2008 Woodie Awards
Terrorism: from Africa to UM
World-renowned experts present thoughts on a global conflict
Lynnsay Maynard
Issue date: 3/24/08 Section: News
The University of Maine welcomed two internationally- renowned U.S. foreign policy experts on March 17 in a forum titled "The Roots of Terrorism: From the Horn of Africa to Pakistan," hosted by the School of Policy and International Affairs (SPIA).
The forum, held in the Buchanan Alumni House, featured Ambassador Mark Bellamy, a senior fellow in residence in the Center for Strategic and International Studies' African and International Security Programs and Bruce Riedel, a senior foreign policy fellow in the Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East Policy.
Bellamy and Riedel both serve on SPIA's Board of Advisors.
"This is an extremely relevant and important topic - terrorism and issues around Africa and Pakistan, two areas that have dominated the news for quite some time," said University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude.
Bellamy focused on his experience as a senior official in the African bureau during the days after Sept. 11 and the U.S.'s counter-terrorism efforts in Africa.
"We determined there was a global war on terrorism and then looked for ways to fit Africa into that template. We didn't look at the Africa experience on its own merits but rather as a sub-set of a larger global problem, and so doing I think we failed in many ways to see that Africa did not fit within the global paradigm," Bellamy said.
Riedel focused on extremism and Pakistan's relationship with the global community.
Linsey Ruhl, a fourth-year international affairs and political science major, attended the forum.
"I think many Americans are concerned about terrorism, and this was an excellent opportunity to learn about the U.S. response to terrorism and the current state of terrorism in Pakistan, Kenya, Iraq and more," she said. "Both men were working in government before and after 9/11, which allowed them to sketch a comprehensive picture of world terrorism."
Before the forum, Bellamy and Riedel spoke to more than 100 Maine high school students in Little Hall. Both discussed U.S. foreign policy and global issues and answered students' questions afterward.
The forum, held in the Buchanan Alumni House, featured Ambassador Mark Bellamy, a senior fellow in residence in the Center for Strategic and International Studies' African and International Security Programs and Bruce Riedel, a senior foreign policy fellow in the Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East Policy.
Bellamy and Riedel both serve on SPIA's Board of Advisors.
"This is an extremely relevant and important topic - terrorism and issues around Africa and Pakistan, two areas that have dominated the news for quite some time," said University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude.
Bellamy focused on his experience as a senior official in the African bureau during the days after Sept. 11 and the U.S.'s counter-terrorism efforts in Africa.
"We determined there was a global war on terrorism and then looked for ways to fit Africa into that template. We didn't look at the Africa experience on its own merits but rather as a sub-set of a larger global problem, and so doing I think we failed in many ways to see that Africa did not fit within the global paradigm," Bellamy said.
Riedel focused on extremism and Pakistan's relationship with the global community.
Linsey Ruhl, a fourth-year international affairs and political science major, attended the forum.
"I think many Americans are concerned about terrorism, and this was an excellent opportunity to learn about the U.S. response to terrorism and the current state of terrorism in Pakistan, Kenya, Iraq and more," she said. "Both men were working in government before and after 9/11, which allowed them to sketch a comprehensive picture of world terrorism."
Before the forum, Bellamy and Riedel spoke to more than 100 Maine high school students in Little Hall. Both discussed U.S. foreign policy and global issues and answered students' questions afterward.
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