August 27, 2018

WACA Weekly

This Week: Member Benefits: Conference Scholarships for Students and Stratfor Subscription Discount; WACDFW Focuses on Education; Wanted: Council CEOs; Pulitzer Prize-winning Author Visits Cover to Cover; plus, Program News

WACA 2018 National Conference: Braving the New World Order

November 7-9

The Mayflower Hotel

Washington, DC

The National Board of Directors of the World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to announce that WACA will offer 25 scholarships for undergraduate students from the Council network to attend our 2018 National Conference - Braving the New World Order - November 7-9 at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.

The WACA Board, in partnership with The Gambrinus Company and Mr. Carlos Alvarez, is offering these scholarships in order to fulfill our educational mission and to prepare future leaders for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Conference -- coming right after the midterm elections -- promises to be a special occasion for our network of Council leaders, members, friends, and students to engage with many leading policy makers and analysts about critical foreign and trade policy issues and America's role in the world.

Stratfor Worldview:

Special subscription discount for WACA Members!

Dear Council Leaders and Supporters:

It's a pleasure to share an exciting opportunity with you. As part of WACA's evolving partnership with Stratfor, the Austin, Texas-based company renowned for its geopolitical intelligence platform, we are pleased to offer a significantly discounted annual subscription to Stratfor Worldview for members of WACA and local Councils.

Your premium digital subscription includes:

·     Unlimited access to all Analyses, Articles, Guidances, and Snapshots

·     Custom Email Notifications

·     My Collections - your library of Stratfor Insights

·     Members-only Discussion Forums

·     Members-only Newsletters

·     Quarterly, Annual, and Decade Forecasts

·     Access to Mobile App for iOS and Android

·     Text-to-Voice feature to listen to Stratfor WorldView content when on the move

With Stratfor's special WACA discount, you will save 72% off the price of a one-year subscription. Enjoy the wealth of analytical and predictive insights for only $99 - the equivalent of just $1.90 per week!

To redeem this offer, visit Stratfor's World Affairs Councils of America Partnership Page.

And for members of WACA's 1918 Society, you will receive the subscription automatically, for free, as a benefit of your participation! (Hint: join the 1918 Society today!)

Council of the Month Sets Itself Apart with Education

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is investing in the next generation with discounted educator and school memberships, free student tickets for speaker programs, International Career Day, internships, and the International Educator of the Year awards.

Additionally, the unique “20 Under 20” program was added in 2016 to shine a spotlight on young people who give back to their communities and exemplify what it means to be a global Texan. The driven group of students that make up the 20 Under 20 Class of 2018 participated in three days of the leadership program in June, meeting with leaders in various industries including the Dallas Business Journal, the City of Dallas’s Office of Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs, Azteca America TV 55 Studios, the Canadian Consulate, UT Dallas Center for Brain Health, and Texas Central Partners.

The Council's investment in the students of Dallas-Fort Worth has paid off: Plano West Senior High School has won WACA's Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition two years in a row. 

Click here to learn more.

Councils Seek Executives

Global Minnesota -- President

Global Minnesota seeks an outstanding and experienced international affairs and nonprofit sector leader to serve as its President. This role will develop the organization’s engagement throughout Minnesota using the 5-year Strategic Plan as a roadmap with the goal of deeper awareness and understanding of global economic, political, social, and cultural ideas and issues. Apply here.

Cleveland Council on World Affairs -- CEO

CCWA is seeking a Chief Executive Officer. The ideal candidate will bring proven strategic and hands-on leadership experience to fulfill CCWA’s mission to inspire engagement in international affairs and world cultures through education, citizen diplomacy, and public dialogue. Apply here.

Cover to Cover will feature a conversation with C.J. Chivers, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the New York Times, on his new book, The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.

You are able to contribute to the World Affairs Councils of America at no additional cost to you! If you shop at Amazon through this link or the Amazon Smile logo to the left, a portion of your purchase will be donated to WACA. Bookmark our page today!

Council Highlights

Monday 8/27

Global Minnesota hosts Kate Bauer, Blumenstein-Katz Family fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and a panel of experts for “Iran Sanctions and the U.S. Business Community.” Details

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Robert Jordan, former U.S. Ambassador, along with Professors Dina Alsowayel and Gregory Gause for “Reform in Saudi Arabia: Real Change or Consolidation of Power?” Details

Wednesday 8/29

World Affairs Council of Inland Southern California host Dr. Haroon Ullah, Chief Strategy Officer at Broadcasting Board of Governors, for “Fighting for Cyber Supremacy in an Age of Extremism.” Details Mr. Ullah was last December's Cover to Cover author.

