Baker Institute Report Notes from the James A
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Number 23 Fall 2005 BAKER INSTITUTE REPORT NOTES FROM THE JAMES A. BAKER III INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY OF RICE UNIVERSITY COMMISSION ON FEDERAL ELECTION REFORM HOLDS HEARINGS AT BAKER INSTITUTE Former President Jimmy Carter and James A. Baker, III, the 61st Secretary of State, co- chaired the second hearing of the Commission on Federal Election Reform June 30, 2005. Issues of voter registration, voter identification, voter tech- nology, and election administra- tion dominated public testimony by experts. Later in the day, commission members met in a private session and discussed these topics in the context of Members of the Commission on Federal Election Reform include (from left to right, top row): Ralph Munro, Kay Cole James, Raul Yzaguirre, Tom Phillips, Spencer Overton, Lee Hamilton, Sharon Priest, Rita the commission’s twin goals of DiMartino, Robert Mosbacher, Jack Nelson, (bottom row) Betty Castor, Shirley Malcom, Bob Michel, Robert Pastor, Jimmy Carter, James A. Baker, III, Benjamin Ladner, Tom Daschle, Susan Molinari, David Leebron. continued on page 19 NEW NATIONAL OIL PROGRAM INITIATED WITH SAUDI ARAMCO CEO ANNOUNCEMENT The Baker Institute Energy dent and chief executive officer, Forum has launched a new, Abdallah S. Jum’ah. In a May 16, OF BAKER INSTITUTE two-year research program, 2005, address, he asserted that ADVISORY BOARD “The Role of the National Oil Saudi Arabia “is uniquely posi- Company in International tioned” to increase its petroleum Colin Powell and Madeleine Energy Markets,” recognizing the production capacity to meet the Albright to be members national oil companies’ lion’s world’s growing energy demand ex officio. share of global energy reserves over the next 20 years. Saudi William Barnett will serve as and the likelihood that their Aramco, the world’s largest oil chairman. influence on oil markets and company, dwarfs all competi- geopolitics will expand in com- tors, public and private, based David Leebron to be member ing decades. on oil production and estimated ex officio. The inaugural speaker for reserves. the new program was the Saudi (See Director’s letter on page 2.) Arabian Oil Company’s presi- continued on page 20 1 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR Having entered Over the past 10 years, the insti- key issues. The institute’s state-of- its second tute has established a strong track the-art telecommunications capa- decade as a record of achievement based on bilities provide our speakers with leading non- the work of Rice faculty and the a broad and diverse national and partisan uni- institute’s endowed scholars and international audience. versity-based fellows. They do important research The Advisory Board will play an think tank, the on domestic and foreign policy important role in helping the insti- Baker Institute issues with the goal of bridging the tute augment its current research has established an Advisory Board gap between the theory and prac- and programs and formulate future of distinguished members who will tice of public policy. The institute public policy initiatives. We look bring their experience and knowl- also collaborates with experts from forward to working closely with edge to the institute’s future direc- academia, government, the media, these distinguished individuals in tion and help secure its strategic business, and nongovernmental this important and challenging goals for the near and long term. and private organizations. We then endeavor. We are honored that former provide the results of our research Edward P. Djerejian secretaries of state Colin Powell and programs and studies with specific Madeleine Albright have accepted recommendations to those involved Colin Powell our invitation to serve as ex officio in the formulation and execution members of the board. Their judg- of public policy. ment, unique experience, and abil- For example, Baker Fellow ity to provide the strategic direction John Diamond and Baker Scholar on policy issues that is so vital to a George Zodrow are working public policy institute will be invalu- with the U.S. Department of the able. Treasury to improve the Treasury The Advisory Board will be com- Department’s economic models prised of eight persons from aca- and to provide a nonpartisan Madeleine Albright demia and the private and public analysis of the effects of alterna- sectors. We are very pleased that E. tive tax reform options using a William Barnett, the former chair- dynamic general equilibrium man of the Board of Trustees of model of the U.S. economy. Baker Rice University and former manag- Fellows George Abbey and Neal ing partner of Baker Botts, LLP, has Lane recently made recommen- agreed to serve as the chairman of dations on U.S. space policy in a the Advisory Board. He was recently paper published by the American named the 2005 Director of the Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Year by the National Association institute also has been playing an William Barnett of Corporate Directors. Working active role in Middle East conflict closely