Discussion Session with General James Jones

General James Jones was one of the highest-ranking American representatives in Munich. It was hardly surprising that he had a lot to do and regretted in the plenary session that he had no time for Munich’s enticing restaurants and bars. At least there was a 30-minute slot for us during which he initially apologized for the state of the world which his generation was bequeathing to the next. A world which in his opinion was faster and more complex than ever before, the international structures and organizations of which still had to adapt themselves to the challenges of the 21st century. First and foremost this applied to NATO, which the General believed continued to be of importance, though for this reason it would have to change. General Jones answered our questions on the US security policy approach to Iran, Russia and Afghanistan at breakneck speed, and asked us to think about the fact that he had come to the conclusion that visions without resources were nothing more than hallucinations. This 30-minute session was much too short.

This report was written by Munich Young Leader Barbara Meincke, Advisor on Human Rights, Parliamentary Party Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, German Parliament.

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