Pictured from left are: Mitchell Shivers '70, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense; Ambassador Zalmay M. Khalilzad; and Monmouth University President Paul Gaffney
Photo Credit: Jim Reme
Ambassador Khalizad talked about the global challenges facing the new administration and the importance of a stable Middle East. He felt the top priority for the new president is to bring about a cooperative relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Top concerns include how to end sanctuaries in Pakistan, how to get the Afghanistan government to function better, and development of an international strategy in the region. He also spoke about the top priority of continuing to maintain stability in Iraq, addressing the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and the need to engage as well as contain Iran.
Ambassador Khalilzad has been the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations since April 2007. He has been involved with U.S. policy makers at the White House since the early 1980s. From 2005 to 2007, Dr. Khalilzad was the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. From 2003 to 2005, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and also as a Special Presidential Envoy to Afghanistan. Before becoming Ambassador to Afghanistan, he served at the National Security Council as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Islamic Outreach and Southwest Asia Initiatives.
Dr. Khalilzad received his bachelor's and master's degree from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. From 1979 to 1986, Dr. Khalilzad was an assistant professor of political science at Columbia University.
For additional information, please contact Dr. Rekha Datta, Director, Institute for Global Understanding at 732-571-4438 or send e-mail to rdatta@monmouth.edu
