Senators Levin and Kyl to Debate Future Defense Policy and Military Spending; Will Team with Experts Adams, Armitage Students Will Debate Humanitarian Intervention

For further information contact: April Wahlestedt, Director of Communications (212) 434-9544
Erin Eizenstat, Communications Coordinator, at 212-434-9536

September 18, 2000, New York City – Republicans Jon Kyl and Richard Armitage will face Democrats Carl M. Levin and Gordon Adams in a debate on future defense policy and military spending, cohosted by Georgetown, George Washington, and Howard Universities and cosponsored by Business Executives for National Security (BENS), Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), and the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) on September 25, 2000. Journalist June Cross will moderate the debate and take questions from the audience. Immediately after the debate, from 8:30 - 8:45 PM, there will be a private press availability with the debaters.

The night before, on Sunday, students will hold their own debate on the increasing U.S. emphasis on humanitarian intervention, an issue they consider important in the election.

The sponsoring groups banded together because of their conviction that public debate on national security issues is essential, especially as they haven’t been debated in electoral contests for a decade. "For years now, the public and the media have been complaining about the lack of serious, substantive debate in politics," said Council President Leslie H. Gelb. "The candidates owe the public a serious debate if they want to be our leaders, and they owe it to themselves if they want a mandate for their policies."

The Democratic team will consist of Michigan Senator Levin, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Adams, associate director for national security and international affairs at the White House Office of Management and Budget from 1993-98 and currently director of security policy studies at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. The Republican team will consist of Arizona Senator Kyl, a long standing expert on national defense, and Armitage, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs from 1983-89 and currently president of Armitage Associates.

Georgetown University, 36th and O Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C.

-- Student debate: 7:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, Sept. 24, Copley Formal Lounge

-- Senators/experts debate: 6:30-8:30 PM, Monday, Sept. 25, Gaston Hall, 3rd floor, Healy Building

These debates are part of a broader Council initiative, Campaign 2000, to foster serious public debate on U.S. foreign policy in this election year. For more information about the project, including other campus debates and live online debates, check the website at www.foreignpolicy2000.org.