Quarterly Report - Near East South Asia | CENTER FOR

NESA Quarterly Report Fall 2015
Quarterly Report
Fall 2015
NESA Hosts CT Executive Seminar
WASHINGTON— October 26-November 6— Participants from countries throughout the NESA
region attended the Counter –Terrorism Executive Seminar “Evolving Challenges: Evolving
Environments”, directed by NESA Professor David Des Roches. The seminar began with a
collection of sessions that took a broad view of the U.S. Government, how policy is created and
shaped in the U.S. intelligence system, and the U.S. National Security System. Later in the week the
participants enjoyed an offsite visit to Baltimore, which included a trip to Fort McHenry and the
National Cryptologic Museum. In the second week of in-depth discussions, the focus shifted to the
future of the NESA region in light of threats from ISIS, the Iran Deal, and Russia’s role in the area.
The week finished with a trip to The United States Capital Building and the National Gallery. The
seminar concluded with Deputy Director Dave Lamm’s remarks to the participants during their
commencement ceremony.
Upcoming NESA Center Events
Afghanistan: Building and
AFG/PAK Strategic
Tunisia NDI Visit
Senior Executive
Sustaining Government
Dialogue
January 25-February 5
Seminar
December 7-11 2015
January 25-February 2 2016
2016
February 22-26 2016
Building Relationships—Enhancing Security
Executive Seminar
March 8-18
2016
NESA Quarterly Report Fall 2015
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International Military Officers’ Forum
WASHINGTON — November 1-6 — The week long International Military Officers’ Forum brought
36 participants from Central Command in Tampa, Florida to the NESA Center. The program began
with welcoming remarks by program director Dr. Richard Russell, followed by a series of sessions
addressing multiple strategic issues of concern regarding the current global situation of “War and
No Peace”. These discussions were moderated by NESA faculty members with the participation of
guest speakers from a myriad of think tanks, government offices, and academic institutes. The
beginning of the week featured discussion on Middle East conflicts, ranging from the Iran Nuclear
Deal to the shifting roles of ISIS and al Qaeda. Mid-week participants enjoyed a tour at the Capitol
Building. Various discussions later took place regarding great power politics, specifically the role
that China, Russia, and the UN playing in the shifting global structure. The program concluded
with a discussion on the NATO’s Woes in World Crises held by guest speaker Dr. Keir Lieber. The
seminar concluded with a trip to Mount Vernon for a commencement ceremony and tour of the
grounds.
Qatar Armed Forces Strategic Studies Conference
DOHA — October 27-28— Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Terry A. Wolff, Prof. Jennifer Jefferis, and Mr. Fahad Malaikah attended the Qatar Armed Forces Strategic Studies Center annual conference in Doha, Qatar. Entitled, “Middle East Crises Between Regional and International Policies,” the conference
brought together leading experts and policymakers from around the world. Divided into five panel sessions over the course of two days, the event was clearly designed to open a discussion between the multi-level players dealing with crises affecting the MENA region.
Building Relationships—Enhancing Security
NESA Quarterly Report Fall 2015
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Raytheon RSADF Office Seminar
Washington— 8-18 November— A small delegation of participants from the Royal Saudi Air
Defense Force attended a semi-annual seminar lead by NESA Professor David Des Roches,
partnering with Raytheon. This seminar began with welcoming remarks from Dr. Roger Kangas,
NESA Academic Dean, and immediately transitioned into a session on the aspects of U.S. National
Security. The following session the delegation participated in briefs on sustaining the U.S. Army
air and missile defense. The participants ended their first day with a lunch at the Army Navy Club
in DuPont Circle, and a presentation on the future of the United States Army. The second day of
the seminar included off site trips starting on the floor of the House of Representatives and a tour
of the Rotunda in the Capital Building. The group then visited the Library of Congress and the
Pentagon, sitting in on sessions that included an intelligence briefing and a roundtable discussion.
Former DEPSECSTATE Richard Armitage and other former policy makers participated in the
program.
Washington New Embassy Orientation Program
WASHINGTON — October 5-9 — . This program is designed specifically for the newly assigned
diplomatic community. In its fifth year, the New Embassy Orientation Program, continues to be
extremely popular with our foreign embassy partners. This program introduced 45 new embassy
staffers from 35 countries to the US government, our political landscape, policy making process,
the role of think-tanks, lobbyists, the intelligence community, the Congress, and the executive
branch. This program links key foreign embassy staff with the Department, through NESA, and
provides a network of diplomatic professionals knowledgeable with the policy goals and objectives of the US.
Building Relationships—Enhancing Security
NESA Quarterly Report Fall 2015
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Washington Embassy Seminar Series
WASHINGTON — October 20 — NESA conducted the first of four seminars for the Washington
diplomatic community hosting over 50 ambassadors, charge d’affairs, and military attaches from
Embassies across the District. Dr. Michael Dimock, President of the Pew Research Center, served
as speaker and discussed the evolving polling and political landscape as the US Presidential election approaches. Using a wide array of polling data, he touched on key domestic and foreign policy topics of direct interest to the diplomatic corps from the Near East, South and Central Asian,
Europe, the Middle East and North African regions.
Publications
Bahgat, Gawdat. (2015). “A Mideast Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone: Pie in the Sky.” Middle East
Policy.
Bahgat, Gawdat. (2015). “Global Energy Outlook: Opportunities and Challenges.” Perceptions.
Bahgat, Gawdat. (2015). “Iran’s Nuclear Deal: Implications of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action.” The International Relations and Security Network.
Bahgat, Gawdat. (2015). “The Geopolitics of Energy: Iran, Turkey, and Europe.” Mediterranean
Quarterly.
Bahgat, Gawdat. (2015). “The Nuclear Deal with Iran: Strategic Implications.” International
Relations and Security Network.
Des Roches, David. (2015). “The Evolving American Security Role in the Gulf,” in Niblock and
Hook (eds). The United States and the Gulf: Shifting Pressures, Strategies, and Alignments.
Jefferis, Jennifer. (2016, forthcoming). “Hamas: Terrorism, Governance, and It’s Future in the
Middle East Politics.” Praeger.
Jefferis, Jennifer. (2015). “The (In)Significance of the Balfour Declaration on the Current Arab/
Israeli Crisis.” World at War Series. Praeger.
Payne, Jeffrey. (2015). “China Goes West (And America Shouldn't Be Worried).” The National
Interest
Payne, Jeffrey. (2015). “China’s Iran Bet.” Middle East Institute MAP Project.
Russell, Richard. (2015). “Why Congress Must Derail Obama's Iran Nuclear Deal.” The National
Interest.
(NESA Faculty have also been featured in a variety of interviews as of late, including: NPR, Voice of
America, al Hurra, BBC and PBS Frontline.)
Building Relationships—Enhancing Security