New Event Announced: The Khaarijie

The Khaarijee: A Chronicle of Friendship and War in Kabul
with Malcolm Garcia

January 25
7:00 p.m.
Location TBA

J. Malcolm Garcia, who has worked as a reporter for The Kansas City Star, has recently released his newest book The Khaarijee: A Chronicle of Friendship and War in Kabul, a memoir about six orphans, a dog, a Muslim man, and an inexperienced American journalist--thrust together in post-9/11 Afghanistan.   Join the IRC as Garcia, a former social worker new to both journalism and war, dicusses his time in Afghanistan, where he found both a professional and emotional center.

In addition to working for The Kansas City Star, Garcia is a regular contributor to The Virginia Quarterly Review. His travel essays have appeared in Best American Travel Writing, and Best American Non-Required Reading.

More details to be announced as the date approaches.

The Khaarijie at Amazon.com

The Khaarijie reviewed by the Kansas City Star

Cuba Today event cancelled, update on other upcoming events

The IRC is sad to announce that its event Cuba Today: Reflections on My Visit with Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, which was first announced at our Awards Banquet, has been canceled.  We apologize to all our members; we share your disappointment.  We are currently working on refunding registration fees.

We invite all members to these other events in the coming weeks:

Asian Economic Outlook 

Nov. 17th, 2009 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM

Join the International Relations Council, in partnership with the UMKC Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, for "Asian Economic Outlook" with Dr. Norihito Tanaka, Visiting Professor of Economics at UMKC.  Dr. Tanaka will discuss current economic perspectives and the business environment, including the growth of the Chinese economy, the Japanese economic situation and governmental power shift, and emerging markets and economies in Asia.

Tanaka is a professor of International Business and Economics at Kanagawa University in Japan.  He has also taught in Thailand, the Phillipines, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.  Tanaka has published several books, including Japan's Postwar Economy and Technological Competitive Power of U.S. and Japan.

This event is free.  Please RSVP to the Bloch School.

2009 Berkley Lecture: Dr. Allison Stanger: One Nation Under Contract

Dec. 4th, 2009  at 12 PM

We have been posting about Dr. Stanger's book and the issues she will likely cover in her presentations.  Click on our "Berkley Lecture" tag to view them.

Berkley Lecturer's book now available for purchase

(Update: Please see the bottom of the post for a link to The Boston Globe review of One Nation Under Contract.)
 
The 2009 Berkley Lecture will be given this year by Dr. Allison Stanger, Russell Leng Professor of International Politics and Economics and Director of the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs at Middlebury College.

From Stanger's biography at Middlebury's website:

"Stanger received her Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard University. She also holds an A.M. in Regional Studies-Soviet Union (Harvard), a graduate diploma in Economics (London School of Economics), and a B.S. in Actuarial Science/Mathematics (Ball State University). She has studied foreign languages and literature at Charles University (Prague), the Sorbonne (Paris), and the Pushkin Institute (Moscow)."

Stanger is now a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Academic Leadership Council of Business for Diplomatic Action. Her op/eds and essays have been widely published. Recently, US News and World Report published a piece that is likely a good preview of her Dec. 4th lecture. She argues that after the end of the Cold War intelligence agencies fell into complacency, only to be shocked back into action by 9/11. Unfortunately, government agencies no longer maintained the manpower and budgets that they had commanded during the Cold War. To meet the demand, private companies were offered government contracts, sometimes worth billions, to handle intelligence and military affairs on behalf of the United States. Private companies, however, are motivated by profit. Allegations have surfaced of widespread contract fraud and misconduct by these companies-- everything from charging the US government for feeding nonexistent soldiers in Iraq to torturing suspected terrorists. Spending records from the State and Defense Departments show that expenditures have multiplied several times over as they turn duties over to contractors. What is less clear, however, is the effect on the CIA in the years since 9/11:

"Since CIA contracts fall outside normal licensing protocols and the agency's budget is classified, it had been relatively easy to keep these issues out of the public eye. The change in administration has loosened tongues, however, and a window has been opened on what is in reality a transformed intelligence community."

One Nation Under Contract was released on Oct 12th. To register to attend the Berkley Lecture (Dec. 4th at the Marriott downtown) please see the IRC website.


One Nation Under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy at Amazon.com

"How the CIA Became Dangerously Dependent on Outside Contractors" (US News and World Report)

"So who's in charge?" One Nation Under Contract reviewed by the Boston Globe

Breaking news: Congressman Emanuel Cleaver to speak on his travels in Cuba

We all had a blast last night at the Awards Banquet! Thanks to all the IRC members who came out to support us!

One announcement made by IRC director Linda Trout at the banquet is the newly scheduled speech from Kansas City's own Emanuel Cleaver, former KC mayor and now Missouri representative in Congress. Cleaver will speak about his recent visit to Cuba and his impressions on the future of the island nation.

Rep. Cleaver will speak on November 10th at 7:30 PM. Other details will follow, stay tuned for more information!

2008 Berkley Lecturer James Goldgeier in the news

Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow and 2008 IRC Berkley Lecturer James Goldgeier is quoted in the Sept. 21st edition of Newsweek. Mr. Goldgeier discusses approval of the Obama administration in Eastern Europe:

"George W. Bush was perceived as being very supportive of East Europe’s efforts to join NATO and the EU. Now the first signal being sent by the new president is that he wants to improve relations with Russia. That has Eastern Europeans thinking, what is this president all about? How will he manage Russia? Will he look out for our interests?"

To read the whole article, visit Newsweek online.

Our 2009 Berkley lecturer will take place on Dec. 4th and feature Prof. Allison Stanger, professor of international politics, director of the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs at Middlebury College, and author of the new book, One Nation Under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy.

