The crisis of American diplomatic capacity

SNRAS will host a free public lecture Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Wood Center Ballroom. Nicholas Veliotes (pictured at left), former ambassador to Egypt, will present "The Crisis of American Diplomatic Capacity, Living with the World--the Role of Diplomacy."

Veliotes is an international consultant and a member of the Middle East Institute, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He serves on the boards of AMIDEAST, the Foundation for Middle East Peace, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and is chair of the U.S.-Egypt Friendship Society and the Hollings Center for international Dialogue, whose mission is to enhance contacts between Americans and counterparts in Muslim countries.

"To effectively promote and protect its interest in our multipolar, interconnected, and too often disordered world, the U.S. must restore and reinforce the soft power components of its national security strategy," Veliotes said. "The use of force in extremity is always available, but this should never be our first or preferred option."

Ambassador Veliotes will discuss the realities of how foreign policy is formulated and implemented in the American democracy and emphasize that intelligent, effective diplomacy is our first line of defense.

The event is sponsored by SNRAS, the UA Geography Program, UAF Division of Student Services, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and the Alaska World Affairs Council.