VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWL #0678 2600422
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170422Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4699

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000678 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE FOR IIP/S - RTRIPP; IIP/SV; EAP/PD - GMCLOUGHLIN; EAP/ANP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KPAO NZ
 
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR DVC WITH BRUCE HOFFMAN FOR COUNTERTERRORISM 
SEMINAR 
 
¶1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Post requests a DVC with Bruce Hoffman, 
terrorism expert in Georgetown University's Security Studies Program 
at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC. 
 
¶2. PREFERRED DATE AND TIME OF PROGRAM, FISCAL YEAR, QUARTER: 
Request November 5, 3:00pm Washington DC = 9:00am in NZ the 
following day. One hour; FY 2008,first quarter. 
 
JUSTIFICATION OF PROGRAM: Post has been contacted by an Associate 
Professor at the School of Government at Victoria University to see 
if we are able to provide a speaker, Professor Hoffman, via DVC, for 
a counterterrorism seminar in November 2007. Our hope is that this 
DVC will showcase one of the world's renowned terrorism scholars to 
this select audience. 
 
With his vast experience, Professor Hoffman will be able to give the 
group an overview of his estimate of what is happening in the war on 
terror; his view of Al-Qaeda, and what has happened to the movement; 
where the trouble spots are; what can be done to counter terrorism; 
and an assessment of the success of the war on terror. 
 
Professor Bruce Hoffman has been studying terrorism and insurgency 
for thirty years. He is currently a tenured professor in the 
Security Studies Program at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh 
School of Foreign Service, Washington, DC. Professor Hoffman 
previously held the Corporate Chair in Counterterrorism and 
Counterinsurgency at the RAND Corporation and was also Director of 
RAND's Washington, DC Office. In 2004 he also was Acting Director of 
RAND's Center for Middle East Public Policy. Professor Hoffman was 
adviser on counterterrorism to the Office of National Security 
Affairs, Coalition Provisional Authority, Baghdad, Iraq during the 
spring of 2004 and from 2004-2005 was an adviser on 
counterinsurgency to the Strategy, Plans, and Analysis Office at 
Multi-National Forces-Iraq Headquarters, Baghdad. He was also an 
adviser to the Iraq Study Group (Baker-Hamilton Commission), serving 
on the Military and Security Experts Working Group. 
 
¶3. MSP THEME AND EXPECTED AUDIENCE: MSP GOAL 07-01 Mutual 
Understanding. 
The audience attending the seminar will include the senior officials 
of the terrorism Committee (SOCOT).  Recently formed, this core 
group comprises senior officials from the NZ Police, the military 
services, Customs, and MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade). 
 The SOCOT committee will be asked to open the seminar to staff of 
various government departments -- approximately 120 participants. 
This includes a class of twenty-five scholars, mainly from senior 
levels in government departments, who are seeking a degree to 
improve their job performance. 
 
¶4. NAME OF SPECIALIST REQUIRED: Professor Bruce Hoffman 
Center for Contemporary Arab Studies 
241 Intercultural Center 
Georgetown University 
37th & O Streets NW 
Washington, DC 20057-1020 
 
Phone: 202-687-7847 
email: brh6@georgetown.edu or hudsonm@georgetown.edu 
 
¶5. Please note: Victoria University has been in contact with 
Professor Hoffman, who has agreed to make himself available to 
participate in the DVC at this time. 
 
¶6. POST PROJECT OFFICER: 
Control officer: Christine Vivian 
Office phone: 011-644-462-6112 or 011-6421-418-044 
Fax: 011-644-499-0490 
Email: cvivian@actrix.gen.nz & vivianc@state.gov 
 
TECHNICAL OFFICER: Ola Thorsen 
Office phone: 011-644-462-6015, Fax: 011-644-499-0490 
Cell: 011-6427-451-2535 Email: thorsenO@state.gov 
 
LOCATION AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS: to be advised. 
 
¶7. Please advise soonest.  Thanks and regards, 
McCORMICK