chlamor
11-22-2009, 07:46 PM
Realities Collide at Halifax "War Conference"
by Anthony Fenton
HALIFAX, Canada - While the world's top military elites gather inside a fortified hotel to discuss NATO's future, protesters question the organization's legitimacy, secrecy, and the lack of democratic debate about the increasingly unpopular war in Afghanistan.
An imposing 'United States of America'-emblazoned aircraft greeted visitors on the tarmac of Halifax International Airport Friday, as more than 250 of the Western world's top military leaders and their brain trust descended on the city for the inaugural Halifax International Security Forum.
Co-sponsored by the government of Canada and the U.S.-based German Marshall Fund think tank, over 60 percent of the attendees hailed from these host nations for what is being dubbed a World Economic Forum-style conference for militarists.
Announcing the Forum last July, German Marshall Fund President Craig Kennedy called it "a step in the process of changing the conversation" about Canada's role in the 'trans-Atlantic community,' toward a recognition of its being a top-tier power in its own right that is worthy of a seat at the table with the globe's most powerful war-fighting nations.
Canada's transformation to a counterinsurgency-capable expeditionary force and its contribution to the war in southern Afghanistan has earned it the respect of NATO's key power, the United States, which, in turn, has boosted its global profile among other NATO allies.
In the opening session featuring Canadian Minister of Defence Peter MacKay and U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, MacKay said "We take great pride in knowing that Canadian's contribution to transatlantic cooperation as a steadfast reliable friend and ally is recognised."
Gates lauded Canada as a "major contributor" to the Afghan war and for helping to "hold the line in the South before U.S. reinforcements arrived", following a mini-surge that began in the latter days of the Bush administration, and was subsequently bolstered by President Barack Obama's addition of over 20,000 troops to the conflict since last March.
Currently, the Obama administration is deliberating over whether or not to implement an Iraq-style "surge" of upwards of tens of thousands of troops into Afghanistan. Canada's former Chief of Defence Staff, Rick Hillier, who spoke on a panel about the war with Republican Senator John McCain Saturday, said "The surge...is fundamental here, it's absolutely essential."
For his part, Senator McCain insisted that the Iraqi surge can be replicated in Afghanistan and that within the next year to 18 months, "We can turn the situation around."
Reflecting its parallels with other high-profile meetings among global elites, most of the Forum's agenda is off-the-record and closed to the media. Aside from the more than 25 journalists who are 'embedded' inside the proceedings, where comments can only be reported based on 'Chatham House Rules' - that is, not for attribution to particular individuals - most reporters are given limited access to the panelists and attendees, and are sequestered in a press room under tightly controlled conditions.
During his prepared remarks, Peter MacKay referred to this format as "a chance where people can speak openly, honestly, among friends", albeit largely outside of public scrutiny. Contrary to its undemocratic overtones, MacKay told IPS that he feels the conference is "an example of democracy promotion, having an international forum such as this...talking about issues that relate to the democracies of the world".
MacKay also spoke proudly to IPS about instances where "the United States and Canada have collaborated in the past on democracy promotion, certainly Afghanistan is a good example of that."
The Halifax Forum took place on the heels of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's inauguration, following NATO-sponsored elections last August that are widely seen to have been fraudulent.
The biggest such conference ever to be hosted in Canada, Halifax was seen as the ideal site given its strategic geographic location, and its position as a launching site for many of Canada's military forces. Although Halifax is known as a pro-military community, outside on Friday a small group of protesters denounced the forum, which they called a "war conference" that is being held to "work out the justification for the global expansion of NATO and to extend the ongoing illegal occupation of Afghanistan".
On Saturday, a larger protest took place which featured former Afghan parliamentarian Malalai Joya, who has been touring North America promoting her new book, "A Woman Among Warlords".
An outspoken critic of the ongoing occupation of her country, Joya has called for NATO to withdraw its forces. No Afghans participated in the Forum itself, and Joya was forced to deliver her short speech while separated from the Forum venue by a wall of police.
Joya told the several dozen boisterous protesters that the invasion of her country pushed the Afghan people "from the frying pan into the fire because they brought into power a photocopy of the Taliban", referring to the corrupt government of Karzai, which is comprised of many known warlords and suspected war criminals.
Joya added that a surge of U.S. troops in Afghanistan "will translate into killing more innocent people", and argued that "the policies of the Obama administration in Afghanistan are no different from that of Bush".
During a press briefing Friday, Sen. McCain told IPS that he would be "glad to meet" with Joya, and acknowledged that "she has kindred spirits here in Canada and in the United States who share exactly her view".
