Professor Voices » Charles Dunbar

President Obama to speak to nation on troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

Jo Breiner — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:50:50 +0000

The following Boston University experts are available to offer commentary, analysis and insight into tonight’s prime-time speech by President Obama on troop withdrawals from Afghanistan.

William Keylor is a professor in BU’s Department of International Relations and the author of “A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945.” He can be reached at 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

Graham Wilson is the chair of Political Science Department and the author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective.” He can be reached at 617–353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

Charles Dunbar is a professor of international relations and a former U.S. ambassador to Yemen. He can be reached at 617-353-5633, cfdunbar@bu.edu

Tom Whalen is an associate professor of Social Sciences. He is an expert on modern American politics and the American presidency. He is a regular contributor to PoliticoArena. He can be reached at 617-353-4785, tjw64@bu.edu

Tom Fiedler is dean of BU’s College of Communication. A former executive editor of the Miami Herald, he is an expert on American politics. He is a regular contributor to PoliticoArena. He can be reached at 617-353-3488, tfiedler@bu.edu, Twitter: @BUCOMDEAN

Osama Bin Laden killed by U.S. forces

Jo Breiner — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:07:08 +0000

The following Boston University professors are available to offer expert commentary, analysis, and insight on the death of Osama Bin Laden:

Arthur Hulnick, a 35-year veteran of the intelligence profession, mostly with the CIA

Contact 617-353-8978, ahulnick@bu.edu

Joseph Wippl, a 30-year CIA veteran

Contact 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

August Richard Norton, International relations professor; Middle East specialist and a member of the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group; Author of “Hezbollah: A Short History”

Contact 617-353-7808, arn@bu.edu, Twitter: @arnorton

Adil Najam, International relations professor; Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future; Expert on Pakistan and Middle East politics

Contact 617-358-4002, anajam@bu.edu, Twitter: @adilnajam

Charles Dunbar, International relations professor; Former U.S. ambassador to Yemen

Contact 617-353-5633, cfdunbar@bu.edu

Robert Zelnick, Journalism professor; Former ABC News foreign correspondent; Regular contributor to PoliticoArena

Contact 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

Tom Whalen, associate professor of Social Sciences; an expert on modern American politics and the American presidency; regular contributor to PoliticoArena

Contact 617-353-4785, tjw64@bu.edu

Tom Fiedler, Dean of the College of Communication; a former executive editor of the Miama Herald and an expert on American politics; regular contributor to PoliticoArena

Contact 617-353-3488, tfiedler@bu.edu, Twitter: @BUCOMDEAN

Mubarak, sons detained

Jo Breiner — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:48:12 +0000

Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons have been put under detention pending an investigation over corruption allegations. Mubarak is being detained in his hospital room where he is being monitored for a “heart crisis.” Boston University international relations professors Augustus Richard Norton and Charles Dunbar offer the following comments:

Augustus Richard Norton is a Middle East specialist, author of “Hezbollah: A Short History,” an advisor to the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study group, and director of the BU Institute for Iraqi Studies:

“This is an important development, particularly during a period when the military has been showing less tolerance for demonstrators and critics.

“Among the trio being questioned, it is the son ‘Alaa who may be the most vulnerable. He is notorious in Egypt for inserting himself as a silent and unwanted partner in a number of businesses.

“It remains to be seen how far the public prosecutor will go with the investigation, but if the immunity of Egyptian autocrats and their families is eroded then this really would be revolutionary.”

Contact 617-353-7808, arn@bu.edu, Twitter @arnorton

Charles Dunbar, who in four decades as a diplomat, served as a U.N. Secretary-General Special Representative, head of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul during the Soviet occupation, and was U.S. ambassador to Qatar and Yemen:

“Those who threw Mr. Mubarak et filii from the sleigh may be a bit concerned as to how things will go for them on judgment day. It might have been better to leave the fate of the Mubarak family’s over-achievement to a popularly elected government.”

Contact 617-353-5633, cfdunbar@bu.edu

Charles Dunbar available to comment on Yemen

Jo Breiner — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:35:12 +0000

Boston University international relations professor Charles Dunbar was a State Department foreign service officer from 1962-1993. He served as U.S. ambassador to Yemen from 1988-1991. Professor Dunbar is available to offer insight and analysis into the protests which are continuing to intensify in Yemen.

