Egypt: First Free Elections in Decades

Death of a Fruit Salesman

When Mohamed Bouazizi committed self-immolation last year in Tunisia, the world could not have expected or predicted that the solitary act of martyrdom would have the far-reaching effects that it did. The death of a fruit salesman triggered what has become widely known as the Arab Spring; in turn, the Arab Spring has triggered a wave of hope and rebirth in the Arab world, such as has not been seen in decades.

#Jan25

Though Tunisia was the point of origin for the recent revolutions in the Arab world, Egypt has made herself the focal point. In January, millions of Egyptians filled Tahrir Square and other public gathering places in Alexandria and Cairo in a massive, unprecedented public display of anger at the government. Using new means of technology for ease of communication- Twitter, WordPress, Blogger, Facebook- they called for then-president, Mubarak, to step down. Their efforts came to a head on February 11, 2011, when Mubarak relinquished his leadership.

Elections

When Mubarak stepped down the State of Egypt enlisted an interim military government that became known as SCAF- Supreme Council for the Armed Forces- until such time that free and fair elections could be held and taken effect. Today those elections are in full swing in Egypt, with tens of thousands of voters taking to the polls to voice their opinion and hopefully have a say in their future. Voting is staggered, based on location of principality. Cairo, Alexandria, and seven other provinces open polls on the twenty-eighth, while the remaining polls open on December fourteenth and January third. These votes determine the lower house of Parliament, the People’s Assembly. Upper parliamentary- also known as the Shura Council- votes are scheduled for January, while the government promises to transfer power to an elected candidate no later than June of 2012.

Nothing is as it Seems

Despite the hope and the scheduled votes, there remain many problems and threats to the new regime. The SCAF have recently angered many Egyptians, prompting more protests and further occupation of Tahrir Square. The SCAF have responded in kind, releasing tear gas and arresting protestors. Even as protestors are denouncing actions taken by the interim government, it has implied that perhaps as much power as was promised the new government will not be given. Egypt has been a nucleus of change in the Arab world for months now, and that change is finally coming to a tangible head. And yet, this change might still escape Egypt, as it has done for decades previously. And though the Egyptian civilians are trying with all their willpower to prevent this escape, they are now realizing that it might still slip out of their grasp.

By Kristina Drye (UNC Charlotte)

Egypt: First Free Elections in Decades

Death of a Fruit Salesman

When Mohamed Bouazizi committed self-immolation last year in Tunisia, the world could not have expected or predicted that the solitary act of martyrdom would have the far-reaching effects that it did. The death of a fruit salesman triggered what has become widely known as the Arab Spring; in turn, the Arab Spring has triggered a wave of hope and rebirth in the Arab world, such as has not been seen in decades.

#Jan25

Though Tunisia was the point of origin for the recent revolutions in the Arab world, Egypt has made herself the focal point. In January, millions of Egyptians filled Tahrir Square and other public gathering places in Alexandria and Cairo in a massive, unprecedented public display of anger at the government. Using new means of technology for ease of communication- Twitter, WordPress, Blogger, Facebook- they called for then-president, Mubarak, to step down. Their efforts came to a head on February 11, 2011, when Mubarak relinquished his leadership.

Elections

When Mubarak stepped down the State of Egypt enlisted an interim military government that became known as SCAF- Supreme Council for the Armed Forces- until such time that free and fair elections could be held and taken effect. Today those elections are in full swing in Egypt, with tens of thousands of voters taking to the polls to voice their opinion and hopefully have a say in their future. Voting is staggered, based on location of principality. Cairo, Alexandria, and seven other provinces open polls on the twenty-eighth, while the remaining polls open on December fourteenth and January third. These votes determine the lower house of Parliament, the People’s Assembly. Upper parliamentary- also known as the Shura Council- votes are scheduled for January, while the government promises to transfer power to an elected candidate no later than June of 2012.

