Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

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This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a Conversation with History. I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our guest today is Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who has spent more than two decades serving his country in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Washington. He is the author of a memoir, The Politics of Truth.

1. Background ... California family ... influence of parents ... education ... surfing ... carpentry ... entry into the Foreign Service
2. Being a Diplomat ... building in-country networks ... the work of democratization ... cultural anthropology ... understanding U.S. experience
3. Acting Ambassador in Iraq ... prelude to 1991 war ... in charge ... personality-driven politics in Africa and the Middle East ... synergy with staff from U.S. embassy in Kuwait ... defining the situation for Washington ... Ambassador Glaspie's meeting with Saddam Hussein ... Wilson's meeting with Hussein ... reading Iraq signals before war
4. The U.S Role in the Twenty-First Century ... using diplomacy and military power after the invasion of Kuwait ... narrowing the objective to gain international support ... domestic politics over decision not to invade Iraq in 1991 ... neoconservatives push the Iraq Liberation Act ... training African Crisis Response Initiative ... radical departure of the second Bush administration ... fantasy of American empire
5. The Road to War ... called back from retirement ... back to Niger to find the truth ... Bush administration ignores the truth ... correcting the record ... campaign to destroy Wilson and his wife ... disinformation, deception, and public debate ... civic responsibility ... the hard work of democracy ... next steps in Iraq

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