WHO: American University School of International experts James Goldgeier, Benjamin Jensen, and Shoon Murray

WHAT: Discussion & analysis of Sept. 4-5 Wales NATO Summit.

WHEN: August 28 - ongoing
WHERE: At American University, via telephone, or in-studio

August 28, 2014 (Washington, D.C.) – The Wales NATO Summit originally conceived to define NATO’s mission and role post-Afghanistan will be confronted with two unexpected agenda items: Russia’s continued provocations and ISIS’s emergence as a serious terrorist threat. How will the 2012 NATO posture review stating “globalization, emerging security challenges, such as cyber threats to energy supplies, and the emergence of new technologies will continue shaping the future security environment in areas of interest to NATO,” be affected in the Wales communique? What are NATO’s short-term and midterm priorities, concerns, and readiness to handle a major crisis? Can European members with fragile economies devote more of their budgets to NATO? Is the United States willing to shoulder the financial and military burden?

The American University School of International Service experts below are available to discuss these questions and more.

NATO & U.S. Foreign PolicyJames Goldgeier, dean of the School of International Service, is a NATO, U.S.-Russia, and contemporary U.S. foreign policy expert. He is the author of America Between the Wars: From 11/9 to 9/11 (co-authored with Derek Chollet); Power and Purpose: U.S. Policy toward Russia after the Cold War (co-authored with Michael McFaul); and Not Whether But When: The U.S. Decision to Enlarge NATO. Goldgeier can discuss NATO’s response to Russia; NATO in Afghanistan; NATO membership, enlargement, and spending; NATO’s global activities and partnerships; and, NATO’s past and future.

Benjamin Jensen, assistant professor in the International Politics and U.S. Foreign Policy and also a professor at the Marine Corps Staff College, is an expert on military strategy and planning. Jensen can speak about how NATO summits are often used as institutional milestones setting the general framework for the alliance, how Russia’s European neighbors want to see NATO return to its deterrent roots, and fostering integration with the transatlantic community.

U.S. Foreign Policy and the 2001 & 2002 AUMFsShoon Murray is an expert on U.S. foreign policy and author of The Terror Authorization: The History and Politics of the 2001 AUMF and co-author of the forthcoming book Mission Creep: The Militarization of US Foreign Policy. Murray is available to discuss the whether the 2001 and 2002 AUMF can remain in force after the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, American public attitudes toward the use of military force and the potential need for U.S. Congressional authorization for President Obama to use force against ISIS.

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