A CBS poll earlier this week showed that 69 percent of U.S. citizens think the Afghan war is on the wrong track, the highest ever level of opposition that has been registered during the eight-year occupation. Despite this, McCain added that "the majority of Afghan people don't share that particular position".
Apparently unfamiliar with Joya's position toward the unpopular war, McCain said, "in the course of our conversation, I would have to also try to get from her how she views the situation in Afghanistan after all the troops are gone."
Earlier this week, Joya told IPS correspondent Chris Arsenault, in a sit-down interview, that, "The war in Afghanistan has fostered terrorism, even though the stated goal is to fight it. The biggest beneficiaries of the conflict have been extremist groups who take advantage of legitimate grievances against NATO."
"They [the occupying forces] say if troops leave, the Taliban will eat us. But they are supporting the Taliban today, supporting warlords. Both of them are eating us. To fight against one enemy is easier than two. We are between two enemies [the occupiers and the extremists]," she said, urging an immediate troop withdrawal.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/11/22-7
http://www.gmfus.org/halifax/images/logo.jpg
The Halifax International Security Forum is a high-level meeting that brings together leaders from around the world in politics, military, government, business, academia, and media. Over three days, more than 300 participants take part in an intellectual, interactive exchange on pressing strategic issues. The Halifax International Security Forum provides a unique venue for thought-leaders and policymakers to discuss such issues as nuclear proliferation, Arctic security, the conflict in Afghanistan, and maritime security.
The Halifax International Security Forum is organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (www.gmfus.org) in cooperation with the Government of Canada, the Department of National Defence, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. This major international conference – the first of its kind in North America - is being held November 20-22, 2009, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
http://www.gmfus.org/halifax/
Halifax International Security Forum
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), in cooperation with the Government of Canada, has launched the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia to address the top global security
challenges facing the transatlantic community. This major international conference is the first of its kind on the North American continent.
Serious conferences about regional and global security have traditionally taken place outside of the United States and Canada. However, no country and no continent are immune to the world’s new dangers. GMF’s mission to promote cooperation between North America and Europe on a wide range of concerns led to the creation of a major international security conference in Canada. By bringing together leading policy and opinion makers from around the world, Halifax Forum will help shape a new transatlantic security agenda that can adapt to changing global realities and emerging threats.
The Agenda and Format
Building on the model of GMF’s successful Brussels Forum, the Halifax International Security Forum will feature a mix of plenary sessions and smaller breakout sessions, with emphasis on intimate and interactive exchanges between panelists and participants. On-the-record panels will cover broad themes such as international law, nuclear proliferation, and global transatlanticism. Breakout sessions held under the Chatham House Rule will explore challenges associated with North Korea, development, climate change, and counter terrorism, among other topics. The agenda reflects the growing diversity of issues at the core of the transatlantic security relationship as well as the increasing geographic reach of transatlantic cooperation. Finally, the Saturday night dinners, also under the Chatham House Rule, give every participant a unique opportunity to further discuss key issues in a more intimate setting and at the same time sample local cuisine.
The Partners
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is delighted to welcome as key partners to this initiative the Government of Canada along with the Department of National Defence and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. We are grateful for all of their help in planning the inaugural Halifax International Security Forum.
• The German Marshall Fund of the United States is a grantmaking and public policy institute dedicated to strengthening transatlantic cooperation.
• The Government of Canada
• Department of National Defence
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
http://www.gmfus.org/halifax/about.html
Halifax International Security Forum
November 20-22, 2009
The Westin Nova Scotian
1181 Hollis Street
Halifax, NS B3H 2P6
DRAFT AGENDA
Please note that times on this agenda are subject to change.
