ÿWPC“  0#ì 0& 0 #5 0#X 0&{ 0#¡ 0ÏÄUŒDUŒÐUŒ\UŒèUŒtUŒUŒŒU ŒUŒ¤UŒ0UŒ¼UŒHUŒÔUIŒ`*Helvetica Regular>XB Futura ExtraBold Regular>American Typewriter Regular@AGaramond BoldItalic Regular8AGaramond Italic Regular4AGaramond Bold RegularHAGaramond SemiboldItalic Regular*AGaramond Regular"Carta Regular.Kabel Black Regular.Kabel Heavy Regular<Helvetica 45 Light Regular,Kabel Book Regular"Times Regulart¯8Normal PPImported from Quark XPressÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔÔ Ö Ôt²8subheadImported from Quark XPressÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ Ö Ôt¯8bodyImported from Quark XPressÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ È ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ Ö Ôt¯8fpImported from Quark XPressÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ Ö Ôt²8headImported from Quark XPressÓ  ÓÓ = ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿèÔÔ€ èèÔò òÔ Ö Ôt¯8bulletImported from Quark XPressÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ jÿ ÓÓ – ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ Ö Ôt[8Normal CHImported from Quark XPressÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔÔ Ö ÔÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ = ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿèÔÔ€ èèÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿÔÔ€ÔThree€(Four?)€Great€Programs€to€Finish€Year݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ = ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿÔÔ€Ôó óÔ ô ÔÝ  Ýó óÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔEast€Asia€Expert€to€Speak€on€China݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔó óÔ ô ÔÝ  Ýó óÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔChina€is€in€the€tumultuous€throes€of€coming€to€terms€with€capitalism€and€world€trade,€and€has€shown€signs€of€regional€ambitions€that€could€spell€trouble€for€the€West.€In€the€process,€China€has€assumed€what€is€possibly€the€top€foreign€policy€concern€for€the€United€States.€Professor€Gilbert€Rozman€of€Princeton€University€has€made€a€life-long€study€of€the€Pacific€rim€and€is€recognized€as€one€of€the€foremost€experts€on€Chinað"ðplus€Japan€and€Korea.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ È ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔProf.€Rozman€has€taught€at€Princeton€for€30€years,€assuming€the€prestigious€Musgrove€Chair€of€Sociology€in€1992.€The€many€books€he€has€either€written€or€edited€include€The€China€Debate€about€Soviet€Socialism€and€Dismantling€Communism:€Common€Causes€and€Regional€Variations.€His€article€ð ðChinaððs€Quest€for€a€Great€Power€Identityðð€could€well€be€required€reading€for€anyone€interested€in€China.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ È ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔA€Mystery€Guest€in€March?݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔó óÔ ô ÔÝ  Ýó óÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔIf€you€read€your€AWAC€2000-2001€brochure€carefully,€you€will€remember€this€innocuous€entry€at€the€bottom€of€the€schedule€on€p.€3.€As€of€this€writing,€we€are€in€the€final€stages€of€negotiations,€and€the€prospects€look€promising€for€March€6€or€March€7.€The€speaker?€Letððs€just€say€he€is€a€distinguished€American€often€associated€with€a€colorful,€voracious,€small-tailed,€three-inch€salamander€found€in€abundance€in€the€United€States.€While€success€is€not€assured,€we€think€the€chances€are€very€good€that€this€visit€will€come€to€passð"ðstay€tuned.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔNorth/South€Detente€in€Korea?݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔó óÔ ô ÔÝ  Ýó óÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔThere€is€no€one€better€qualified€than€Donald€Gregg€to€speak€on€the€global€hot€spot€that€is€Korea,€the€so-called€Hermit€Kingdom,€a€600-mile€peninsula€jutting€southeast€from€Chinese€Manchuria€like€a€dagger€aimed€at€the€heart€of€Japan.€Ambassador€Gregg€has€been€involved€in€a€career-long€study€of€operations€in€the€Far€East,€most€particularly€Korea,€first€as€a€CIA€operative,€then€as€a€member€of€the€National€Security€Council,€as€the€National€Security€Advisor€to€Vice€President€George€Bush,€as€Ambassador€to€Korea€from€1989€to€1993,€and€finally,€currently€as€President€and€Chairman€of€the€Korea€Society,€based€in€New€York.