On February 25 the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a Current Issues Briefing in conjunction with the publication of the Institute's newest book: Where Is the Lone Ranger When We Need Him? America's Search for a Postconflict Stability Force (U.S. Institute of Peace Press, 2004). Written by USIP rule of law expert Robert Perito during his fellowship at the Institute, Where Is the Lone Ranger? examines U.S. policy on peace operations and the challenges of establishing sustainable security in post-conflict environments in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Panelists during the briefing discussed the book's findings and then drew from their own experiences to address whether soldiers and civilian police in the field are sufficiently prepared to take on the public security challenges associated with post-conflict stabilization operations (including policing, corrections, and the judiciary process). The panel discussion was followed by questions from the floor.

Featured Speakers

• James Dobbins
  Former Special Envoy for Afghanistan and U.S. Representative to the Bonn Conference; former Special Envoy for Kosovo, Bosnia, Haiti, and Somalia; and former U.S. Ambassador to the European Community
• Montgomery Meigs
  Visiting Tom Slick Professor of World Peace, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin; former Commander, U.S. European Command; and former Commander, SFOR Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Robert Perito, Commentator
  Author, Where Is the Lone Ranger?; Special Adviser, U.S. Institute of Peace; former U.S. Deputy Director, International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Justice; and former Deputy Executive Secretary, National Security Council
• Harriet Hentges
  Executive Vice President, U.S. Institute of Peace