This Week

Let me open with a note of sadness and hope for our friends in the Waverly, Tennessee community. This week’s flash flood has taken many lives and caused catastrophic physical damage to the area. We appreciate all the “Volunteers” who have flocked to the area to help and to the donations that are helping buoy the recovery. [More]

As the extraction of American citizens and eligible Afghanis from the Kabul airport continues and the Taliban imposed deadline to end the withdrawal looms, many are diving into what led America to this moment and what challenges are ahead. 

Last week we talked with Professor David Des Roches of the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, himself a retired U.S. Army Colonel with Ranger combat experience in the country, about the prospects for terrorists to reconstitute inside Afghanistan. [Here] We also talked with Professor Mark Katz about the consequences of the Taliban takeover for America’s international foes. [Here]  These brief video conversations are part of our new Global Dialogue+ series.

This week we’re pleased to partner with our sister World Affairs Council in Maine to bring you Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Ambassador David Pearce in conversation about the consequences of the Afghanistan defeat. [Register] You should know that Amb. Crocker has served America in the toughest of diplomatic posts around the world. He has so often been in harms way in service to the country that the U.S. State Department created the “Ryan C. Crocker Award for Outstanding Leadership in Expeditionary Diplomacy” to mark those who have served with aplomb in hazardous, challenging assignments. 

The American diplomats serving in Afghanistan, now running a makeshift embassy from an airport, are examples of our U.S. Foreign Service who stand in dangerous environments every day. One such officer was Anne Smedinghoff. Anne, a 25-year old FSO working in the Kabul Embassy, was killed by a car bomb in 2013 while on the way to deliver supplies to a school in southern Afghanistan. In 2019 TNWAC named our Academic Worldquest program in her honor to inspire others by her service and sacrifice. [More]

We must also give a great big hat tip to America’s men and women in uniform in harms way in the Afghan theater. Our Air Force is masterfully orchestrating a massive airlift of tens of thousands of evacuees. Army and Marine Corps men and women are on the ground in Kabul maintaining security at the airport in the midst of a hostile force. Overhead Navy warplanes are providing cover, flying from the carrier USS Ronald Reagan on station in the North Arabian Sea. Well done, all.

Closer to home our “Global Nashville” program will be talking about the impact of international visitors and the global appeal of the state and the city. Guest host Ralph Schulz, President of the Nashville Chamber will talk with Nashville visitor guru Butch Spyridon on the 31st. [Here]

So, stay connected. Give our JOIN page a whirl and DROP some coins in the bucket so we can keep the lights on.

Wishes for a safe and prosperous week.

Sincerely,

MARK THE CALENDAR

TODAY | THE 21ST CENTURY MILITARY

Join our sister world affairs council in Kansas City for a conversation with Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, a Marine combat veteran, for a deep dive in this important topic. The 21st Century Military is one program from the IRC’s series “Nuancing National Security.” Register for this program (5:30pm CT today) and check out the rest of the series. [Here]

GOVERNOR BREDESEN | JAPAN-TENNESSEE COMMECIAL RELATIONS | ICYMI

Governor Phil Bredesen talked with “Global Nashville” guest host Matt Kisber last week about the evolution of Japanese businesses in Tennessee and the impact on the State’s prosperity. If you missed it, or want to watch it again, you can find the program on our YouTube.com/tnwac video channel, along with over one hundred other global affairs programs. [Watch]

STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | INTERNATIONAL CAREERS

Mark you calendar for the fall 2021 sessions of our International Careers Panels. As we did in the spring we’ll have two panels, both via Webinar. On October 6th we’ll host a panel of specialists from a variety of international professions, such as diplomacy, business, NGOs, Peace Corps, legal, academic and military. Three weeks later, on October 27, join us again for a conversation with a panel focused on a singular global affairs occupation field. Details soon.

ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST

High school students and teachers be ready to start our Academic WorldQuest season, named in honor of Anne Smedinghoff, an American diplomat who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan. The study guide and topics are due for release in mid-September. Our first practice match is set for Belmont University on Sunday, December 5th. The TNWAC championship match will be held in early February 2022. Be on the lookout for details on forming teams and getting ready for WorldQuest!

UNDERGRAD STUDENTS | SCHOLARSHIP TO OUR NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The World Affairs Councils of America is excited to welcome all of you to the WACA 2021 National Conference this November 16-19 in Washington, DC, where we will celebrate our 35th Anniversary as a national association!  For nearly four decades, the WACA National Conference has brought World Affairs Council leaders and members to engage with top government officials, diplomats, business executives, innovators, journalists, educators, and students on the most pressing global issues and policy choices that impact our lives. Deadline: September 10 [Details/Apply]

VOLUNTEERS

The Tennessee World Affairs Council invites you to consider becoming a volunteer. TNWAC programs, development and administration are managed by a (very) small staff. We’re always on the lookout for people who are interested in our mission — bring the world to our fellow citizens — and have an opportunity to share their time and talents. There’s a great need so if you’re interested drop us an email. [[email protected]]

COMPETING FOR THE FUTURE

Your World Affairs Council is pleased to be a partner with the Connecticut World Affairs Council in offering the 2021 Global Security Forum: Competing for the Future, coming to you on October 1-2, 2021. At this forum generals, experts, and foreign leaders will convene to address the most critical global security issues of today and the opportunities of tomorrow. Learn more about the GSF and register for this terrific opportunity.  HERE.

YOU SHOULD SPONSOR THESE PROGRAMS