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2015 Halifax International Security Forum

2015 Halifax International Security Forum

Date
November 20-22, 2015
Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Participants
300

Agenda & Speakers

Friday, November 20
Saturday, November 21
Sunday, November 22

15:00-15:15

Opening Video and Introduction On the record

Opening remarks by Peter Van Praagh, President of the Halifax International Security Forum, and The Hon. Harjit Sajjan, Canadian Minister of Defence, welcoming participants to Canada and to the 2015 Forum.

15:15-16:15

New Canadian Ideas.  Same Old World?  On the record

As part of a special production of the Global TV program “The West Block”, host Tom Clark moderated a panel of military and security experts to consider an important question: Are recent, shocking events of terrorist activity “the new normal?” The discussion touched upon the role of numerous complex elements that have changed the nature of terrorism, including the criminal underpinnings of terror networks, new sophisticated digital methods of terror recruitment, and how Muslims are made to feel accepted and welcome in countries outside of the Middle East. Panelists also agreed that force is only part of the solution, and the careful management of force is an intrinsic part of inflicting damage upon the enemy, while ensuring favorable conditions remain for rebuilding areas of conflict into areas of peace and freedom in the future.

Produced for Canadian TV Show “The West Block” with Tom Clark 

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 traveling 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.

Co-Director, Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence, Brookings Institution
General John Allen, Ret.

General John Allen, Ret.

General John R. Allen, US Marine Corps (Ret.) was named the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL by President Obama on September 12, 2014. He served in that position until November, 2015. From April 2013 to May 2014, he served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense on Middle Security leading the Security Dialogue of the Middle East Peace Process. General Allen commanded the NATO International Security Assistance Force and United States Forces in Afghanistan from July 2011 to February 2013. Prior to that tour, he served as Deputy Commander, of the US Central Command. From 2007-2008, as the Deputy Commander of Multi-National Force – West in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, he played a major role in the Sunni tribal “Awakening Movement” or Sahawa al Iraq. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. General Allen holds a B.S. in operations analysis from the US Naval Academy, a M.A. in national security studies from Georgetown University, a M.S. in strategic intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College, and a M.S. in national security strategy from the National Defense University.

Commander, North American Aerospace and Defense Command and United States Northern Command
Admiral Bill Gortney

Admiral Bill Gortney

As Commander of NORAD and US-NORTHCOM, Admiral Bill Gortney is responsible for homeland defense, defense support of civil authorities, and security cooperation in North America. Admiral Gortney is a career naval aviator with over 5,360 mishap-free flight hours and 1,265 carrier-arrested landings, primarily in the A-7E Corsair II and the FA-18 Hornet. He has completed seven command tours and five joint tours. A 1977 graduate of Elon College in North Carolina, he entered the Navy as an Aviation Officer Candidate and received his wings of gold in 1978. Over his career, he served in aviation squadrons aboard USS Nimitz, USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Forrestal, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS John F. Kennedy, and he commanded the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group. Admiral Gortney completed three tours of duty in the US Central Command area of operations, participating in combat operations including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Southern Watch. As commander of the US 5th Fleet in Bahrain, he oversaw US naval operations throughout the Middle East. Admiral Gortney served as the Director of the Joint Staff, and most recently commanded US Fleet Forces Command, where he organized, manned, trained and equipped naval forces for assignment to combatant commanders around the world.

Minister of National Defence, Canada
The Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan

The Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan

Harjit Singh Sajjan has served Canada and his community as both a soldier and a police officer. He continues his service to Canada as the Member of Parliament for Vancouver South and as Minister of National Defence. Harjit is a retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and a combat veteran. He was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and served three separate deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Harjit has received numerous recognitions for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal for reducing the Taliban’s influence in Kandahar Province. He is also a recipient of the Order of Military Merit, one of the military’s highest recognitions. Harjit also served as an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Harjit was a police officer with the Vancouver Police Department for 11 years. He completed his last assignment as a Detective-Constable with the Gang Crime Unit specializing in organized crime. He proudly tackled gang violence and drug crimes in Vancouver. Harjit is also a human security specialist, and has lectured to a wide audience in both Canada and the United States.

Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management and Founding Director, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
Dr. Janice Gross Stein

Dr. Janice Gross Stein

Ms. Janice Gross Stein is the Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management in the Department of Political Science and the Founding Director of the Munk School for Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an honorary foreign member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She was the Massey Lecturer in 2001 and a Trudeau fellow. Ms. Stein was awarded the Molson Prize by the Canada Council for an outstanding contribution by a social scientist to public debate. She has received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Alberta, the University of Cape Breton, and McMaster University. She is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. She is also a member of the Halifax International Security Forum Agenda Working Group.

Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces
General Jonathan Vance

General Jonathan Vance

General Jonathan H. (Jon) Vance is the Canadian Armed Forces Chief of the Defence Staff. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1982 and has served in Canada, Germany and on UN Peacekeeping operations with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, The Royal Canadian Regiment. General Vance has commanded at all levels within the field force from platoon commander to brigade commander and in combat operations as a Joint Task Force Commander in Afghanistan. Following his tours in Afghanistan, General Vance served in Army headquarters as Chief of Staff Land Strategy and as Director of the Strategic Joint Staff in National Defence Headquarters. He completed a tour as Deputy Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples in July 2014 before assuming the position as Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command in September of the same year. General Vance was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff in July 2015.

QUESTION: “What is the one thing that stands in the way of victory against Daesh?”

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

“An absence of coherence within the coalition…This is a time for the coalition to come together, think extensively, and to dedicate ourselves to a final, ultimate objective, which is the defeat of Daesh.”

— General John Allen, Ret., Co-Director, Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence, Brookings Institution

“Defining the coalition. We all share the same values: that we do not agree with Daesh and their way of life.”

— Admiral Bill Gortney, Commander, North American Aerospace and Defense Command and United States Northern Command

“We need to fully understand how these problems occur. Once you get a really good understanding of that, then you can start looking at how to do reverse engineering for the solution as well.”

— The Hon. Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, Canada

“Impatience. I think we need to see what can be successful, and in what time horizon. Apply all the tools that you can that are appropriate to that time horizon but recognize that it’s going to take a long time.”

— General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces

“Thinking about this only as a government problem and not broadening the coalition to include the private sector, civil society, digital talents and digital young people.”

— Dr. Janice Gross Stein, Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management and Founding Director, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto

16:15-16:45

Coffee Break

16:45-18:00

Plenary 1: Cooperate, Contain, or Conquer: Prioritizing Strategy 70 Years On On the record

Speakers

Editor, Foreign Affairs
Moderator
Dr. Gideon Rose

Dr. 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).

Minister of Defense, Georgia
The Hon. Tinatin Khidasheli

The Hon. Tinatin Khidasheli

Tinatin Khidasheli became the Minister of Defense of Georgia in May 2015. Prior to her current position, she was a member of the Tbilisi City council before becoming a Member of Parliament representing the Sagrejo district as well as chairing the Georgian Parliamentary committee on European Integration. Khidasheli’s previous experience includes working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving as a Director of the First Free Legal Aid Centre in Georgia, teaching at Hawaii University in Tbilisi, and serving as a Yale World Fellow in 2004. More recently she has been a chairperson of the governing board of the Open Society Georgia Foundation; an independent consultant on rule of law, anti corruption, and good governance; Secretary of International Affairs at the Republican Party of Georgia; and Secretary of Capital Affairs. Khidasheli holds a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in international law from Tbilisi State University as well as an M.A. in political science from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. She also completed a one year non-degree program in Human Rights Advocates at Washington College of Law in Washington, DC.

Co-Leader, Zionist Union Party and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, State of Israel
The Hon. Tzipi Livni

The Hon. Tzipi Livni

Tzipi Livni has held a variety of ministerial positions in the Israeli government. These include Minister of Foreign Affairs, Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, and Head of the Israeli team in the peace process negotiations with the Palestinians in 2008 and 2013. Livni served as member of the National Security Cabinet and the Senior Security Cabinet during the Second Lebanon War, Operation Cast Lead and Operation Protective Edge. Livni served as a lieutenant in the Israel Defense Forces and later in the Mossad. She holds a law degree and has practiced law for over a decade. She also served as Director General of the Government Companies Authority. Livni is currently the head of the Hatnua Party and co-leader of the Zionist Union, which heads the opposition. She is a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and head of the Subcommittee for International Legal Warfare. She engages in issues of asymmetrical warfare and Israel’s national security.

Minister of National Defense, Colombia
The Hon. Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri

The Hon. Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri

Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri is the National Defense Minister of Colombia. Prior to his current role he held positions as Colombian Ambassador to the United States, Governor of the Department of Risaralda, Colombia, Colombian Senator, as well as Vice Minister of Foreign Relations, among other positions. His other roles include being on the Ecopetrol board of directors, Director of the National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers, acting President of the Colombian National Industrial Association, and President of the National Guild Council and the Andean Industrial Council. Between the years 2012-2013, Mr. Villegas was a member of the Colombian Government’s negotiation team during peace talks with FARC. He studied economics and earned a law degree from Javeriana University in Bogota, Colombia. He is also a candidate for a degree in public administration from the University of Paris II. Mr. Villegas has been honored various times both within and outside of Colombia. He was awarded the Boyacá and San Carlos medals, the Brazilian medal of Rio Branco, the Colombian Congress’ Medal of Democracy, the Medal of Isabel the Catholic, and other distinctions from countries including Argentina, Italy, Peru, and Ecuador.

