Great Decisions at the Library

The seventh annual Great Decisions at the Library series will begin on Saturday, January 21 at the Bainbridge Public Library. Like last year, we’ll start at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and a 30-minute film and aim to finish the discussion by 11 a.m. Here’s the schedule, which is generally every other week, with a few exceptions:
Jan 21, Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 18, Feb 25, Mar 3, Mar 24, Mar 31.  

February 25, 2012  |  9:30AM - 11:30AM  |  Bainbridge Public Library  |  Free.

Exiting Afghanistan and Iraq

Presented by Kitsap Regional Library and the Bainbridge Island Arts & Humanities Council

Please join the Bainbridge Island Arts & Humanities Council and the Kitsap Regional Library for coffee, a cutting edge documentary, and a community discussion on this timely issue.

Ten years after September 11, 2001, the U.S. is winding down its military commitment in Iraq and slowly pulling out of Afghanistan. What exit strategy will help Afghanistan and Iraq build stable democratic nations? How can the U.S. continue to achieve its counterterrorism goals? What is the role of the U.S. in the future of the Middle East?

The discussion will be moderated by Kelly Erickson, Visiting Assistant Professor in Politics and Government at the University of Puget Sound. His teaching background includes courses on international relations, U.S. foreign policy and national security, the role of military force in international relations, the causes of war, terrorism and insurgency, international organization, and ethics and statecraft.

Karzai: Afghanistan Will Need $10 Billion a Year, But That’s a Bargain. Christian Science Monitor, December 5, 2011. At an international conference in Bonn, Germany, Afghan President Hamid Karzai unveiled the price tag for keeping Afghanistan stable and out of insurgent hands once NATO departs in 2014. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/1205/Karzai-Afghanistan-will-need-10-billion-a-year-but-that-s-a-bargain?cmpid=ema:nws:Daily%20Custom%202%20(12052011)&cmpid=ema:nws:NzQ4MDU0MjUyMwS2

Iraq's Endless Political Crises. Atlantic Monthly, February 1, 2012. Unless the country can fix its underlying issues, it will remain unstable and probably worse. http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/02/iraqs-endless-political-crises/252340/

Obama Must Keep US Military in Afghanistan to Counter China, Russia. By Alexander Benard, January 4, 2012. Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2012/0104/Obama-must-keep-US-military-in-Afghanistan-to-counter-China-Russia. The Obama administration must recognize that a total military withdrawal would have effects beyond Afghanistan's borders. It would devastate US interests – both political and economic – throughout Central Asia, a critical region where China and Russia now dominate.

Iraq without America: Sovereignty without Security. The Economist, December 31, 2011. The departure of American troops has already been followed by a resurgence of sectarian hatred. http://www.economist.com/node/21542200

The Future of Afghanistan and U.S. Foreign Policy. Foreign Affairs, December 2011. Ten Years After Bonn: Perspectives and Analysis. http://www.foreignaffairs.com/features/collections/the-future-of-afghanistan-and-us-foreign-policy

Iraq after the US: Will It Survive? Christian Science Monitor, December 10, 2011. Iraqis harbor anger, deep concerns – and some optimism – as American troops withdraw after nearly nine years of war and occupation. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/1210/Iraq-after-the-US-Will-it-survive-video

Afghanistan: What Comes Next. The Economist, December 3, 2011. Afghanistan gets a rotten press in the West but the outlook is not all bad, particularly if the country’s security forces do what is hoped. http://www.economist.com/node/21540999

Middle East Realignment - March 3
Indonesia - March 24
Energy Geopolitic - March 31

We are looking for individuals with an interest or expertise in the topics to serve as discussion moderators. Please contact Kathleen Thorne, Great Decisions Coordinator, at if you have any suggestions.

Middle East realignment - The popular revolts and upheaval of the Arab Spring have radically changed the face of the Middle East. What lies ahead for the Middle East’s transition to democracy? What are the prospects for the governments that have held out in this new order? With many longtime U.S. allies ousted, how will the U.S. recalibrate its relations with the new regimes?

Indonesia - Having emerged from authoritarianism in the last 15 years, Indonesia has made remarkable strides politically, economically and socially. Yet the new, democratic Indonesia is still a developing country facing considerable challenges. How can Indonesia continue its path of growth, reform and prosperity? What is Indonesia’s role in the global community?

Energy geopolitics - The energy markets have been shaken by the instability of Middle East oil and the vulnerability of nuclear power. Moreover, developing countries like China are becoming bigger energy consumers, while energy producers like Russia see the opportunity to widen their influence. In this changed landscape, how will the U.S.’s energy needs affect its relations with other nations?

Great Decisions 2012

Great Decisions is a nationwide program of the Foreign Policy Association, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to broadening public involvement with the most important foreign policy issues facing the United States. The annual series features a DVD on each day's topic, followed by a moderated discussion among the viewers. 

Now in its sixth year, Great Decisions at the Library is a collaboration between the Bainbridge Island Arts & Humanities Council and the Kitsap Regional Library. 

While enjoying refreshments, participants first view a 30-minute Foreign Policy Association DVD of a conversation between two experts on the topic to be discussed. To assist with advance preparation, please review the relevant chapter of the Great Decisions briefing book, which is available at the Bainbridge Public Library. Copies can also be purchased from the Arts & Humanities Council for $20. 

Please contact the Arts & Humanities Council at  to be added to the Great Decisions email list for updates on the topic schedule and to receive topic background information.