OAS/GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM

THANKS VERY MUCH TO THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY FOR THE INVITATION TO JOIN THIS PANEL TO DISCUSS THE ROLE THE INTER-AMERICAN DEFENSE COLLEGE IS PLAYING IN EDUCATING SENIOR LEADERS ON THE THREATS AND CHALLENGES TO HEMISPHERIC SECURITY—CHIEF AMONG THOSE BEING THE GROWING NEXUS BETWEEN NARCOTRAFFICKING, ORGANIZED CRIME AND INTERNTIONAL TERRORIST ELEMENTS.

BACKGROUND

IN ORDER TO SET THE SCENE FOR MY DISCUSSION WE NEED TO FIRST TALK A BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF THE IADC—AND ITS EVOLUTION IN STRATEGIC FOCUS OVER THE YEARS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PARALLELS TO A GREAT DEGREE THE SIMILAR EVOLUTION OF OAS INTEREST IN THE BROADER CONCEPTS OF “SECURITY”.

THE COLLEGE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1962—FORMED INITIALLY IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD HEMISPHERIC COOPERATION IN PEACEFULLY RESOLVING DISPUTES BETWEEN NEIGHBORING STATES, AND IN COUNTERING THE SPREAD OF COMMUNISM IN THE HEMISPHERE. THIS WAS INDEED THE PRINCIPAL FOCUS FOR THE FIRST 25-30 YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE. THE MAJORITY OF GRADUATES OF OUR 11 MONTH ACADEMIC PROGRAM WERE MILITARY OFFICERS, MANY OF WHOM WENT ON TO POSITIONS OF PROMINENCE WITHIN THEIR ARMED FORCES.

WITH THE FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION IN THE EARLY 1990’S; SUCCESS IN ENDING MANY OF THE INTERNAL GUERRILLA CONFLICTS THAT HAD PLAGUED THE REGION FOR 20 YEARS; AND THE SPREAD OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT—THE COLLEGE BEGAN TO TURN MORE AND MORE TO ADDRESS NON-TRADITIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY ISSUES SUCH AS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, DISASTER RESPONSE, AND CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY BUILDING AMONG THE STATES OF THE AMERICAS. THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVILIAN SPECIALISTS, FROM BOTH DEFENSE MINISTRIES AND FOREIGN MINISTRIES INCREASED AND THERE WERE A SERIES OF STEADY, IF INCREMENTAL CHANGES IN THE CURRICULUM.

PRE-9/11

SINCE THE IADC DID NOT HAVE A DOCTRINAL BASIS TO FOLLOW, NO NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY AS MIGHT BE FOUND IN MANY OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE HEMISPHERE—IT TURNED MORE CLOSELY TO FOLLOW THE PRIORITIES AND FOCUS OF THE OAS. NUMEROUS SYMPOSIA WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE ACADEMIC YEAR SUCH AS: “HUMAN RIGHTS”, “PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS”, AND “SECURITY SECTOR REFORM”. OUTREACH TO OTHER SIMILAR INSTITUTES OF STRATEGIC DEFENSE AND SECURITY STUDIES WERE EXPANDED AND MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE ATTENDED SEMINARS IN EUROPE AT THE GEORGE C. MARSHALL CENTER IN GERMANY, THE NATO DEFENSE COLLEGE IN ROME, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. DURING THIS SAME PERIOD THE CURRICULUM WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED AND UPDATED TO REFLECT GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES TO SECURITY BEING FACED BY THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION. DISTINGUISHED GUEST SPEAKERS FROM BOTH ACADEMIA AS WELL AS SERVING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE ADDED GREATLY TO THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS.

AFTERMATH-9/11

THE EVENTS OF 9/11/2001 WERE A DEFINING MOMENT IN THE COLLEGE’S HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT. THE ABSENCE OF A SIGNIFICANT PERMANENT FACULTY, WHICH HAD LONG BEEN CONSIDERED ONE OF THE COLLEGE’S WEAKNESSES WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A STRENGTH AS WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY ADJUST THE CURRICULUM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR TO PLACE MUCH GREATER EMPHASIS ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AS A THREAT TO HEMISPHERIC SECURITY. NOTED ISLAMIC STUDIES SCHOLARS, TERRORISM EXPERTS AND OTHER SECURITY SPECIALISTS SUCH AS GENERAL BARRY McCAFFREY, THEN THE US “DRUG CZAR” LED SPIRITED DISCUSSIONS DURING OUR SEMINARS AND SYMPOSIA.

