For 75 years, the World Affairs Council has been convinced that Americans need to understand a world that looks to them for leadership.

• Obstacles to peace in the Middle East
• Questions about democracy in Russia
• Challenges in the global economy
• Ethnic conflict in Africa
• Nuclear proliferation
• Challenges to the developing world
• The threat of international terrorism

The Council's Community programs are designed primarily for the Council's adult members and guests.  Frequently teachers and students also are invited to attend events and programs.  These programs include Luncheon Discussion Groups, Noon Briefings, Global Business Dialogues, the Great Decisions series, Community and Library programs, Global Pittsburgh Network events, our annual WorldQuest event, and travel opportunities.  

These programs allow our members and guests the opportunity to learn more about the world around them and engage on key issues of the day.  To learn more about these programs formats and the specifics of upcoming programs, please feel free to click on the links to the left of this text.

In addition to the programs shown on the left, the Council holds a weekly radio program in cooperation with KQV News Radio AM 1410 on Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, please email or call 412-281-7970.

Pittsburgh Civic Forum – The U.S. in Iraq: Options, Risks, Prospects

An important forward-looking civic forum regarding America’s present and future strategy in Iraq, hosted by the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh on March 30, 2007.

This forum on America’s greatest current foreign policy challenge was, in its conception, an attempt to begin a much needed dialogue outside of the Washington, D.C. Beltway.  The objective was to provoke an in-depth and candid conversation that focused on where we currently are in Iraq, what options we have looking forward, and the risks and prospects associated with those options.

This non-partisan civic forum brought together a distinguished and experienced panel with a broad range of views and perspectives.  Panelists included:

• Paul D. Hughes (Colonel, U.S. Army, retired), Director of Iraq Programs, Peace & Stability Operations, U.S. Institute of Peace;
  
  
• Anne Garrels, Senior Foreign Correspondent, Foreign Desk, National Public Radio;
  
  
• Steve Clemons, Senior Fellow & Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation, and Publisher, www.TheWashingtonNote.com;
  
  
• Lawrence Wilkerson (Colonel, U.S. Army, retired), former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Below are highlights of the program, including a brief reportorial summary and video clips from the event, are below.

To review the report, click here.

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