€He€is€known€nationally€as€a€great€speaker€and€will€be€here€on€March€27.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔAir€War€College€Panel€ReportÔ€&&Ôó ó݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔó óÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔAn€annual€favorite€is€the€report€to€the€Council€by€a€panel€of€senior€Air€War€College€Instructors€on€their€individual€spring€trips€to€different€regions€of€the€world.€The€Regional€Studies€report€is€scheduled€for€May€9.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÓ , ÓÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ„ÔÔ€„„ÔScowcroft,€Walker€Get€Year€Off€to€Great€StartÔ€  ÔÌ݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ , ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ„ÔÔ€„„Ôó óÔ ô ÔÝ  Ýó óÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÓ Ê ÓÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔOn€November€2,€2000,€hard€work€and€close€coordination€between€the€Alabama€World€Affairs€Council€and€the€Air€War€College€at€Maxwell€AFB€payed€off€for€our€members€as€Lt.€Gen.€(Ret.)€Brent€Scowcroft€gave€a€fascinating€presentation€to€a€full€house€at€Maxwellððs€spacious€Polifka€Auditor-ium.€Gen€Scowcroft,€who€now€runs€his€own€consulting€firm€(on€international€affairs),€has€served€two€presidents€as€National€Security€Advisor€and€drew€on€his€vast€knowledge€and€experience€in€addressing€the€hot€spots€and€problemÌs€of€the€world€today.€He€gave€our€180€members€and€guests,€plus€about€1000€mostly€military€attendees€from€the€Air€War€College€and€Air€Command€and€Staff€College,€an€insiderððs€thoughtful€look€at€the€foreign€relations€issues€that€will€face€the€next€president.€Brilliant€and€influential,€yet€level-headed€and€self-effacing,€Scowcroft€served€as€a€senior€foreign€policy€advisor€to€George€W.€Bush€during€the€presidential€campaign.€When€asked€if€he€might€play€a€significant€role€in€a€Bush€administration,€he€smiled€and€said,€ð ðNo,€behind€the€scenes€advice€only.ðð€And€solid€advice€it€is€sure€to€be.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ê ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ È ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔOn€November€28,€Martin€Walker,€formerly€of€Britainððs€Guardian€and€currently€a€senior€fellow€at€the€World€Policy€Institute,€gave€a€sober€and€generally€favorable€assessment€of€U.S.€foreign€policy€under€President€Clinton.€It€was€easy€to€see€why€Walker€is€Ìheld€in€such€high€regard€in€international€reporting€and€policy€circlesð"ðhe€was€insightful,€funny,€articulate,€and€fearless.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ È ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔRare€Access€to€Air€War€College€Function݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔó óÔ ô ÔÝ  Ýó óÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔOn€November€29,€the€night€after€Martin€Walkerððs€talk,€as€a€result€of€consideration€given€our€Council€by€board€member€Maj.€Gen.€David€MacGhee,€Commandant€of€the€Air€War€College,€we€were€given€a€precious€six€spaces€to€attend€the€final€event€in€the€2000€USAF€Counterproliferation€Conference.€This€was€a€dinner€at€Legends€at€Capitol€hill€in€Prattville,€with€the€Honorable€Richard€Butler€as€the€speaker.€As€the€head€of€the€United€Nations€Weapons€Inspection€Team€in€Iraq€before€the€teamððs€withdrawal,€his€remarks€carried€unusual€weight€and€authenticity.€It€was€obvious€who€he€considered€the€villain€in€the€piece€ð"ðSadam€Hussein.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔDr.€Jim€Nathanððs€Trip€Report€on€China݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔó óÔ ô ÔÝ  Ýó óÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔOn€December€14,€bowing€to€pressure€from€the€Board€of€Directors,€Jim€Nathan€agreed€to€break€his€own€rule€against€local€speakers€and€gave€over€60€interested€members€a€fascinating€talk€on€the€eleven€months€he€spent€in€China€as€a€Fulbright€Scholar/Lecturer.€The€event€took€place€at€the€Capital€City€Club€over€lunch.€Complete€with€professional€(?)€snapshots€of€Beijing€and€various€other€locations€around€China,€the€talk€was€superb:€first€hand,€engrossing€and€relevant,€delivered€with€humor€and€insight.