Nothing is as it Seems

Despite the hope and the scheduled votes, there remain many problems and threats to the new regime. The SCAF have recently angered many Egyptians, prompting more protests and further occupation of Tahrir Square. The SCAF have responded in kind, releasing tear gas and arresting protestors. Even as protestors are denouncing actions taken by the interim government, it has implied that perhaps as much power as was promised the new government will not be given. Egypt has been a nucleus of change in the Arab world for months now, and that change is finally coming to a tangible head. And yet, this change might still escape Egypt, as it has done for decades previously. And though the Egyptian civilians are trying with all their willpower to prevent this escape, they are now realizing that it might still slip out of their grasp. 

Upcoming WACC Programs (November & December 2011) – Will You Be There?

As you know, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte is actively engaging the Queen City on significant issues impacting our world today through dynamic discussion, educational insight and thought-provoking dialogue.

Our upcoming WACC Speaker Series next month includes a discussion on the global economy and networks that create wealth, spread ideas and foster innovation regardless of traditional borders by Robert Guest, Global Business Editor of the Economist (London) on November 11. Registration is available online or by calling 704-68-7762.  

Upcoming WAC Charlotte Programs (December 2011)

With the holidays around the corner, the WAC Charlotte is closing out 2011 with the following topics: global population crisis, diplomatic relationships between Ireland and the United States in challenging times and the powerful melding of military and humanitarian service in the world we live in today.

WACC Speaker Series

Werner Fornos

2011 Laureate UN Population Award and Founder of “Global Population Education”

The One Billion Food Crisis

Thursday, December 1  (Lunch Program – $ 30 member/$ 40 non-member rate; Westin Charlotte, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.)

Registration Info

The U.N. projects that the world’s population will hit Werner Fornos is the founder of the nonprofit, Global Population Education, and has been in the forefront of the struggle to balance the world’s population with the world’s resources for more than 30 years. He is the 2003 laureate of the United Nations Population Award, the most prestigious award in the population field, and was awarded nine Paul Harris Fellowships from Rotary International. Previously, he served as president of the Population Institute, and was an assistant professor at George Washington University, heading the Global Population Information Program.  Mr. Fornos also served as a Maryland State legislator, holding administrative posts in state and national government and authored the book, “Gaining People, Losing Ground.”

The Magellan Society (Young Professionals of the WAC Charlotte) Co-Hosted together with the WAC Charlotte

Rye Barcott

Author of “It Happened on the Way to War,” Co-Founder of “Carolina for Kibera,” TED Fellow and Former U.S. Marine

Thursday, December 6  (Evening Presentation – $8 member / $ 12 non-member rate; CPCC Health Building, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.)

30% of the proceeds go to Carolina for Kibera

Registration Info

In 2000, Rye Barcott spent part of the summer living in ten-by-ten-foot shacks in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. He was a twenty-year-old college student heading into the Marines and he sought to better understand ethnic violence—something he would likely face in uniform. Barcott learned Swahili and listened to young people talk about how they survived amidst poverty he had never imagined existed. He stumbled into friendship with a widowed nurse, Tabitha Atieno Festo, and a tough community organizer, Salim Mohamed. It Happened on the Way to War is the gripping story of this unlikely trio’s journey to build a nongovernmental organization in a volatile place and help develop a new generation of leaders from within.

Rye Barcott co-founded the non-governmental organization Carolina For Kibera to prevent violence and empower youth through participatory development while he was an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  After graduation, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years in Iraq, Bosnia and the Horn of Africa.  He then earned master’s degrees in business and public administration from Harvard University, where he was a Reynolds Social Entrepreneurship Fellow. A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, he lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughter and works at Duke Energy.  It Happened on the Way to War, published by Bloomsbury, is his first book.

Ambassadors Circle Series

His Excellency Michael Collins

Ambassador of Ireland to the United States

Charting a Course in Challenging Times

Thursday, December 8  (Lunch Program – $ 50 member/$ 65 non-member rate; Westin Charlotte, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.)

Registration Info

Ambassador Michael Collins has served as Ireland’s ambassador to the United States since August 14, 2007. Prior to this appointment, he was the second secretary general (2001), Department of Taoiseach, with responsibility for international and European Union affairs and particularly the Northern Ireland Peace Process.