World Affairs Council of Jacksonville host Dr. Madiha Afzal, author and adjunct assistant professor at Johns Hopkins, for “Quarterly Saloon – Pakistan Under Siege: Extremism, Society, and the State.” Details Ms. Afzal was this past April's Cover to Cover author.

Thursday 8/30

San Diego World Affairs Council host Dr. Haroon Ullah, Chief Strategy Officer at Broadcasting Board of Governors, for “Fighting for Cyber Supremacy in an Age of Extremism.” Details

August 22, 2018

Weekly World News Update

Kofi Annan's Legacy; Europe's Risky Infrastructure; Merkel Meets Putin; Greece Exits Bailout; Venezuela's Currency Crisis; Key Elections in Paraguay and Brazil; Deadly Floods in India

Quote of the Week

"We are a global society, and I believe it is through open dialogue and the exchanging of ideas that we have a real opportunity to learn from one another."

-- First Lady Melania Trump, issuing a public statement Monday, in which she announced plans to travel to Africa without her husband in October.

Kofi Annan's Legacy

“Kofi Annan, Who Redefined the UN, Dies at 80” Alan Cowell -- New York Times, August 18, 2018

"Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Left a Legacy of a More Interventionist United Nations" Jason Daley -- Smithsonian.com, August 20, 2018

"Kofi Annan’s Unaccountable Legacy" Philip Gourevitch -- The New Yorker, August 18, 2018

“Kofi Annan, RIP” Frederic C. Hof -- Atlantic Council, August 20, 2018

“Italy’s Crumbling Infrastructure Under Scrutiny After Bridge Collapse” Lorenzo Tondo -- The Guardian, August 17, 2018

“Cut in Two, Genoa Finds Its Political Paralysis Now Eclipsed by Shock” Gaia Pianigiani, Elisabetta Povoledo, and Richard Perez-Peña-- The New York Times, August 16, 2018

“Audit Warns 840 Bridges May Be at Risk of Collapse in France” Editorial Board -- Al Jazeera, August 19, 2018

Not at All "Helsinki"

“Merkel and Putin Talk Syria, Ukraine, and Nord Steam 2 – But Meeting Ends with No Agreements” Colin Drury -- Independent, August 19, 2018

“Nord Stream 2: Is Germany ‘Captive’ to Russian Energy?” James McBride -- Council on Foreign Relations, August 16, 2018

“A Breakthrough in Berlin? Not So Fast.” Jörn Fleck -- Atlantic Council, August 17, 2018

Greek Bailout Ends for Better or Worse

“Greece Exits Bailouts, But Difficult Path Ahead” Eric Maurice and Damiano Bacci -- EU Observer, August 20, 2018

“Greek Bailout: IMF and Europeans Diverge on Lessons Learnt” Matthew Oxenford and Dr. Angelos Chryssogelos -- Chatham House, August 16, 2018

“Greece’s Bailout Is Ending But the Pain Is Far from Over” Liz Alderman -- The Irish Times, August 20, 2018

Hyperinflating Venezuela's Currency

“Venezuela’s Red Friday: Maduro’s Destructive Plan” Moises Rendon -- Center for Strategic & International Studies, August 21, 2018

“Venezuela’s ‘Desperate’ Currency Devaluation Won’t Save Its Economy from Collapse” Benjamin J. Cohen -- The Conversation, August 22, 2018

“Venezuelans Skeptical of Maduro’s Latest Measures to Salvage Economy” Kejal Vyas, Maolis Castro, and Juan Forero -- The Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2018

Paraguay's New President

“New Paraguayan President Abdo Benitez Sworn In” Editorial Board -- BBC, August 16, 2018

“New President Takes Over in Paraguay, Vows to Cut Poverty” Pedro Servin -- The Washington Post, August 15, 2018

“Paraguay’s New President: All Bark and No Bite?” Felipe Puerta -- Insight Crime, August 16, 2018

Controversial Vote Ahead in Brazil

“Brazil Readies for Contentious Presidential Campaign” David Wemer -- Atlantic Council, August 16, 2018

