it is my pleasure to introduce the presiding officer and president of afsa, susan johnson. susan is a 31 year career diplomat and i appreciate being able to turn the podium over to her associate diplomat. thank you for being here. clap [applause] >> welcome the thank you very much. many thanks to all of you and a warm welcome. ian has told you quite a bit about afsa, pilot that fits fit the pressure to meet to welcome someone like ambassador hull who in my represents the mastercard tichenor now moved into academia putting forth books like this and is part of the great national asset we have inherited that generally are very much included. so i'd like to echo and warm welcome any welcome to you, ambassador hull. we are going to be treated to a discussion on a theory important topic, the emerging middle east and yemen as one of its many unfortunate hot spots. in the context of the presence of al qaeda payer. given the development of the last several months, the program could hardly be timelier and that also applies to the publication of ambassador hull spoke. i've not had a ch

finally, it's my pleasure to introduce the presiding officer and president of afsa, susan johnson. susan is a 31-year career diplomat, and i appreciate being able to turn the podium over to her, such an experienced and talented diplomat. thank you for being here. [applause] >> well, thank you very much, ian, and many thanks to all of you and a warm welcome to afsa this morning. ian has told you quite a bit about afsa, but i'd just like to say it's a particular pleasure to me to welcome someone like ambassador hull who sort of in my perspective represent the master practitioner of diplomacy who's now moved into academia, who east putting forth books like this and who is part of that great national asset i think we have in our diplomats generally and our retired diplomat very much included. so i'd like to echo ian's warm welcome and welcome to you, ambassador hull. this morning we are going to be treated to a discussion on a very important topic, the emerging middle east and yemen as one of it many, unfortunately, hot spots. and in the context of the presence of al-qaeda there. so giv

i want to thank susan johnson for that graciousai introductions and also to all of you for coming here today. not a lot of spare time and some if you are taking time away from important work for i hope i can make it worthwhile. i will make three propositions and then what you are interested in with your questions. the state department is not by and large a lending institution. it has many, many strengths is the best and brightest and takes care of them however, unlike the military there are lessons learnedte and in my experience there is little or no business on best practices. the state department 10 is to recruit individuals to provide a modicum of screening and asks them to improvise solutions. lot depends on who you workf for including henry kissinger you're likely to get goods lessons of strategy and how to develop copps. if youre work for tim baker you're likely to learn about steelmaking as he did getting involved in the conference. also you're likely to geto lessons of creative humility and the significance of the initiative like the middleitia east partnership initiative.ai an