2009-04-02 13:20:04 -

With attention focused on Afghanistan, Pakistan and the global economy as President Obama begins his first overseas trip, a panel of high-ranking US foreign policy experts released a SPECIAL REPORT Tuesday at the National Press Club that recommends the US Administration “look around corners”—as Pres. Obama has advocated—and actively engage to avoid the next foreign policy crisis before it happens. Issued by the POTOMAC INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES and CONFLICT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, the report calls for a regionally focused “reset” of US foreign policy in North Africa—the Maghreb. It outlines threats, opportunities, and options for effective US engagement to promote peace and prosperity, and thwart a growing peril from al-Qaeda terrorists in the Sahara, which

UN Counter-Terrorism Chief Mike Smith warns “has emerged as the world's most worrying security hotspot.”

The nations of the Maghreb—Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, & Tunisia—have long been at the crossroads of history, the report says.

Today the Maghreb holds great potential as a bridge between the Islamic world and the West, and would benefit from greater economic integration in the region, with Europe and the US. But it faces serious challenges—a spike in terrorism since 9/11, firm toehold by al-Qaeda in the Sahara, worsening global financial crisis, slow development that brings popular apathy and alienation, and a 30-year dispute over W. Sahara that impedes economic & security cooperation.

“The Maghreb is the perfect test case for preventative US engagement and diplomacy,” said Gen. Wesley Clark, retired US Army four-star general, NATO Supreme Allied Commander and honorary co-chair of the North Africa Policy Paper Project. “This is the right time to engage, before there’s a crisis. We can work to encourage greater economic development and opportunity, and at the same time prevent a serious security threat of terrorism from al Qaeda. The key is to provide economic opportunities for young people in the region. That’s why we have to act now.”

“The last thing we need is another front in the war on terror,” said Amb. Stuart Eizenstat, former chief White House domestic policy adviser, partner, Covington & Burling, and co-chair, North Africa Policy Paper Project. “For decades the Maghreb has been neglected by US diplomacy. Since 9/11 terrorist attacks are up more than 400%. Now is the time for a policy that confronts the region’s security, economic, and political challenges and embraces its opportunities. The Maghreb is home to moderate, progressive Muslims who support our efforts to combat jihadist Islam. We should encourage more economic development and education to enhance security, stability, and opportunities for its people.”

“The Maghreb matters to the US—for geopolitical reasons, for economic reasons, and for security reasons,” said Prof. William Zartman, Jacob Blaustein Professor Emeritus, Johns Hopkins U., former director, SAIS Conflict Management program, co-sponsor/co-chair, N. Africa Policy Paper Project. “The region holds great potential for increased economic cooperation. But first we must remove the rock from the road—we need a resolution to the Western Sahara issue. Morocco has a compromise proposal for self-determination through autonomy that has gained broad support. Resolving this issue will remove a significant barrier to improved security, stability, and economic opportunity in the Maghreb.”


PANEL MEMBERS for The North Africa Policy Paper Project


The following foreign policy experts are members of the blue-ribbon panel that reviewed and approved the report.



- Secretary Madeleine AlbrightFmr US Sec. of State, Principal Albright Group LLC
- Professor Yonah AlexanderDir. Int’l Center, Terrorism Studies, Potomac Inst.


- General Wesley ClarkRet. 4-star US Gen, NATO Sup. Allied Commander
- President Lorne CranerPresident, International Republican Inst.


- Professor Chester CrockerProf. Strategic Studies, Georgetown U.


- Ambassador Stuart EizenstatCovington & Burling, Frm White Hse Policy Adviser
- Professor John EntelisProf. Pol Sci, Dir. Middle East Studies, Fordham U.


- Ambassador Lucia GuerratoFormer Ambassador, European Union
- Ambassador Robert PelletreauFormer Assist. Sec. of State, Near Eastern Affairs
- Ambassador Robin RaphelFormer US Ambassador to Tunisia
- Ambassador Ed WalkerFormer US Ambassador to Israel, Egypt, & UAE
- Ambassador David WelchFormer Assist. Sec. of State, Near Eastern Affairs and Former Ambassador to Egypt
- Professor I William ZartmanJacob Blaustein Professor Emeritus, SAIS

**For a copy of the SPECIAL REPORT, go to www.whythemaghrebmatters.org/ : to download a PDF file. The site also has a link to view a videotape of Tuesday’s Panel presentation at the National Press Club.

About the Co-Sponsors


Potomac Institute for Policy StudiesThe Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is an independent, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit public policy research institute. The Institute identifies and aggressively shepherds discussion on key science, technology, and national security issues facing our society. In 1998, the Institute developed the International Center for Terrorism Studies, under the directorship of Prof. Yonah Alexander, which sponsored some 500 seminars and conferences; published over 50 books; and conducted an internship program for over 600 undergraduate and graduate students. Professor Alexander can be reached at yalexander@potomacinstitute.org : mailto:yalexander@potomacinstitute.org .


Conflict Management Program at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International StudiesThe Conflict Management Program is unique among graduate programs worldwide and one of the largest at SAIS, a leading graduate schools devoted to the study of international relations. Located along Embassy Row in Washington’s Dupont Circle area, the school enrolls more than 580 full-time graduate students and mid-career professionals and has trained more than 15,000 alumni in all aspects of international affairs. SAIS also has campuses in Bologna, Italy, and Nanjing, China. Prof. William Zartman is a former director of the Conflict Management Program. He can be reached at Zartman@jhu.edu : mailto:Zartman@jhu.edu .

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5931671&lang=en :



Potomac Institute for Policy StudiesYonah Alexander703-525-0770 yalexander@potomacinstitute.org : mailto:yalexander@potomacinstitute.org