“Bots in Brazil: The Activity of Social Media Bots in Brazilian Elections” Andrew Allen -- Wilson Center, August 17, 2018

“Brazil Election: What to Expect from October’s Presidential Poll” Sam Cowie -- Al Jazeera, August 15, 2018

Catastrophic Floods in India

“Bodies Found as Floods Recede in India’s Kerala” Editorial Board -- Channel News Asia, August 20, 2018

“Officials Say Over 350 Dead, 800,000 Displaced in India Flood” Aijaz Rahi -- Time, August 19, 2018

August 20, 2018

WACA Weekly

This Week: Cover to Cover on Cuba; Qatar Deadline; Member Benefits: Conference Scholarships for Students and Stratfor Subscription Discount; Wanted: Council CEOs; plus, Program News

Wednesday, August 22, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET

Cover to Cover with Vicki Huddleston on Cuba

Peeling back the "Sugar Curtain" to examine several decades of stormy relations between the U.S. and Cuba, Vicki Huddleston, the top diplomat in Havana under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, provides an essential memoir. Huddleston also peers into the future, when for the first time in more than six decades no one named Castro will be Cuba's leader.

Register now for the conference call Wed., Aug. 22, at 2-2:30 PM ET.

Coming up in September...

Cover to Cover will feature a conversation with C.J. Chivers, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the New York Times, on his new book, The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.

You are able to contribute to the World Affairs Councils of America at no additional cost to you! If you shop at Amazon through this link or the Amazon Smile logo to the left, a portion of your purchase will be donated to WACA. Bookmark our page today!

WACA 2018 Leadership Mission to Qatar: October 12-19

The application deadline is Friday, August 24, 2018. If you have any questions, please send an email to Liz Brailsford at the WACA National Office at lbrailsford@worldaffairscouncils.org.

The World Affairs Councils of America is delighted to announce that the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, DC will sponsor a WACA Leadership Mission to Qatar, this October.

Note: Flights will depart from United States airports on Friday, October 12, and arrive in Doha on Saturday, October 13. Return flights will depart Qatar on Friday, October 19.

This WACA Leadership Mission will be comprised of a Qatar Embassy representative, WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford, and a minimum of 10 delegates from the Council network. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with top government officials, business leaders, journalists, and other experts to gain a better understanding of the political, national security, economic, social, and cultural landscape of the host country. See complete details.

WACA 2018 National Conference: Braving the New World Order

November 7-9

The Mayflower Hotel

Washington, DC

The National Board of Directors of the World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to announce that WACA will offer 25 scholarships for undergraduate students from the Council network to attend our 2018 National Conference - Braving the New World Order - November 7-9 at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.

The WACA Board, in partnership with The Gambrinus Company and Mr. Carlos Alvarez, is offering these scholarships in order to fulfill our educational mission and to prepare future leaders for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Conference -- coming right after the midterm elections -- promises to be a special occasion for our network of Council leaders, members, friends, and students to engage with many leading policy makers and analysts about critical foreign and trade policy issues and America's role in the world.

Stratfor Worldview:

Special subscription discount for WACA Members!

Dear Council Leaders and Supporters:

It's a pleasure to share an exciting opportunity with you. As part of WACA's evolving partnership with Stratfor, the Austin, Texas-based company renowned for its geopolitical intelligence platform, we are pleased to offer a significantly discounted annual subscription to Stratfor Worldview for members of WACA and local Councils.

Your premium digital subscription includes:

·     Unlimited access to all Analyses, Articles, Guidances, and Snapshots

·     Custom Email Notifications

·     My Collections - your library of Stratfor Insights

·     Members-only Discussion Forums

·     Members-only Newsletters

·     Quarterly, Annual, and Decade Forecasts

·     Access to Mobile App for iOS and Android

·     Text-to-Voice feature to listen to Stratfor WorldView content when on the move

With Stratfor's special WACA discount, you will save 72% off the price of a one-year subscription. Enjoy the wealth of analytical and predictive insights for only $99 - the equivalent of just $1.90 per week!

To redeem this offer, visit Stratfor's World Affairs Councils of America Partnership Page.

And for members of WACA's 1918 Society, you will receive the subscription automatically, for free, as a benefit of your participation! (Hint: join the 1918 Society today!)

Council of the Month: WAC Dallas/Forth Worth to Honor Ron Kirk

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth will honor former U.S. ambassador and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk for his public service, civic, and business leadership with the H. Neil Mallon Award at its 35th annual dinner on October 12 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.

