Diplomat to talk on troubled region

By: Hiba Kazin

Posted: 3/9/09

Ryan Crocker, the former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait, Syria and Lebanon, will speak Monday at 6 p.m. at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at the George Bush Presidential Library Center.

Tickets are free, and available at the Bryan-College Station Convention & Visitors Bureau, KBTX-TV, WTAW, The Bryan-College Station Eagle, the MSC Box Office and the the George Bush Presidential Library museum.

Crocker's appearance is sponsored by the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, whose programs include the Lenore and Francis Humphrys International Speakers Program. The Scowcroft Institute aims to "foster and disseminate policy-oriented research on international affairs by supporting faculty and student research, hosting international speakers and major scholarly conferences, and providing grants to outside researchers to use the holdings of the Bush Library."

Crocker has served as the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq since March 2007, and has also served as Ambassador to Pakistan, Kuwait, Syria and Lebanon. His 37-year career with the State Department reflects assignments such as Director of Governance for Coalition Provisional Affairs in Iraq and the International Affairs Advisor at the National War College. In 2004, he was given the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest personal rank in the Foreign Service

Ambassador Crocker has been recognized numerous times for his work in the Foreign Service, including receiving as the Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award for "exceptional courage and leadership" in Afghanistan. Crocker was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in January.

Time and place
Ambassador Ryan Crocker will speak Monday at 6 p.m. in the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center.