He entered the Department of Foreign Affairs as a third secretary on March 1, 1974.  Shortly after, he was assigned to serve at Ireland’s Embassy in Rome (1975) before being promoted to first secretary at headquarters (Anglo-Irish Division) in 1977.  Ambassador Collins also served at the Consulate General of Ireland in New York (1982) and at the headquarters’ political division (1986) before being appointed counselor (1990.) He served in the Anglo-Irish Division at headquarters, and in the agency’s press section, both in 1990. In 1993, he was transferred to the Irish embassy in Washington, D.C. before becoming Ireland’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Emirates in 1995. In 1999, Collins was made Ireland’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic and Ukraine.

Born in Dublin June 25, 1953, he earned a BSc from Trinity College, Dublin in 1978, and attended Blackrock College’s Institute of Public Administration.

If you have questions about the upcoming programs, please e-mail info@worldaffairscharlotte.org or call 704-687-7762.

Clean, Low-Cost Energy: The Key to America’s Competitive Future by Jacques Besnainou, Chief Executive Officer, AREVA Inc.

On Thursday, October 13, 2011, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosted Jacques Besnainou, CEO of AREVA Inc. at the Charlotte City Club. This CEO Series Luncheon was sponsored by J.P. Morgan, AREVA Inc., RCS Nuclear and System One Services. The topic of discussion centered around the the need for low-cost, abundant energy in the United States.

AREVA is a French engineering firm which employs about 5000 in North America and is the largest employer of engineers in Charlotte, North Carolina, with over 700 employees. Mr. Besnainou is the chief executive officer of AREVA’s North American operations, which are dedicated to nuclear power.

Charlotte, Besnainou pointed out, is moving from the financial center to the energy center of the United States, and he argued that now is the time to make series changes in investments to mirror this conversion. He maintained that investing in clean energy infrastructure is of upmost importance as our fuel supply is dwindling and our infrastructure crumbling.

“We are living off of the investments of our parents and grandparents,” Besnainou said. ” Investing is not always politically correct but it is the right thing to do.”

As he made compelling arguments for nuclear power, Mr. Besnainou claimed that AREVA is leading by example in the realm of nuclear energy by investing in the United States. He believes nuclear power to be the cheapest, safest and most valuable energy option, and this is why:

• The Evolutionary Power Reactor AREVA hopes to build in the United States will be the safest in the world and is said to be able to withstand the impact of a jet crash, not to mention a disaster such as Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant.
• Nuclear energy works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It does not rely on unpredictable factors such as sun or wind to operate.
• The U.S.’ current nuclear fleet costs only about two to three cents per kilowatt-hour, making it the cheapest electricity in the world.
• The United States has absolutely no control over fuel, making it a dangerous commodity to depend on. Nuclear energy is reliable and abundant.

Mr. Besnainou strongly believes that rebuilding the nuclear industry will give the United States a strong competitive edge in the global economy. However, there will be obstacles along the way. Because our current power plants are aging, Besnainou insisted that we need to spend $2 trillion over the next 20 years to replace the supply chain.

In explaining why such a large amount of money is needed to rebuild the nuclear plants, Besnainou compared the U.S. GDP on infrastructure to that of China and France. In China, he explained, nine percent of the country’s GDP is spent on infrastructure; in France, four percent. Since 1980, the United States has only allotted two percent of its GDP to infrastructure, a possible explanation for the widespread deterioration we see today.

“The future,” Mr. Besnainou hopes, “is investing in clean energy infrastructure.”

Engaging Young Professionals in the Queen City

In the last 12-months, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte has been actively connecting with young professionals within its network of contacts to build the Magellan Society.

The Magellan Society is a group of young professionals in Charlotte who are engaged globally, interested in world affairs and current events and enjoy interaction with other like-minded individuals in social settings.

Through the efforts of Lauren Branson (TMS Liaison) and the Magellan Society Advisory Board, it’s the WACC’s goal to see increased YP participation in the following programs:

• Adventures in Dining (*enjoying international cuisine at local restaurants – country specific)
• TMS Happy Hour (*meet, greet and network with internationally-minded YPs in Charlotte)
• Global Connections (*evening presentations focused on world affairs and current events targeted at YPs in Charlotte)
• International Career Panel (*focused on YPs interested in careers in the Peace Corps, State Department, international NGOs, international development, international business etc.)