One of the most respected and admired individuals in the Dallas/Fort Worth community, Ron Kirk is a 30-year public servant and legal veteran. He serves as senior counsel in the Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Dallas and Washington, DC offices, and provides leadership for a number of corporate boards and charitable organizations.

Honorary event chairs are former President Barack Obama, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price.

Click here to learn more about participating or call 214-695-8400. 

August 16, 2018

Cover to Cover summer read transports you to Havana, Cuba...

Wednesday, August 22, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET

Cover to Cover with Ambassador Vicki Huddleston

Our Woman in Havana

Peeling back the "Sugar Curtain" to examine several decades of stormy relations between the U.S. and Cuba, Vicki Huddleston, the top diplomat in Havana under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, provides an essential memoir.

Huddleston recounts missed opportunities for detente and the myths and misconceptions that have long pervaded the U.S.-Cuban standoff. Her perspectives on the Obama administration's diplomatic opening of 2014, the mysterious "sonic" brain and hearing injuries suffered by American and Canadian diplomats who were serving in Havana, and the Trump administration's reversal of the Obama opening, are nuanced and well presented.

Huddleston also peers into the future, when for the first time in more than six decades no one named Castro will be Cuba's leader.

Join our conference call Wednesday, August 22, at 2:00-2:30 pm ET.

Coming up on September 11:

Cover to Cover on 9/11 will feature a conversation with C.J. Chivers, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the New York Times, on his new book, The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.

You are able to contribute to the World Affairs Councils of America at no additional cost to you! If you shop at Amazon through this link or the Amazon Smile logo to the left, a portion of your purchase will be donated to WACA. Bookmark our page today!

August 16, 2018

WACA and Councils to Provide 25 Student Scholarships for 2018 National Conference

The National Board of Directors of the World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to announce that WACA will offer 25 scholarships for undergraduate students from the Council network to attend our 2018 National Conference - Braving the New World Order - November 7-9 at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.

The WACA Board, in partnership with The Gambrinus Company and Mr. Carlos Alvarez, is offering these scholarships in order to fulfill our educational mission and to prepare future leaders for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Conference -- coming right after the midterm elections -- promises to be a special occasion for our network of Council leaders, members, friends, and students to engage with many leading policy makers and analysts about critical foreign and trade policy issues and America's role in the world.

Scholarship Award

We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to make the WACA 2018 National Conference available to a very important audience: our promising undergraduate scholars. The scholarship includes registration fees plus $1,000 per student to be used towards travel, lodging, and/or incidentals. 

Eligibility & Expectations

·     World Affairs Councils must publicize the WACA scholarship opportunity in a substantial manner to their members and local educational institutions in order to attract the best potential candidates.

·     Each Council executive may nominate one college undergraduate student, 18 years or older, from their local Council communities.

·     High school students, undergraduates studying in Washington, DC, and graduate students are not eligible.

·     Each nomination must be submitted with the Nomination Form and must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the Council head explaining why the student has been selected for consideration for this scholarship.

·     Students who attend the Conference will be expected to blog and post on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) before, during, and after the WACA Conference. The student's ability to do so should be considered by Councils during the nomination process.

·     Students who attend the Conference will be required to submit a two-page report on their experience. The deadline to do so is Monday, December 3, 2018. 

Selection

·     Nominations are due by Friday, September 21, 2018. Send the completed Nomination Form and accompanying nomination letter to Liz Brailsford at lbrailsford@worldaffairscouncils.org.

·     Nominated students will be reviewed by the National Office in consultation with the WACA National Board of Directors. Selections will be announced the week of September 24.

·     The National Office will confirm the selected undergraduates to their Councils and will register these participants for the 2018 Conference.

·     WACA will then provide a scholarship check of $1,000 per selected student, made out to the Council, to help cover travel, lodging, and other expenses for the scholarship recipient. Councils are responsible for making these arrangements with/for the selected students.

·     We strongly urge scholarship participants to make every effort to book rooms at WACA's discounted group rate at The Mayflower Hotel.

Council leaders, this is a competitive program and we look forward to receiving nominations of excellent candidates. We also hope that you will encourage your Council members and board members to  register now  for the 2018 National Conference. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Thank you to our generous sponsor:

WACA 2018 National Conference: Braving the New World Order

November 7-9

The Mayflower Hotel

Washington, DC

Our Table of Eight promotion has been extended - be sure to check it out!