Contact 617-353-5633, cfdunbar@bu.edu

Experts available to comment on Libya

Jo Breiner — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:52:55 +0000

The following Boston University professors are available to offer commentary, analysis, and insight into the current situation in Libya, also known as Operation Odyssey Dawn.

Augustus Richard Norton, International relations professor; Middle East specialist and a member of the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group; Author of “Hezbollah: A Short History”

Contact 617-358-7808, arn@bu.edu, Twitter @arnorton

Charles Dunbar, International relations professor; Former U.S. ambassador to Yemen

Contact 617-353-5633, cfdunbar@bu.edu

Joseph Wippl, International relations professor; a 30-year CIA veteran

Contact 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Michael Corgan, International relations professor; a specialist in international security with extensive government service in political and military planning (especially NATO)

Contact 617-353-3553, mcorgan@bu.edu

William Keylor, International relations professor; Author of “A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945″

Contact 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

Robert Zelnick, Journalism professor; Former ABC News foreign correspondent; Regular contributor to PoliticoArena

Contact 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

Experts available to comment on the Middle East

Jo Breiner — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:20:16 +0000

The following Boston University professors are available to offer commentary, analysis and insight on the continuing turmoil in the Middle East.

Augustus Richard Norton, International relations professor; Middle East specialist and a member of the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group; Author of “Hezbollah: A Short History”

Contact 617-353-7808, arn@bu.edu, Twitter: @arnorton

Adil Najam, International relations professor; Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future; Expert on Pakistan and Middle East politics

Contact 617-358-4002, anajam@bu.edu, Twitter: @adilnajam

Charles Dunbar, International relations professor; Former U.S. ambassador to Yemen

Contact 617-353-5633, cfdunbar@bu.edu

Stephen Kinzer, International relations professor; Former award winning New York Times foreign correspondent; Author of “Reset: Iran, Turkey and America’s Future”

Contact 617-358-6240, skinzer@bu.edu

Joseph Wippl, International relations professor; a 30-year CIA veteran

Contact 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Robert Zelnick, Journalism professor; Former ABC News foreign correspondent; Regular contributor to PoliticoArena

Contact 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

Farouk El-Baz, Research professor & Director of the Center for Remote Sensing; Expert in Middle East current events

Contact 617-353-9709, farouk@bu.edu

Experts available for analysis on Egypt

Jo Breiner — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:12:31 +0000

The following Boston University professors are available to offer expert analysis, commentary and insight on the current situation in Egypt:

Charles Dunbar, International relations professor; Former U.S. ambassador to Yemen.

Contact 617-353-5633, cfdunbar@bu.edu

Augustus Richard Norton, International relations professor; Middle East specialist and a member of the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group; Author of “Hezbollah: A Short History”

Contact 617-353-7808, arn@bu.edu

Joseph Wippl, International relations professor; a 30-year CIA veteran

Contact 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Robert Zelnick, Journalism professor; Former ABC News foreign correspondent; Regular contributor to PoliticoArena

Contact 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

Farouk El-Baz, Research professor & Director of the Center for Remote Sensing; Expert in Middle East current events

Contact 617-353-9709, farouk@bu.edu

Yemen president won’t seek re-election

Jo Breiner — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:42:44 +0000

President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2013. Boston University international relations professor Charles Dunbar is a former U.S. ambassador to Yemen. He offers the following view of this current development in the Middle East.

“I am skeptical that President Saleh will not seek reelection. He and the country are in deep trouble. The country’s high population growth rate makes a mockery of the plan to establish a fund to employ university graduates.

“A major difference between Yemen on the one hand and Egpyt and Tunisia on the other is that the opposition can all off demonstrations. In one sense, this is good news for all concerned in that there can be a discussion of transferring power and reforming the country that would be broad based.

“The opposition should negotiate but keep the demonstrators on call. Saleh has used his oil revenues to build a patronage network; trying to force him from office could lead to serious fighting. It’s a very messed up country that is a substantial headache for the U.S.”

Contact Charles Dunbar, 617-353-5633, cfdunbar@bu.edu