Download Agenda (.pdf)
Friday :: Saturday :: Sunday
Friday, November 20
15:00-15:45 Introduction - (On the Record)
Mr. Craig Kennedy,
President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Opening Speech - (On the Record)
The Hon. Peter G. MacKay,
Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, Canada
Keynote Speech - (On the Record)
The Hon. Robert M. Gates,
Secretary of Defense, United States
15:45-16:15 Coffee Break
16:15-17:45 Panel I: Global Transatlanticism: Where the Allies Are - (On the Record)
Opening Remarks: The Hon. Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg,
Minister of Defense, Germany
Speakers: Mr. Yukio Okamoto,
President, Okamoto Associates, Japan
The Hon. Jeanne Shaheen,
Senator, United States Senate
Prof. Dr. Ilter Turan,
Professor of Political Science, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey
The Hon. Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg,
Minister of Defense, Germany
Moderator: The Hon. Pamela Wallin, Senator, Deputy Chair of the Senate Defence Committee, Canada
19:00-21:00 Gala Dinner
Welcome Remarks
Mr. Craig Kennedy,
President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
The Hon. Darrell Dexter,
Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada
Welcome Remarks on behalf of the U.S. Congressional Delegation
The. Hon John McCain,
Senator, United States Senate
The. Hon Mark Udall,
Senator, United States Senate
21:30 Night Owl Sessions
Partners and Problems: North Korea - (Off the Record)
Dr. Kim Changsu,
Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, South Korea
The Hon. Wayne Mapp,
Minister of Defence, New Zealand
Mr. Yukio Okamoto,
President, Okamoto Associates, Japan
Mr. Michael Schiffer,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian & Pacific Security Issues, East Asia,
United States
Moderator: Mr. Glyn Ford, Partner, Polint
Partners and Problems: The Middle East - (Off the Record)
The Hon. Dr. Mohammed Shtayyeh,
Minister of Public Works and Housing, Palestinian National Authority;
The Hon. Matan Vilnai
Deputy Minister of Defense, Israel
The Hon. Robert Wexler,
Member, United States House of Representatives
Moderator: Ms. Barbara Stegemann, Columnist, Halifax Chronicle-Herald and Founder, 7 Virtues Communications Group
Geopolitical Consequences of the Economic Crisis - (Off the Record)
Ms. Miriam L. Campanella,
Senior Lecturer, International Political Economy, University of Turin
The Hon. Edgars Rinkēvičs,
Head of the Chancery of the President of Latvia
Mr. John Vinocur,
Columnist, International Herald Tribune
Dr. Arvind Virmani,
Executive Director, International Monetary Fund
Moderator: Mr. Philip Stephens, Associate Editor, Financial Times
Saturday, November 21
08:00-09:15 Breakfast Sessions
Protecting Ports: Threatening Trade? - (Off the Record)
Mr. Earl Agron,
Vice President, Security and Environment, APL Limited
Ms. Karen Oldfield,
Chief Executive Officer, Halifax Port Authority
Mr. Jonathan S. Spaner,
Commanding Officer, United States Coast Guard
Moderator: Mr. Paul Brill, Editorial Writer, De Volkskrant
Pandemics: Public and Private Preparedness - (Off the Record)
Mr. Francis Delon,
Secretary General, National Defense Office, France
Dr. Nicole Lurie,
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Resources, United States
Moderator: Mr. Martin Klingst, Chief of Washington Bureau, Die Zeit
Security or Development: Which Comes First? - (Off the Record)
Major-General Peter Devlin,
Deputy Commander, Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command
The Hon. Pierre Duquesne,
Ambassador for Economic Issues, Reconstruction and Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France
Ms. Elissa Golberg,
Director General, Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force, Canada
The Hon. James Michel,
Counselor, United States Agency for International Development
Moderator: Mr. James Kunder, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
09:30-11:00 Panel II: Afghanistan: Transition To What?- (On the Record)
General (Retired) Rick Hillier,
Former Chief of the Defence Staff, Canada
The Hon. John McCain,
Senator, United States Senate
Mr. Michael Semple,
Research Fellow, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University
Mr. Najam Sethi,
Editor-in-Chief, Daily Times, Pakistan
Moderator: Ms. Lyse Doucet, Presenter, BBC
11:00-11:30 Coffee Break
11:30-13:00 Panel III: Pirates, Ports and Proliferation: Securing the Seas - (On the Record)
Admiral Mark Fitzgerald,
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa,
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
The Hon. Peter G. MacKay,
Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, Canada
The Hon. Eimert van Middelkoop,
Minister of Defense, The Netherlands
Moderator: Ms. Susan Bonner, Washington Correspondent, CBC News
13:00-14:30 Networking Lunch
15:00-16:30 Panel IV: Arctic Security: The New Great Game? - (On the Record)
Mr. Stephen M. Carmel,
Senior Vice President, Maritime Services, Maersk Line, Ltd.
The Hon. Espen Barth Eide,
State Secretary, Ministry of Defense, Norway
General Walter Natynczyk,
Chief of the Defence Staff, Canada
General Victor E. Renuart, Jr.,
Commander, United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command
Moderator: Mr. Jamie McIntyre, Host of “Line of Departure”, Military.com
16:30-17:00 Coffee Break
17:00-18:30 Panel V: Law v. Power: Who Rules? Who Makes the Rules? - (On the Record)
The Hon. Stephen G. Breyer,
Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court
The Hon. Gregory B. Craig,
White House Counsel
Dr. Hina Jilani,
Human Rights Lawyer, AGHS Associates Legal Aid Cell, Pakistan
The Rt. Hon. Beverley McLachlin,
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Canada
Moderator: Ms. Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor, Slate
19:30-21:30 Dinner Sessions - (Off the Record)
The Fall of the Wall: New World or New World Order
With Mr. Andrei Sannikov, Leader of "European Belarus" and Former Deputy Foreign Minister, Belarus
With Mr. Christian Wernicke, U.S. Correspondent, Sueddeutsche Zeitung
Hosted by Mr. James Appathurai, Spokesman, NATO
The Future of Democracy in the Western Hemisphere
With The Hon. Nelson Azevedo Jobim, Minister of Defense, Brazil
With The Hon. Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the
Hosted by The Hon. Jim Kolbe, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Global Energy Security: Pipe Dream?
