WELCOME to SCWA FALL 2021
SEPTEMBER SCWA
2 Featured Programs
SCWA resumes In-person programming at Skidaway Community Church (aka Skidaway Presbyterian Church).
September 23 ~ IN-PERSON @ Skidaway Community Church ~ 7:30 PM
Dr. Charles Kupchan
“From Trump to Biden: Navigating Isolationist and Internationalist Traditions in U.S. Statecraft”
Dr. Charles Kupchan, Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and a
former National Security Council staff member.
Program Abstract
The United States is in the middle of an urgent and heated debate over the future of its engagement with the world. From America’s founding era until World War II, the nation’s leaders generally shunned strategic commitments abroad. Thereafter, Americans embraced global leadership and activism. The pendulum now seems to be swinging back. Trump’s “America First” approach to statecraft reflected the weakening of the nation’s appetite for internationalism due to costly military engagements in the Middle East, economic uncertainty
and a backlash against globalization, and domestic political polarization. Biden argues that “America is back,” but his withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq and his pursuit of a “foreign policy for the middle class” reveal continuing fragility in the domestic foundations of U.S. internationalism. Dr. Kupchan examines the history of isolationist and internationalist traditions in the United States to shed light on whether and how the Biden administration can bring the nation’s statecraft back into line with its means and purposes by finding the middle ground between a foreign policy that does too little and one that does too much.
OPEN TO ALL
$10 Guest Fee
Offered In-Person & Recorded
COVID-19 Protocols
- Liston Hall, starting at 7:30 p.m., Suspended social hour.
- Masks strongly encouraged.
- Advanced registration preferred; walk-ins allowed.
as
Q&A session to follow Dr. Kupchan’s presentation
September 14 ~ RECORDING available soon
Brigadier General Todd R. Wasmund, U.S. Army
“U.S. And French Military Cooperation – Meeting Security Requirements of Tomorrow”
The United States’ ally since the American Revolution, France remains one of our most capable and strategically important partners. Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine and annexation of Crimea in 2014 dramatically changed the security situation in Europe and caused the United States Army to reevaluate its posture and strengthen its relationships with its allies and partners in Europe. During his talk, BG Wasmund will briefly revisit recent events in Europe, introduce the exchange of general officers between the U.S. and French armies of which he is a part, and then provide an overview of the strategic vision of the French Army to meet emerging security requirements.
FREE & OPEN to ALL!
All attendees are required to register, including SCWA Members and Non-Members!
The regular $10/guest program fee is waived.
Register by: Monday, September 13 by clicking HERE.
Participants will be emailed program access instructions & reminder emails on Monday, September 13 and 1 hour before the live stream.
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SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Brigadier General (Promotable) Todd R. Wasmund is the first U.S. General Officer selected as an exchange officer with the French Army and began serving as the Deputy Commanding General – Operations of the 3rd (French) Division in Marseille in January 2020.
Commissioned into the Field Artillery in 1991 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy, he has served in a variety of positions throughout the United States, Europe, South Korea and Asia.
BG Wasmund has had the privilege to lead Soldiers on a Border Transition Team in Iraq, and he commanded the 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery in the United States and in Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, he also served as the Chief of Staff of the Combined Training Advisory Group – Army in support of the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan. He later commanded the 3rd Infantry Division Artillery Brigade at Fort Stewart, GA.
While serving as the Deputy Commanding General (Support) of the 1st Infantry Division, he commanded the Division Headquarters (Forward) in Poland.
BG Wasmund’s staff experience includes Chief of the Joint Staff, J35, Joint Operations Division in support of U.S. Africa Command and Chief of Staff of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill in Oklahoma.
He holds degrees from the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and the Dwight D. Eisenhower School at the National Defense University, and he served as an Instructor and Assistant Professor of Economics at the U.S. Military Academy.
His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, French Parachutist Badge, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.
BG Wasmund and his wife, Tracy, are most proud of their five children and eight grandchildren.
Note: BG Wasmund is scheduled to be promoted to Major General on 8 September 2021 with a ceremony in Germany.
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US World Affairs Councils are offering our Members Real-time Analysis through Free & Fee Webinars
Members can stay engaged & participate in various FREE & FEE Virtual Webinars offered by US World Affairs Councils. Both FREE & FEE Virtual Opportunities are listed below and updated weekly simply follow the links to register. ~ Stay Tuned & Have a Terrific Summer
All programs below are accessible online unless otherwise indicated.
Programming on Afghanistan
Member Councils have provided extensive insight into recent developments in Afghanistan. World Affairs (Northern California) has aired a podcast “Escape from Kabul” and held a “Virtual Town Hall: Supporting Local Aid to Afghanistan.”
WAC Atlanta has shared resources for the Hotline for SIV Applicants and resources for U.S. Government Implementing Partners.
Upcoming Programs:
- September 2: WorldOregon will host “Afghanistan—Inside Out.”
- September 2: World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth will host “9/11, Twenty Years On: A Look Back at the Investigation, the Commission’s Findings, and Subsequent Events.”
- September 2: Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall will host “Military and Intelligence Perspectives on the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan.”
- September 8: World Affairs Council of New Orleans will host “Great Decisions: The U.S. War in Afghanistan: the History, the Costs, and the Withdrawal“
- September 8: Montana World Affairs Council will host “Taliban, Islamic State (ISIS) & the Global Terrorist Network: What Just Happened in Afghanistan?“
- September 14: World Affairs Council of New Jersey will host “After the Fall: What the Taliban’s Takeover of Afghanistan Means for the U.S.“
- September 28: World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana will host “America, the Taliban, and the War Through Afghan Eyes“
- September 30: World Affairs Council of Rhode Island will host “Afghanistan: Beyond the Headlines with Anthropologist Thomas Barfield.”
