CNAS Hosts Bipartisan Public Roundtable with Five Former Secretaries of State on the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy

WASHINGTON, DC, September 15, 2008 — Just a few blocks from the Department of State, the Center for a New American Security and six partner organizations hosted a bipartisan roundtable discussion today with five former Secretaries of State -- Madeleine K. Albright, James A. Baker, III, Warren Christopher, Henry Kissinger, and Colin L. Powell. This important discussion entitled ''The Next President: A World of Challenges'' took place as the general election campaign swings into high gear, and the presidential candidates and the world focus on complex global issues.

The Secretaries' unique discussion offered valuable insight to the national debate that is underway over the future direction of American global leadership and the role of diplomacy. The Secretaries discussed a broad range of U.S. foreign policy issues and domestic challenges that will confront the next American president including the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, strategic options for dealing with Iran, America's image abroad, global climate change, a resurgent Russia, the rise of India and China, and the U.S. economy. There was consensus among the Secretaries that the United States and the international community must work together to explore new areas of negotiation to confront the complex issues facing us today.

The event was hosted by the Center for a New American Security, George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs and School of Media and Public Affairs, Rice University's James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, and The City College of New York's Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies. Cooperating as media partners, CNN and America Abroad Media will broadcast the event as a special report. CNN will broadcast the event on September 20, 2008, at 9:00pm, and September 22, 2008, at 2:00pm. The event was moderated by Frank Sesno, director of GWs Public Affairs Project and CNN special correspondent, and Christiane Amanpour, CNN chief international correspondent.

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The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is an independent and nonpartisan research institution that develops strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies that promote and protect American interests and values. CNAS leads efforts to help inform and prepare the national security leaders of today and tomorrow.