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2014 Halifax International Security Forum

2014 Halifax International Security Forum

Date
November 21-23, 2014
Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Participants
300

Agenda & Speakers

Friday, November 21
Saturday, November 22
Sunday, November 23

15:00-15:15

Opening Video and Introduction On the record

Opening words by Mr. Peter Van Praagh, President of the Halifax International Security Forum, and Minister Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defense of Canada, welcoming participants to Canada and to the 2014 Forum.

“It has been a difficult year in international security and the pursuit of peace. We meet in Halifax this weekend in the shadow of a very turbulent year internationally, and a terrorist attack here in Canada. This year we mark the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One and this month the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

— Mr. Peter Van Praagh, President, Halifax International Security Forum

“The struggle for modernity—the fundamental struggle of the 20th century— is not yet won. So it continues.“

— Mr. Peter Van Praagh, President, Halifax International Security Forum

“Nothing succeeds like success, and as the modern economies recover and generate wealth, they will again expand the greatest power that they have: the magnetic power to attract.”

— Mr. Peter Van Praagh, President, Halifax International Security Forum

15:15-16:15

Opening Panel: Fortress North America: How Glorious?  How Free? On the record

Speakers

Chief Political Correspondent, Global News
Moderator
Mr. Tom Clark

Mr. Tom Clark

Mr. Tom Clark is Chief Political Correspondent for Global News and Host of the network’s flagship political show The West Block with Tom Clark. With Tom at the helm the show has become the most watched political show in Canada. Tom is one of Canada’s most recognized and respected journalists. He has interviewed every Prime Minister since Lester B. Pearson and covered every federal election campaign since 1974. Before joining Global News, he was CTV bureau chief in Beijing during the early 1980’s, and spent five years as the bureau chief in Washington DC. Tom has spent much of his career travelling the world, reporting from 33 countries and six active war zones, most recently Afghanistan. He was in Berlin when the wall fell and in Tiananmen Square the night the Chinese army attacked.

Chief, United States National Guard Bureau
General Frank Grass

General Frank Grass

General Frank J. Grass serves as the 27th Chief of the National Guard Bureau and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity, he serves as a military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council and is the Department of Defense’s official channel of communication to the Governors and State Adjutants General on all matters pertaining to the National Guard. He is responsible for ensuring the more than 460,000 Army and Air National Guard personnel are accessible, capable and ready to protect the homeland and to provide combat resources to the Army and Air Force. Prior to his current assignment, General Grass served as Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command and Vice Commander, United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command (USELEMNORAD) at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. As Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command, General Grass helped lead the command to anticipate, prepare, and respond to threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories, and interests within the assigned area of responsibility and, as directed by the President or Secretary of Defense, provide Defense Support of Civil Authorities, including consequence management operations.

Commander, United States Northern Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command
General Charles Jacoby

General Charles Jacoby

General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr. is the Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. A 1978 West Point graduate, he holds an M.A. in History from the University of Michigan. He has commanded at the platoon, company, battalion, joint task force, corps, and US Army Alaska levels, as well as being the Commanding General, Multi-National Corps–Iraq, and Deputy Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force-76, and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan. Prior to his current assignment, General Jacoby was Director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J5), The Joint Staff, Pentagon.

Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces
General Thomas Lawson

General Thomas Lawson

General Thomas J. Lawson was appointed the Canadian Forces’ Chief of the Defence Staff in October 2012. Previously, he was posted to Peter- son Air Force Base, Colorado, where he assumed responsibility as the deputy commander North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). In 2009, he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. In May 2007, he was appointed Commandant of the Royal Military College in Kingston. In 2006, he completed a year as a Wing Commander before being promoted to Brigadier-General. General Lawson joined the CF Transformation Team in 2005 where he led the stand-up of the Strategic Joint Staff organization. He has held numerous other positions within the Royal Canadian Air Force. General Lawson has a M.A. in Public Administration from Auburn University and an electrical engineering degree from the Royal Military College of Canada.

Minister of National Defence, Canada
The Hon. Rob Nicholson

The Hon. Rob Nicholson

Minister Rob Nicholson serves as the Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls. He was first elected in 1984 and re-elected in 1988, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. In July 2013, Mr. Nicholson was named Minister of National Defence. Previously, he was appointed Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. During his first term in Parliament, Mr. Nicholson served as Minister for Science and Minister responsible for Small Business, as well as Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Mr. Nicholson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen’s University and a law degree from the University of Windsor. A lifelong resident of Niagara Falls, he practiced law and was involved in municipal politics. Mr. Nicholson is married to Arlene and is the father of three children.

