While very few of the presidential candidates have yet to tour Florida – a presentation, “The State of the World in the 2016 Presidential Campaign” an American Conversation, is coming to Tampa Tuesday sponsored by the Hillsborough County Republican Party.
The free panel discussion is billed as non-partisan and will include a journalist, and three experts in international intelligence and counter-terrorism.
The idea behind the American Conversation is to help the public connect the dots on how international events like the 2008 economic meltdown in Iceland, the growth of ISIS or the migrant crisis in Europe affects people in the U.S.
“When we talk about ‘over there,’ a lot of people may think of it as another culture, another continent,” said journalist Christine Dolan, a former political director for CNN and founder of the American Conversation. “But if it affects you in Baltimore, if it affects you in San Diego or in Tampa, there should be more of an interest and curiosity about what is this other world that affects us here in the United States.”
Dolan will be joined on the discussion panel by Kenneth P. Bergquist, retired military who served in special operations; Jim Waurishuk, retired military and intelligence officer; and Dan O’Shea, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and combat veteran.
The first hour of discussion will include topics ranging from Benghazi to the Russian involvement in Syria, Dolan said.
“It’s not that we are the teachers on the panel, we’re going to open up the discussion and open up the conversation,” Dolan said.
The second hour will be opened up and panelists will field questions from the audience. The American Conversation is October 20, 2015 from 7 to 9 pm at the Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Florida.
The event is free but requires a ticket. Ticket reservations are available at Americanconversationstampa.us .
