Current Issues Briefing Panel
David Gordon (at podium) and l to r:
Ambassador Princeton Lyman ,
Thomas Homer-Dixon, Millicent Obaso &
Andrew T. Price-Smith

The Clinton and Bush administrations have recognized that the scale of human suffering and AIDS' potential for destabilizing social and political institutions make the disease a pressing humanitarian and national security issue for the United States. In Africa, violent conflict has helped spread the epidemic while the acute impact of AIDS threatens to exacerbate instability. The combination of disease and warfare threaten to overwhelm already fragile structures. This panel examined:

• What is the linkage between AIDS in Africa and America's strategic interests and other security concerns?
  
  
• In what ways is the spread of HIV/AIDS both a cause and an effect of violent conflict in Africa?
  
  
• What policy recommendations can address the prevention of conflict and contagion, as well as the management and treatment of populations suffering the ravages of war and disease?

Moderator

Ambassador Princeton Lyman, Executive Director, Global Interdependence Initiative, The Aspen Institute

Speakers

David Gordon, National Intelligence Officer, Global & Economic Issues, National Intelligence Council

Thomas Homer-Dixon, Director, Peace & Conflict Studies Program, University of Toronto

Millicent Obaso, Manager, Africa Initiative, American Red Cross

Andrew T. Price-Smith, Director, Project on Health, Environment and Human Security, University of North Dakota

After the presentations the panel took questions from the floor and the Internet audience.

Transcript