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Counter-Terrorism: Trends - Challenges - Strategies
Vienna
May 28, 2008
Remarks by Counselor for Public Affairs Robert Hugins, U.S. Embassy Vienna
Top American experts Peter Brookes of The Heritage Foundation and Raphael Perl, the head of the Action Against Terrorism Unit at OSCE, discussed counter-terrorism issues with Austrian experts, journalists and the general public on May 28. Brookes explained the new strategies of Al Qaeda, including the increased use of the internet to reach young Muslims worldwide, and the shift from a global terrorist vision to gaining local control. Perl discussed the likelihood of Austria becoming a target of terrorist attacks, which he rated low compared to other European countries. He, however, urged the Austrian government and security experts in the audience to not only keep the level of international cooperation in counter-terrorism but to step it up. The lively Q & A lasted for more than an hour, proving the strong interest for these issues among the Austrian public. The evening was co-sponsored by the Austrian Institute for International Politics.
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| Counselor for Public Affairs Robert Hugins, U.S. Embassy Vienna, welcoming the audience |
F.l.t.r.: Soching Tsai (UNVIE), Raphael Perl (OSCE), Heinz Gärtner (OIIP), Peter Brookes (The Heritage Foundation) |
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| Peter Brookes (The Heritage Foundation) |
Raphael Perl (OSCE) |
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| Soching Tsai, Counselor for UN Affairs, U.S. Missions to the International Organizations in Vienna |
Audience at the Amerika Haus |
Remarks by Counselor for Public Affairs Robert Hugins, U.S. Embassy Vienna
Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests, welcome to Amerika Haus. I am Robert Hugins, counselor for public affairs at the U.S. Embassy.
Our program this evening focuses on a critical topic -- “Trends, Challenges and Strategies in Counter-Terrorism.” This event is co-sponsored by the OIIP -- or, auf Englisch, the Austrian Institute for International Affairs. Our special thanks go to Prof. Heinz Gaertner and his colleagues for their excellent cooperation. Prof. Gaertner, a renowned expert on security policy, will moderate this panel. Thank you, Heinz.
We also welcome Soching Tsai, the Counselor of UN Affairs at the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna. She will provide insight into the role that international organizations play in counter-terrorism.
Our keynote speakers are two distinguished American experts, Raphael Perl and Peter Brookes.
Raphael Perl is currently the head of the Action Against Terrorism Unit at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, here in its Vienna headquarters. Previously, he was a senior analyst for terrorism policy with the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress in Washington. A graduate of Georgetown University's Foreign Service and Law schools, he is the author of more than 100 congressional and academic publications on the topics of international terrorism, trends in terrorism, combating terrorism and related subjects.
Mr. Perl speaks regularly at academic institutions and governmental policy fora. He also has testified before Congress on terrorism policy issues, including the 9/11 Commission Report recommendations.
This is Raphael Perl’s second time at Amerika Haus. Last year he explored trends in terrorism. This evening he will provide us some thoughts on Austria as a possible target of terrorism. As terrorism has spread across the globe in this century, certainly every nation can be considered in this grim potential category.
The view from Washington on counter-terrorism will be presented tonight by Peter Brookes. Mr. Brookes is the Senior Fellow for National Security Affairs and the Chung Ju-Yung Fellow for Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation, a well-known American think tank. He also serves as a Commissioner on the congressionally-mandated U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
In addition, Mr. Brookes is a columnist for The New York Post, a major New York City daily newspaper. He has appeared often as a commentator on all major U.S. broadcasting networks and he has testified numerous times before both the Senate and House of Representatives. He also is a frequent public speaker.
Before joining Heritage, Mr. Brookes served in President Bush’s administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs. He also has served was also with the CIA, the State Department at the United Nations, and in the private sector in the defense industry.
We will now hear from Peter Brookes, who will be followed by Raphael Pearl. Ms. Tsai will provide a brief statement, and then the broader discussion, moderated by Prof. Gaertner, will occur. At the end of the program, please join us for a refreshment and more informal conversation.
Thank you again for your attention. Now please welcome Peter Brookes of the Heritage Foundation.
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