In an era of global uncertainty, debate has deepened in Australia about the alliance with the United States. In this video recorded at ANU on Tuesday the 13th of June, 2017 former US Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper and former Australian Ambassador to the United States Kim Beazley hold a frank and open discussion on the challenges, successes and the future of the alliance.
The Honourable James R Clapper, AO is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Air Force. From 2010 to January 2017, he was the Director of National Intelligence, the Cabinet-level official in charge of the US intelligence community; this was his last position in a career spanning more than fifty years in US intelligence.
He is visiting Australia as a guest of the National Security College at the Australian National University, where he holds the title of Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Professor.
The Honourable Kim Beazley, AC was elected to the Federal Parliament in 1980, in 1993 became a Minister in the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments holding, at various times, the portfolios of Defence, Finance, Transport and Communications, Employment Education and Training, Aviation, and Special Minister of State. He was Deputy Prime Minister (1995-96) and Leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition (1996-01 and 2005-06).
Mr Beazley was Ambassador to the United States of America from February 2010 to January 2016. Upon returning to Australia he has been appointed as President of the Australian Institute for International Affairs, Co-Chairman of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue and Distinguished Fellow at both the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Perth USAsia Centre.
In 2009, Mr Beazley was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the Parliament of Australia.
