Winning the Minds: America’s Counterterrorism Strategy after the Arab Spring
A Harvard Club of Seattle and World Affairs Council's collaboration to explore America's counterterrorism strategy after the Arab Spring.
Join the Youth Professionals International Network (YPIN) of the World Affairs Council (WAC) and author Francisco Martin-Rayo KSG '11 for a reception and conversation about his travels through terrorist recruiting grounds in Yemen, Pakistan, and the Somali border, and America’s counterterrorism strategy after the Arab Spring. The talk will focus both on the unprecedented changes in the region, and what they mean for America’s counterterrorism strategy, and about the author’s experiences during his travels, including: his detention by the Yemeni Intelligence Service after being confused for an Israeli spy; meetings with Pakistani intelligence officials who talk about the beginnings of the Taliban movement and how they funded it; drunken nights with Kenyan government officials who admit to recruiting Somali refugee children to fight against al-Qaeda; and a stroll through a desecrated ancient Jewish cemetery in the middle of al-Qaeda territory.
After years of working as a hedge fund analyst, Martin-Rayo KSG '11 sought to change his life and left New York to study counter-terrorism at Harvard. Once there, he became inspired to study terrorist recruitment, and embarked on a whirlwind journey to the three most fertile refugee camps in the world: Dadaab, Kenya, dominated by al-Shabaab, the most recent al-Qaeda franchisee; the camps around Peshawar, Pakistan, where the Taliban actively recruits fighters; and Kharaz in southern Yemen, right in the middle of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s heartland. His book, Winning the Minds, describes the countries’ histories and conflicts as he details his own travels and provides a fundamental understanding of the regions, cultures, and people he comes into contact with. Along the way his experiences prove to be hilarious, heartbreaking, and gripping.
About the Author:
Francisco Martin-Rayo KSG '11 is an expert in counter-radicalization and public diplomacy programs and his work has been published by Foreign Policy and Harvard University. He holds a BA in International Relations and a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania as well as a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, where he was an International and Global Affairs Fellow.
This journey to some of the most unknown locations in the Middle East and Africa with Martin-Rayo will lend itself to introductions and lively conversations with fellow participants who are devoted to curious discussions around global issues.
Register Here.
When: November 8, 2012 @ 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Reception - Vista Cafe, UW Foege Hall. Event - Foege Hall, Room GNOMSo6o
3720 15th Ave NE, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: $10/person. Select "Member" when purchasing.