Education and Hotels & Travel Special Sections Inside Education a special section of the Washingto n Diplomat
VOLUME 24, NUMBER 1
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January 2017
JANUARY 2017
WWW.WASHDIPLOMAT.COM
The Knowledge Gap
Survey Finds U.S. College
Middle East
i
Students’ Global Literacy
Woefully Lacking
• by AnnA gAWel mmigration was a hotly contested issue in the U.S. Republican Donald presidential race, Trump buoyed by with anger over what perceive to be a many Americans glut of foreigners inundating the United States.
Yet only 34 percent more Mexicans have of U.S. college students realize that left On the all-important over the last five years. the United States than entered it American college studentssubject of war, only 30 percent of Likewise, as North of government (legislative)can correctly name which branch Korea rattles the region of nuclear and ballistic with a series to declare has the constitutional authority war. dents know how many missile tests, only 36 percent of stuThose were among U.S. troops are stationed Korea and a mere 28 the dismal findings in South missioned percent are aware that of a survey comby the Council ty-bound to protect the U.S. is trea- the Japan National Geographic on Foreign Relations (CFR) and campaign pronouncementsif it is attacked (despite Trump’s ficiencies in college-age Society, which found serious dethat he may not come defense). students’ understanding to allies’ of the in-
Syria War Fuels Trend of Targeting Hospitals, Doctors
What College-Ag ed Students Know About the World
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Hospitals were once considered safe places in war zones, but the relentless bombing campaigns in Syria have obliterated that norm with apparent impunity, as President Bashar al-Assad targets medical facilities and personnel to bring the opposition to its knees. / PAGE 5
United States
Trump’s Foreign Policy: How Much Does Experience Matter? Donald Trump’s campaign broke every rule in the protocol playbook, so why should his presidential team be any different? As he surrounds himself with fellow billionaires and former military men, he’s also tapping appointees with zero foreign policy experience, prompting fears that his undiplomatic style will have serious consequences abroad. / PAGE 7
Culture
Sackler Hosts First U.S. Show of Qu’rans “The Art of the Qur’an” at the Sackler Gallery marks the first major exhibition in the U.S. of Islam’s holy text. / PAGE 34
JORDAN IN CROSSHAIRS
Between ongoing atrocities in Syria, the refugee influx that country’s civil war has spawned and the battle to dislodge Islamic State fighters from Iraq, politicians and pundits often overlook the crippling impact of the region’s turmoil on a third Arab country: Jordan, a key U.S. ally in a sea of instability. But it’s hard for Dina Kawar, Amman’s ambassador, to think about anything else. / PAGE 11
United States
Politics
Pence Set to Assume Influential Role
Hotels Prepare to Party With New President
John Nance Garner, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s number two, famously quipped that the vice presidency was “not worth a bucket of warm piss.” FDR, a seasoned politician, may have had little use for Garner, but Donald Trump will clearly be leaning on his VP, Mike Pence, as he moves into the D.C. “swamp” he pledged to drain. / PAGE 4
Whatever you think of the outcome of the presidential election, we can all agree on one thing: It’s over. Now it’s time to party, and local hotels are doing it up to welcome the new president in style. / PAGE 26