Deputy Secretary of Defense, United States Department of Defense
The Hon. Robert Work

The Hon. Robert Work

Robert O. Work was confirmed as the 32nd Deputy Secretary of Defense on April 30, 2014. Mr. Work most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security. From 2009 to 2013, Mr. Work served as the Undersecretary of the Navy. Prior to that, Mr. Work served on President-elect Barack Obama’s Department of Defense Transition Team as leader of the Department of the Navy issues team. In 2002, Mr. Work joined the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), first as the Senior Fellow for Maritime Affairs, and later as the Vice President for Strategic Studies. Mr. Work was also an adjunct professor at George Washington University. During his 27- year military career, he held a wide range of command, leadership, and management positions. Mr. Work earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Illinois; a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California; a Master of Science in Space System Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School; and a Master in International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. His military and civilian awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award.

Moderator Dr. Gideon Rose led panelists through an in-depth discussion of strategy and conflict in the 21st century, and whether nations have the tools they need to resolve conflict now that the rules of international engagement are much less clear. A common theme among all responses was the need for a realistic assessment of the challenges facing individual nations and the international security community today – one that accepts the reality of changing dynamics and greater competition for power. The conversation touched on the current shift from interest-based motivations to values-based motivations. Panelists also discussed how the public’s desire for change gives way to real-world political change, and how troublesome nations – most notably Russia – can still be engaged in other efforts of global security interest.

“The asset we are presenting to Central America is a way to regain security, and that is democracy.”

— The Hon. Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri, Minister of National Defense, Colombia

“After Ukraine, after Crimea, I believe this discussion about ‘somebody doing something’ to provoke Russia should be over.”

— The Hon. Tinatin Khidasheli, Minister of Defense, Georgia

“Do not foreclose Russia becoming a responsible actor of a global order that is based on values.”

— The Hon. Robert Work, Deputy Secretary of Defense, United States Department of Defense

“We need to understand that with religious conflict, you cannot contain, cannot reach an agreement, cannot give them what they want. So the free world needs to fight for its values.”

— The Hon. Tzipi Livni, Co-Leader, Zionist Union Party and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, State of Israel

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 Builder Award
The Hon. Peter MacKay, PC, QC

21:30

Night Owl Sessions

China’s Bottom Line: A Dim Sum
LOCATION: Harbour B

SPEAKERS:

  • The Hon. Toshiro Iijima, Ambassador in charge of Policy Planning and International Security Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
  • Dr. John Lee, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
  • The Rt. Hon. Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, Chairman, Bank of England, Cyber Security Advisory Panel
  • MODERATOR: Mr. Joshua Rogin, Columnist, Bloomberg View, and Political Analyst, CNN

 

Mullahs with Moolah: The World After the Iran Deal
LOCATION: Atlantic Ballroom

SPEAKERS:

  • Dr. Paul Salem, Vice President for Policy and Research, Middle East Institute
  • Dr. Janice Gross Stein, Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management and Founding Director, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Dov Zakheim, Senior Advisor, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Senior Fellow, CNA
  • MODERATOR: Dr. Josef Joffe, Editor, Die Zeit

 

Putin Rules by Putin’s Rules
LOCATION: Tradewinds

SPEAKERS:

  • The Hon. Niels Annen, Spokesman on Foreign Affairs, SPD Parliamentary Group, Bundestag, Germany
  • General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the Military Committee, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  • The Hon. Milica Pejanovic-Djurisic, Minister of Defense, Montenegro
  • MODERATOR: The Hon. Paula Dobriansky, Senior Fellow, The Future of Diplomacy Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University

Clippings

Canadian Security Expert on Reaction to Paris Attacks
Marc Montgomery

“The horrific attacks in Paris on Friday November 13 have shocked the world. The situation will also surely dominate and modify the discussion previously planned for  next week’s Halifax International Security Forum (November 20 to 22, 2015), where officials, military and security agencies will gather together to exchange ideas on how nations can collectively address the pressing security challenges facing us all…”

Panel to Discuss Security Issues in Wake of Paris Attacks

“Top security experts from around the world will be in Halifax this week for their first major meeting since the terrorist attacks in Paris…”

EDITORIAL: Security, Solidarity Emerging After Paris

“There aren’t a lot of game-changing moments in international affairs, says Peter Van Praagh. But the ISIS terrorist attacks on Paris last weekend, like the 9-11 attacks on New York and Washington in 2001, fall into that rare category…”

Clearing a Path For the Victory of Modernity
Peter Van Praagh

“Three hundred delegates from 60 countries will be in Nova Scotia tomorrow attending the seventh annual Halifax International Security Forum. Haligonians can rightly be proud that what started in 2009 has turned into one of the world’s most significant and influential gatherings of democratic defence leaders committed to global security and prosperity…”

Halifax International Security Forum to Focus on Paris Attacks, Refugees
Ron Shaw

“The attacks in Paris and the plight of Syrian refugees expected to arrive in the Maritimes will be a main topic of discussion at the Halifax International Security Forum this weekend…”

Paris aftermath to permeate high-profile Halifax meeting
Marie-Danielle Smith

“At a critical moment for the international security conversation, some of the world’s foremost security experts are about to gather on Canada’s east coast…”

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