Young professionals are increasingly affected by unfolding global events. It’s imperative that Charlotte-area young adults engage in activities that will help them build a better understanding of world affairs and be competitive in the world market.

As Charlotte becomes increasingly globally connected, it’s not unusual to find the following:

• YPs teaching English abroad
• YPs from other countries working in Charlotte, North Carolina in a variety of sectors
• YPs  establishing small businesses that are doing business in emerging markets
• YPs transitioning from for-profit careers to move into careers relating to the State Department and the Peace Corps (and more)
• YPs traveling more for business and pleasure
• YPs engaging in international cultural activities

Consider participating in Magellan Society activities by sending an e-mail to Lauren Branson (lbranson@worldaffairscharlotte.org) who can add you to the TMS distribution list if you’d like to receive updated program information.

If you’re on Facebook – Become a fan: https://www.facebook.com/themagellansociety

Que Sera, Sera?

While Greece, Poland, and Ireland fall even deeper into economic turmoil, the impetus behind their recovery, the International Monetary Fund reels in the face of an election that may yield an unpopular result.

Avoiding the Domino Effect

As of June 20, the International Monetary Fund’s decision on whether or not to distribute the next installment of Greece’s bailout had been postponed; a decision that must now wait until July to be resolved.  While the world hangs in  precarious limbo between the allocation of one installment and another, it must watch as Greece and other nations in the “euro zone”- Poland, Ireland, etc.- tumble farther and farther into debt, while cheering them on to success economically.  This encouragement by Greece’s counterparts is meant for the well-being of Greece and other nations heavily stricken by the recession, but it is also meant, in part, for the well-being of these selfsame counterparts. A fall of one, as history has so often taught us, often results in others tumbling as well. These “others”- namely those in the euro zone- are doing everything in their power to avoid this dangerous domino effect.

If Not Domino, a Default?

One term that has been tossed around recently in regards to Greece is the possibility of a “default.” In other words, there is a possibility that, should Greece stop paying her creditors (the IMF, EU, etc.) without a mutual agreement, she will most likely cease utilization of the euro and implement a new currency. If this scenario comes to fruition, it could render complete chaos upon the euro zone. At the moment, Greece is very close to what many economists predict will indeed be a default; they need the next twelve billion Euros that are promised to them by the IMF as a part of their recovery package, but the IMF is insisting that they implement more stringent spending cuts and more effective financial reform before the money passes hands.

Economic Chaos Amidst Election

Meanwhile, the IMF is in the midst of electing a new managing director. This job proves to be no easy task; the IMF’s main goal is outlined as, “promoting international monetary cooperation,” and it is composed of 187 countries; in addition, the organization possesses significant political clout. Because the voting system is based on a quota equation established upon the world order of 1944, the United States and the European countries have the most significant percentage of votes, a privilege that has rendered an overwhelming number of past managing directors to be of European descent. This fact has many non-European countries fuming as yet again another European, Christine Lagarde, is poised to win the election. Lagarde currently serves as France’s finance minister; her only remaining competition in the election is Agustín Carstens, governor of Mexico’s central bank, a rival that a NYTimes editorialist described as a “long-shot rival.” Whatever the outcome may be, the new director is guaranteed a demanding experience as they tackle the troubles of the euro zone and its vicinity.

Written by Kristina Drye, UNC Charlotte (International Studies)

Parag Khann: How to Run the World

The Middle Ages, Pt II

Dr. Parag Khanna’s May 25^th visit to Charlotte was received by World Affairs Council members and patrons alike with great enthusiasm. At a luncheon held at the Westin, he lectured on topics as varied as terrorism, globalization, the formation of a new world order, and backpacking in exotic locales- all of which are discussed in his book, How to Run the World. Here, as in his lecture, Khanna calls upon a vast body of historical and political fact, going so far as to label the present day as a second Medieval era. He draws a number of economic, social, and political parallels between the millennium-long European power vacuum (and a vibrant golden age for the Middle East, Asia, and Mesoamerica, Khanna reassures us) and modernity, namely by emphasizing the multipolar nature of today’s diplomatic arena.

