Professor Voices » International relations

10 years later: The War on Terror

Kira Jastive — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:28:41 +0000

Professor Voices wraps up its “10 Years Later” series with Andrew Bacevich who takes a look at how the War on Terror has evolved in the 10 years since September 11th and where we are now.

Contact Bacevich at 617-358-0914; bacevich@bu.edu.

Earlier posts in the series:

Andrew Bacevich: Are we safer?

Robert Hefner: Islam Today

David Barlow: How are we coping?

David Barlow: Children in a post-9/11 world

10 years later: Are we safer?

Kira Jastive — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:42:18 +0000

This week and next Professor Voices will run a special video series called “10 Years Later” that highlights various angles of the upcoming anniversary of the September 11th attacks. We start today with Andrew Bacevich, a foreign policy expert and professor of international relations, who discusses whether the U.S. is safer now from the threat of terrorism than it was prior to 9/11.

Contact Bacevich at 617-358-0914; bacevich@bu.edu.

The series continues tomorrow with Robert Hefner, professor of anthropology and director of the Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs (CURA), who will examine how Islam in America has evolved over the past decade.

Obama’s Europe tour

Jo Breiner — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:35:13 +0000

President Obama began his six-day tour of Europe in Ireland. The president will travel on to London, Deauville (France), and Warsaw. Boston University international relations professor Erik Goldstein, an expert in diplomacy, is a long-time British government watcher and author of “Winning the Peace: British Diplomatic Strategy, Peace Planning, and the Paris Peace Conference, 1916-1910.” He offers the following comment on President Obama’s trip”

“President Obama’s whirlwind tour of Europe is a mix of his own domestic political needs with re-election looming, by visiting his Irish roots, the high ceremonial of a state visit to London which will include an address to the British parliament (a privilege not often given to visiting leaders), and then a working visit on the continent to meet with key leaders of the G9 summit.

“All this against the ongoing conflict in Libya which involves several of America’s key allies and which the president must want brought to a conclusion. With his international standing heightened by the killing of Osama bin Laden, now is his opportunity to crystallize the rebuilding of America’s alliance network after the damage caused to these relations during the Bush years.”

Contact Erik Goldstein, 617-353-9280, goldstee@bu.edu

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

Ivory Coast forces impose blockade around Gbagbo

Jo Breiner — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:09:42 +0000

The internationally recognized leader of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, has imposed a blockade around the presidential compound where Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent leader who has refused to give up power, is hiding in a bunker. The following Boston University professors are available to offer commentary, analysis and insight on the current developments in the country.

Charles Stith is Director of the African Presidential Archives & Research Center at Boston University. He is also a former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania.

Contact 617-353-5452, crstith@bu.edu

Timothy Longman is the Director of the African Studies Center at Boston University. He is also a visiting associate professor of political science.

Contact 617-353-2540, longman@bu.edu

French military ambition

Jo Breiner — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:40:40 +0000

France finds itself involved in three conflicts around the world: Afghanistan, Libya, and the Ivory Coast. Boston University international relations professor William Keylor is the author of “A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945,” and an authority on the history of modern France. He offers his view on France’s new found military ambition:

“During the Cold War, France periodically pushed for a European (and mainly French) military capability apart from the overwhelming military force of the United States. From Charles de Gaulle to Francois Mitterrand, various schemes were hatched to achieve this result. None of them amounted to anything.

“In the same period, France launched military interventions on numerous occasions in its former colonies in sub-Sahara Africa, defending proteges from domestic threats or ousting leaders who had lost favor with the former colonial power.

“Now, President Sarkozy seems intent on resurrecting this old policy of robust military interventions, this time for humanitarian reasons in partnerships with the United Nations. Unlike in the past, now Washington appears to be supportive of these independent French operations. And polls show that the French public is strongly supportive as well.

“But the big question is, where is the European Union and its much celebrated European Security and Defense Policy?”

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

CIA operatives sent to Libya

Jo Breiner — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:28:11 +0000

The Obama administration has authorized the CIA to send operatives to Libya to work with and gather information from rebel forces. The following professors from Boston University’s International Relations department, both with CIA experience, are available to offer expert commentary, analysis and insight on this latest move.

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

Michael Corgan talks to NECN on President Obama’s speech on Libya

Jo Breiner — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:15:36 +0000

Boston University international relations professor Michael Corgan gives his assessment of President Obama’s speech on Libya.

“The president is walking a tightrope because a lot depends on what the Libyan rebels do or do not do.

“Regime change is difficult. Who will emerge as the leader?”

Watch the entire NECN interview here.

Contact Michael Corgan, 617-353-3553, mcorgan@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