For the first time at the Halifax International Security Forum, the Session Opener was broadcast nationally, moderated by Global News’ Chief Political Correspondent, Tom Clark. The panel included the pinnacle of North American military leadership and dug into the internal and external risks to shared continental security. A variety of security threats were raised, including homegrown and foreign terrorism, vulnerabilities in private and public agencies and infrastructure like energy networks, as well as domestic matters such as crime and immigration. Panelists agreed that collaboration between North American military partners is necessary for continental security and that the existing relationships between Canada, the US, and Mexico should remain robust.

“If there was any doubt about whether the (two recent) attacks on Canada were terrorist, ISIS has claimed responsibility for both attacks.”

— Mr. Tom Clark, Chief Political Correspondent, Global News

“Threats against “Fortress America” exist well within the Fortress walls.”

— Mr. Tom Clark, Chief Political Correspondent, Global News

“Probably, the thing that keeps me up at night is a no-notice attack.”

— Gen. Thomas Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces

“The distinction between “Away Game” and “Home Game” is becoming less assured.”

— Gen. Charles Jacoby, Commander, United States Northern Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command

“I think we’re going to have to figure out similar mechanisms to support private agencies that are going to need help to support infrastructure like energy grids that people need.”

— Gen. Charles Jacoby, Commander, United States Northern Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command

“There’s very little doubt about what the intent of ISIS is.”

— The Hon. John McCain, Senator (R-AZ), United States

“We need to find a better word than “Fortress” …we have so much more to offer the world.”

— The Hon. Tim Kaine, Senator (D-VA), United States

“It’s the transnational organized crime we’re after.”

— Gen. Frank Grass, Chief, United States National Guard Bureau

16:15-16:45

Coffee Break

16:45-18:00

Plenary 1: The Next Last Great War: The Next Battle for Modernity On the record

Speakers

Editor, Foreign Affairs
Moderator
Mr. Gideon Rose

Mr. Gideon Rose

Dr. Gideon Rose is the Editor of Foreign Affairs. He served as Managing Editor of the magazine from December 2000 to September 2010. From 1995-2000 he was Olin Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and from 1994-95 he served as Associate Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. In 1986-87 he was Assistant Editor at The National Interest, and in 1985-86 held the same position at The Public Interest. He has taught American foreign policy at Columbia and Princeton universities. Mr. Rose received a B.A. in Classics from Yale University and a Ph.D. from the Department of Government at Harvard University. His recent works included How Wars End (Simon & Schuster, 2010), Understanding the War on Terror (edited with James F. Hoge, Jr.; Council on Foreign Relations, 2005) and America and the World: Debating the New Shape of International Politics (edited with James F. Hoge, Jr.; Council on Foreign Relations, 2002).

Spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party
Mr. M.J. Akbar

Mr. M.J. Akbar

Mr. M.J. Akbar is a leading Indian author, columnist, and public figure. His books include India: The Siege Within, Nehru: The Making of India, Kashmir: Behind the Vale, The Shade of Swords, Blood Brothers, and Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan, which examines how the foundational impulse of theocracy has turned the first Islamic state in the post-colonial era into a nation that has become a sanctuary for jihadists determined to spread instability through terrorism. Mr. Akbar joined the present ruling party, BJP, before the general elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a historic victory, and served as the party spokesperson during the polls and thereafter.

Former Prime Minister and Former Minister of Defense, Israel
H.E. Ehud Barak

H.E. Ehud Barak

The Honorable Ehud Barak served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001. During his tenure, Prime Minister Barak led the country out of prolonged recession and into an economic boom, with 5.9% annual growth (9% 3rd Q), record foreign investments, near zero inflation, a halved deficit and significantly decreased external debt. However, the core of the Barak government’s effort was devoted to the peace process: in May 2000 Prime Minister Barak ordered the withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces from South Lebanon ending 18 tragic and bloody years of Israel’s presence there. Before being elected Prime Minister, Barak completed an illustrious 36-year career in the Israeli Defense Forces as the most decorated soldier in its history. Additionally, he served as Chief of the General Staff of the IDF where he was involved in the negotiation and implementation of the 1994 peace treaty with Jordan. Barak also served his country as Minister of the Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Defense Minister. Mr. Barak received his B.S. in Mathematics and Physics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and his M.SC in Economic Engineering Systems at Stanford University in California.

