Dear IRC Friends and Supporters,
After nearly three decades of working to "make the United States a more responsible global leader and partner," the International Relations Center (IRC) has shut its doors. We are sad to see such a long run come to a close, but we are proud of all that we've accomplished.
Dozens of books and countless articles attest to the constancy of our efforts to inform, interpret, and influence U.S. foreign policy by putting high-quality materials in the hands of the citizen groups who demand a foreign policy that will make them proud, not ashamed.
The good news is that the IRC's core work through the Americas Policy Program and the Global Good Neighbor Initiative will live on. They have become programs of the Center for International Policy (CIP) in Washington, DC. We feel very fortunate to have found this new home and look forward to a productive and effective new phase as part of CIP.
Joining CIP gives our programs a stronger Washington presence at a time when policymakers are searching for alternatives to the U.S. government's discredited policies in Latin America and elsewhere. It also enables us to streamline administrative functions and combine our experience and capacity with that of one of Washington's oldest and most esteemed progressive policy think tanks.
Three IRC staffers—Laura Carlsen and Katie Kohlstedt in Mexico City, and Tom Barry in Silver City, New Mexico—have joined CIP and will carry on the work on our website www.americaspolicy.org and in other forums.
Perhaps never has there been a more desperate need to change U.S. foreign policy. This requires not just criticism but also new ideas. Today more than ever, the U.S. public, policymakers, and our global neighbors are ready for what the Americas Policy Program describes as "a new world of citizen action, analysis, and policy alternatives."
Throughout our history we have counted on the financial support and encouragement of friends around the world. We hope that in this new phase, as our work gains influence and U.S. foreign policy cries out for new directions, we can continue to count on your support.
As we make this transition, we hope that you will renew your contribution and consider increasing your level of support. Donate online by going to the CIP online donation page, (here) noting in the comment section that you are supporting the Americas Policy Program. If you would prefer to send a check, you can make it out to the Center for International Policy, putting Americas Program in the memo line (or filling out their printable form ), and mail to 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 801, Washington D.C. 20036.
The challenge is to advance a new policy toward Latin America that we can stand behind as the country enters the post-Bush era. With your help, we can rise to the challenge.
In peace,
Tom Barry
Laura Carlsen
Katie Kohlstedt
