PUBLIC AFFAIRS LUNCHEON
WITH
RICHARD N. HAASS
Author of
The Opportunity: America's Moment to Alter History's Course

When: Thursday, December 8 th, noon to 1:45 p.m.
 What: Membership luncheon, discussion.
Where: House of the Association, 42 West 44 th Street

Members of the media are invited to the New York City Bar Association this Thursday, December 8 at noon, to hear author Richard N. Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations (an independent, nonpartisan foreign policy think tank and membership organization) discuss the thesis of his new book — The Opportunity — that describes today’s international situation as “an unprecedented moment in which the United States has a chance to bring about a world where most people are safe, free, and can enjoy a decent standard of living.”

“The principal reason the 21st century shows such promise is that the potential for armed conflict involving today’s major powers is remote,” the author says. “This remarkable development reflects not just U.S. military and economic might but also the assessment that much of what the United States seeks to achieve in the world has the potential to be broadly acceptable to others. But the combination of these circumstances will not stay unchanged,” he continued. “Like all great moments, it will pass. If we are not careful, the world could see its energies diverted by a new cold war — or, even worse, descend into anarchy defined by terrorism, disease, the spread of nuclear weapons, genocide, and extreme poverty.”

The Opportunity makes for truly relevant reading today. The author is president of the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent, nonpartisan foreign policy think tank and membership organization. Previously, he was director of policy planning for the State Department and a principal adviser to Colin Powell. Haass, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold the rank of ambassador, also served as U.S. coordinator for the future of Afghanistan and as the lead U.S. official for Northern Ireland ’s peace process. From 1989-1993, he was special assistant to President George Bush and senior director for Near East and South Asian Affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. In 1991, Haass was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for his contributions to the development and articulation of U.S. policy during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

About the Association
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (www.nycbar.org) was founded in 1870, and since then has been dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the profession, promoting reform of the law, and providing service to the profession and the public.