American Global Military Power: Indispensable and Just, or Overbroad and Overreaching?

Coming on the tenth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad to U.S. military forces in April 2003 and eight weeks into the sequester (under the terms of which the American military budget will be reduced over the next ten years by a comparable level to the post-Vietnam draw-down), the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia is convening this nationally and internationally significant exchange of views on the purposes and costs of American power in the 21st Century.

We will meet at a time when there is great debate on these questions of national security and national priorities, not only between the parties, but also within each party.

Among Republicans, there is a growing schism between the “Neo-Conservatives,” many of whom held power during the presidency of George W. Bush, who favor levels of defense spending at least as great as exist at present, and an activist global military posture for the United States; and “Tea Party Conservatives” who favor lower defense spending and a significantly smaller footprint and portfolio of American military engagement in the world.

On the Democratic side, while the President calls America “the indispensable nation” and supports our global network of alliances, interventions, and military presences, some Democrats believe that we are overextended—that our security needs do not require us to be indispensable; that we cannot achieve the results that concept calls for; and that we cannot afford to keep trying to do so.

Speakers Ambassador John Bolton and Congressman Barney Frank, are two of the nations most thoughtful, deeply studied, articulate, and passionate advocates for their respective points of view, which sharply differ, on these crucial questions of the proper role for American military power in the world and proper priority of military spending within our federal budget and overall economy.

SCHEDULE

• 5:30 p.m. -- Registration and reception
• 6:00 p.m. -- Program
• 7:30 p.m. -- Adjournment

TICKETS

• Members
  • Wine and hor d-oeuvres reception with speakers & preferred seating at program: $95
  • Refreshments reception & program: $40
• General Public
  • Wine and hor d-oeuvres reception with speakers & preferred seating at program: $125
  • Refreshments reception & program: $50
• Full-Time Students (with valid ID - limited availability)
  • Refreshments reception & program: $20

Lecture Passes will be accepted for a limited number of seats.

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