Think Tank six-pack

Brookings Institution

Thomas Wright is director of the Center on the United States and Europe and a senior fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy at Brookings.

Center for Strategic and International Studies

The principals of The Trade Guys, CSIS’s recently launched podcast, will offer a special briefing for a live WACA audience at CSIS headquarters.

PLUS:

American Enterprise Institute 

Center for American Progress New this year!

Center for a New American Security

The McCain Institute New this year!

Additional National Conference speakers and program details will be made in the coming weeks!

The WACA 2018 National Conference will be held November 7-9 at the beautifully renovated

Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. 

Book your rooms under WACA's special group rate of 

$259 / night (Single/Double Occupancy) plus tax.

Click here to reserve your room!

August 15, 2018

Weekly World News Update

U.S.-Turkey Relations in Tailspin; Fragile Alliances; Stronger Sanctions Slam Russia; Space Force; Technology...Making Things Better?; Argentine Senate Rejects Legalizing Abortion; Cuban Governance

Quote of the Week

"Washington must give up the misguided notion that our relationship can be asymmetrical...Failure to reverse this trend of unilateralism and disrespect will require us to start looking for new friends and allies." -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose op-ed appeared in Friday's New York Times.

U.S.-Turkey Relations in Tailspin

“The Real Reasons Why U.S.-Turkey Relations Have Hit an All-Time Low” James Carey -- Geopolitics Alert, August 12, 2018

“Turkey’s Frustration Is Bigger Than U.S.: Foreign Minister” -- Hurriyet Daily News, August 15, 2018

“'Relations with Turkey Are Not Good at This Time' (Trump Tweet)” Krishnadev Calamur -- The Atlantic, August 11, 2018

"Trump Is the First President to Get Turkey Right" Steven Cook -- Foreign Policy, August 13, 2018

“Lira Crisis: Action by Turkey’s Central Bank Fails to Quell Contagion Fears” Julia Kollewe and Martin Farrer -- The Guardian, August 13, 2018

Fragile Alliances 

“Allies, Alliances, and the Fourth Strategic Offset” Michael Miklaucic -- Real Clear Defense, August 10, 2018 

“Security Woes: Why Europe Must Develop Its Own Security Framework” Cristian Tracci -- Foreign Policy Association Blog, August 13, 2018  

“The Case Against a U.S. Retreat from International Development” John R. Allen -- Brookings, August 10, 2018

Stronger Sanctions Slam Russia

“Russia Likens U.S. Sanctions to Economic War – and Threatens Response ‘By Other Means’” Sam Meredith -- CNBC, August 10, 2018 

"U.S. Congress Publishes Entire Text of Russia Sanctions 'Bill from Hell’" -- RT, August 14, 2018

"Ruble Tumbles as U.S. Sets Out New Sanctions on Russia" Andrew Kramer -- New York Times, August 9, 2018

Space Force 

“Space Force Is Trump’s Answer to New Russian and Chinese Weapons” Lara Seligman -- Foreign Policy, August 10, 2018 

“Trump's Space Force Is About Beating China, as Beijing Is Talking as if It Already Owns Space” Alex Lockie -- Business Insider, August 10, 2018 

“U.S. Needs a Cyber Force More Than a Space Force” James Stavridis -- Bloomberg, August 14, 2018 

“Opinion: Why a Missile Defense System in Space Is a Bad Idea” Laura Grego and David Wright -- Politico, August 10, 2018 

Technology...Making Things Better?

“Elon Musk Says Money to Take Tesla Private Would Come from Saudi Arabia, But He Hasn’t Struck a Deal” James F. Peltz and James Rufus Koren -- LA Times, August 13, 2018 

“Update on Taking Tesla Private” Elon Musk -- Tesla, August 13, 2018 

“AP Exclusive: Google Tracks Your Movements, Like It or Not” Ryan Nakashima -- AP, August 13, 2018   

Argentine Senate Rejects Legalizing Abortion

“Argentina’s Women Have Not Been Beaten on Abortion – Change Will Come” Claudia Piñeiro -- The Guardian, August 10, 2018 

“For Abortion Activists in Argentina, a Campaign Waged Online Faces a Disconnect” Jasmine Garsd -- NPR, August 10, 2018 

“Pro-Abortion-Rights Activists Won in Ireland, But Not Argentina” Yasmeen Serhan -- The Atlantic, August 10, 2018 

Cuban Governance

"Cuba Begins Public Debate on Modernizing Cold War-era Constitution" Marc Frank -- Reuters, August 13, 2018

“Cuban Opposition Leader Is Accused of Attempted Murder. Activists Dispute the Charge” Nora Gámez Torres -- Miami Herald, August 13, 2018 

August 13, 2018

WACA Weekly

This Week: Announcing a New Council Benefit from Stratfor; Election-year Programming; Cover to Cover on Cuba; Qatar Tour; and Council Highlights

Special subscription discount

for WACA Members!