With Mr. J. Robinson West, Chairman of the Board, PFC Energy
Hosted by Ms. Alina Inayeh, Director, Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Iraq: Still Work To Do
With The Hon. Stephen Hadley, Senior Advisor for International Affairs, United States Institute of Peace and Former National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush
Hosted by Ms. Amberin Zaman, Turkey Correspondent, The Economist
Laws of War: Do They Work?
With Mr. Robert Taylor, Principal Deputy Counsel, Department of Defense,
United States
With Brigadier-General Ken Watkin, Judge Advocate General, Department of National Defence, Canada
Hosted by Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüeller, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Made in China: Challenges and Opportunities
With Mr. Yukio Okamoto, President, Okamoto Associates, Japan
With Dr. Arvind Virmani, Executive Director, International Monetary Fund
Hosted by Mr. Andrew Small, Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
NATO’s Strategic Direction
With Admiral James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander, United States European Command
Hosted by Mr. Dan Fata, Vice President, The Cohen Group and Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Obama: One Year In
With The Hon. Gregory B. Craig, White House Counsel
With Mr. Robert Liberatore, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Hosted by Mr. Craig Kennedy, President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Pakistan: Who Can Help and How?
With The Hon. Christopher Alexander, Former Ambassador to Afghanistan, Canada
With Dr. Hina Jilani, Human Rights Lawyer, AGHS Associates Legal Aid Cell, Pakistan
Hosted by Dr. Dan Twining, Senior Fellow for Asia, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Regional Help Wanted: The Role of Neighbors in Securing Peace, or Not?
With The Hon. Murat Mercan, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Turkish Parliament
With Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, Shadow Security Minister and National Security Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
Hosted by Mr. Ivan Vejvoda, Executive Director, Balkan Trust for Democracy, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Security and Climate Change
With Ms. Sherri Goodman, Senior Vice President, CNA
Hosted by Ms. Heidi Cullen, Senior Research Scientist, Climate Central
Terrorism: What’s Next?
With Dr. Alexander Garza, Assistant Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, United States
With The Hon. Matan Vilnai, Deputy Minister of Defense, Israel
Hosted by Dr. Ian O. Lesser, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Ukraine Before the Elections
With Mr. Olexander Scherba, Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to Ukrainian Presidential Candidate A.Yatseniuk
With Mr. Boris Tarasyuk, Member, Ukrainian Parliament
Hosted by Mr. David J. Kramer, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States
What Ideas Are Worth Defending?
With Dr. Peter Berkowitz, Tad and Dianne Taube Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution
With The Hon. Pieter De Crem, Minister of Defense, Belgium
Hosted by Mr. Joe Wood, Senior Resident Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Sunday, November 22
09:00-10:00 Iran: What Do We Do?- (On the Record)
The Hon. Darrell Issa,
Member, United States House of Representatives
The Hon. Ruprecht Polenz,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, German Parliament
Moderator: Mr. Julian Borger, Diplomatic Editor, The Guardian
10:00-10:30
Coffee Break
10:30-11:45 Panel VI: Nukes: Who's Got'Em? Who Wants'Em? Who's Giving'Em Away? What Do We Do About It? - (On the Record)
Dr. Camille Grand,
Executive Director, The Foundation for Strategic Research
The Hon. Stephen Hadley,
Senior Advisor for International Affairs, United States Institute of Peace
The Hon. Ellen Tauscher,
Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security, Department of State, United States
Mr. Tsuneo “Nabe” Watanabe,
Senior Fellow, Tokyo Foundation
Moderator: Mr. Roger Cohen, Columnist, New York Times and International Herald Tribune
11:45-12:15 Coffee Break
12:15-13:30 Panel VII: What Should NATO Stand For? - (On the Record)
The Hon. Pieter De Crem,
Minister of Defense, Belgium
Mr. Bruce Jackson,
Founder and President, Project on Transitional Democracies
Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones,
Shadow Security Minister and National Security Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
The Hon. Christian Schmidt,
Parliamentary State Secretary, Ministry of Defense, Germany
Moderator: Mr. Anton La Guardia, Defense and Security Correspondent, The Economist
http://www.gmfus.org/halifax/agenda.html
by Anthony Fenton
HALIFAX, Canada - While the world's top military elites gather inside a fortified hotel to discuss NATO's future, protesters question the organization's legitimacy, secrecy, and the lack of democratic debate about the increasingly unpopular war in Afghanistan.
