February 13, 2008

A Four-Star Event

Retired General John P. Abizaid

In assessing the war with Iraq, Abizaid has said he thinks it will take up to five years before the Iraqi government is stable enough to operate alone. He also has questioned troop surges in the country, stating that surges don’t address underlying problems.

The four-star general will discuss his thoughts on “Strategic Challenges in the Middle East” at 7:30 p.m. on February 20 in Gray Chapel. The event is free and open to the public.

Abizaid oversaw Central Command (CENTCOM), which serves as U.S. military headquarters for the Middle East, from July 2003 to March 2007. Currently, he is a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, where his work focuses on national security and foreign policy.

“Whatever one thinks about the war in Iraq,” says Sean Kay, chair of the University’s International Studies Program, “this will be a historic opportunity to hear from someone who engaged directly in the challenge of implementing one of the most difficult policy decisions this country has taken. As we enter a time when so much is going on that is political, it will be a great opportunity to focus in on the real nuts and bolts of the strategic and operational challenges in the Middle East that will confront whoever becomes the next president.”

Kay also says he believes the general’s visit “is a great testimony to the breadth of experience and diversity of experience and world views that we seek to engage here at Ohio Wesleyan University.”

Abizaid’s presentation is being sponsored by the International Studies Program and the Department of Politics and Government. In addition to his OWU visit, the general also will appear as Fred Andrle’s guest on WOSU’s “Open Line” from 10-10:30 a.m. on February 20. The program may be heard on WOSU 820 AM or by logging onto www.wosu.org/news/openline.

In addition to commanding troops, Abizaid has served as executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as director of strategic plans and policy (J5) on the Joint Staff, and as director of the Joint Staff. In his civilian studies, he earned a master of arts degree in area studies at Harvard University and was an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Jordan in Amman.

– Cole Hatcher