with Bill Barnett, we have resolution issues through its own begun the process of recruiting the public diplomacy initiatives and by new board members. It is also my consulting with the Bush adminis- pleasure to announce that David tration. Leebron, the president of Rice The institute continues to attract University, will serve as an ex officio many domestic and foreign leaders member of the Board. who have expressed their views on 2 SENATOR BIDEN CALLS FOR U.S. AND ALLIES TO RETHINK FOREIGN POLICY Senator Joseph Biden (D-Del.), Biden offered three key pre- the ranking minority member scriptions for change, signaling a of the U.S. Senate Committee possible basis for bipartisan coop- on Foreign Relations, urged the eration in the future. Bush administration to use the First, he called on the United beginning of its second term as a States to build on its alliances to chance to recast its foreign policy make them more effective and initiatives in order to more effec- to restructure existing interna- tively confront key national secu- tional organizations to make rity challenges facing the United them more relevant. He stressed Senator Joseph Biden States in this century. that the challenges of this cen- Speaking to an audience at tury cannot be met solely with reorient international organiza- the Baker Institute via Internet unilateral, military force; rather, tions such as the United Nations teleconferencing February 3, the United States should seek its to help stabilize weak states. 2005, just days after President allies’ support and leverage inter- Working with the administra- George W. Bush’s State of the national organizations and trea- tion and outside experts last year, Union address, Biden called on ties to enforce rules when they Biden and Senator Richard Lugar the United States and its allies are violated. (R-Ind.), chairman of the Senate to reevaluate prior attitudes and Second, he called on the Foreign Relations Committee, policies in order to combat new administration to forge a preven- proposed a law to strengthen threats to freedom and peace tion strategy to diffuse threats to the country’s capacity to build posed by Islamic fundamentalism national security before they are nations. Additional initiatives and the proliferation of weapons on the verge of exploding, while would help plan postconflict of mass destruction. still retaining the right to react reconstruction, build a roster of preemptively. Biden said this international police, and create a strategy would require full fund- system to train indigenous secu- rity forces. “The real test of American ing of homeland security budgets to detect and prevent attacks, as Director Edward P. Djerejian leadership … is not just act- well as new international institu- observed that in its second term, tions, laws, and nonproliferation the Bush administration has been actively reaching out to allies and ing in the national interest, treaties. Third, Biden urged the promoting democratic initiatives, United States and its allies to particularly in the Middle East. it lies in persuading others help reform failed, antidemo- “Senator Biden’s critique of cratic states in order to squash America’s foreign policy indicates to join us or, at the very threats of instability, radicalism, that the mainstream Democrats and terror. He said the United and Republicans may not be that least, to understand our States and its allies should seri- far apart,” Djerejian said. “With ously commit to undertake eco- the necessary political will on motives when we act.” nomic development, provide both sides, there may be the basis debt relief, furnish tools to com- for bipartisan cooperation on the – Joseph Biden bat corruption, fight disease, and elaboration of foreign policy in the period ahead.” 3 INSTITUTE’S ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN WORKSHOP PUBLISHES ROADMAP RECOMMENDATIONS The Baker Institute’s Israeli- and officials, as well as to Arab and disengagement, with the neces- Palestinian working group other governments. sary technical and professional paper, “Creating A Roadmap “Both the Israeli and Palestinian assistance. Implementation Process Under leadership have expressed their • The United States should devel- United States Leadership,” was willingness to implement their obli- op the requirements to allow published in February 2005. The gations under Phase One of the for an Israeli withdrawal from policy recommendations are the Roadmap and return to bilateral the Philadelphi Corridor and product of a series of workshops negotiations toward a Permanent the transfer of security author- conducted under the aegis of the Status Agreement and an end ity for the Egypt-Gaza border, institute and chaired by Director to conflict,” the report states. as well as the Gaza airport and Edward P. Djerejian, with Israeli, “Although the obligations of the seaport, territorial waters and Palestinian, U.S., European, parties are unilateral in nature, airspace, to the Palestinian Canadian, Egyptian, Jordanian, neither side can successfully follow Authority. and nongovernmental organization through on their commitments • The United States should lead participants.