General to speak on foreign policy

Monday, September 29, 2008

Gen. John Abizaid, the former commander of the U.S. Central Command, will give a presentation about foreign policy Wednesday.

The four-star general, who oversaw operations in Iraq, will present “The Foreign Policy Challenges of our Next President” at 7 p.m. in the Joe Crowley Student Union Ballroom for free, said Meghan Wagonseller, Associated Students of the University of Nevada director of public relations.

Abizaid will talk about the future of relations with Iran, North Korea and terrorism around the world, said Sundance Bauman, Flipside Productions’ contemporary issues chairman.

The general was scheduled to speak last year for The Joe opening, but the engagement fell through when Abizaid had to go to Washington, Bauman said.

The Northern Nevada International Center asked Abizaid to speak, Bauman said. Flipside provided the venue.

University of Nevada, Reno President Milton Glick will introduce the general. A question-and-answer session will follow the speech. Bauman said he expects about 700 people at the presentation, half of them students and faculty and half the general public.

“He wants to convey to young people what his experiences are,” said Carina Black, the executive director of the Northern Nevada International Center. “He’s been wanting to do this for a really long time.”

The next president will face problems from the area Abizaid commanded, political science professor Leonard Weinberg said. Abizaid’s area of command included substantial oil supply areas and hot spots of terrorist activity.

“His take on what the next president is likely to confront is very important,” Bauman said.

Abizaid headed U.S. Central Command from July 2003 until May 2007 according to UNR’s office of Media Relations. Central Command covers the 27-country region between the European and Pacific commands. He also oversaw operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Army Times.

Abizaid served for 34 years in the Army and rose from infantry platoon leader to four-star general. He served in Lebanon, Bosnia, Kurdistan, Grenada, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. He studied at the University of Jordan and has a master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. He is fluent in Arabic.

A protest area will be set up outside of the student union during the event because Abizaid’s speech about foreign policy is “very controversial,” Bauman said.

“People will protest anything,” said Lauren Kohler, the Flipside special events chairman. “We’re preparing for the worst.”

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