Former US diplomats to discuss Iraq policy at Baker Institute Nov. 4

BY FRANZ BROTZEN
Rice News staff

As the United States turns its attention to the war in Afghanistan, what lessons has it learned from Iraq? Two former U.S. ambassadors to Iraq will describe their efforts to create a stable government following the 2003 U.S. invasion in a Nov. 4 panel discussion at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.

	RYAN CROCKER		JOHN NEGROPONTE

Ryan Crocker will be joined by John Negroponte, who also served as deputy secretary of state, in the Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum titled “Diplomacy in Iraq.” Ronald Neumann, president of the American Academy of Diplomacy and a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, will moderate the discussion.

Edward Djerejian, founding director of the Baker Institute, will deliver the opening remarks.

Crocker and Negroponte spent much of their time in Baghdad trying to stabilize Iraq as a single state at peace with itself that can work out its political, sectarian and tribal differences through democratic means. The panel discussion will focus on the past, present and future of U.S. diplomacy within Iraq and the region. What sort of influence does the United States have, and how can it be used? What are the limitations of diplomacy? How does one connect diplomatic and military policy for greatest effect?

Baker Institute
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The discussion will begin at 6 p.m. in Baker Hall’s Kelly International Conference Facility.

There will be a reception beginning at 5:30.

The Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum panel discussion is organized by the Baker Institute and the American Academy of Diplomacy. The forum, established in honor of the late undersecretary of state and former academy chairman, aims to stimulate public discussion on the foreign policy themes to which Sisco dedicated his career.

Rice faculty, staff and students who want to attend must RSVP by e-mail (bipprsvp@rice.edu), by fax (713-348-5993) or on the Web at http://www.bakerinstitute.org/events/diplomacy-in-iraq.