Integration vs. Confrontation

Mr. Backfisch contends that in dealing with the combustibile situation in Iraq, the German government places much weight on the recommendations of Jim Baker and The Iraq Study Group Report. Top diplomats in Berlin believe Syria and Iran should be courted to tailor a package solution for the whole region, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While nobody in Europe wants to contradict the Bush administration openly, nearly everybody is pushing for softer approaches and a new relevance for the Middle East Quartet (U.S., Russia, European Union and the U.N.), which just happens to be meeting in Washington this Friday.

Michael Backfisch is currently the Deputy Editor-in-Chief for Germany’s largest business daily, Handelsblatt. From 2001-2006, Mr. Backfisch served as the Washington Bureau Chief of Handelsblatt where he covered both U.S. politics and economics. While in Washington, he frequently made tv appearances on MSNBC and CNBC, participated in panel discussions with major think tanks, and served on the editorial board of the quarterly journal, European Affairs.

Come hear distinguished writer and frequent speaker at New America Foundation events, Mr. Backfisch, discuss the merits and relevance of softer, more diplomatic approaches with regards to the Middle East, followed by a question and answer session moderated by Steve Clemons.


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Participants

• Michael Backfisch
  Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Handelsblatt
  
• Steven Clemons (moderator)
  Senior Fellow & Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation
  Publisher, www.TheWashingtonNote.com