Adviser for Iraq optimistic on transition Published Oct. 23, 2009 By Carl Bergquist Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- A State Department special adviser for Iraq said there are a lot of signs of progress in Iraq that indicate the U.S. military withdrawal by the end of 2011 will go smoothly. Bill Grant, special adviser for Iraq at the Department of State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, opened Air University's Air War College State Department Week with his keynote speech to students and faculty Tuesday. Mr. Grant spoke to the group on the subject of Diplomatic Instruments of Power, and also discussed his experiences in Iraq and Lebanon to provide a personal perspective on the practice of diplomacy. He described diplomatic instruments of power as the United States applying its power throughout the world in an effort to serve U.S. interests, such as the battles against poverty, hunger and terrorism. "The military has a definite role in this through warfighting, but also in an area not so obvious, and that is in the education of military members from other countries through schools such as Air War College," Mr. Grant said. "The State Department has the diplomatic role in supporting the same objectives, and that can be slower and at times more frustrating. We have to persuade the leaders of other countries to change their way of doing things and their ideas, but we don't limit ourselves to the political leaders. We also reach out to the public, the media and others who have influence in those countries." He said the process involves "a lot of communication" and these days it has become a much larger part of the State Department's job. Reaching out to the society of a country also helps insure the U.S. gets its message out. "We have come to see the value of reaching out to the public to include students, professors, women's groups and others. That way we can communicate what American views are directly to the public," Mr. Grant said. "Often media outlets report American views in ways that are not favorable to the U.S., and we want to present our side of the story. There is real value in the explanation coming from U.S. officials because it shows we are willing to explain ourselves and engage in debate." On the subject of U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, Mr. Grant said the violence had gone down dramatically since 2007, and there are reasons to think "the 'tit-for-tat' violence of 2006 and 2007" is, to a great extent, gone. "Iraq now has an active political structure, and there is every indication the upcoming election will go well," he said. Mr. Grant said when looking ahead, he sees a transition from the military having the dominant role for U.S. relations with Iraq to the State Department having that responsibility. He said the State Department is in the process of planning a budget that will "cover all the bases" of that transition. "Right now we are very optimistic, and all seems to be on track for the transition," he said. "Also, the relationship between the United States and the Iraqi government that will effect a good transition and enable the U.S. to hand over power to Iraqi officials is going well." Mr. Grant said the Iraqis still have a lot to do in areas such as economic development to insure a smooth transition of power. "The Iraqi government has to deal not only with security, but also with economic reform," he said. "Iraq has to do some work on many issues to build prosperity that builds stability that leads to jobs." On a side note, Mr. Grant complimented the International Officer School on their Alabama Goodwill Ambassador program that provides sponsors for international officers attending Air University schools. "That sort of contact with the American people is great," he said. "It is good that international officers deal with real Americans on their visit here, as that develops strong memories of the relationship they had with those they met while in this country." Mr. Grant currently advises senior U.S. government officials on Iraq policy, especially the new relationships with Iraqi authorities because of the departure of U.S. military forces. A diplomat for 25 years, Mr. Grant has served in Lebanon, Malta, Iraq, Italy, Argentina and Poland. He has also served at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and the Department of State in Washington, D.C. A native of Connecticut, he has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. For this year's State Department Week, Mr. Grant delivered the opening speech of a program where 15 Department of State officials engage AWC students in three days of seminars. The program is part of Air War College's National Security and Decision Making course offered by the school's Department of International Security Studies, and is designed to enrich the diplomatic experience of AWC students.