An imposing 'United States of America'-emblazoned aircraft greeted visitors on the tarmac of Halifax International Airport Friday, as more than 250 of the Western world's top military leaders and their brain trust descended on the city for the inaugural Halifax International Security Forum.
Co-sponsored by the government of Canada and the U.S.-based German Marshall Fund think tank, over 60 percent of the attendees hailed from these host nations for what is being dubbed a World Economic Forum-style conference for militarists.
Announcing the Forum last July, German Marshall Fund President Craig Kennedy called it "a step in the process of changing the conversation" about Canada's role in the 'trans-Atlantic community,' toward a recognition of its being a top-tier power in its own right that is worthy of a seat at the table with the globe's most powerful war-fighting nations.
Canada's transformation to a counterinsurgency-capable expeditionary force and its contribution to the war in southern Afghanistan has earned it the respect of NATO's key power, the United States, which, in turn, has boosted its global profile among other NATO allies.
In the opening session featuring Canadian Minister of Defence Peter MacKay and U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, MacKay said "We take great pride in knowing that Canadian's contribution to transatlantic cooperation as a steadfast reliable friend and ally is recognised."
Gates lauded Canada as a "major contributor" to the Afghan war and for helping to "hold the line in the South before U.S. reinforcements arrived", following a mini-surge that began in the latter days of the Bush administration, and was subsequently bolstered by President Barack Obama's addition of over 20,000 troops to the conflict since last March.
Currently, the Obama administration is deliberating over whether or not to implement an Iraq-style "surge" of upwards of tens of thousands of troops into Afghanistan. Canada's former Chief of Defence Staff, Rick Hillier, who spoke on a panel about the war with Republican Senator John McCain Saturday, said "The surge...is fundamental here, it's absolutely essential."
For his part, Senator McCain insisted that the Iraqi surge can be replicated in Afghanistan and that within the next year to 18 months, "We can turn the situation around."
Reflecting its parallels with other high-profile meetings among global elites, most of the Forum's agenda is off-the-record and closed to the media. Aside from the more than 25 journalists who are 'embedded' inside the proceedings, where comments can only be reported based on 'Chatham House Rules' - that is, not for attribution to particular individuals - most reporters are given limited access to the panelists and attendees, and are sequestered in a press room under tightly controlled conditions.
During his prepared remarks, Peter MacKay referred to this format as "a chance where people can speak openly, honestly, among friends", albeit largely outside of public scrutiny. Contrary to its undemocratic overtones, MacKay told IPS that he feels the conference is "an example of democracy promotion, having an international forum such as this...talking about issues that relate to the democracies of the world".
MacKay also spoke proudly to IPS about instances where "the United States and Canada have collaborated in the past on democracy promotion, certainly Afghanistan is a good example of that."
The Halifax Forum took place on the heels of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's inauguration, following NATO-sponsored elections last August that are widely seen to have been fraudulent.
The biggest such conference ever to be hosted in Canada, Halifax was seen as the ideal site given its strategic geographic location, and its position as a launching site for many of Canada's military forces. Although Halifax is known as a pro-military community, outside on Friday a small group of protesters denounced the forum, which they called a "war conference" that is being held to "work out the justification for the global expansion of NATO and to extend the ongoing illegal occupation of Afghanistan".
On Saturday, a larger protest took place which featured former Afghan parliamentarian Malalai Joya, who has been touring North America promoting her new book, "A Woman Among Warlords".
An outspoken critic of the ongoing occupation of her country, Joya has called for NATO to withdraw its forces. No Afghans participated in the Forum itself, and Joya was forced to deliver her short speech while separated from the Forum venue by a wall of police.
Joya told the several dozen boisterous protesters that the invasion of her country pushed the Afghan people "from the frying pan into the fire because they brought into power a photocopy of the Taliban", referring to the corrupt government of Karzai, which is comprised of many known warlords and suspected war criminals.
Joya added that a surge of U.S. troops in Afghanistan "will translate into killing more innocent people", and argued that "the policies of the Obama administration in Afghanistan are no different from that of Bush".
During a press briefing Friday, Sen. McCain told IPS that he would be "glad to meet" with Joya, and acknowledged that "she has kindred spirits here in Canada and in the United States who share exactly her view".
A CBS poll earlier this week showed that 69 percent of U.S. citizens think the Afghan war is on the wrong track, the highest ever level of opposition that has been registered during the eight-year occupation. Despite this, McCain added that "the majority of Afghan people don't share that particular position".
