Afghanistan After 2014:
The Impact of Troop Withdrawal on Democracy, Stability, and Women's Rights 

Feb. 11—Afghani Member of Parliament Fawzia Koofi joined WFPG members and guests at a luncheon and program on Afghanistan After 2014. Koofi talked about the impact of next year's US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan on democracy, stability, and women's rights in the country. She discussed the advancements women have made since 2001, such as higher rates of education and increased participation in politics, as well as how precarious those basic rights will be after the 2014 withdrawal.  Read more 

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Author Series:
On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion,
Fault Lines—and Future 

Karen Elliott House, former publisher of The Wall Street Journal, spoke with WFPG in New York and Washington, DC on her recent book, On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines—and Future. In her remarks, House described the sources of and inhibitors to stability in Saudi Arabia, and also gave insight onto a variety of issues ranging from women as potential agents of change to the royal family, oil wealth, and the impact of the Arab Awakening on the autocratic monarchy. View transcript of DC event

DC Program | NY Program

Embassy Series: Algeria
Ambassador Abdallah Baali 

Feb. 13—H.E. Abdallah Baali, Ambassador of Algeria to the United States, addressed WFPG at an Embassy Series event on US-Algerian Relations at his residence. The Ambassador spoke about the political and religious conflicts in the region, from Tunisia and Mali to Libya and Syria. He described humanitarian aid and peacekeeping efforts in Mali, and Algerian security tactics, including shared intelligence efforts with the US. Ambassador Baali also addressed the recent attack on civilians at the gas facility in Algeria, and the Algerian government's approach to the crisis. The discussion was moderated by WFPG President Patricia Ellis. Photos

Embassy Series: Jordan
Ambassador Alia Hatoug-Bouran

Nov. 27—Jordanian Ambassador Alia Hatoug-Bouran joined New York Times Pentagon Correspondent Elisabeth Bumiller for a conversation on Jordan and developments in the region. Ambassador Hatoug-Bouran’s remarks covered the economic crisis and protests resulting from increased gas prices, Jordan’s response to the crisis, the impact of the refugee crisis on the Palestinian refugee population, and US-Jordanian relations. The event was hosted by the Embassy of Jordan. Read more 

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