The United States has four stated policy goals in the Middle East. 1. Helping Iraqis build a unified, stable, and prosperous country; 2. Renewing progress toward the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; 3. Working against terrorists and their state sponsors, as well as against the spread of weapons of mass destruction; and 4. Supporting efforts at economic and political reform in the region. All four goals appear to be in varying states of disarray.

The IPC and the Ford school will host a discussion of competing ways forward between two of the country's most renowned security and middle east specialists, Professor John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago, and Professor Juan Cole of the University of Michigan. The 90 minute event will feature comments and observations by our panelists as well as substantial time reserved for moderated questions from the audience.