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
Monday 9/13
World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Anniken Krutnes, Ambassador of Norway to the U.S., and Mikko Hautala Ambassador of Finland to the U.S., for “Nordic Innovation Series: Diplomats in Dialogue.”
International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Senior Fellow and Director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, for “Nuancing National Security: Transnational Security Issues.”
Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall and World Affairs Council of Orange County host Ryan Crocker, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, and Col.(Ret.) Richard Downie, for “The Past, Present, and Future of US-Afghanistan Relations and Foreign Policy.”
Tuesday 9/14
Alabama World Affairs Council hosts Lt. General (Ret.) John Bradley, co-founder of the Lamia Afghan Foundation, and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Walter Givhan, Council President, for “Afghanistan Then and Now.”
Worcester World Affairs Council hosts Bill McKibben, renowned author and environmentalist, for “Bill McKibben at Worcester World Affairs Council.”
Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy hosts Palwasha Kakar, Interim Director for Religion and Inclusive Societies at the U.S. Institute of Peace, for “9/11’s Impact on Women Around the World 20 Years Later.”
Cleveland Council on World Affairs hosts Stefan Kornelius, Foreign Editor of the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, and ACG President Steven Sokol for “Germany After Angela Merkel: Her Legacy and the Leadership Transition.”
Savannah Council on World Affairs hosts Brigadier General Todd Wasmund for “U.S. and French Military Cooperation – Meeting Security Requirements of Tomorrow.”
Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council hosts Laurent Dubois, Co-Director for Academic Affairs of the Democracy Initiative at University of Virginia, for “Haiti & Democracy”
World Affairs Council of New Jersey hosts career U.S. diplomat Annie Pforzheimer, former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan (2018-2019), for “After the Fall: What the Taliban’s Takeover of Afghanistan Means for the United States.”
World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky hosts film director Adam Stovall for “A Ghost Awaits.”
WorldDenver Young Professionals participate in the “9th Annual Global Cup Challenge Trivia Extravaganza.” (In Person)
World Affairs Council Upstate presents “Hiking with the UIWG.” (In Person)
Wednesday 9/15
Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Kati Marton, author of The Chancellor, and ACG President Steven Sokol for “The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel.”
Vermont Council on World Affairs hosts Linda Polman, Amsterdam-based journalist and author, for “The Crisis Caravan: What’s Wrong With Humanitarian Aid?”
World Affairs Council Upstate hosts Katherine “Kate” Palmer Kaup, James B. Duke Professor of Asian Studies and Political Science at Furman University, for “The No Rights Zone’: Violence Against Muslims in China.”
World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts Thomas Wright, Director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, for “Aftershocks: Pandemic Politics and the End of the Old International Order.”
Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts Sky Foerster for “The Biden Administration and the World.”
World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay hosts Thomas Barfield, Professor of Anthropology at Boston University, for “Crisis in Afghanistan and the Consequences of Wishful Thinking.”
World Affairs Council of Atlanta and WACA host a panel of experts for “Putting People First in Digital Government Series: A Trans-Atlantic Conversation.”
Thursday 9/16
Alaska World Affairs Council hosts Anniken Krutness, Ambassador of Norway to the U.S, and Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles, for “Ambassador Unplugged Series.”
International Affairs Forum (Traverse City) hosts Arwa Damon, CNN Senior International Correspondent, for “Middle East: War, Women, and Struggle.”
Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts Robert Ford, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and Advisor on Iran, and Ronald Neumann, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and Advisor on Iraq, for “50th Anniversary Gala: Looking Backward and Thinking Forward from the Experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
World Affairs Council of Sonoma County hosts David Balton, former U.S. Ambassador for Oceans and Fisheries and Senior Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Polar Institute, for “Seeking Leadership for a Changing Arctic.”
World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor and co-host of Pod Save the World, for “After the Fall: Being American in the World We’ve Made.”
Olympia World Affairs Council hosts Monica DeHart, distinguished Professor of Anthropology, University of Puget Sound, for “China in Latin America: Paving the Way Toward Development or Exploiting Opportunities for Regional Domination?”
World Affairs Council of Austin hosts “Globalist Coffeehouse: Afghanistan – What’s Next?”
World Affairs Council of Maine hosts “Coffee & Discussion.”
Friday 9/17
Global Ties Arizona hosts the Consulate of Mexico in Phoenix for “Dining for Diplomacy: Celebrating ‘Dia de la Independencia’ in Oaxaca, Mexico.”
World Affairs Council of Hilton Head hosts Larry Valero, Associate Professor of Intelligence and Security Studies, for “Community Global Forum: Larry Valero – Cyber Security.”
World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts “The Pursuit of Hoppiness: Meridian Young Professionals at Addison Oktoberfest.” (In Person)
Saturday 9/18
World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh presents the “Three Rivers Community Trail Ride.” (In Person)
World Affairs Council of Harrisburg hosts the “Annual Peace Symposium;” the Council also presents the “11th Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival.” (In Person)
Sunday 9/19
World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky hosts Sara Drabik, Abi Esmena, Jaime Meyers Schlenck, and Stacy Songer, WIF professionals, for “Lunafest Short Films” (In Person)
Stay Safe. Stay Engaged. Stay Informed.
Thank you for your SCWA Membership!
We are grateful to our members for their continuing strong support and are counting on it in the future! Stay well & informed until we personally see each other again soon.
CONGRATULATIONS!
SCWA Board of Directors President
José de Arimatéia da Cruz, Ph.D.
On being elected to the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) Board of Directors!
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