US embassy cable - 05LIMA4822

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 004822 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ECA/A/E/USS (NANCY L. MEYERS) 
WHA/PDA (SLEBENS), WHA/AND (JMONSERRATE) 
NEW YORK FOR ECA/PE/V/C/N (DSHIRREFFS) 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, SCUL, KPAO, PE 
SUBJECT: PROGRAM EVALUATION: SPECIAL WINTER FY-05 
ECA/A/E/USS STUDY OF THE U.S. INSTITUTE ON "U.S. FOREIGN 
POLICY" (January 3-February 13, 2005) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF 
DELAWARE - Peruvian participant Mr. Jose Antonio SIFUENTES 
 
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY:  The program was designed to 
provide grantees with a variety of perspectives on issues of 
U.S. National Security and Foreign Policy.  The group 
visited think-tanks, international organizations, non- 
governmental organizations, and governmental agencies. 
 
2. DATE, FISCAL YEAR AND QUARTER: January 3-February 13, 
2005; FY-05, Second Quarter. 
 
3. MISSION PERFORMANCE PLAN THEME:  Democratic System and 
Practices (National Security and Foreign Policy.) 
 
4. RESULT/IMPACT:  Exceptional.  Mr. Sifuentes mentioned 
that this program broadened his knowledge of the radical 
change that U.S. Security Policy has had in political, 
diplomatic, national and international defense strategies. 
The methodology used by the University of Delaware during 
classes permitted participants to examine controversial 
issues from an academic point of view, and also from a 
political perspective during visits to government agencies. 
This contributed substantially to being thoroughly aware and 
informed about principles of U.S. democracy and freedom of 
expression. 
 
5. AUDIENCE REACHED:  Eighteen participants from different 
countries: five from Latin America; five from Europe; four 
from Asia; two from Africa; and two from India.  Some were 
members of the armed forces, teaching national security to 
both the military and civilians, and others were advisors to 
their governments, so this program is already having a 
multiplying effect. 
 
6. OFFICER ESCORTS:  Assistants of the University of 
Delaware staff escorted participants at all times, helping 
them with administrative and logistic issues.  There was no 
need for translators. 
 
7. QUALITY OF SUPPORT FROM ECA:  This program was hosted by 
the University of Delaware, Center for International 
Studies, Department of Political Science and International 
Relations, and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Study of the 
U.S. Branch. 
 
At Lima Post, Mr. Sifuentes received all the necessary 
information before his trip. 
 
At the University of Delaware, Professor Mark Miller and 
Sean Cox "were extraordinary." 
 
8. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM: 
-- The ethical conduct of the staff responsible for the 
excellent organization and program planning at the 
University of Delaware; the professors' freedom of 
expression, which permitted them to have very enlightening 
group discussions and, in some cases, also controversial 
ones. 
-- Despite being a very intensive course, which left little 
time for other activities in Boston, participants attended a 
concert with the Symphonic Orchestra, and in New York, a 
Broadway show. 
-- Something rewarding for Mr. Sifuentes was that the 
participants were allowed to give a short conference on 
their countries to regular students attending the University 
course on political history. 
 
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: 
-- Off-campus visits would allow participants to tour the 
local area after each program day.  The University of 
Delaware is located on a small campus where there is not 
much to see, especially during winter. 
-- The hotel in Delaware had all the necessary facilities, 
but the rooms did not have enough light, or a comfortable 
desk to read and work.  The bureau had a microwave, a coffee 
pot, and a TV.  Maybe placing a small desk with a lamp would 
be enough to work better.  The other hotels in Cambridge, 
New York, West Point, and Washington, D.C. were comfortable; 
however "it would be more convenient to assign a room to 
each participant to have some privacy." 
-- From all the brilliant conferences the participants had, 
there is one that Mr. Sifuentes mentioned was not "at his 
personal expectation standards."  This was a conference 
programmed as an alternate lecture by Professor Cynthia 
Enloe, on "Feminism in the Foreign and Defense Policies." 
The professor seemed to have a very slanted tendency, and 
the theme was too specific.  IV thought the group could have 
had a more important and interesting session. 
-- The most frustrating moment was the final research task, 
where each participant was supposed to have thirty minutes 
to lecture.  At the end, the time was reduced and this was 
done "marathonically" in one day, something that is not 
adequate, academically speaking. 
 
9. LONG-TERM RESULTS:  The program permitted the group to 
start a forum where, at present, they exchange and discuss 
their viewpoints, and professional interests.  The program 
enabled the IV to understand U.S. defense policy changes 
after 9/11, to understand U.S. policy implementation and the 
need to combat international terrorism worldwide. 
What Mr. Sifuentes has learned, has helped him to understand 
U.S. opinion towards foreign policies, and the strategy 
developed to combat new threats that should be applied 
immediately.  This program has also helped him in his 
research work, and to teach a course on world security.  Mr. 
Sifuentes is applying his acquired knowledge in conferences 
and lectures he has given throughout this year. 
 
10. COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS: 
The group attended a number of conferences at different 
universities such as Princeton, Harvard, MIT, Columbia, and 
NYU.  These conferences would have been enhanced if the 
participants had a full-day program at each campus, in order 
to compare educational aspects. 
 
SUGGESTIONS FOR POSSIBLE PROGRAMS IN PERU: 
-- Dr. Robert Dorff, on security policy issues, and the geo- 
strategic environment.  Dr. Dorff was very clear in his 
concepts and allowed the group to see the influence of 
globalization in the formulation of policies. 
-- Dr. K.C. Johnson, on the role of the Congress in the 
formulation of security policies, to be able to compare how 
the U.S. Congress has worked historically.  This could be 
very useful to Peruvian researchers, or to those 
professionals working in that topic. 
-- Professors Barry Posen and Harvey Sapolsky, on 
development of big strategies.  They were very direct and 
critical of present security policies. 
-- Professor Chris Mitchell, on his overview of Latin 
America and Andean movements. 
-- Professor Ralph Beglitier, on media issues in the global 
context.  Prof. Beglitier knows this theme in detail, and 
briefs in an ample and dynamic way to encourage discussion. 
 
OTHER SUGGESTIONS: 
-- At the beginning of the program, the participants 
received numerous books related to the program theme, some 
of them as required reading for the upcoming conferences. 
Mr. Sifuentes suggests that it would be more advantageous 
that in addition to each participant receiving the main 
books necessary for the course, they could be given a 
special credit to buy these books from the university's book 
stores.  In this way, they would be able to select the books 
by themes and authors, adjusting them to their needs. 
-- It would be convenient if each participant received a 
notebook for use during the course, in order to use while in 
the hotel, or during the weekends.  The Library at the 
university has internet facilities, but the distance between 
the campus and the hotel is quite far, especially during 
winter and at night, when the bus system is not running on 
time. 
 
STRUBLE