Great Decisions 2021 - Persian Gulf Security

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Program Description

Event Details

In this class, pre-registered participants will discuss chapter 2 of the Great Decisions discussion book. 

The Persian Gulf remains tense as the rivalry between the regional powers of Saudi Arabia and Iran continues. Tensions escalated in early 2020 as the United States began to intervene in the Gulf, launching an airstrike that killed two Iranian military commanders. What are the historical influences that have led to these tensions? What role, if any, should the United States play? Is using military force a viable foreign policy option for 2021 and beyond?

Our guest speaker is former ambassador Bill Rugh.  Bill Rugh was a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, had nine diplomatic assignments in the Arab world, that included Ambassador to Yemen  and to the United Arab Emirates, Deputy Chief of Mission in Syria and spent years in the Foreign  Corp in Egypt. He was teaching at Tufts and Northeastern.