U.S. Policy Director Discusses Middle East

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 31, 2010) - The Middle East possesses more than half of the world’s oil reserves and some of the world's most deep-seeded regional conflicts.

Brigadier General James M. "Mike" Holmes is involved in America's relationships with Iran, Iraq, Israel and Palestine, among other nations, on a daily basis.

Holmes will speak on America's policy in the Middle East at 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 2, in the Lexmark Public Room of the Main Building.

Holmes is the principal director for Middle East policy in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon's Office of the Secretary of Defense in Washington.

Holmes helps execute defense policy and national security strategy for 15 Middle East nations, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

In addition, Holmes coordinates with the National Security Council staff, Joint Staff, State Department, foreign governments and U.S. embassies and geographic combatant commanders.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Christine Wolcott at cawolc2@email.uky.edu.