Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates Obama's Iran Deal At NYC's Kaufman Center On May 26

Last month, the Obama administration negotiated an interim nuclear accord with Iran, to be finalized by June 30. Sanctions would be lifted in exchange for a scale back of Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities. But some fear that a deal would not go far enough and, instead of being a benefit, would strengthen Iran's hand in the Middle East. Is this agreement a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to halt nuclear proliferation, or does President Obama have this wrong? On Tuesday, May 26, Intelligence Squared U.S. will address the pros and cons of the plan with a live debate on the motion "Obama's Iran Deal Is Good for America."

Debaters include Philip Gordon, who until recently was the president’s top Middle East adviser. Partnering with him, arguing for the motion, is former Under Secretary of State and UN Ambassador Thomas Pickering. Arguing against the motion are a former director at the National Security Council, Michael Doran, and the Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Mark Dubowitz.

Arguing for the motion:
* Philip Gordon: Sr. Fellow, CFR & Fmr. White House Coordinator, Middle East, N. Africa, Gulf Region
Philip Gordon is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. From 2013 to 2015, he was special assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region. As the most senior White House official focused on the greater Middle East, Gordon worked closely with President Barack Obama and his national security team on the full range of regional issues, including the U.S. relationship with Israel, Middle East peace, the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, the democratic transitions in North Africa, and U.S. relations with the Gulf States. He played a central role in developing all aspects of the U.S. approach to the Iranian nuclear program. From 2009 to 2013, Gordon served as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.
* Thomas Pickering: Vice Chairman, Hills & Company & Fmr. Under Secretary of State
Thomas Pickering is vice chairman of Hills & Company, an international consulting firm providing advice to U.S. businesses on investment, trade, and risk assessment issues abroad, particularly in emerging market economies. He has had a career spanning five decades as a U.S. diplomat, serving as under secretary of state for political affairs, ambassador to the U.N., and ambassador to Russia, India, Israel, Nigeria, Jordan, and El Salvador. He holds the personal rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in the U.S. Foreign Service. He has held numerous other positions at the State Department, including executive secretary and special assistant to Secretaries Rogers and Kissinger and assistant secretary for the bureau of oceans, environmental and scientific affairs.

Arguing against the motion:
* Michael Doran: Sr. Fellow, Hudson Institute & Fmr. Sr. Director, National Security Council
Michael Doran is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, where he specializes in Middle East security issues. He served as senior advisor to the undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs in the State Department, and prior to that, held an appointment at the Pentagon as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for support to public diplomacy, and at the National Security Council as the senior director for the Near East and North Africa. At the White House, Doran helped devise and coordinate national strategies on a variety of Middle East issues, including Arab-Israeli relations and the containment of Iran.
* Mark Dubowitz: Exec. Dir., FDD & Dir., Center on Sanctions & Illicit Finance
Mark Dubowitz is executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a DC-based nonpartisan policy institute, where he leads projects on Iran, sanctions, and nonproliferation. He is an expert on sanctions and has testified before Congress and advised the U.S. administration, Congress, and numerous foreign governments on Iran. He heads FDD’s Center on Sanctions and Illicit Finance and is the co-author of fifteen studies on economic sanctions against Iran. He also is co-chair of the Project on U.S. Middle East Nonproliferation Strategy.

The debate will also stream live online, then air soon after as part of the syndicated NPR show "Intelligence Squared U.S." On May 26, online viewers can tune in here (http://bit.ly/1Ju9it5) or via IQ2's new app (http://shorefi.re/VTwKwx)

WHAT: Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates "Smart Technology Is Making Us Dumb"
WHEN: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 / Reception 5:45-6:30 / Debate 6:45-8:15 PM
WHERE: Kaufman Center/129 W. 67th Street (bet. Broadway and Amsterdam)/New York, NY 10023
TICKETS: $40 ($12 for students w/ ID). To purchase, visit http://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
A non-partisan, nonprofit organization, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded in 2006 to restore civility, reasoned analysis and constructive public discourse to today’s often biased media landscape. IQ2US reaches millions through multi-platform distribution, including radio, television, live streaming, podcasts and interactive digital content. It is one of the top 25 most popular podcasts on iTunes, and has won the 2014 Clarion Award for Radio Regular Feature Program and back-to-back 2013-2014 New York Festivals International Radio Awards for Best Public Affairs Program. The debates have attracted some of the world's top thinkers, including Malcolm Gladwell, Steven Forbes, Dr. Neal Barnard, Arianna Huffington, Paul Krugman, and Karl Rove. With over 100 debates and counting, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008. The executive producer is Dana Wolfe.

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