Gar/Pal students meet former US Ambassador

Ambassador Richard LeBaron spoke to U.S. History and Current World Issues students from Garfield-Palouse High School on Thursday, Jan. 31, on the University of Idaho Campus. Dr. Bill Smith, the Director of the Martin Institute and the International Studies Program at the U. of I., invited the forty-four students and their instructor, Dennis Griner, to a private meeting with Ambassador LeBaron, who was on campus serving as the Visiting Distinguished Practitioner of International Affairs’ guest speaker.

Lebaron’s background in international service includes diplomatic postings in Managua, Nicaragua; New Delhi, India; Tunis, Tunisia, and Lisbon, Spain. Among his assignments was his service as U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait from 2004-2007. In his final position before retiring, LeBaron served as the coordinator of the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications.

Ambassador LeBaron’s presentation provided the students a summary of current world affairs concerning the economic rise of China, America’s influence on world issues and the need for a strong American education system to secure the United States’ long-term interests.

Ambassador LeBaron opened the last half of the presentation to a question and answer session. The students had completed suggested background readings prior to attending the presentation and were prepared to address a variety of issues. Topics discussed in the session included the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt’s impact on U.S.-Israeli relations, U.S.-China relations and whether U.S. food production (such as wheat) could be used as an international bargaining chip.

After the formal presentation, the students met informally with Ambassador LeBaron.

Palouse Superintendent Jake Dingman and English teacher Scott Thompson also served as chaperones for the group.