Fifth year of UI program Gar-Pal students meet with former ambassadors

Sep 18, 20140

A total of 40 juniors and seniors from Garfield-Palouse High School attended a presentation by former United States Ambassadors James and Lauren Moriarty at the University of Idaho Sept. 10. It was the fifth year that the Gar-Pal students have been guests of Dr. Bill Smith, director of the U of I Martin Institute of International Studies.

The Moriaritys discussed their roles in developing U.S. foreign policy in their more than 30 years of diplomatic service.

James Moriarty served as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh and U.S. Ambassodor to Nepal.

He was the Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and served as Senior Director of the National Security Council. Ambassador Lauren Moriarty served as U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation and Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China.

The Moriartys Sept. 10 talked about the role of U.S. Foreign Service and gave examples of how that role was implemented. James told of his role in the negotiations to release 20 U.S. airmen being held by the Chinese after a mid-air collision of a Chinese jet with a U.S. surveillance aircraft in 2001.

Later that year, he was the China-Taiwan specialist at the National Security Council when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred, shifting the work of the council.

After a question and answer session, Dr. Smith and several of his graduate students worked with the Gar-Pal students in a mini-session on International affairs. The students were divided into six small groups to discuss current world issues. As they talked, the Moriartys and Dr. Smith moved from group to group to provide input and clarify points of fact.

“The informal time was mutually rewarding,” said Gar-Pal Current World Issues teacher Dennis Griner. “The Moriartys were impressed by the Gar-Pal students’ knowledge of world affairs, their participation in the Q and A session and the quality of the discussions during the small group activity. It was a win-win for all those involved.”