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AEIVideos uploaded a new video
(4 days ago)

AEI Event: "The Victory of the Cross," November 9, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100168
Twenty years ago, on November 9, 1989, the most ...
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AEI Event: "The Victory of the Cross," November 9, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100168
Twenty years ago, on November 9, 1989, the most visible symbol of totalitarian evil—the Berlin Wall—tumbled down. Two years later, the Soviet Union officially dissolved itself on Christmas Day 1991. What were the trumpet blasts that finally destroyed the Berlin Wall and brought freedom to millions? Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, now an AEI scholar, will discuss how, in addition to the political, economic, and military factors that contributed to the defeat of Soviet communism, spiritual factors were also decisive in achieving victory.
This fact was most evident in the peaceful elections that took place in Poland on June 4, 1989, when Solidarity, the first officially recognized independent trade union movement in the Soviet bloc, won decisive parliamentary victories and formed the first noncommunist-led government in Eastern Europe since World War II. These Polish elections took place exactly ten years after the first pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II to his homeland-nine days that transformed the spiritual and political landscape of Poland and set the stage for the birth of Solidarity. These elections also followed eight years of President Ronald Reagans constant moral and material support for the cause of freedom in Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe.
At this event, AEI senior fellow Newt Gingrich, former congressman and U.S. envoy to Poland and the Soviet Union Bob McEwen, and vice president for policy at American Solutions Vince Haley reflected on the contributions of Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan to the spiritual renewal of the West, a change that set the stage for the most significant advance of freedom in our lifetime. They also examined the lessons we can learn from both as we confront contemporary challenges to freedom and human dignity.
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AEIVideos uploaded a new video
(5 days ago)

AEI Event: "Afghanistan Strategy: The Way Forward," November 4, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100165
In March 2009, President Obama laid o...
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AEI Event: "Afghanistan Strategy: The Way Forward," November 4, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100165
In March 2009, President Obama laid out the foundation for a comprehensive policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, tailored to the mission of defeating al Qaeda and its allies in the region. As part of this policy revamp, the president also replaced General David D. McKiernan as the commander of U.S. and NATO forces, appointing General Stanley A. McChrystal to lead the coalition effort. A summer 2009 assessment of the war conducted by General McChrystal reinforced the need for a fully resourced counterinsurgency strategy to achieve the president's stated objectives. Since then, a series of White House strategy reviews have brought the administration to a critical decision point that will shape the conduct and outcome of the mission in 2010 and beyond. The culmination of this process will be watched closely by all stakeholders--allies and enemies alike. Confronted by a hardening insurgency that is poised to regroup in the coming winter, the United States now faces choices certain to impact the prospects for success in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the broader struggle against extremist forces.
AEI hosted a timely discussion on the next steps in Afghanistan and their implications for the interests at stake. AEI resident scholars Frederick W. Kagan and Thomas Donnelly were joined by Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow Stephen Biddle and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior associate Ashley J. Tellis. AEI vice president for foreign and defense policy studies Danielle Pletka moderated the discussion.
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AEIVideos uploaded a new video
(1 week ago)

AEI Event: " The Deflating Bubble, Part VI: The Lessons of the Bubble and Crisis," Cosponsored by the Professional Risk Managers' Interna...
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AEI Event: " The Deflating Bubble, Part VI: The Lessons of the Bubble and Crisis," Cosponsored by the Professional Risk Managers' International Association, October 22, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100152
Credit markets have recovered, although they still reflect massive government financial intervention. The financial panic of 2008 and 2009 has passed, though now bank failures are notably increasing. The net worth of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is dropping, and estimates for its deficit are growing, but its obligations are ultimately U.S. Treasury obligations. Average house prices seem to be stabilizing, but commercial real estate prices are dropping. Huge losses from the deflation of the great twenty-first-century bubble have been recognized or realized, and though more remain, financial markets have regained their appetite for risk.
At this event, our expert Deflating Bubble panel defined the lessons of the whole twenty-first-century financial experience and made related recommendations for future financial policy. Speakers included AEI economists Desmond Lachman and John H. Makin; New York University professor of economics Nouriel Roubini; R. Christopher Whalen, managing director of Institutional Risk Analytics; and Thomas Zimmerman, managing director at UBS Investment Bank. AEI resident fellow Alex J. Pollock moderated.
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AEIVideos uploaded a new video
(2 weeks ago)

AEI Event: Should Israel Attack Iran? October 23, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100155
Iran's nuclear weapons development continues apace, threateni...
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AEI Event: Should Israel Attack Iran? October 23, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100155
Iran's nuclear weapons development continues apace, threatening the security of its neighbors and the international community. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, more than 60 percent of the American public believes preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons warrants military action. Israel's deputy foreign minister, Daniel Ayalon, emphasized on September 21 that Israel has not taken any option off the table when it comes to countering the Iranian threat. The same day, Israel's top general, chief of staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, made it clear that he would not rule out a military strike on Iran's nuclear installations, repeating that "Israel has the right to defend itself and all options are on the table." As the debate intensifies over how to respond most effectively to Iran's provocations, it is timely to explore the strategic and legal parameters of a potential Israeli strike against the Islamic Republic and provide some thorough analysis about implications for the United States.
The speakers in Panel I considered the international legal aspects of an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear installations. What treaties are relevant? How might Iran retaliate against Israel, the United States, or other countries? Would an Israeli attack violate international law? Or would it be legitimate self-defense? Eric Posner of the University of Chicago Law School, Gregory E. Maggs of George Washington University Law School, and Edwin D. Williamson of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP discussed these and other legal considerations. AEI visiting scholar John Yoo moderated.
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AEIVideos uploaded a new video
(2 weeks ago)

AEI Event: Should Israel Attack Iran? October 23, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100155
Iran's nuclear weapons development continues apace, threateni...
more
AEI Event: Should Israel Attack Iran? October 23, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100155
Iran's nuclear weapons development continues apace, threatening the security of its neighbors and the international community. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, more than 60 percent of the American public believes preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons warrants military action. Israel's deputy foreign minister, Daniel Ayalon, emphasized on September 21 that Israel has not taken any option off the table when it comes to countering the Iranian threat. The same day, Israel's top general, chief of staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, made it clear that he would not rule out a military strike on Iran's nuclear installations, repeating that "Israel has the right to defend itself and all options are on the table." As the debate intensifies over how to respond most effectively to Iran's provocations, it is timely to explore the strategic and legal parameters of a potential Israeli strike against the Islamic Republic and provide some thorough analysis about implications for the United States.
The speakers in Panel II considered strategy and policy. What role will the United States play in supporting its ally Israel? Can military action taken by Israel effectively deter Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons? AEI senior fellow John R. Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; the Brookings Institution's Martin Indyk, former ambassador to Israel; and AEI resident scholar Michael Rubin discussed these strategic policy questions. AEI's vice president for foreign and defense policy studies, Danielle Pletka, moderated.
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