Commander, United States Strategic Command
Admiral Cecil Haney

Admiral Cecil Haney

Admiral Cecil D. Haney, a native of Washington, DC is a 1978 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. His career as a submariner includes assignments aboard USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN 630), USS Frank Cable (AS 40), USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709), USS Asheville (SSN 758), and Submarine Squadron 8, culminating in command of USS Honolulu (SSN 718). Subsequent fleet command assignments include Submarine Squadron 1 and Submarine Group 2. Admiral Haney’s shore duty tours include administrative assistant for enlisted affairs at Naval Reactors; congressional appropriations liaison officer for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Comptroller); Deputy Chief of Staff of Plans, Policies and Requirements, US Pacific Fleet (N5N8); Director, Submarine Warfare Division (N87); Director, Naval Warfare Integration Group (N00X); Deputy Commander, US Strategic Command and recently Commander, US Pacific Fleet. Admiral Haney holds master’s degrees in Engineering Acoustics and System Technology from the Naval Post Graduate School, and a master’s degree in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. Admiral Haney’s decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (four awards), Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), and various campaign and unit awards. In addition, he was the 1998 Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award recipient.

President, Republic of Estonia
H.E. Toomas-Hendrik Ilves

H.E. Toomas-Hendrik Ilves

Toomas Hendrik Ilves was born to an Estonian family living in Stockholm, Sweden in 1953. He graduated from Columbia University and went on to receive his M.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Ilves served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the United States and Canada. Upon returning to Europe, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the North Atlantic Institute, and he went on to be elected a Member of the Estonian Parliament and a Member of the European Parliament, where he was vice-president of the Foreign Affairs Committee. In 2006, Mr. Ilves was elected President of the Republic of Estonia and re-elected for a second term in 2011. During his time in office, President Ilves has served as Chairman of the EU Task Force on eHealth and Chairman of the European Cloud Partnership Steering Board. With a long-standing interest in programming, he has promoted Estonia’s IT-development since the country restored its independence. President Ilves has spoken and written extensively at integration, transatlantic relations, e-government, cyber security, and other related topics. He is married and has a son and two daughters.

In the context of reviewing the historic and defining wars of the past century, panelists pursued a vibrant discussion on the current trajectory of modernity; what that means in terms of democracy, who wants it, and how to get it. Current political and ideological movements in the Middle East, Russia, and China were at the crux of the exchange between the panelists. Panelists also considered how political and theological ideologies transcend the borders of nation states and impact how democracy and modernity can develop within these borders.

Democracy is not just raising hands and voting.”

— H.E. Toomas-Hendrik Ilves, President, Republic of Estonia

“Democracy has its own liberating influences.”

— Mr. M.J. Akbar, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Janata Party

“Democracy is not the right to talk sense; democracy is the right to talk nonsense.”

— Mr. M.J. Akbar, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Janata Party

“The cold war, where countries were considering mutually assured destruction, was a stabilizing force because each country was more careful.”

— H.E. Ehud Barak, Former Prime Minister and Former Minister of Defense, Israel

“We are living in a place where even America, the mightiest one, cannot solve the problems on its own”

— H.E. Ehud Barak, Former Prime Minister and Former Minister of Defense, Israel

“You cannot say modernity for everyone with one brush”

— Mr. Mohammed Abulahoum, Head, Justice and Building Party, Yemen

“There is commitment all over the globe by the United States by both military and civilian, working as partners with other nations. That will be our strength in addressing these challenges”

— Adm. Cecil Haney, Commander, United States Strategic Command

18:15

Shuttle to Pier 21

LOCATION: Westin Lobby

18:30-19:00

Reception

LOCATION: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

19:00-21:00

Gala Dinner


Presentation of the Halifax Builder Award

Mr. Bill McCaffrey, President and Chief Executive Officer, MEG Energy Corporation

21:30

Night Owl Sessions

The Enemy of My Enemy is . . . Iran
LOCATION: Atlantic Ballroom

SPEAKERS: H.E. Ehud Barak, Former Prime Minister and Former Minister of Defense, Israel; Dr. Jerrold Green, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy
MODERATOR: Mr. Paul Wells, Political Editor, Maclean’s

 

Hong Kong, China: One City, Two Visions
LOCATION: Harbour B

SPEAKERS: The Rt. Hon. Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, Chairman, Cyber Security Advisory Panel to the Bank of England; Dr. Masashi Nishihara, President, Research Institute for Peace and Security; H.E. Dr. Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong, Central Tibetan Administration
MODERATOR: Mr. Steve Clemons, Washington Editor-at-Large, The Atlantic, and Editor-in-Chief, AtlanticLIVE & QuartzLIVE

Red is the New Orange: Ukraine, Russia, and the Future of Eurasian Democracy
LOCATION: Tradewinds

SPEAKERS: The Hon. Irakli Alasania, Former Minister of Defense, Georgia; The Hon. Carl Bildt, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sweden; Ms. Jill Dougherty, Public Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
MODERATOR: The Hon. Paula Dobriansky, Senior Fellow, The Future of Diplomacy Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University

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