Mega-Diplomacy: An Introduction

Unlike the 1990s, he argues, the Twenty-first Century will not be witness to unquestioned American world hegemony, instead owing its stability (or rather, instability) to several new players- the BRIC countries. Furthermore, given the unprecedented breadth and depth of globalization in recent years, several non-state actors are rising in international significance: multinational organizations, universities, NGOs, PMCs, religious groups, and the like. The result is a devolution of the state’s power, vis-à-vis the individual, perhaps heralding the demise of the Westphalian order. Khanna foresees the proliferation of diplomatic transactions at this grassroots level, which in time would come to supplant, possibly supersede many of the state’s functions. Moreover, he predicts that an additional fifty to one hundred sovereign states will emerge within the next century, whose citizens align themselves along ethnic lines. This “lowest-order” system will see fewer instances of civil war while achieving greater commercial, informational, and technological interconnectedness, according to his research.

Realpolitik 2011

Khanna’s audacity is not limited to his scholarly prophecies. His bold advocacy for assassinations caught much of the audience off-guard. Last month’s killing of Osama bin Laden, he tells us, should be regarded as a paradigm - a precedent setting event, rather than an extraordinary exception. Putting forward the notion of a NATO or US led strike on Gaddafi’s compound, Khanna established his contested view that the elimination of “rogue state” heads would greatly enhance global security and ensure political stability. Saving a country’s oppressed citizens from its despotic leaders is no crime. He later went on to challenge the long held American doctrine of non-negotiation with pirates and terrorist organizations. If the federal government aims to avoid even the semblance of providing legitimacy to these groups, which in many cases hold political power (Hamas, Hezbollah, etc.), their efforts are misguided, he opines. By their very status as de facto governing parties, they effectively carry legitimate jurisdiction over their territories. Simply put, ignoring them only serves to exacerbate the situation the US and its allies seek to fix. However far-flung the subjects of his lecture, one common thread ran throughout its duration- the necessity of adopting a pragmatic, at times, Machiavellian outlook on the bitter realities of the world, as it continues to writhe with growing pains. Perhaps this is something we should consider, if we are to learn “how to run the world.”

Written by Vrushab Gowdar, UNC Charlotte, Levine Scholar (Sophomore)

Press Release: World Affairs Council of Charlotte names Marshall Larsen, CEO of Goodrich Corporation as 2011 World Citizen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 1, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT
Charlotte Klopp
704-687-7759 (DIRECT)
cklopp@worldaffairscharlotte.org

World Affairs Council of Charlotte names Marshall Larsen, CEO of Goodrich Corporation as 2011 World Citizen

Award Honors Larsen, Charlotte area CEO, for Achievements of International Significance

Charlotte, N.C. (June 1, 2011) – The World Affairs Council of Charlotte will present the 2011 World Citizen Award to Marshall O. Larsen, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Goodrich Corporation, Thursday at 6 p.m. on June 9 at the Hilton Charlotte (222 East Third). The World Citizen Award, established in 1990, is presented to a prominent citizen or organization with achievements of international significance.

Under Larsen’s leadership, Goodrich is recognized as an international and Charlotte area business leader in the global aerospace and defense industry. Goodrich serves customers worldwide and with a global presence that includes over 80 facilities with 24,000 employees in 19 nations. The company is also embracing green technology, making products more effective and reducing their effects on the environment around the world with Larsen’s guidance,

“Continually innovate,” Larsen states, “that is the key to the success of the company and the legacy to preserving our environment for future generations.”

Recent recipients of the World Citizen Award include Dr. Francis Robicsek, chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center, Jerry Richardson, owner of the Carolina Panthers, Erskine and Crandall Bowles, Carolinas Freedom Foundation and James E. Rogers, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy.

The awards reception will begin at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $175 (general reception and dinner) and $250 (VIP reception with honoree and dinner). To purchase tickets, please visit www.worldaffairscharlotte.org or call 704-687-7762.

