Speakers '08-09
Speakers '07-08
Speakers '06-07
Speakers '05-06
Speakers '04-05
Speakers '03-04
Speakers '02-03
Speakers '00-02

Biographies
Great Decisions
Board of Directors

AWAC office:
Alabama World Affairs Council
Auburn University Montgomery
209 Goodwyn Hall
Mail:
P.O. Box 241462
Montgomery, AL 36124
Ph: (334) 244-3337
Fax: (334) 244-3826
Contact Us.
Executive Director
     Dr, James Nathan
Admin Assistant
     Dahdee Bullen

Images '06-07 | A | 
Images '04-05A | B | C
Images '03-04
Images '02-03A | B | C | D

Briefing, Wtr '07
Briefing, Wtr '06
Briefing, Fall '05
Briefing, Wtr '04
Briefing, Wtr '03
Briefing, Wtr '02
Briefing, Wtr '01
Briefing, Fall '00
Briefing, Wtr '00

Meetings are held five or six times a year, usually at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in the Wynton Blount Cultural Park, and occasionally at the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base. The presentations are held normally on a Tuesday evening during the period from September through May. An informal reception with a catered buffet (included in the annual membership dues) and a cash bar begins at 5:30.The lecture begins at 6:15, with a question-and-answer period at about 7:00. The evening ends no later than 7:30.

AWAC has attracted some of the leading authors, academics, and practitioners from both the U.S. and abroad. In the last few years, the council has had visits from, among many others, Sir Eldon Griffiths, Jacques Klein, Anthony Lake, British Ambassador Sir Christopher Meyer, Joseph Nye, John McLaughlin, Korean Ambassador Yang Sung Chul, Brent Scowcroft, Chas Freeman, and Saudi Ambassador Prince Turki Al-Faisal. The year usually culminates in a May panel session in which the Air War College provides senior instructors as regional briefers recently returned from their travels to critical areas around the globe.

Coverage of AWAC events by public television and radio is excellent. Normally, guest speakers are given a half hour on the statewide PBS evening news program, For the Record, and a twenty minute interview at "drive time"on the local NPR affiliate.

Great Decisions Program
AWAC also has an active outreach program to reach students at local high schools, both public and private. The 2004 program was conducted at Huntingdon College  by highly qualified instructors from the Air War College and involved over 20 volunteer students from students from seven different schools. The program ran for eight weeks, with 90-minute sessions every Monday late afternoon.

Description of AWAC
AWAC has a membership of some 400 families and individuals and is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the South. On any given night, the usual audience turnout is 180 to 240. AWAC enjoys the support of Auburn University Montgomery, Huntingdon College, Air University, and the local business community. The Alabama Humanities Foundation over the last few years has supported AWAC with generous grants from a steadily dwindling source of Federal funds.

The dues structure allows virtually any interested member of the public to participate. E.g., high school students are admitted free as guests of the Board, and college students pay just $25 a year. The annual dues for a senior (65 or over) are $50, which admits the member to any or all of the presentations, including a generous buffet beforehand.  Individuals under 65 pay $70. A family membership for two is $90. A payment of $125 admits three people, and $200 secures four reserved seats. The payment of higher dues results in even more benefits.

The Board of Directors is made up of representatives from business, the academy, the military, state government, the press, and the education, legal, medical, and non-profit communities. The officers are:

President: Lt. Gen. Charles Cleveland (USAF Ret).
Vice President: Maj. Gen. Bowen Ballard (USAF Ret).
Secretary: Nan Rosa
Treasurer: MaryAnne Douglass

21 October 2008: Dr. Lawrence J. Korb, defense analyst, Senior Fellow at American Progress, and Senior Advisor to the Center for Defense Information.  He was a member of the Council on Foreign relations for many years.  Dr. Korb served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs from 1981 through 1985.  He has spoken to our Council twice before.

Jan/February 2009: to be announced

10 March 2009: Dr. Brian Latell, Latin America and Caribbean specialist, particularly on Cuba, for the last four decades.  Retired from the CIA where he tracked Fidel and Raoul Castro, he is currently a senior associate in the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a member of the University of Miami faculty.  His book, After Fidel, is an insider's view of the future of Cuba.

5 May 2009: Four senior Air War College instructors will report on their recent trips to hot spots around the globe, as part of the AWC's Regional Studies Program. 

