Timing

Russia: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Date: Monday, June 15, 2009 / Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm 

As the Obama administration seeks to re-engage Russia on military, economic and human rights issues, the United States Institute of Peace announces the release of Human Rights, Perestroika, and the End of the Cold War (USIP Press, July 2009). This diplomatic memoir, co-authored by a Soviet and an American diplomat, explores their unlikely partnership and role in the transformation of Soviet-American relations.

Global Policy

Assessing the Impact of Lebanon's June 7th Parliamentary Elections

Date: Monday, June 15, 2009 / Time: 6:00am - 8:00am 

On June 7th, Lebanon held its long-anticipated parliamentary elections, a critical next step in Lebanon's post-civil war transition. While many observers underscore the potential repercussions of a Hezbollah-dominated March 8th bloc win, the margin of victory will be slim regardless of which side wins.

Addressing Internal Displacement in Pakistan: A View from the Field

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009 / Time: 9:00am - 11:00am 

At least 2.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have now been registered from recent fighting in Swat, Buner and Dir areas. This is in addition to another 553,000 people registered as displaced in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), bringing the total number of displaced to 2.9 million since August 2008.

Rafe Eissawi, Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq

Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 / Time: 6:00am - 7:30am 

The coming year in Iraq will be critical. US forces are set to withdraw from Iraqi cities by the end of June, national elections are set for January 2010, and the potential for a decline in the security situation-recently showing signs of backsliding-remains high. A number of crucial questions remain to be resolved: Will Iraqi politics continue to move in a cross-sectarian, interests-based direction as we saw in the provincial elections, or will sectarian identity return as the primary organi...