The Berkley Lecture is an annual event which brings experts in foreign policy and international affairs to Kansas City. The winner of the Berkley Award for International Achievement will also be announced. To reserve your spot, visit us at the IRC website.

Reminder: IRC Upcoming events!

This is a reminder to all IRC members and the public of our upcoming IRC-sponsored events.

First up:

"Human Trafficking: Hidden in Plain Sight" Sept 1st, 7:00 PM at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 4501 Walnut, Kansas City MO

Timea Eva Nagy was an accomplished young professional in her native Hungary. When she immigrated to Canada in 1998 looking for a summer job, she found herself stripped of her identification and pressed into servitude. Though she eventually escaped, she spent the next six years working to piece her own life back together and bring her captors to justice. She will tour Kansas City with retired FBI agent Jeff Lanza, speaking about her experiences and calling for more education and prevention of human trafficking.

For more on Timea Eva Nagy and her new book Walk With Me, Memoirs of a Sex Slave Survivor, click here.

Next up on the calendar

IRC 26th Annual Awards Banquet, Monday Oct. 5th, Reception at 6:00 PM, Dinner at 7:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

You can click on tags marked "Awards Banquet" in the blog for more on our speakers.

Reserve your spots now! Visit irckc.org to register today!

Mark your calendars: The IRC Annual Awards Banquet October 5, 2009

Monday, October 5, 2009

Reception 6:00 p.m.
Dinner and Program 7:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Crown Center

IRC is pleased to announce that C. Fred Bergsten, director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, will receive the Distinguished Service Award for International Statesmanship at IRC's annual Awards Banquet on October 5. Bergsten has served as Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department and has been director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics since its foundation in 1981. The Peterson Institute is the only major research institution in the United States devoted to international economic issues. Bergsten is one of the world's leading authorities on international monetary policy and trade (National Journal, Sep 8, 2007). According to Thomas Hoenig, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, “Dr. Bergsten has built a global reputation on broad experience in international economics. His appearance is a wonderful opportunity for Kansas Citians to learn his insight on important issues.”

Receiving the Award for Academic Leadership is the Stowers Institute and William Neaves, its president & CEO. Neaves has recruited scientists from around the world to relocate to Kansas City. The Stowers Institute, opened in 2000, is one of the most innovative biomedical research organizations in the world, with 25 independent research projects led by scientists with academic appointments.

Danny O’Neill, President & Owner of The Roasterie, will receive the Award for Contributions to International Commerce & Community Service. The Roasterie gives back to communities they touch by supporting local projects to help farmers, including projects in Brazil, Costa Rica and Rwanda. The Roasterie recently featured in the July issue of O, The Oprah Magazine.

Presenting Sponsor Table $5,000
Premier Seating/Table for Ten/Table Sign
Name and Logo used in pre-event publicity
Recognition from Podium/ Program Listing as Presenting Sponsor

Sponsor Table $2,000
Priority Seating/ Table for Ten/Table Sign
Recognition from Podium/Program Listing as Gold Sponsor

Table Host $1,000
Table for Ten/Table Sign/Program Listing as Table Host

Individual Seating $100 per person

To register, please complete our online registration form, or call 816-221-4204.

Upcoming event: Human Trafficking: Hidden in Plain Sight

September 1
7:00 p.m.
All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church
4501 Walnut, KCMO

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution outlawed slavery in America, yet it exists today, with modern day bondage consisting of isolation, threats and coercion. There are 15,000 victims in the United States alone who generate three billion dollars of profit for their captors. Yet most Americans are unaware of the extent or even the existence of the form of modern day slavery called Human Trafficking. It has been an unseen, unheard and unreported crime. The victims are all around us, unknown to most; they are, paradoxically, hidden in plain sight.

Jeff Lanza, retired FBI agent who investigated human trafficking in Kansas City, and Timea Eva Nagy, sex slave survivor, speaker and social advocate from Toronto, Canada, will speak on the same stage to raise public awareness of this crime epidemic. Lanza was an FBI Agent for over 20 years. During his tenure at the FBI, he investigated corruption, corporate fraud, money laundering, computer crime and organized crime. He served as head of internal security of the Kansas City FBI and a regional spokesman. Timea was a sex slave in Toronto, Canada beginning in 1998 after she arrived from Budapest, Hungary in the hopes of fulfilling a summer position. She was kidnapped, controlled, and kept under horrible conditions and forced to work in the sex trade in Toronto and surrounding areas. Her new book, Walk With Me, a Memoir of a Sex Slave Worker, is a full accounting of her story and her road to wholeness and is set to be released fall of 2009.

$10 members/$15 non-members

To register, visit irckc.org or email info@irckc.org

Upcoming event: Summer Book Club 2009

Explore the world's past, present and future with IRC's Summer Book Club. IRC will be reading three books this summer: 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus (June), The Bookseller of Kabul (July), and The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century. This Book Club is free but open to current IRC members only. Space will be limited to 30 attendees per book, so register early to ensure your spot! IRC recommends Rainy Day Books for your book purchases.


August 20
The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century
by George Friedman

7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Kauffman Foundation -- Brush Creek Room
Book discussion moderated by Mike Wood, retired professor at the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration at UMKC.

To register, please send an email to Sarah Bader at irc@irckc.org that includes your name, phone number, preferred email address, and book club sessions you would like to attend. You may also telephone 816-221-4204 with the same information. Space is limited, but there will be a waiting list in case of cancellations. Please note that you must be a current member of IRC to participate. If you are unsure of your member status, please feel free to inquire via email.