16 September 2008: Lee Cullum, "World Affairs and Middle America".  Ms. Cullum is a well-known columnist in print (Dallas Morning News), radio (NPR, All Things Considered) and television (PBS, Newshour with Jim Lehrer). 

Additional opportunity on 23 September 2008: Bret Stephens, "Israel: Challenges at Age 60," foreign affairs columnist for the Wall Street Journal, at 7:30 pm at the Embassy Suites hotel.  Courtesy of AIPAC, free access for AWAC members -- but individual reservations required (contact information mailed to our members).

7 October 2008: Amb. Robert E. Hunter, Senior Advisor to the RAND corporation, a leading figure in US foreign policy and national security for more than three decades.  He served on the National Security Council staff under President Carter, and was US Ambassador to NATO under President Clinton.
 
 

8 April 2008. Peter Zeihan, "Iraq: From Beginning to End".  Director of Global Analysis, Strategic Forecasting, Inc., or Stratfor, a private intelligence agency.

15 January 2008, Amb. Chas. Freeman, "The Middle East: U.S. Policy, Oil and Water," President, Middle East Policy Council and Co-Chair of U.S. China Policy Foundation, former Asst. Secretary of Defense for international affairs, and then US ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf war. 

20 November, 2007. John Pomfret, currently the editor of the Outlook section of the Washington Post, is the author of the acclaimed book, "Chinese Lessons."  Educated at Stanford University and Nanjing University, he was the chief of the Chinese Bureau of the Washington Post during the Tiananmen Square incident. He speaks Mandarin plus four other languages and is married to a Chinese entrepreneur. He will speak on the new China.

16 October, 2007. Arthur Herman, “Why Iran Acts the Way it Does.” Coordinator of the Smithsonian's Western Heritage Program. Successful author, college professor, and conservative commentator on current issues. Books include "How the Scots Invented the Western World."

11 September, 2007. Major General USA (Ret) William L. Nash, Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention at the Council on Foreign Relations. A West Point graduate, he has a distinguished combat record in two wars and peacekeeping experience in Bosnia and Kosovo.

24 April, 2007. Four senior Air War College instructors reported on their recent trips to hot spots around the globe as part of the AWC Regional Studies Program.  Moderator: Col. Stephen Wright, PhD, Dean of AWC
Presenters: 
    Dr. Dave Sorenson: The Middle East
    Dr. Steve Burgess: Africa
    Dr. Amit Gupta: India, Pakistan

Additional Opportunity: 15 March 2007. U.S. Energy Security Luncheon, sponsored by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.  Speaker: John Hofmeister, President of Shell Oil Company, 11:30 at the RSA Activities Center, 201 Dexter Avenue.  $25 per person. RSVP to Patsy Guy NLT 8 March at 240-9434 or by email at pguy@montgomerychamber.com.

[Another opportunity, note from Gordon G. Martin: AL Power and AUM held a public affairs forum featuring Dr. David Sorensen on the middle east, substituting for former Director of Central Intelligence James Woolsey, 22 Feb, at 11:30am]

6 February, 2007. Panel of speakers, China experts:
    * Dr. James Nathan, AUM, Moderator
    * Dr. Lawrence Grinter, Air War College
    * Cornelis "Kees" Keur, Air War College
    * Dr. David Lai, Air War College 

23 January, 2007. His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Ambassador to the United States. For 25 years, he was the Chief of the Saudi Foreign Intelligence Service. He spoke on Saudi-U.S. relations in the fight against terrorism. 

12 December, 2006. Dr. Richard Millett, specialist on South America, particularly the Andean Ridge. Received his PhD from the University of New Mexico and is a graduate of the Air War College. He spoke on "The Rise of Populist and Anti-American Governments in South America."

17 October, 2006. Dr. Brian Latell, "What Next After Fidel?  Latin America and Cuba specialist for the last 40 years, including 35 years in the CIA. An acclaimed author, he he has taught at the University of Miami and Georgetown University, where he earned his PhD. 

