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Edward Lionel Peck (born March 6, 1929,Los Angeles) is a retired career United States diplomat who served 32 years in the U.S. Foreign Service (from 1956 until 1989).

Early life and career

Born to immigrant parents, Ambassador Edward Peck served as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in the Nixon Administration, January 1971. He was Chief of Mission in Mauritania and in Iraq, and later held senior posts in Washington and abroad. He also served as a Foreign Service Officer in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt. At the State Department he served as Deputy Director of Covert Intelligence Programs, Director of the Office of Egyptian Affairs. He served as Deputy Director of the White House Task Force on Terrorism in the Reagan Administration. He is president of Foreign Services International, a consulting firm that works with governments, businesses and educational institutions across the world.

In retirement, he has served as Executive Secretary, American Academy of Diplomacy; Chair of Political Tradecraft Programs, National Foreign Affairs Training Center; Distinguished Visitor, National War College; Visiting Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Foundation; Senior Fellow, Joint Forces Staff College; and board member, Americans for Middle East Understanding.

He has presented programs on International Relations for the Foreign Ministries of Thailand and Malaysia, and has spoken in the US Capitol, the Israeli Knesset, UN headquarters, and UN conferences in Beijing and Caracas.

Ambassador Peck is a regular speaker at US Department of Defense schools, universities, World Affairs Councils, and cruise lines. He has made more than 100 world affairs appearances on television and radio in the US and other countries. People Magazine named him a "Top Ten Commentator" during the first Gulf War.

A paratrooper, he had two U.S. tours of active duty in World War II and Korea, advancing from Private to 1st Lieutenant.

Concerns overs plan to invade Iraq and of Middle East policy

Edward Peck argued against invading Iraq, asking "when you take out Saddam Hussein, what happens after that? Nobody knows, but it's probably going to be bad. A lot of people are going to be very upset, because our role in this world does not include deciding who rules Iraq." Peck believes U.S. Middle East policy should be more balanced and even-handed. He urges a dialogue with and between all parties as the most productive way to resolve the region's problems, which are large, numerous and contentious.

Personal life

Edward Peck resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with his wife Ann. He is the father of four grown children. Peck has a B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles (1956) and Master of Business Administration from the George Washington University School of Business (1973).

References

1. ^ Nomination of Edward Lionel Peck To Be United States Ambassador to Mauritania
2. Foreign Relations of the United States: Persons
3. Approval of letter regarding post-Apollo cooperation
4. http://www.counterpunch.org/peck1.html

External links

• CNN Interview, October 11, 2001
• Rethinking Iraq: An American Ambassador's Experience in Baghdad
• CNI and the Palestinian Election
• CNI Delegation Visits Hebron, Meets with Hamas Leader
• Chief-of-Mission Authority: A Powerful but Underused Tool
• Appearances on C-SPAN

• 1929 births
• Living people
• Ambassadors of the United States to Mauritania
• Reagan administration personnel
• People from Chevy Chase, Maryland
• University of California, Los Angeles alumni
• George Washington University School of Business alumni
• United States Army officers
• United States Foreign Service personnel