The U.S. Legacy in Iraq April 11-12, 2018
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ILITAR M Y Y W B R L 23rd ANNUAL WILLIAM E. COLBY I O T C E R . S E ’ S M Y A M I L P L O I Military Writers’ Symposium S I W U E M H EST.T 1996 Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont Won the War,Lost the Peace: The U.S. Legacy in Iraq April 11-12, 2018 colby.norwich.edu WELCOME Welcome to the 23rd annual Colby Military Writers’ Symposium. This year we mark the 23rd year since Norwich launched the Colby Symposium, the only program of its kind at an American university that celebrates military writing, authors and ideas. Established in 1996 to bring influential writers to campus, the symposium has evolved into one of the nation’s most prestigious academic events. Its purpose is to educate, enlighten, and inspire the men and women of the Norwich University community and its alumni. Over the past nearly two and one-half decades, the symposium has evolved into a position of national prominence. Not only have we hosted well over one-hundred military writers, historians, journalists, and biographers that have included many of the most outstanding names in their field, but since 1999 the event has been enhanced by the advent of the Colby Award, a prestigious $5,000 literary prize. As we celebrate the “Year of Legacy” leading up to our bicentennial in 2019, we do so with the knowledge the symposium continues to address issues that dominate the uncertain world of the 21st century. We have never avoided the hard issues and this year is the latest example of our enduring commitment to make the symposium a relevant and meaningful experience for all. Beginning in 2017, we also augmented our longtime partnership with the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago, IL. Supported by the generosity of its founder, COL (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Ret.), we now have the ability to enhance and expand our programming to a wider audience. As the co-founder of the symposium, I’m very proud of our dedication and service to the university, and sincerely thank the staff, volunteers and donors who make this unique event possible. Carlo D’Este ’58 Co-founder, Colby Symposium 1 WELCOME It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the 2018 William E. Colby Military Writers’ Symposium. The symposium is a signature event of the Norwich University Peace and War Center, an interdisciplinary academic Center of Excellence. I am excited to share that the symposium been a great comple- ment to the work being done by the Peace and War Center. This year marks the “Year of Legacy,” the fourth in Norwich’s five-year bicen- tennial commemoration. “The U.S. Legacy in Iraq” is also a fitting theme for our symposium discussions over the next two days. Both events underscore the importance of reflection in order to understand how our current actions will impact future generations. As Norwich looks forward to its 200th birthday and beyond, it is our op- portunity to continue institutional advances and traditions. I am pleased to share with you some exciting news about the symposium. I invite you to save the date for October 3-4, 2018, when the 2018 Colby Award winner will be hosted on campus to receive their award, give a presentation, and participate in a book signing. Additional details will be forthcoming this spring. Beginning in fall 2019, the symposium will be held annually in the fall. This time of year allow us to showcase Vermont’s fall splendor and our beautiful campus to our visiting authors and guests. We are excited for the oppor- tunities this timing will provide academically—this shift allows for greater integration of student summer research, student trips and experiences, and involves more academic disciplines in the event. We have been very fortunate to expand our partnership with the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago, Ill. The symposium, supported by the generosity of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, now has the abil- ity to broaden its reach and its programming to a wider audience. It’s also a partnership that has increased experiential opportunities for our students. This is an exciting time for Norwich University, the Peace and War Center, and for the symposium. I’m grateful that you have chosen to join us at this important event, meet our students, and experience Norwich. W. Travis Morris Executive Director, Colby Symposium Director, Peace and War Center 2 3 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Wednesday, April 11, 2018 Thursday, April 12, 2018 9:00–9:50 a.m. “Iraq Counterinsurgency - Lessons Learned” 9:25–10:40 a.m. “Unraveling Iraq” Presentation by R. Alan King Presentation by Emma Sky Todd Multipurpose Room, Kreitzberg Library Todd Multipurpose Room, Kreitzberg Library 10:00–10:50 a.m. “Viewing War