Dear Council Leaders and Supporters:

It's a pleasure to share an exciting opportunity with you. As part of WACA's evolving partnership with Stratfor, the Austin, Texas-based company renowned for its geopolitical intelligence platform, we are pleased to offer a significantly discounted annual subscription to Stratfor Worldview for members of WACA and local Councils.

Your premium digital subscription includes:

·     Unlimited access to all Analyses, Articles, Guidances, and Snapshots

·     Custom Email Notifications

·     My Collections - your library of Stratfor Insights

·     Members-only Discussion Forums

·     Members-only Newsletters

·     Quarterly, Annual, and Decade Forecasts

·     Access to Mobile App for iOS and Android

·     Text-to-Voice feature to listen to Stratfor WorldView content when on the move

With Stratfor's special WACA discount, you will save 72% off the price of a one-year subscription. Enjoy the wealth of analytical and predictive insights for only $99 - the equivalent of just $1.90 per week!

To redeem this offer, visit Stratfor's World Affairs Councils of America Partnership Page.

And for members of WACA's 1918 Society, you will receive the subscription automatically, for free, as a benefit of your participation! (Hint: join the 1918 Society today!)

With best wishes,

Bill Clifford

WACA President and CEO

Council of the Month WAC Dallas/Forth Worth:

Striking Programming Balance in an Election Year

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is distinguishing itself by offering programs that feature key politicians while assiduously upholding one of the Council's core values: nonpartisanship.

With less than 100 days until midterm elections, two big Texas races are taking center stage. The 32nd Congressional District is one of the most-watched House races in the country, featuring longtime Republican incumbent Pete Sessions, who chairs the powerful House Rules Committee, and Obama-endorsed first-time candidate Colin Allred. Inside Elections now rates this race a toss-up. The Senate race has also intensified, as recent polls show Senator Ted Cruz with just a slight lead ahead of Texas 16th Congressional District Representative and Democratic candidate, Beto O’Rourke.

Recently, Allred joined the Council for a discussion; Sessions, Beto, and Cruz have been confirmed for engagements pending availability in their calendars. WACDFW also plans to invite all 2020 Presidential candidates to speak. According to its most recent survey, this open forum approach to programming has served the Council well as members see the organization as politically neutral and unbiased. Read more about WACDFW's programming here.

Wednesday, August 22, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET

Cover to Cover with Vicki Huddleston on Cuba

Peeling back the "Sugar Curtain" to examine several decades of stormy relations between the U.S. and Cuba, Vicki Huddleston, the top diplomat in Havana under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, provides an essential memoir. Huddleston also peers into the future, when for the first time in more than six decades no one named Castro will be Cuba's leader.

Register for the conference call Wednesday, Aug 22, at 2-2:30 pm ET.

Coming up in September...

Cover to Cover will feature a conversation with C.J. Chivers, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the New York Times, on his new book, The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.

WACA 2018 National Conference: Braving the New World Order

November 7-9

The Mayflower Hotel

Washington, DC

Our Table of Eight promotion has been extended - be sure to check it out!

Think Tank six-pack

Brookings Institution

Thomas Wright is director of the Center on the United States and Europe and a senior fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy at Brookings.

Center for Strategic and International Studies

The principals of The Trade Guys, CSIS’s recently launched podcast, will offer a special briefing for a live WACA audience at CSIS headquarters.

PLUS:

American Enterprise Institute 

Center for American Progress New this year!

Center for a New American Security

The McCain Institute New this year!

Additional National Conference speakers and program details will be made in the coming weeks!

The WACA 2018 National Conference will be held November 7-9 at the beautifully renovated

Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. 

Book your rooms under WACA's special group rate of 

$259 / night (Single/Double Occupancy) plus tax.