IN OCTOBER 2001 WE BEGAN OUR FORMAL SEMINAR PROGRAM AS A CORROLLARY TO THE RESIDENT COURSE. THIS PROGRAM BRINGS TO THE IADC A DIVERSE BODY OF DEFENSE AND SECURITY SPECIALISTS FROM THOSE NATIONS WHO DO NOT HAVE A STUDENT IN THE RESIDENT COURSE—AND IS CONDUCTED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. OUR FIRST SEMINAR, HELD IN OCTOBER 2001 FOCUSED ON THE LINKAGE BETWEEN DRUG-TRAFFICKING, CRIME AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND HAS SERVED AS OUR ACADEMIC “KICK-OFF” SEMINAR SINCE THEN.

THESE SEMINARS ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEY ALLOW US TO INTEGRATE INTO THE REGULAR COURSE APPROXIMATELY 40 ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS PER SEMINAR—REPRESENTING ALL 34 OAS NATIONS, AND INCLUDING CIVILIAN, POLICE AND MILITARY PERSONNEL. WE CAN REGULARLY COUNT ON THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF VICE-MINISTERS OF DEFENSE AND SECURITY, CHIEFS/SUPERINTENDENTS OF POLICE, ARMED FORCES COMMANDERS, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORS, AND MEMBERS OF OUR VARIOUS OAS DELEGATIONS—INCLUDING NUMEROUS AMBASSASORS.

IN 2002 AND 2003 WE HAVE CONTINUED TO REFINE OUR SEMINAR PROGRAM AND HAVE EXPANDED DISCUSSIONS ON THE DRUGS-CRIME-TERROR NEXUS TO INCLUDE OTHER MULTIDIMENSIONAL ASPECTS OF SECURITY SUCH AS: DISASTER ASSISTANCE/CONSEQUENCE MANAGEMENT; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS; CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT. THE SEMINARS FEATURE THE PARTICIPATION OF NOTED LECTURERS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION DEALING WITH SECURITY—BUT IT IS PERHAPS THE WORKGROUP SESSIONS WHICH COMBINE A CROSS-SECTION OF SPECIALISTS FROM DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS THAT ARE THE MOST INTERESTING. THESE WORKGROUPS AS A PART OF THE SEMINAR CONCLUDING ACTIVITIES THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OUTBRIEF OAS OFFICIALS FROM ENTITIES SUCH AS CICTE, CICAD, UPD AND THE COMMITTEE ON HEMISPHEREIC SECURITY AS TO THEIR CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

SINCE IT BECAME OBVIOUS TO US THAT WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR SEMINAR PROGRAM BEYOND A CAP OF SOME 200-240 PARTICIPANTS ANNUALLY DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS—IN 2001 WE BEGAN TO FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DISTANCE EDUCATION (ADL) PROGRAM AS A COMPLEMENTARY EFFORT. THE INTENT OF THE DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE WEB-BASED COURSE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE PROFESSIONAL SECURITY SPECIALISTS HEMISPHERE-WIDE WHO COULD NOT ATTEND OUR SEMINAR PROGRAM—OR AS A MEANS OF BRINGING THE PARTICIPANTS “UP TO SPEED” ON EVOLVING SECURITY CONCEPTS. OUR FIRST COURSE—CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND NEGOTIATION WENT ONLINE IN 2002. SINCE THEN WE HAVE DEVELOPED COURSES ON TERRORISM (TEMPORARILY ON HOLD), AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM.

THESE COURSES ARE OFFERED IN SPANISH-ENGLISH-AND PORTUGUESE, ARE SELF-PACED AND ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE SIMPY BY ACCESSING THE IADB HOMEPAGE. SINCE THE 1ST COURSE WAS PUT ON LINE OVER 900 STUDENTS WORLD-WIDE HAVE COMPLETED THE 20-HOUR COURSE.

AT THE SAME TIME WE BEGAN TO DEVELOP A SERIES OF ACADEMIC AGREEMENTS WITH LEADING CENTERS OF STRATEGIC STUDIES THROUGHOUT THE HEMISPHERE—INCLUDING MILITARY, POLICE AND CIVILIAN UNIVERSITIES. THESE “CONVENIOS” ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHANGING CONCEPTS OF DEFENSE AND SECURITY AND SEEK TO EXCHANGE CONCEPTS ON AREAS SUCH AS THE DRUG-CRIME-TERROR LINK FROM A VARIETY OF NATIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES. OUR AGREEMENTS ENCOURAGE SEMINAR PARTICIPATION, PROFESSOR EXCHANGES, AND ESSAY CONTESTS AMONG MEMBERS OF THE IADC CONSORTIUM ON TOPICS SUCH AS “MULTIDIMENSIONAL CONCEPTS OF SECURITY” AND THE “CHALLENGE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NATIONAL SECURITY”. TO DATE WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH 17 INSTITUTIONAS HEMISPHERE-WIDE WITH 6 MORE IN NEGOTIATION.