Apparently unfamiliar with Joya's position toward the unpopular war, McCain said, "in the course of our conversation, I would have to also try to get from her how she views the situation in Afghanistan after all the troops are gone."
Earlier this week, Joya told IPS correspondent Chris Arsenault, in a sit-down interview, that, "The war in Afghanistan has fostered terrorism, even though the stated goal is to fight it. The biggest beneficiaries of the conflict have been extremist groups who take advantage of legitimate grievances against NATO."
"They [the occupying forces] say if troops leave, the Taliban will eat us. But they are supporting the Taliban today, supporting warlords. Both of them are eating us. To fight against one enemy is easier than two. We are between two enemies [the occupiers and the extremists]," she said, urging an immediate troop withdrawal.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/11/22-7
http://www.gmfus.org/halifax/images/logo.jpg
The Halifax International Security Forum is a high-level meeting that brings together leaders from around the world in politics, military, government, business, academia, and media. Over three days, more than 300 participants take part in an intellectual, interactive exchange on pressing strategic issues. The Halifax International Security Forum provides a unique venue for thought-leaders and policymakers to discuss such issues as nuclear proliferation, Arctic security, the conflict in Afghanistan, and maritime security.
The Halifax International Security Forum is organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (www.gmfus.org) in cooperation with the Government of Canada, the Department of National Defence, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. This major international conference – the first of its kind in North America - is being held November 20-22, 2009, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
http://www.gmfus.org/halifax/
Halifax International Security Forum
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), in cooperation with the Government of Canada, has launched the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia to address the top global security
challenges facing the transatlantic community. This major international conference is the first of its kind on the North American continent.
Serious conferences about regional and global security have traditionally taken place outside of the United States and Canada. However, no country and no continent are immune to the world’s new dangers. GMF’s mission to promote cooperation between North America and Europe on a wide range of concerns led to the creation of a major international security conference in Canada. By bringing together leading policy and opinion makers from around the world, Halifax Forum will help shape a new transatlantic security agenda that can adapt to changing global realities and emerging threats.
The Agenda and Format
Building on the model of GMF’s successful Brussels Forum, the Halifax International Security Forum will feature a mix of plenary sessions and smaller breakout sessions, with emphasis on intimate and interactive exchanges between panelists and participants. On-the-record panels will cover broad themes such as international law, nuclear proliferation, and global transatlanticism. Breakout sessions held under the Chatham House Rule will explore challenges associated with North Korea, development, climate change, and counter terrorism, among other topics. The agenda reflects the growing diversity of issues at the core of the transatlantic security relationship as well as the increasing geographic reach of transatlantic cooperation. Finally, the Saturday night dinners, also under the Chatham House Rule, give every participant a unique opportunity to further discuss key issues in a more intimate setting and at the same time sample local cuisine.
The Partners
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is delighted to welcome as key partners to this initiative the Government of Canada along with the Department of National Defence and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. We are grateful for all of their help in planning the inaugural Halifax International Security Forum.
• The German Marshall Fund of the United States is a grantmaking and public policy institute dedicated to strengthening transatlantic cooperation.
• The Government of Canada
• Department of National Defence
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
http://www.gmfus.org/halifax/about.html
Halifax International Security Forum
November 20-22, 2009
The Westin Nova Scotian
1181 Hollis Street
Halifax, NS B3H 2P6
DRAFT AGENDA
Please note that times on this agenda are subject to change.
Download Agenda (.pdf)
Friday :: Saturday :: Sunday
Friday, November 20
15:00-15:45 Introduction - (On the Record)
Mr. Craig Kennedy,
President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Opening Speech - (On the Record)
The Hon. Peter G. MacKay,
Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, Canada
Keynote Speech - (On the Record)
The Hon. Robert M. Gates,
Secretary of Defense, United States
15:45-16:15 Coffee Break
16:15-17:45 Panel I: Global Transatlanticism: Where the Allies Are - (On the Record)
Opening Remarks: The Hon. Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg,
Minister of Defense, Germany
Speakers: Mr. Yukio Okamoto,
President, Okamoto Associates, Japan
The Hon. Jeanne Shaheen,
Senator, United States Senate
Prof. Dr. Ilter Turan,
Professor of Political Science, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey
The Hon. Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg,
Minister of Defense, Germany
Moderator: The Hon. Pamela Wallin, Senator, Deputy Chair of the Senate Defence Committee, Canada
19:00-21:00 Gala Dinner
Welcome Remarks
Mr. Craig Kennedy,
President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
The Hon. Darrell Dexter,
Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada
Welcome Remarks on behalf of the U.S. Congressional Delegation
The. Hon John McCain,
Senator, United States Senate
The. Hon Mark Udall,
Senator, United States Senate
21:30 Night Owl Sessions
Partners and Problems: North Korea - (Off the Record)
Dr. Kim Changsu,
Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, South Korea
The Hon. Wayne Mapp,
Minister of Defence, New Zealand
Mr. Yukio Okamoto,
President, Okamoto Associates, Japan
Mr. Michael Schiffer,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian & Pacific Security Issues, East Asia,
United States
Moderator: Mr. Glyn Ford, Partner, Polint
Partners and Problems: The Middle East - (Off the Record)
The Hon. Dr. Mohammed Shtayyeh,
Minister of Public Works and Housing, Palestinian National Authority;
The Hon. Matan Vilnai
Deputy Minister of Defense, Israel
The Hon. Robert Wexler,
Member, United States House of Representatives
Moderator: Ms. Barbara Stegemann, Columnist, Halifax Chronicle-Herald and Founder, 7 Virtues Communications Group
Geopolitical Consequences of the Economic Crisis - (Off the Record)
Ms. Miriam L. Campanella,
Senior Lecturer, International Political Economy, University of Turin
The Hon. Edgars Rinkēvičs,
Head of the Chancery of the President of Latvia
Mr. John Vinocur,
Columnist, International Herald Tribune
Dr. Arvind Virmani,
Executive Director, International Monetary Fund
Moderator: Mr. Philip Stephens, Associate Editor, Financial Times
Saturday, November 21
08:00-09:15 Breakfast Sessions
Protecting Ports: Threatening Trade? - (Off the Record)
Mr. Earl Agron,
Vice President, Security and Environment, APL Limited
Ms. Karen Oldfield,
Chief Executive Officer, Halifax Port Authority
Mr. Jonathan S. Spaner,
Commanding Officer, United States Coast Guard
Moderator: Mr. Paul Brill, Editorial Writer, De Volkskrant
Pandemics: Public and Private Preparedness - (Off the Record)
Mr. Francis Delon,
Secretary General, National Defense Office, France
Dr. Nicole Lurie,
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Resources, United States
Moderator: Mr. Martin Klingst, Chief of Washington Bureau, Die Zeit
Security or Development: Which Comes First? - (Off the Record)
Major-General Peter Devlin,
Deputy Commander, Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command
The Hon. Pierre Duquesne,
Ambassador for Economic Issues, Reconstruction and Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France
Ms. Elissa Golberg,
Director General, Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force, Canada
The Hon. James Michel,
Counselor, United States Agency for International Development
Moderator: Mr. James Kunder, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
09:30-11:00 Panel II: Afghanistan: Transition To What?- (On the Record)
General (Retired) Rick Hillier,
Former Chief of the Defence Staff, Canada
The Hon. John McCain,
Senator, United States Senate
Mr. Michael Semple,
Research Fellow, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University
Mr. Najam Sethi,
Editor-in-Chief, Daily Times, Pakistan
Moderator: Ms. Lyse Doucet, Presenter, BBC
11:00-11:30 Coffee Break
11:30-13:00 Panel III: Pirates, Ports and Proliferation: Securing the Seas - (On the Record)
Admiral Mark Fitzgerald,
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa,
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
The Hon. Peter G. MacKay,
Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, Canada
The Hon. Eimert van Middelkoop,
Minister of Defense, The Netherlands
Moderator: Ms. Susan Bonner, Washington Correspondent, CBC News
13:00-14:30 Networking Lunch
15:00-16:30 Panel IV: Arctic Security: The New Great Game? - (On the Record)
Mr. Stephen M. Carmel,
Senior Vice President, Maritime Services, Maersk Line, Ltd.
The Hon. Espen Barth Eide,
State Secretary, Ministry of Defense, Norway
General Walter Natynczyk,
Chief of the Defence Staff, Canada
General Victor E. Renuart, Jr.,
Commander, United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command
Moderator: Mr. Jamie McIntyre, Host of “Line of Departure”, Military.com
16:30-17:00 Coffee Break
17:00-18:30 Panel V: Law v. Power: Who Rules? Who Makes the Rules? - (On the Record)
The Hon. Stephen G. Breyer,
Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court
The Hon. Gregory B. Craig,
White House Counsel
Dr. Hina Jilani,
Human Rights Lawyer, AGHS Associates Legal Aid Cell, Pakistan
The Rt. Hon. Beverley McLachlin,
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Canada
Moderator: Ms. Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor, Slate
19:30-21:30 Dinner Sessions - (Off the Record)
The Fall of the Wall: New World or New World Order
With Mr. Andrei Sannikov, Leader of "European Belarus" and Former Deputy Foreign Minister, Belarus
With Mr. Christian Wernicke, U.S. Correspondent, Sueddeutsche Zeitung
Hosted by Mr. James Appathurai, Spokesman, NATO
The Future of Democracy in the Western Hemisphere
With The Hon. Nelson Azevedo Jobim, Minister of Defense, Brazil
With The Hon. Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the
Hosted by The Hon. Jim Kolbe, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Global Energy Security: Pipe Dream?