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔChanges€in€Arrangements€Get€Generally€Good€Reviews݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔó óÔ ô ÔÝ  Ýó óÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔAt€Martin€Walkerððs€presentation€at€the€Museum,€AWAC€implemented€several€changes€that€had€been€recommended€by€the€membership.€Reminder€notices€were€sent€out€earlier,€chairs€were€provided€at€the€reception,€the€food€tables€were€rearranged€for€easier€accessÌ,€and€the€string€quartet€was€relocated€to€alleviate€the€difficulty€in€hearing.€The€Museum€staff€made€a€concerted€effort€to€improve€the€sound€system,€with€some€marked€improvement,€but€not€yet€to€everyoneððs€satisfaction.€They€will€continue€their€efforts€to€enhance€the€system.݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ ÿÿXÔÔ€ XXÔò òÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔReport€from€the€Executive€Director݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ Ð ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿXÔÔ€XXÔó óÔ ô ÔÝ  Ýó óÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ jÿ ÓÓ – ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔòòÔ  ÔDr.€James€NathanóóÔ  Ô݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ jÿ ÓÓ – ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔóóÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔIn€the€second€week€of€January,€The€World€Affairs€Council€of€America€(WACA)€had€its€annual€meeting.€This€was€the€first€meeting€held€in€New€York€and€reflected€the€greatly€augmented€stature€of€the€national€alliance€in€recent€years.€The€theme€of€the€meeting€was€ð ðGet€to€Know€Your€United€Nations.ðð݃݌̌Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÔ ô ÔÝ‚ÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ È ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#dÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝÝ‚ÝÝ  ÝÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔThe€meeting€was€held€at€the€UN€and€opened€by€Kofi€Annan,€UN€Secretary€General.€Mr.€Annan€and€his€staff€could€not€have€been€more€helpful€in€facilitating€briefings,€tours€and€amazing€luncheons,€some€60€in€all€with€groups€of€about€ten.€About€half€of€the€luncheons€were€with€ambassadors€to€the€UN€at€their€homes€nearby€and€were€a€remarkable€testimony€to€the€stature€and€seriousness€with€which€the€rest€of€the€world€regards€informed€American€public€opinion€leaders.Ì€We€were€hosted€by€ambassadors€from€Russia,€Franceð"ðyes,€France!ð"ðJapan,€Germany,€North€Koreað"ðyes,€North€Korea!ð"ðChina,€South€Korea,€Iran€and€so€on.€They€were€fabulous€affairs.€The€ambassador€from€China€is€a€former€foreign€minister€and€brought€with€him,€as€do€many€of€the€UN€ambassadors,€his€own€cook.ÌWe€also€had€lunches€with€American€network€broadcasters€and€journalists,€and€a€larger€luncheon€with€UN€Ambassador€Richard€Holbrooke.€This€was€a€special€day€for€Holbrooke.€He€had€just€returned€from€appearing€before€Senator€Jesse€Helmsðð€Senate€Foreign€Relations€Committee€to€ask€for€about€a€half€billion€dollars€to€pay€US€debts€to€the€UN.€Instead€of€the€usual€grilling€Helms€is€known€to€give€American€officials,€Helms,€before€Holbrooke€had€begun€to€speak,€asked€the€committee€and€those€assembled€in€the€room€toÌ€stand€and€give€Holbrooke€a€round€of€hearty€applause.€Helms€said€that€Holbrooke€is€one€of€Americaððs€greatest€diplomats€ever,€and€had€pulled€off€the€amazing€accomplishment€of€getting€Russia,€China,€the€Europeans,€and€others€to€accept€a€larger€percentage€of€the€financial€obligations€of€the€UN€and€for€the€US€to€be€assessed€at€25%€less.€In€addition,€the€UNagreed€to€some€much€needed€reforms.€It€was€all€quite€remarkable,€and€Holbrooke€was€justifiably€proudð"ðhe€spoke€off€the€cuff€for€about€45€minutes€and€answered€another€half€hourððs€worth€of€questions.ÌSo€we€were€treated€well,€and€we€ate€well.€We€really€felt€like€we€had€a€fly-on-the-wall€perspective€on€how€the€UN€and€US€are€doing.ÌOur€accommodations€were€splendid,€as€has€been€usual€the€last€few€years€at€national€meetings.€For€ð ðonlyðð€145€dollars€a€night€[but€NYC,€thatððs€amazing],€we€had€suites€with€a€kitchen,€dishwasher€and€stove€in€a€luxury€hotel€across€the€street€from€the€UNð"ða€short€walk€from€the€refurbished€and€beautiful€Grand€Central€Station.€Aside€from€the€hotel,€there€were€no€costs€for€most€of€our€food€or€anything€else,€as€it€was€all€paid€for€by€a€modest€registration€fee,€the€UN,€and€other€underwriters.