WE HAVE ALSO EXPANDED OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS TO INTERFACE WITH IMPORTANT OAS ENTIIES AS PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED—TO INCLUDE REQUESTING TOPICS FOR STUDENT RESEARCH IN THEIR REQUIRED MONOGRAPH, OR THESIS FOR THOSE ENROLLED IN OUR COOPERATIVE MASTERS’ PROGRAM WITH THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY.

THE FORT McNAIR AND WASHINGTON, DC AREA OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS ON DEFENSE AND SECURITY WITH FELLOW STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. OUR ELECTIVES PROGRAM, THE AMISTAD PROGRAM, PERMITS OUR STUDENTS TO TAKE ELECTIVE COURSES AT THE NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY COLLEGES—NWC, ICAF, CHDS, INFO MGT COLLEGE. SIMILARLY, STUDENTS FROM SEVERAL OF THESE COLLEGES HAVE TAKEN ELECTIVES OFFERED BY THE IADC, SUCH AS THE “HISTORY OF NARCO-TRAFFICKING IN THE WHEM” TAUGHT BY DR ROBERT SCHEINA, ONE OF OUR ADJUNCT PROFESSORS OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDY.

TO COMPLEMENT THEIR ACADEMIC STUDIES, OUR STUDENTS ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SEVERAL ACADEMIC FIELD TRIPS THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR—WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO HEAR FIRST HAND THE SECURITY CONCERNS FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND ACADEMICS FROM ACROSS THE HEMISPHERE. TRIPS THIS YEAR HAVE INCLUDED VISITS TO NORFOLK, VA WHERE PORT SECURITY WAS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL TOPICS OF INTEREST; TO NYC WHERE EXCELLENT DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD WITH SEVERAL UN DELEGATIONS FROM OUR HEMISPHERE AS WELL AS THE FBI OFFICE IN NYC—THE LARGEST FIELD OFFICE IN US. SHOULD POINT OUT THAT COLLEGE STOOD IN GROUND ZERO AT WORLD TRADE CENTER OCT 2001—SMOKING RUINS—SAW FIRSTHAND THE HANDIWORK OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM—IMPRESSION THOSE OF US WHO WERE THERE WILL NEVER FORGET.
WE ALSO VISIT SEVERAL NATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA AND CANADA—IN FACT I JUST LEFT THE CLASS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY VISITING SEVERAL CARIBBEAN NATIONS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPECIAL SECURITY CONCERNS OF THE SMALL ISLAND STATES IN THIS IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HEMISPHERE.

CONCLUSION:

IN CONCLUSION—IN THINK YOU CAN SEE THAT THE IADC IS A UNIQUE INSTITUTION IN THE WHEM. DURING ITS ACADEMIC YEAR WE CAN COUNT ON THE PARTICIPATION BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM ALL 34 OAS NATIONS--CIVILIANS, POLICE AND MEMBERS OF ALL BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES. OUR FOCUS IS ON CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF RELEVANCE TO OUR HEMISPHERE AND OUR RESPECTIVE NATIONS. WE DO NOT TRAIN STUDENTS. WE ATTEMPT TO FURTHER THEIR APPRECIATION OF EVOLVING HEMISPHEREIC SECURITY CONCERNS—BE THEY ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, SOCIAL OR DEFENSE—BUT WITH AN ADDED EMPHASIS ON WHAT WE WOULD REFER TO AS “HARD” SECURITY ISSUES SUCH AS THE INCREASING NEXUS BETWEEN DRUG, ARMS, PEOPLE-TRAFFICKING; ORGANIZED CRIME; AND TERRORISM IN OUR HEMISPHERE AND IN OTHER REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

THE INTEGRATION OF SENIOR CIVILIAN, POLICE AND MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE HEMISPHERE IS PERHAPS OUR GREATEST STRENGTH. THERE IS NO “NATIONAL AGENDA” OR NATIONAL DOCTRINE TO IMPEDE THE FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS. OUR GRADUATES LEAVE SPEAKING A MORE COMMON LANGUAGE, AND WITH A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE SECURITY AND DEFENSE CHALLENGES FACING OUR REGION. THEY WILL, HOPEFULLY, HAVE A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR THE ROLES AND MISSIONS OF THE VARIOUS PARTICIPANTS IN THE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT EFFORT TO COMBAT THE COMPLEX, MULTIDIMENSIONAL THREATS TO HEMISPHERIC STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT—SUCH AS THOSE POSED BY DRUGS-CRIME-TERROR. AND THAT IN SOME SMALL WAY, THEY MAY PERHAPS CONTRIBUTE TO FORGING GREATER COOPERATION AND COHESION AMONG THE DIVERSE COMPONENTS OF THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS.