Israel struggles to survive, and the United States wishes for a stable regional order.  Surely, there is a massive struggle for power and influence in the Middle East, where order has largely broken down and where profound differences have been unleashed.  While it may not be entirely clear what strategic thinking lies beneath the Obama administration’s approach to Iran, recent events make it absolutely clear that the Netanyahu government disagrees.  Certainly, it is enormously challenging to conceptualize an orderly and stable Middle East, let alone conceptualize a path to it.

Professor Robert Freedman, one of the nation’s leading authorities on Israel, the Middle East, and American foreign policy, is remarkably adept and finding coherence within the complex.  He has done this often at the Council, in his writings, in the classroom, and in advising governmental entities. 

Professor Freedman has just completed a paper on this evening’s question.  His long and distinguished career was launched at the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. degree in Diplomatic History and Columbia University with M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in International Relations.  He has been an Assistant Professor of Russian History at the United States Military Academy, Associate Professor of Political Science and Russian at Marquette University and Professor of Political Science at the Baltimore Hebrew University, including a tenure as President of the institution.  Currently, he is a Visiting Professor at Johns Hopkins University.  He is the author or co-author of twenty books and has published innumerable articles.  His contributions to public affairs include being a commentator on National Public Radio, the BBC, and the Voice of America as well as other major American news outlets.  His experience has been sought by policymakers; The United States Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Israeli Defense Ministry and the Israeli Foreign Ministry.  He has also been called upon to serve the United States government on delegations to Moscow, Beijing, Uzbekistan, and Tunis.  Professor Freedman is well-known to members of the Council, having addressed it on a number of occasions since 1981. 

It is an enormous pleasure to once again welcome Professor Robert Freedman to the Council.