Parochially” 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Friends of the Colby Symposium Spring Meeting Presentation by Saifaldin Abdul-Rahman All are invited Todd Multipurpose Room, Kreitzberg Library Todd Multipurpose Room, Kreitzberg Library 11:00–11:50 a.m. Presentation featuring Jonathan Wriston NU ’18, 1:30–3:30 p.m. Panel Discussion: “Won the War, Lost the Peace: inaugural Richard S. Schultz ’60 The U.S. Legacy in Iraq” Colby Symposium Fellow Panelists: Saifaldin D. Abdul-Rahman, Todd Multipurpose Room, Kreitzberg Library Andrew Bacevich, R. Alan King, Emma Sky Moderated: Sarwar Kashmeri; Fellow, Foreign Policy 12:30–2:00 p.m. Lunch and Learn: “IEDs as Force Multipliers in Iraq” Association Featuring BG Peter DeLuca, USA (Ret.) and David Plumley Armory Ulbrich, PhD. Co-hosted by the Colby Symposium, the Sullivan 3:30–4:30 p.m. Book Signing Museum & History Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, Featuring featuring Andrew Bacevich, R. Alan King, and the Norwich University College of Graduate and Sarwar Kashmeri, David Ulbrich, Carlo D’Este, Emma Sky Continuing Studies Milano Ballroom Milano Ballroom 6:30 p.m. Meet the Authors Reception & Dinner Presentation of the 2018 Colby Award Ticket required National Guard Readiness and Regional Technology Center, 161 University Drive, Norwich campus ILITAR M Y Y W B R L I O T C E R . S E ’ S M Y A M I L P L O I S I W U E M H EST.T 1996 4 5 2018 PARTICIPANTS Saifaldin D. Abdul-Rahman April 2004, he served as a senior member of the ceasefire negotiations in Fallujah Saifaldin Abdul-Rahman is Vice President of IWG, a U.S. firm providing and then dispatched to An Najaf to coordinate with tribal sheikhs. King was consulting, logistics and construction work in Iraq. Abdul-Rahman heads awarded two Bronze Star Medals for Valor for actions in Iraq and under his com- the consulting and business development portfolio within IWG. In that mand his battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. position, he has guided U.S. and international Fortune 500 companies through contract awards and negotiations with the Government of King concluded his 26-year military service as the Deputy Commander for Army Iraq. Abdul-Rahman held senior posts in the Government of Iraq, Elements (Intelligence), U.S. Central Command, Tampa, Florida. including the posts of Advisor to the Vice President of Iraq (2009), Chief of Staff to the Speaker of Parliament (2005) and Chief of Staff to His book, titled Twice Armed, An American Soldier’s Battle for Hearts and Minds in the Minister of Industry & Minerals (2004). He helped engineer Iraq’s Iraq, was awarded the 2008 Colby Award. He is a contributing author to the book election law during the days of the Iraqi Governing Council and as the The New Islamic State. Director General of the Parliament’s Research Directorate. Abdul-Rah- man participated in the negotiations on the Status of Forces Agreement and its subsequent reconstruction. Emma Sky Emma Sky is Director of Yale Greenberg World Fellows and a Senior Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute, where she teaches Middle East politics. She Andrew J. Bacevich is the author of The Unraveling: High Hopes and Missed Opportunities in Iraq, Andrew J. Bacevich grew up in Indiana, graduated from West Point which was one of the New York Times 100 notable books of 2015, and shortlisted and Princeton, served in the U.S. Army, became an academic, and for the 2015 Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction and the 2016 Orwell Prize. is now a writer. He is the author, co-author, or editor of a dozen She is widely published in the New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign books, among them American Empire, The New American Militarism, Policy, Politico, the Atlantic, Survival, U.S. Institute of Peace, and Army The Limits of Power, Washington Rules, Breach of Trust, and, most Magazine. recently, America’s War for the Greater Middle East: A Military History. Sky served as advisor to the Commanding General of U.S. Forces in Carlo D’Este Iraq from 2007-2010; as advisor to the Commander of NATO’s Inter- national Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in 2006; as advisor Carlo D’Este is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and military historian. to the U.S. Security Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process He is the author of Decision in Normandy, Bitter Victory: The Battle for in 2005; and as Governorate Coordinator of Kirkuk for the Coalition Sicily, 1943, World War II in the Mediterranean, Fatal Decision: Anzio Provisional Authority, 2003-2004. and the Battle for Rome, Patton: A Genius for War, Eisenhower: A Soldier’s Life 1890-1945 and most recently Warlord: A Life of Winston Sky was educated at Oxford (UK), Alexandria (Egypt), Hebrew University of Churchill at War, 1874-1945.