ÌNew€York€glistens,€burnished€by€the€prosperity€of€the€1990s€and€the€ministrations€of€Mayor€Guiliani.€The€meeting€also€arranged€some€remarkable€tours€with€high€level€officials€of€the€New€York€Stock€Exchange,€the€Metropolitan€Museum€of€Art,€and€of€the€UN€Ìitself€and€its€stunning€collection€of€world€art.ÌThese€national€meetings€of€the€World€Affairs€Councils€of€America€are€open€to€all€in€the€national€system,€and€next€time,€I€hope€Montgomery€can€be€better€represented€(illness€prevented€Terry€Wofford€from€attending€this€year).€Savannah,€for€instance,€had€sÌix€members€attending,€and€I€think€we€can€do€at€least€as€well.€Some€300€members€of€different€councils€attended.€About€a€third€were€officers€of€their€local€chapters;€most€were€ð ðjust€members.ðð€So€next€time,€please€do€consider€attending€the€national€meeting.ÌSir€Eldon€Griffiths,€whom€many€of€you€met€last€year,€is€now€Chairman€of€WACA,€and€he€and€the€Washington€office€have€done€a€terrific€job.€Collins€Signs€from€Alabama,€CVS,€Exxon,€Intel,€Hewlett€Packard,€Merrill€Lynch,€and€other€firms€are€now€supporting€us€at€a€national€level.€Their€underwriting€efforts€have€made€the€national€office€a€serious€resource€for€all€the€regional€affiliates.€ÌWe€have€come€a€long€way€from€when€I€began.€Not€only€had€our€local€chapter€not€met€in€over€a€year,€the€national€office€was€closing€when€I€started€trying€to€bring€a€bit€more€of€the€world€to€Alabama.ÌWhen€I€was€in€New€York,€I€had€an€opportunity€to€compare€notes€with€other€councils.€Our€programs€are€simply€as€good€asð"ðindeed,€I€think€better€thanð"ðany,€including€many€of€the€meetings€held€in€New€York,€Chicago€and€Washington.€We€have€had€in€recent€years€Dick€Cheney,€Abba€Eban,€Brent€Scowcroft,€and€David€McCullough.€All€the€people€we€bring€are€authoritative,€significant€and€engaging€opinion€leaders€and€policymakers.ÌBut€our€dues€are€the€lowestð8ð€really,€the€lowest€in€the€World€Affairs€Council€system.€All€other€councils€charge€for€their€headline€events.€We€do€not.ÌWe€have€been€able€to€pull€it€off€because€of€some€disproportionate€efforts€by€some€of€our€members,€because€AUM€sustains€our€office,€and€because€we€have€a€grant€from€the€Alabama€Humanities€Foundation.€But€next€year,€our€four-year€funding€from€the€Alabama€Humanities€Foundation€is€uncertain€at€best€and€may€well€not€be€renewed.€In€addition,€our€national€dues€are€rising.€This€will€leave€us€with€a€30%€hole€in€our€budget.€We€need€more€members€and€more€money€if€we€are€to€keep€our€doors€open€next€year.€Please€help€by€augmenting€your€dues€and€bringing€in€a€new€member€or€two.€Either€or€both€would€help€tremendously.€ÌWe€have€begun€to€offer€scholarships€to€local€school€kids,€we€have€brought€our€guests€to€appear€on€local€TV€and€radio€spots,€thus€helping€to€spread€the€ð ðmessageðð€of€the€significance€of€an€awareness€of€international€affairs,€and€we€have€become€something€of€a€cultural€high€point€in€the€civic€life€of€Montgomery.ÌBut€we€need€your€help.€If€you€can€bring€in€more€members€or€help€with€an€additional€tax-free€contribution,€then€we€can€be€assured€of€continuing€our€work€at€the€same€high€level.ÌWhen€I€was€in€New€York,€I€also€worked€a€bit€with€the€New€York€Council€on€Foreign€Relations,€which€included€the€process€of€vetting€the€just€released€papers€of€the€decision€by€the€Beijing€leadership€to€use€tanks€to€clear€Tiananmen€Square€ten€years€ago.€There€were€a€number€of€former€top-level€officials€who€have€worked€UN-China€policy€at€the€meeting,€including€Winston€Lord,€Chas€Freeman€and€James€Lilley.€I€think€we€have€a€good€shot€at€getting€somebody€of€this€caliber€to€come€to€Montgomery€next€year.€I€also€attended€a€kind€of€goodbye€dinner€at€the€Council€for€Sandy€Berger,€President€Clintonððs€National€Security€Advisor.€Berger€made€a€pretty€good€case€for€the€last€few€years€of€Clintonððs€€Foreign€Policy,€not€too€dissimilar€to€the€arguments€made€by€Martin€Walker€when€he€came€to€Montgomery€last€November.€To€give€you€an€idea€of€Walkerððs€stature,€he€too€was€asked€to€give€a€talk€to€the€New€York€Council€the€day€I€left.€Again,€the€folks€who€come€to€Montgomery€are€the€best€of€the€best.€We€as€a€council€have€every€right€to€be€proud.ÌSee€you€at€the€next€meeting!݃݌ŒÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ È ÓÑ  ÑÓ ÓÓ È ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ d ÔÔ#bÔÔ€ÿÿ&ÔÔ€&&ÔÔ ô ÔÝ  ÝñPññPñ