Click here to reserve your room!

August 8, 2018

Weekly World News Update

Sanctioning Iran...Again; Canada-Saudi Arabia Row; Israel's Nation-State Law Controversy; Crackdown in Zimbabwe; Human Rights Travesty in Myanmar; Bangladesh Spars With Its People; Assassination Attempt on Maduro; Cuba Crawls Through Reform

Quote of the Week

"If somebody puts a knife in its opponent or enemy's arm and says we want to negotiate, the answer is that they must first pull out the knife and then come to the negotiation table."

-- Iranian President Rouhani, quoted in an Iranian state television interview on Monday.

Sanctioning Iran...Again

“The Return of U.S. Sanctions on Iran: What to Know” CFR Editors -- Council of Foreign Relations, August 6, 2018

"American Sanctions Bring More Agony to Iran’s Dysfunctional Economy" Editorial Board -- The Economist, August 8, 2018

“Iran’s Economy Is Struggling Even Without U.S. Sanctions” Krishnadev Calamur -- The Atlantic, August 8, 2018

"China Rejects U.S. Request to Cut Iran Oil Imports" Rachel Adams-Heard and Nick Wadhams -- Bloomberg, August 3, 2018

“The Preeminent Challenge” Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh -- The Weekly Standard, August 3, 2018

Canada-Saudi Arabia Row

"Saudi Arabia Freezes New Trade, Investment with Canada" Canadian Press -- CBC, August 5, 2018

"Saudi Arabia-Canada Spat: What We Know" Wire Services and Globe Staff -- The Globe and Mail, August 7, 2018

"Canada Won't Look Away on Saudi Arabia, and Neither Should U.S." Editorial Board -- The Washington Post, August 7, 2018

Israel's Nation-State Law Controversy

"The Biggest Issue in Israel's Nation-State Law" Ronald Tiersky -- RealClearWorld, August 6, 2018

"Basic Law or Basically a Disaster? Israel’s Nation-State Law Controversy Explained" Allison Kaplan Sommer -- Haaretz, August 6, 2018

"Why Are Israel's Druze Protesting?" Seth Frantzman -- Jerusalem Post, August 5, 2018

Crackdown in Zimbabwe

"Zimbabwe Enters a New Era, but Struggles to Escape Its Past" -- BBC News, August 4, 2018

"Zimbabwe Activists Go Into Hiding as Security Crackdown Intensifies" Jason Burke -- The Guardian, August 8, 2018

"What’s Next for Zimbabwe?" Alexander Noyes -- Center for Strategic and International Studies, August 7, 2018

Human Rights Travesty in Myanmar

"UNHCR Head Asks Asia-Pacific Leaders to Show ‘Solidarity’ with Rohingyas" PTI -- The Indian Express, August 8, 2018

"Rohingya Muslims Who Remain in Myanmar Struggle to Survive" Jon Emont and Myo Myo -- The Wall Street Journal, August 8, 2018

"Special Report: Dangerous News - How Two Young Reporters Shook Myanmar" -- Channel News Asia, August 8, 2018

Assassination Attempt on Maduro

“Venezuela Is in Crisis But Its President Might be Stronger for It” Nicholas Casey -- The New York Times, August 6, 2018

“After Failed Assassination Attempt, Expect Maduro to Lash Out in Venezuela” Ashish Kumar Sen -- Atlantic Council, August 5, 2018

"Assassination Attempt By Drone? Just the Latest Chaos in Venezuela" Jon Lee Anderson -- New Yorker, August 6, 2018

"A State of Deep Suffering in Venezuela's Hospitals" Jens Glüsing -- Der Spiegel, August 8, 2018

Cuba Crawls Through Reform

“Cuba’s Faithful Seek More Rights in an Era of Slow Reform” Kevin Douglas Grant -- The Groundtruth Project, July 31, 2018

 “A Revolution Within the Revolution: Cuba Opens to Same-Sex Marriages” Ruben Gallo -- New York Times, August 3, 2018

“Cuba Sweetens Land Grant Program for Farmers” Marc Frank -- Yahoo News, August 7, 2018

August 6, 2018

WACA Weekly

This Week: WAC Dallas Survey; Cover to Cover Wednesday; Qatar Tour; New Conference Speakers & Council Highlights

Council of the Month Calls for Survey Participation

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is working on an initiative to bring together education programs from World Affairs Councils across our network to collect global competence data based on a survey for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

They would appreciate participation from those World Affairs Councils that run education programs. If your Council is interested in participating in the survey, please contact Amy Miller at amiller@dfwworld.org.