ABOUT WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF CHARLOTTE

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte (WACC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization supported by contributions from individuals, corporate members and foundations. Serving as a regional center for education and discussion of world affairs, WACC seeks to provide leadership for global thinking. WACC believes a broad perspective is necessary for effective competition in the global economy and for responsible citizenship in an increasingly interdependent political world.

ABOUT MARSHALL O. LARSEN:

Marshall O. Larsen is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodrich Corporation. He was named to his current position in October 2003. Marshall joined the company in 1977 as an Operations Analyst and Financial Manager. In 1981, he became Director of Planning and Analysis and subsequently Director of Product Marketing. In 1986, he became Assistant to the President and later served as General Manager of several divisions of the company’s aerospace business. In 1994, he was elected a Vice President of the company and was named a Group Vice President of Goodrich Aerospace. In 1995 he was appointed Executive Vice President of the company and President and Chief Operating Officer of Goodrich Aerospace. In February 2002 Marshall was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Goodrich Corporation. He was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2003.

Marshall received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York in 1970. He received a Master of Science degree from the Krannert Graduate School of Industrial Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 1977.

Marshall is a member of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Aerospace Industries Association, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Charlotte Regional Partnership. He also serves as a Director of Lowe’s Companies, Inc., and Becton, Dickinson and Company.

ABOUT GOODRICH CORPORATION

Goodrich Corporation is a Fortune 500 company and leading global supplier of services and systems to the Aerospace and Defense industry. Goodrich’s service extends worldwide to aircraft and engine manufacturers, airlines and defense forces.  From aerostructures and actuation systems to landing gear, engine control systems, sensors and safety systems, Goodrich technology is involved, making aircrafts functional, reliable and safe.

Mission Accomplished? Not Quite…

Mission Accomplished?

Few in the West mourned bin Laden’s passing. A wave of patriotic euphoria swept the nation, as the decade-long manhunt for the erstwhile “most wanted fugitive” came to its bloody conclusion. Resting on our laurels, however, is no option at this critical politico-military juncture. In Newsweek’s “The Taliban after Bin Laden” article, columnist Ron Moreau stresses this very point. Quoting a Taliban logistics officer, “it [referring to bin Laden’s death] doesn’t have much overall impact on Taliban militancy, but it does put a cloud of uncertainty over most Taliban leaders’ heads.” Furthermore, we must note that Operation Neptune Spear, as the strike was officially termed, was conducted neither in Afghanistan nor in bin Laden’s Saudi homeland, but in the untamed Pakistani frontier province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The latter country has long been known to harbor Taliban and other mujahideen Islamists, but recent intelligence reports reveal a depth and a danger unprecedented.

Geopolitical Considerations

Initially assumed to be limited to the rugged northwestern region of the state, the Taliban have regrouped, filled in their ranks, and all but proliferated across Pakistan. Baluchistan, the moonlike, arid, westernmost province, is now witness to a full-scale mobilization of personnel and resources. Let us for a moment consider the critical strategic importance of this area- just across the Afghan lines lie Kandahar and Helmand provinces, among the most contested  in the ongoing war, accounting for some 40% of all coalition combat deaths. A virtually unsecured border enables free transit of people to and from Afghanistan, a thorn in the side of many ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) commanders, as their operations within Pakistani territory are, at best, severely constrained. The Pakistani government has done little to crack down on the Taliban on its own turf; the ISI continues to sponsor Taliban factions in some areas. In effect, the Taliban can strike NATO targets before slipping across the border to Pakistan, with near absolute impunity.

Taliban Risorgimento

Reports indicate that Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir, Taliban second-in-command, is working at a furious pace in regional capital Quetta, in preparation for their upcoming campaign.  By his own approximation, he has set a goal of 100%, up from the previous 20% mujahideen involvement in Afghanistan.  This massive spring offensive, dubbed “Operation Badar,” aims to reverse the substantial military gains made by ISAF troops in recent months. Guerillas have already begun to mass within Afghanistan, fighting in Nuristan province as well as in Kandahar City- a bitter prelude to what may very well be a bloody summer. These new attacks come as the scheduled withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan approaches this July.

