BY LINDA MCVAY

Special to The Pilot

On Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the Country Club of North Carolina, Dr. Tyrus W. Cobb will speak on "Crisis and Diplomacy in the Middle East."

Cobb served as a special White House assistant to President Ronald Reagan and as director of Soviet, Canadian and European Affairs for the National Security Council during the Reagan administration, among other prestigious positions in government and the private sector.

He is a retired U.S. Army colonel, has taught at West Point and lectured in China, Europe, the U.S., and the former Soviet Union. He holds a Ph.D. from Georgetown University.

Cobb is active as an analyst and consultant on a wide array of international and national security issues. He will address U.S. policies toward key crisis points in the Middle East, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

The English-Speaking Union is an organization whose mission is "drawing together the English-speaking people of the world."

It is promoting scholarship and the advancement of knowledge through the effective use of English in our ever expanding global community. The local branch of E-SU approaches the mission with a timely monthly program of informative and entertaining speakers on topics ranging from literary to the geo/political stage.

Included in the activities is the middle school debate to be held in the fall and the Moore County Shakespeare Competition between Moore County high school students and students from surrounding counties. The winner of this competition will go to New York City to compete with other national winners.

The event will be held at the Country Club of North Carolina. Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The program follows.

"The English-Speaking Union welcomes new members," says a spokesman.

For information, call Martha O'Connor, at (910) 235-0635, or e-mail Dr. Phillip Hinesley at phil@chanticleerproperties.com.