WORLD SECURITY INSTITUTE

Event: Rumsfeld Biography and 35 Years of Pentagon History

20 April 2007

On June 14, 2007, the Center for Defense Information will host a book reception for "Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy" with author Andrew Cockburn and Pentagon veteran Pierre M Sprey. The forum will feature a discussion of longstanding Pentagon problems and the speakers will answer questions from the press and the public on current trends in US defense policy.

The Center for Defense Information invites you to a discussion of longstanding Pentagon problems and book reception for "Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy."

Event: Rumsfeld Biography and 35 Years of Pentagon History

**RE-SCHEDULED: June 14, 2007**

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Discussing the recent biography of Donald Rumsfeld and the history of longstanding problems in the Pentagon over the past 35 years, author Andrew Cockburn and original military reformer Pierre M. Sprey will answer questions from the press and the public at an event sponsored by World Security Institute's Center for Defense Information on June 14.

Using many remarkable inside sources, Cockburn's account of Rumsfeld's Pentagon career gives readers an inside view of how the Pentagon works, and fails to work, over a span of 35 years. Described by the New York Times as perceptive and engrossing, Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy does, indeed, explain its own title: his disastrous impact was not confined to his advocacy of the war in Iraq; he inherited many longstanding problems in the Pentagon from his predecessors and made each of them worse, while demonstrating a remarkable lack of competence in managing the building -  in sharp contrast to his cosmetically "in command" demeanor.

Joining the discussion will be Pierre M. Sprey, a veteran of the Office of the Secretary of Defense who, as a long time Pentagon insider, can evaluate Donald Rumsfeld as few others can. Pentagon observers will know Sprey as an originator of the military reform movement that initiated major - but sadly transient - changes in U.S. weapons design, ground warfare tactics and doctrine, and legislation to reform Pentagon acquisition and ethics.

Winslow T. Wheeler, director of the Straus Military Reform Project at the Center for Defense Information, will moderate the discussion. He also has over 30 years experience in the Washington, D.C., national security community.

Signed copies of the book will be available.

Event Details:

Event: Book reception and discussion of Pentagon history with Andrew Cockburn and Pierre M. Sprey

Where: Choate Room (1st Floor), Carnegie Endowment Building, 1779 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036

When: 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, June 14, 2007

RSVP: Ron Hinrichs, [email protected], 202-797-5287; or Suzanne Ostrofsky, [email protected], 202-797-5273.

Beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Please feel free to share this invitation with other interested colleagues.

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