Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has confirmed her role as a major speaker at the upcoming September 6-7 Conference on America’s “Next Phase” Response to Terrorism.

James Steinberg, who currently serves as Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy Programs at Brookings, is heading to Austin to serve as the next Dean of the LBJ School at UT Austin.

University of Chicago Professor Robert Pape is one of the most sought after public policy intellectuals in the country today — briefing intelligence and national security officials on what actually drives suicide terrorism. Pape is the author of Dying to Win: The Logic of Suicide Terrorism.

I have little doubt that long term Iran wants a nuclear weapons program. By knocking Iraq out of the equation, America has removed one of the chief ‘balancers’ of power in the region, and Iran’s security and regional pretensions are going to fill that void. Balancing Israel is a long-term strategic objective of Iran.

The line-up for the September 6-7 conference: Terrorism, Security and America’s Purpose: Towards a More Comprehensive Strategy continues to strengthen. Rita Hauser is a well-known international lawyer, leading Republican Party stalwart in New York, a board member of the RAND Corporation, and Chair of the International Peace Academy that works closely with the United Nations….

This article makes its way beyond most of the thin commentary on the turmoil in Iraq. There are those close to Sunni insurgents who are offering some common sense advice to the American forces there. Perhaps we should listen.

President Bush is planning a rally to stir up support for the war in Iraq. Senator Hagel, who is speaking at our terrorism conference on September 6th, has cut down near the roots of the White House’s effort to keep pumping money and military men and women into Iraq.

I really enjoyed talking with Sam Seder tonight on Air America’s The Majority Report. We spoke about George Bush and the Iraq War, Cindy Sheehan, Ari Berman’s excellent article — The Strategic Class — in The Nation, and then our upcoming mega-conference on America’s “next phase response” to terrorism.

Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) has been making major news as he meets with constituents in meetings all around Nebraska this week. TWN posted a bit earlier regarding the Senator’s constructive and provocative comments on America’s engagement in Iraq. He also offered some common sense perspective on the Cindy Sheehan affair in Crawford.

There are few in the country whom I think better articulate what is driving the tumult in the Middle East than Juan Cole. Juan Cole is one of the mega-bloggers in the U.S., publishing the smart “Informed Comment: Thoughts on the Middle East, History, and Religion” blog.