11 April '06 
Air War College instructors give a Report to Alabama on their recent regional trips
          Moderator: Col Stefan Eisen, Dean of Academic Affairs at the AWC.
          Speaker: Dr. David Sorenson on Israel and Egypt
          Speaker: Dr. Adam Cobb on Indonesia and Malaysia
          Speaker: Dr. Mark Conversino on Russia

1 Mar. '06, 7:15 for 7:30 am, Breakfast in Montgomery room, Capital City Club.
Prof. Carlos Eire, "US-Cuban relations." Prof. Eire is the novelist and Riggs Professor of History and Religion, Yale University, author of the 2003 National Book Award-winning memoir of growing up before the cuban revolution, Waiting for Snow in Havana.  Ticketed breakfast event at Capitol City Club, downtown Montgomery, courtesy of President Cameron West, Huntingdon College.  Complimentary parking deck access provided. 

1 Mar. '06, 3:30-4:30pm, President's Colloquium, Flowers Hall, Huntingdon College.
Prof. Carlos Eire, "Reflections of a Life of Teaching." Courtesy of President Cameron West, Huntingdon College. 

28 February, 7:30 pm, Prof. Carlos Eire, "Is Freedom a Luxury? Confessions of a Cuban Boy," free, public lecture by Dr. Eire in Ligon Chapel of Huntingdon College in Flowers Hall.  AWAC members particularly welcome.

7 Feb. '06
Jerry Leach, "Turkey and the European Union," President, World Affairs Councils of America, Washington D.C.

6 Dec. '05
Ambassador Chas Freeman, "China: Rising rather than Returning", President of Middle East Policy Council, Fmr. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, 1990-91

8 Nov. '05
Brig Gen Russell Howard, "Terorism Then and Now", Director of the Jebsen Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies at the Fletcher School, Tufts University and recently retired from his position as Head of the Department of Social Sciences at West Point. [Image]

Tuesday 20 Sep, '05
John McLaughlin, "Intelligence and the CIA", Acting Director of the CIA between the resignation of George Tenet in July 2004 and the appointment of Porter Goss. [Image]

(AWAC Board of Directors Meeting : September 14, 2005, United Way Office, 12:00-1:30)

Tuesday 10 May '05 
Air War College Regional Studies Program.  [Notes] 
Senior War College instructors reported on their recent visits to global hot spots.
Col. (Dean) Stef Eisen chaired
Dr Chris Hemmer discussed Arab-Israeli relations
Dr LE Grinter discussed Vietnam and China
Dr Glenn Lamar discussed France and Spain

Tuesday 12 April '05
Dr. Edward L. Morse, "Oil prices and the International Energy Sector: What Next?" [Notes] Morse is senior director and executive adviser for Hess Energy Trading Company and former owner/publisher of Petroleum Intelligence Weekly.  A renowned international expert on energy, he spoke on the worldwide outlook for energy supply, and the tension between Russia and Saudi Arabia for international oil ascendancy. 

Tuesday 15 Mar. '05 
Paul Smyke, [Notes] [Images] senior adviser to the World Economic Forum on its relations with the US public and private sectors. A Swiss-American political analyst, he spoke on the effects of globalization, nationally and in Alabama.

Thursday 9 Dec. '04 
Ambassador Jean-David Levitte,"US-French Bilateral Relations." [Notes] French Ambassador to the United States since December 2002. Educated as a lawyer, oriental linguist and political scientist, he has been in the French Foreign Service for 34 years, last serving as Ambassador to the United Nations.  For five years, he was an advisor to President Chirac.

Tuesday 19 Oct. '04
Victor Comras, [Notes] Minister Counselor (Ret.) State Dept, a noted authority on international trade sanctions.  Following years as a diplomat in Africa, Canada and eastern Europe, he led the implementation of UN sanctions on Yugoslavia.  He recently served as one of five members of the United Nations group overseeing implementation of sanctions against Iraq, Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other terrorist groups.

Tuesday 21 Sep. '04
Jack Jacobs, "Why has the US not been attacked since 9/11/01?", [images], [Hi-Res images], McDermott distinguished professor at West Point and military news analyst for NBC and MSNBC.  A successful businessman in finance, he is the recipient of three bronze stars, two silver stars, and the congressional medal of honor (for heroism as an infantry officer in Vietnam).  He retired from the army as a Colonel, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

May 18, 2004 
Air War College Regional Studies Program.  Senior War College instructors reported on their recent visits to global hot spots.

