:00am in NZ the
following day. One hour; FY 2008,first quarter.

JUSTIFICATION OF PROGRAM: Post has been contacted by an Associate
Professor at the School of Government at Victoria University to see
if we are able to provide a speaker, Professor Hoffman, via DVC, for
a counterterrorism seminar in November 2007. Our hope is that this
DVC will showcase one of the world's renowned terrorism scholars to
this select audience.

With his vast experience, Professor Hoffman will be able to give the
group an overview of his estimate of what is happening in the war on
terror; his view of Al-Qaeda, and what has happened to the movement;
where the trouble spots are; what can be done to counter terrorism;
and an assessment of the success of the war on terror.

Professor Bruce Hoffman has been studying terrorism and insurgency
for thirty years. He is currently a tenured professor in the
Security Studies Program at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh
School of Foreign Service, Washington, DC. Professor Hoffman
previously held the Corporate Chair in Counterterrorism and
Counterinsurgency at the RAND Corporation and was also Director of
RAND's Washington, DC Office. In 2004 he also was Acting Director of
RAND's Center for Middle East Public Policy. Professor Hoffman was
adviser on counterterrorism to the Office of National Security
Affairs, Coalition Provisional Authority, Baghdad, Iraq during the
spring of 2004 and from 2004-2005 was an adviser on
counterinsurgency to the Strategy, Plans, and Analysis Office at
Multi-National Forces-Iraq Headquarters, Baghdad. He was also an
adviser to the Iraq Study Group (Baker-Hamilton Commission), serving
on the Military and Security Experts Working Group.


3. MSP THEME AND EXPECTED AUDIENCE: MSP GOAL 07-01 Mutual
Understanding.
The audience attending the seminar will include the senior officials
of the terrorism Committee (SOCOT). Recently formed, this core
group comprises senior officials from the NZ Police, the military
services, Customs, and MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade).
The SOCOT committee will be asked to open the seminar to staff of
various government departments -- approximately 120 participants.
This includes a class of twenty-five scholars, mainly from senior
levels in government departments, who are seeking a degree to
improve their job performance.


4. NAME OF SPECIALIST REQUIRED: Professor Bruce Hoffman
Center for Contemporary Arab Studies
241 Intercultural Center
Georgetown University
37th & O Streets NW
Washington, DC 20057-1020

Phone: 202-687-7847
email: brh6@georgetown.edu or hudsonm@georgetown.edu


5. Please note: Victoria University has been in contact with
Professor Hoffman, who has agreed to make himself available to
participate in the DVC at this time.


6. POST PROJECT OFFICER:
Control officer: Christine Vivian
Office phone: 011-644-462-6112 or 011-6421-418-044
Fax: 011-644-499-0490
Email: cvivian@actrix.gen.nz & vivianc@state.gov

TECHNICAL OFFICER: Ola Thorsen
Office phone: 011-644-462-6015, Fax: 011-644-499-0490
Cell: 011-6427-451-2535 Email: thorsenO@state.gov

LOCATION AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS: to be advised.


7. Please advise soonest. Thanks and regards,
McCORMICK