Unquenchable Fire

Zakir’s leadership multiplies the threat posed by a resurgent Taliban. He is reportedly “more aggressive, more demanding, and hotter-tempered” than the antecedent military chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Having been captured and detained in Guantanamo Bay five years ago, a vendetta against the United States has remained with Zakir since. In his words, “I have a strong feeling of revenge in my heart. Until this fire of revenge is quenched, the jihad will continue.” Statistics speak to his thirst for blood: over half of ISAF’s 160 deaths this year so far have been the result of his IED squads, though his tactics have led to roughly 4,000 of his own men captured or killed, 2,000 civilian deaths, and innumerable wounded. Zakir’s ruthless streak is certainly evident in the sheer numbers of dead he leaves in his wake.

Tunnel Light

The war in Afghanistan is far from over, and further yet from being won. Bin Laden outlived his al-Qaeda brainchild (now a rump of its former size and status), only to die at the hands of Navy SEALs two weeks hence. Nevertheless, involvement in the war goes on. Its outcome continues to remain hazy, like the dust clouds sweeping across the barren expanse of Kandahar, where so many have fallen since the 2001 onset of hostilities.

By Vrushab Gowda, UNC Charlotte, Levine Scholar (Sophomore)

Staying Ahead of the Curve with the World Affairs Council of Charlotte

“World Affairs Councils are great organizations. They help keep people throughout our country alive to important developments in world affairs and underscore that, in the country, we stay engaged and we are part of the world.” –  George Schultz

The World Affairs Council of Charlotte (WACC) prides itself on providing leadership for global thinking by hosting world renowned experts on current events and global issues impacting the world today. We try to stay ahead of the curve by anticipating issues that we believe will be pertinent and topical to the greater Charlotte community. If you’ve attended a WACC program, you are aware that our mission is ultimately to build a better understanding of world affairs while encouraging in-depth dialogue on pressing issues of the day.  

In March last year, we hosted General David H. Petraeus, who spoke to a crowd of 600 Charlotte area residents about U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since then, he assumed command of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) on July 4, 2010 after serving for over 20 months as Commander, United States Central Command. In recent news announcements, the Obama administration has nominated General Petraeus as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), replacing Leon Panetta (who is expected to replace Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense).

More recently, the Council hosted Ryan Crocker, long time U.S. diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Kuwait, Pakistan, Syria and Lebanon, as part of our Middle East Series in March 2011. Crocker spoke in length about key issues regarding the Middle East revolution and internal conflicts in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria and Libya. His insights into the region were remarkable and we appreciated his first-hand knowledge into that tumultuous part of the world. As many of you know, Crocker is at the top of the list to become the new U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (*replacing Ambassador Karl Eikenberry) under the current U.S. administration.

For those of you who attended last week’s program with Michael Scheuer, author of “Osama Bin Laden” and former chief of the bin Laden tracking unit (CIA 1996-1999), you will realize the timeliness of the program hosted by the WACC. President Obama’s announcement about Osama bin Laden’s death and the U.S. military operation that preceded the event on Sunday has become major news all around the world. Scheuer described the American foreign policy as it pertained to the Middle East and the impact Osama Bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda network has on U.S. national security.

Past speakers who are making waves around the world include former French Ambassador to the United States and current diplomatic adviser to President Nicolas Sarkozy, Jean-David Levitte, who has been named future head of the National Security Council (France) and Liam Fox who was appointed Secretary of Defense for the United Kingdom in May last year.

We are keeping the Charlotte community informed,educated and engaged by building on our hallmark of exceptional and timely programming.  Our distinguished speakers and experts are making strides in the global community on multiple fronts on a multitude of complex and current issues.

If you haven’t participated in a World Affairs Council of Charlotte program, we urge you to consider attending our upcoming program on May 25th with Dr. Parag Khanna, author of “How to Run the World: Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance” and rest assured, you will walk-away with thoughtful insights on world affairs and prepared to ask the right questions about issues influencing our communities, cities and country.