March 2, 2004
Speakers from the Saudi Arabian Chamber of Commerce.
Mrs. Samar Fatany, Mr. Omar A. Bahlaiwa, and Mr. Vaughan Fitzpatrick gave discussions of "Islam and Saudi Arabia", "The History of US-Saudi Relations", and "Diversity in Islam".  They gave several presentations at Huntingdon College, First United Methodist Church, and at a lunch for AWAC at the Capitol City Club.  Notes and images here are from the Great Decisions program discussion at Huntingdon College.

February 3, 2004 (at Maxwell AFB)
Don Oberdorfer, "The Two Koreas." Currently resident scholar at Johns Hopkins University, he is a nationally known author and expert on Korea and the Pacific rim. He wrote "The Two Koreas," the gold standard text for that area. He was a journalist for the Washington Post for 38 years, twice winning prestigious awards as a diplomatic correspondent.

Nov 18, 2003
Sir Eldon Griffiths, "The future of relations between the US and Europe." 
President of WACA, former member of parliament for Bury St. Edmonds and commons foreign affairs committee.  Delegate to Council of Europe and European Union; advisor to the British police.  Minister of sport and under secretary of environment.  Government spokesman on European and NATO issues, knighted 1988.  Former journalist for Time and editor for Newsweek.  Chair, Korea-America friendship society of southern California.
Note: owing to foul weather delaying Sir Eldon's flights, Prof. Grant Hammond of Air War College gave an excellent impromptu speech on the changing nature of international security.  Sir Eldon instead spoke twice on Nov 19th at Maxwell AFB and the Capital City Club.

Nov 18, 2003
Prof. Grant Hammond, Air War College, "The changing nature of international security."  Dr. Hammond holds degrees from Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins University's SAIS.  He is the author of several books, and a number of scholarly articles.
The impromptu address was based on his book manuscript, The Revolution in Security Affairs.

Oct 28, 2003
PDAS Charles R. Snyder, "US Policy in Africa."
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, director of Regional Affairs, State Department.  Career Africanist, on National Intelligence Council at CIA, 1992-95.  US Army and Defense Intelligence Agency.  BA Fordham University in Economics, MBA American University.  Numerous articles on African affairs.  (Notes are not available of this speech, sorry.)

Sep 30, 2003
Ambassador Bruce Laingen, "Iran: Axis of Evil, or Opportunity?"
[images] [High Res images]
President of American Academy of Diplomacy; highly decorated diplomat; executive director of the Volcker commission on public service.  Author, Yellow Ribbon: The Secret Journal of Bruce Laingen (1992) about his experiences as a hostage in Iran, 1979-80.

March 11, 2003
Dr. Michael Ledeen, "War Against Terrorism", author and former Reagan administration national security council official.

February 4, 2003
Dr. Robert Gallucci, "The Axis of Evil -- What Next?" 
Images, low-res: [Gallucci]; [members]; [HC students]; [Hi-res images List].
Dean of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.  He served the US Government for 21 years, e.g., as Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, and in the lead role dealing with nuclear proliferation and the disarmament of Iraq, and well as the negotiations with North Korea.

December 3, 2002
Amb. Yang Sung-chul, Korean ambassador to the US, member of Korean Economic Institute, former Professor of Political Science at the University of Kentucky, expert on Korean reunification and economic affairs, e.g. Hyundai.

October 8, 2002
Maj. Gen. Perry Smith, USAF Retd., "The Coming War with Iraq."
Gen. Smith was Commandant of the National War College, a combat fighter pilot, a high level planner, a noted author, a military analyst and media commentator with CNN (in the Gulf War) NBC and CBS.  He also is noted for having protested the false media reports about Operation Tailwind during the Vietnam War.

From downtown: take Interstate 85 North (to Atlanta) for about 5 miles to Exit 6 (Route 231 South); take a right off the exit onto 231 South, the East Blvd, then second left onto Woodmere Blvd (AmSouth bank on left, old empty Sam's Club on right), one-half mile to Blount (Shakespeare) Park on your right. In the park, take the first left to the Museum "Deliveries."

From the east: take I-85 South to Exit 6; turn Left onto Route 231 South, the East Boulevard, then continue as above.

From the South: Route 231 North, the Troy Highway, turns right at East Blvd. From there, follow 231 North, the East Blvd, approximately two-and-a-half miles to Woodmere Blvd; turn right and proceed as above.

The AWAC welcomes those of diverse persuasions who share an interest in world affairs.