WASHINGTON – The U.S. Institute of Peace is pleased to announce the selection of its 17th class of Senior Fellows in the Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program. Named in honor of former U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph of West Virginia, a founder of the Institute, the program affords leading policy practitioners and researchers opportunities to examine non-violent approaches to the resolution of international conflict and post-conflict stabilization. In welcoming the new group, most of which wi...

WASHINGTON—With little more than a month left until the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq, senior U.S. officials said on Wednesday that the United States would continue to remain heavily engaged in the country. "Our commitment will not lessen after June 30," Ambassador Frank Ricciardone, coordinator for Iraq Transition at the Department of State, told a gathering at the U.S. Institute of Peace. His statements were echoed by General Mick Kicklighter (USA, Ret.), director of the Iraq Transition T...

ASHINGTON—On Monday, May 17, 2004, Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI), John Warner (R-VA), and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced S. Con Res. 109, a resolution honoring the United States Institute of Peace on the 20th anniversary of its establishment. The resolution recognizes "the importance of the founding of the United States Institute of Peace as a national and international resource for peaceful conflict management," and acknowledges the Institute's contribution to "the advancement of peace and co...

WASHINGTON—Fifty-two American high school students have been named winners of the 17th annual National Peace Essay Contest, sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace. Each student will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and compete for the 2004 national first prize, a $10,000 college scholarship. A list of winners, their schools, hometowns, essay titles, and faculty coordinators follows this release.  The contest, which is open to students in all American high schools, is designed ...

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Institute of Peace will release The Iraq Experience DVD, a richly illustrated, interactive briefing on the nation, people, culture and relevant history of Iraq for Americans assigned to the U.S. Mission in Iraq. A demonstration and samples of the DVD will be available to the press on Thursday, May 13 at 9:30 a.m. at the Institute's headquarters (1200 17th Street, N.W.). The creators of the DVD will answer questions about its value in preparing U.S. government officials and...

WASHINGTON—The age of terrorism has forced the federal agency charged with extending U.S. assistance around the world to change its operational goals, according to Andrew Natsios, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Speaking on Monday at an event co-sponsored with the U.S. Institute of Peace, Natsios said that the war on terror has led the agency to broaden its mandate and move beyond its traditional role of providing development assistance and humanitarian...

WASHINGTON— A U.S. Institute of Peace study has provided a blueprint for the creation of a single federal office with responsibility for establishing public order and the rule of law in stability operations. According to this study, Building Civilian Capacity for U.S. Stability Operations: The Rule of Law Component,"establishing public order in the aftermath of an international military intervention is 'job one.' The success of all other activities hinges on getting this job done." The repor...

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Institute of Peace is working to advance post-conflict stabilization and peace building efforts in Iraq thanks to a $10 million appropriation from Congress in late 2003. Institute experts, including Amatzia Baram, a preeminent scholar on Iraqi religion and the state, and Faleh Jabar, a world-renowned Iraqi sociologist, are available to respond to questions and provide commentary and analysis on the range of issues confronting Iraq today, including: Peace and Stability Ope...