Brookings Iraq Series Briefing: 'The Quest for Stability in Iraq and the Middle East'

4/21/2003

From: Brookings Office of Communications, 202-797-6105 or communications@brookings.edu http://www.brookings.edu/comm/events/20030423.htm

News Advisory:

WHAT: A Brookings Iraq Series Briefing: "The Quest for Stability in Iraq and the Middle East"

WHEN: Wednesday, April 23 10 -- 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Falk Auditorium The Brookings Institution 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.

WHO:

KENNETH M. POLLACK (Moderator) Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, and Director of Research, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings

SEYOM BROWN Author, "The Illusion of Control," and Lawrence A. Wien Professor of International Cooperation, Brandeis University

ROBERTA COHEN Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Brookings; Co-Director, Brookings-SAIS Project on Internal Displacement

MARTIN S. INDYK Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, and director, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings

ERIC SCHWARTZ Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations Director, CFR Independent Task Force on Post-Conflict Iraq

The war went remarkably well for coalition forces, but it caused massive disruptions in Iraq and sent shock waves through the Middle East. Now the United States must provide security for civilians and aid workers, oversee reconstruction of the country, help displaced residents, and prevent ethnic conflict.

At the same time, the United States continues its efforts to influence Syria's "behavior" and elicit cooperation from Iraq's neighbor in the hunt for the remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime. Pressure also is building on the United States to take the lead in resolving the long and bloody dispute between the Israelis and Palestinians. As post-war complexities grow, so do questions about the wisdom of using force as an instrument of diplomacy.

At this Brookings Iraq Series briefing, a panel of experts will discuss these issues and take questions from the audience.

RSVP: Please contact the Brookings Office of Communications by calling 202-797-6105, e-mailing to communications@brookings.edu, or visiting http://www.brookings.edu/comm/events/20030423.htm.