With Mr. J. Robinson West, Chairman of the Board, PFC Energy
Hosted by Ms. Alina Inayeh, Director, Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Iraq: Still Work To Do
With The Hon. Stephen Hadley, Senior Advisor for International Affairs, United States Institute of Peace and Former National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush
Hosted by Ms. Amberin Zaman, Turkey Correspondent, The Economist
Laws of War: Do They Work?
With Mr. Robert Taylor, Principal Deputy Counsel, Department of Defense,
United States
With Brigadier-General Ken Watkin, Judge Advocate General, Department of National Defence, Canada
Hosted by Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüeller, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Made in China: Challenges and Opportunities
With Mr. Yukio Okamoto, President, Okamoto Associates, Japan
With Dr. Arvind Virmani, Executive Director, International Monetary Fund
Hosted by Mr. Andrew Small, Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
NATO’s Strategic Direction
With Admiral James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander, United States European Command
Hosted by Mr. Dan Fata, Vice President, The Cohen Group and Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Obama: One Year In
With The Hon. Gregory B. Craig, White House Counsel
With Mr. Robert Liberatore, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Hosted by Mr. Craig Kennedy, President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Pakistan: Who Can Help and How?
With The Hon. Christopher Alexander, Former Ambassador to Afghanistan, Canada
With Dr. Hina Jilani, Human Rights Lawyer, AGHS Associates Legal Aid Cell, Pakistan
Hosted by Dr. Dan Twining, Senior Fellow for Asia, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Regional Help Wanted: The Role of Neighbors in Securing Peace, or Not?
With The Hon. Murat Mercan, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Turkish Parliament
With Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, Shadow Security Minister and National Security Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
Hosted by Mr. Ivan Vejvoda, Executive Director, Balkan Trust for Democracy, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Security and Climate Change
With Ms. Sherri Goodman, Senior Vice President, CNA
Hosted by Ms. Heidi Cullen, Senior Research Scientist, Climate Central
Terrorism: What’s Next?
With Dr. Alexander Garza, Assistant Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, United States
With The Hon. Matan Vilnai, Deputy Minister of Defense, Israel
Hosted by Dr. Ian O. Lesser, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Ukraine Before the Elections
With Mr. Olexander Scherba, Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to Ukrainian Presidential Candidate A.Yatseniuk
With Mr. Boris Tarasyuk, Member, Ukrainian Parliament
Hosted by Mr. David J. Kramer, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States
What Ideas Are Worth Defending?
With Dr. Peter Berkowitz, Tad and Dianne Taube Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution
With The Hon. Pieter De Crem, Minister of Defense, Belgium
Hosted by Mr. Joe Wood, Senior Resident Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Sunday, November 22
09:00-10:00 Iran: What Do We Do?- (On the Record)
The Hon. Darrell Issa,
Member, United States House of Representatives
The Hon. Ruprecht Polenz,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, German Parliament
Moderator: Mr. Julian Borger, Diplomatic Editor, The Guardian
10:00-10:30
Coffee Break
10:30-11:45 Panel VI: Nukes: Who's Got'Em? Who Wants'Em? Who's Giving'Em Away? What Do We Do About It? - (On the Record)
Dr. Camille Grand,
Executive Director, The Foundation for Strategic Research
The Hon. Stephen Hadley,
Senior Advisor for International Affairs, United States Institute of Peace
The Hon. Ellen Tauscher,
Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security, Department of State, United States
Mr. Tsuneo “Nabe” Watanabe,
Senior Fellow, Tokyo Foundation
Moderator: Mr. Roger Cohen, Columnist, New York Times and International Herald Tribune
11:45-12:15 Coffee Break
12:15-13:30 Panel VII: What Should NATO Stand For? - (On the Record)
The Hon. Pieter De Crem,
Minister of Defense, Belgium
Mr. Bruce Jackson,
Founder and President, Project on Transitional Democracies
Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones,
Shadow Security Minister and National Security Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
The Hon. Christian Schmidt,
Parliamentary State Secretary, Ministry of Defense, Germany
Moderator: Mr. Anton La Guardia, Defense and Security Correspondent, The Economist
http://www.gmfus.org/halifax/agenda.html