WACA 2018 Leadership Mission to Qatar

October 12-19

Doha, Qatar

The World Affairs Councils of America is delighted to announce that the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, DC will sponsor a WACA Leadership Mission to Qatar, this October.

Note: Flights will depart from United States airports on Friday, October 12, and arrive in Doha on Saturday, October 13. Return flights will depart Qatar on Friday, October 19.

This WACA Leadership Mission will be comprised of a Qatar Embassy representative, WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford, and a minimum of 10 delegates from the Council network. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with top government officials, business leaders, journalists, and other experts to gain a better understanding of the political, national security, economic, social, and cultural landscape of the host country. See more details.

Eligibility

This Leadership Mission is open to Council CEOs, Board directors and other key supporters of local Councils and the WACA network, and affiliate members based in DC. Applicants should be actively involved in Council operations and activities, and must be supported by their Councils.

Expenses

The generous sponsorship of the Embassy of Qatar will cover international airfare and in-country expenses for the delegation, including hotel accommodation, most meals, and local transportation. An administrative fee of $2000, made payable to the World Affairs Councils of America, is required from each selected participant. Delegates are responsible for making any travel insurance arrangements at their discretion. Delegates are also responsible for any souvenirs and incidentals.

Selection Process

Applicants should review this announcement, understand expectations, and submit the following to the WACA National Office by email to lbrailsford@worldaffairscouncils.org by the close of business on Monday, August 24, 2018:

·     Application Form (Download Here) and Release of Liability Form (Download Here) 

·     A color copy of the photo page of your passport

·     A letter of reference from your local Council CEO. If you are a Council CEO, please submit a letter of reference from the Chair of your Board of Directors

Delegates will be selected based on their demonstrated involvement with their local Councils and WACA, as well as their commitment to public engagement following the WACA Leadership Mission. 

WACA 2018 National Conference: Braving the New World Order

November 7-9

The Mayflower Hotel

Washington, DC

Our Table of Eight promotion has been extended - be sure to check it out!

Think Tank six-pack

Brookings Institution

Thomas Wright is director of the Center on the United States and Europe and a senior fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy at Brookings.

Center for Strategic and International Studies

The principals of The Trade Guys, CSIS’s recently launched podcast, will offer a special briefing for a live WACA audience at CSIS headquarters.

PLUS:

American Enterprise Institute 

Center for American Progress New this year!

Center for a New American Security

The McCain Institute New this year!

Additional National Conference speakers and program details will be made in the coming weeks!

The WACA 2018 National Conference will be held November 7-9 at the beautifully renovated

Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. 

Book your rooms under WACA's special group rate of 

$259 / night (Single/Double Occupancy) plus tax.

Click here to reserve your room!

August 3, 2018

Cover to Cover summer reads - and conversations - will transport you to Kyrgyzstan and Cuba...

Wednesday, August 8, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET

Cover to Cover with author Jeffrey Lilley

Have the Mountains Fallen?

After surviving the blitzkrieg of World War II and escaping from three Nazi prison camps, Soviet soldier Azamat Altay fled to the West and was charged as a traitor in his homeland of Kyrgyzstan in Soviet Central Asia.

Meanwhile, Chingiz Aitmatov became a hero of Kyrgyzstan, propelled by family loss to write novels about the everyday lives of his fellow citizens.

Altay became the voice of democracy on Radio Liberty, broadcasting back into his shuttered homeland, while Aitmatov rose through the ranks of Soviet society, a quiet rebel whose prose masked ugly truths about Soviet communism. Yet just as they seemed to be pulled apart by the divisions of the Cold War, they found their lives intersecting in compelling ways, joined by a common mission to save their people. 

Jeffrey Lilley, in his new book, Have the Mountains Fallen?: Two Journeys of Loss and Redemption in the Cold War, traces the lives of these two men as they confronted the full threat and legacy of the Soviet empire. Through penetrating narratives of a homeland forever changed, a clearer picture emerges of the struggle for freedom inside the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Join our conference call Wednesday, August 8, at 2:00-2:30 pm ET.

Coming up on September 11:

Cover to Cover on 9/11 will feature a conversation with C.J. Chivers, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the New York Times, on his new book, The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.