Date:
Saturday, April 16, 2005 - 09:00 - 17:00
The Lord Byron Foundation for Balkan Studies
Jointly with The Rockford Institute presents an International Conference
THE WAR ON TERROR: THE BALKAN CONNECTION
Saturday, April 16, 2005, 9 A.M.-5 P.M.
Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare, 5440 N River Road, Rosemont, Illinois
The “War on Terror” suffers from structural weaknesses that may jeopardize its outcome. It is self-defeating to fight global jihad in some areas and to pander to its ambitions in others, most notably in the Balkans. Our associates have repeatedly pointed out that granting Kosovo independence, and centralizing Bosnia-Herzegovina to the point of the abolition of the Republika Srpska, would facilitate the spread of the ideology of jihad and the growth of its logistic base in the heart of Europe. The continuing failure of our political leaders to take heed of such warnings is a matter of deep concern. Persevering in our Balkan errors today may cost American lives tomorrow. To increase public awareness of the problem and to consider different ways of dealing with it, we assembled a panel of prominent scholars, diplomats, and public affairs analysts from both sides of the Atlantic in Chicago on April 16, 2005. In the course of a day’s conference they considered the continuing threat that we all face and recommended specific policies and legislative proposals essential to Western security. Speakers included:
Wayne Allensworth, writer and public affairs commentator; former U.S. government analyst and author of The Russian Question
The Hon. James Bissett - Former Canadian ambassador to Yugoslavia; Chairman of The Lord Byron Foundation
Dr. Thomas Fleming - President of The Rockford Institute, editor-in-chief of Chronicles
Col. Ronald Hatchett, USAF Ret. - Former Reagan administration arms control negotiator, member of the LBF Board
Thomas Pauken, former GOP Texas State Chairman and a public affairs analyst
Col. Frederick Peterson, USMC (Ret.) Defense affairs analyst, expert in counter-terrorism, regular visitor to the Balkans
Dr. Stephen Presser - Professor of Law at Northwestern University School of Law; leading American expert on constitutional law
The Hon. Dr. Darko Tanaskovic - Ambassador of Serbia and Montengro to the Holy See; a leading authority on Islam
Dr. Srdja Trifkovic – LBF Executive Director