Plague Upon Plague: AIDS & Violent Conflict in Africa
Current Issues Briefing Panel
David Gordon (at podium) and l to r:
Ambassador Princeton Lyman ,
Thomas Homer-Dixon, Millicent Obaso &
Andrew T. Price-Smith
The Clinton and Bush administrations have recognized that the scale of human suffering and AIDS' potential for destabilizing social and political institutions make the disease a pressing humanitarian and national security issue for the United States. In Africa, violent conflict has helped spread the epidemic while the acute impact of AIDS threatens to exacerbate instability. The combination of disease and warfare threaten to overwhelm already fragile structures. This panel examined:
- What is the linkage between AIDS in Africa and America's strategic interests and other security concerns?
- In what ways is the spread of HIV/AIDS both a cause and an effect of violent conflict in Africa?
- What policy recommendations can address the prevention of conflict and contagion, as well as the management and treatment of populations suffering the ravages of war and disease?
Moderator
Ambassador Princeton Lyman, Executive Director, Global Interdependence Initiative, The Aspen Institute
Speakers
David Gordon, National Intelligence Officer, Global & Economic Issues, National Intelligence CouncilThomas Homer-Dixon, Director, Peace & Conflict Studies Program, University of Toronto
Millicent Obaso, Manager, Africa Initiative, American Red Cross
Andrew T. Price-Smith, Director, Project on Health, Environment and Human Security, University of North Dakota
After the presentations the panel took questions from the floor and the Internet audience.