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Jason Ross is an American writer. Since 2002 he has been a staff writer at The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. As part of the writing team, he has received six Primetime Emmy Awards.^[1] He has occasionally performed on-camera as Muppet John McCain.^[2] He also helped to write that show's two best-selling books, America: The Book, (2004) and Earth: The Book (2010). He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he served as editor of the student newspaper, The Daily Nexus. He lives in Manhattan with his family.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Jason Ross at the Internet Movie Database

This article about an American writer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Jason Ross may refer to:

• Jason Ross (comedian) (born 1972), Australian actor and comedian
• Jason Ross (pornographic actor), American, gay pornographic actor
• Jason Ross (writer), American writer
• Jason Ross (musician), founder of the post-grunge band Seven Mary Three

This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Ross speaking at Emory University.

Dennis B. Ross (born November 26, 1948) is an American diplomat and author. He has served as the Director of Policy Planning in the State Department under President George H. W. Bush, the special Middle East coordinator under President Bill Clinton, and was a special adviser for the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia (which includes Iran) to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.^[1]

Biography[link]

Ross was born in San Francisco and grew up in Marin County. His Jewish mother and Catholic stepfather raised him in a non-religious atmosphere.^[2] Ross graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 1970 and did graduate work there, writing his doctoral dissertation on Soviet decision-making.^[3] He later became religiously Jewish after the Six Day War.^[2] In 2002 he co-founded the Kol Shalom synagogue in Rockville, Maryland.^[2]

During President Jimmy Carter's administration, Ross worked under Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz in the Pentagon. There, he co-authored a study recommending greater U.S. intervention in "the Persian Gulf Region because of our need for Persian Gulf oil and because events in the Persian Gulf affect the Arab-Israeli conflict."^[4] During the Reagan administration, Ross served as director of Near East and South Asian affairs in the National Security Council and Deputy Director of the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment (1982–84).^[3]

Ross returned briefly to academia in the 1980s, serving as executive director of the Berkeley-Stanford program on Soviet International Behavior from 1984-1986.^[3] In the mid-1980s Ross co-founded with Martin Indyk the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)-sponsored Washington Institute for Near East Policy ("WINEP").^[5] His first WINEP paper called for appointment of a "non-Arabist Special Middle East envoy" who would "not feel guilty about our relationship with Israel."^[6]

In the administration of President George H. W. Bush, Ross was director of the United States State Department's Policy Planning Staff, working on U.S. policy toward the former Soviet Union, the reunification of Germany and its integration into NATO, arms control, and the 1991 Gulf War.^[3] He also worked with Secretary of State James Baker on convincing Arab and Israeli leaders to attend the 1991 Middle East peace conference in Madrid, Spain.^[2]

Middle East Envoy[link]

Ross (right) with Ehud Barak in 1999.

In the summer of 1993 President Bill Clinton named Ross Middle East envoy. He helped the Israelis and Palestinians reach the 1995 Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and brokered the Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron in 1997. He facilitated the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace and also worked on talks between Israel and Syria.^[3]

Ross was criticized by people on both sides of the conflict. Occasional references to his Jewish ancestry were brought up within the Arab world (although Ross maintains this was not a problem with other heads of state during negotiations), and some conservative Israelis branded him "self-hating" — each questioning his ability to be unbiased.^[7][8] Describing Ross, Roger Cohen wrote that “Balance is something this meticulous diplomat [Ross] prizes. But a recurrent issue with Ross, who embraced the Jewish faith after being raised in a nonreligious home by a Jewish mother and Catholic stepfather, has been whether he is too close to the American Jewish community and Israel to be an honest broker with Iran or Arabs. Aaron David Miller, after years of working with Ross, concluded in a book that he “had an inherent tendency to see the world of Arab-Israeli politics first from Israel’s vantage point rather than that of the Palestinians.” Another former senior State Department official, who requested anonymity … told me, “Ross’s bad habit is preconsultation with the Israelis.”^[9]

In their 2006 paper The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, John Mearsheimer, political science professor at the University of Chicago, and Stephen Walt, academic dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, named Ross as a member of the "Israeli lobby" in the United States.^[10] Ross in turn criticized the academics behind the paper.^[10] In 2008, Time reported that a former colleague of Ross, former ambassador Daniel Kurtzer published a think-tank monograph containing anonymous complaints from Arab and American negotiators saying Ross was seen as biased towards Israel and not "an honest broker".^[11]

Ross's memoir of his experiences, The Missing Peace: The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace tells his side of the story and outlines the key lessons to be drawn.^[12][13] His 2007 book, Statecraft: And How to Restore America's Standing in the World, criticizes the administration of President George W. Bush for its failure to use the tools of statecraft to advance U.S. national interests. He advocates instead for a neoliberal foreign policy which relies on a much broader and more effective use of statecraft.^[14] While having worked under both Republican and Democratic administrations, Ross himself is a Democrat.^[15]

Post-Clinton-era activities[link]

After leaving his position as envoy, Ross returned to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy as counselor and Ziegler distinguished fellow. He became chair of the Jerusalem-based think tank, the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, funded and founded by the Jewish Agency in 2002.^[16]

During these years he taught classes at Marquette University, Brandeis University, Georgetown University and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University."^[2] He also wrote frequently for publications like The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Jerusalem Post, The New Republic, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal and worked as a foreign affairs analyst for the Fox News channel.^[17]

Ross was a noted supporter of the Iraq war and he signed two Project for a New American Century (PNAC) letters in support of the war in March 2003.^[18] However, he opposed some of the Bush Administration's policies for post-war reconstruction.^[11] He also opposed Bush's policy of avoiding direct talks with Iran.^[2]

According to Wall Street Journal, Ross, along with James Steinberg and Daniel Kurtzer, were among the principal authors of presidential candidate Barack Obama’s address on the Middle East to AIPAC in June 2008.^[19] It was viewed as the Democratic nominee’s most expansive on international affairs.^[20]

Obama Administration positions[link]

Ross was appointed Special Advisor for the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on February 23, 2009.^[21] On June 25, 2009 the White House announced that Ross was leaving the State Department to join the National Security Council staff as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Central Region, with overall responsibility for the region. The Central Region includes the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Pakistan and South Asia.^[22]

Haaretz reported that Ross's work as a Middle East aide in the Obama administration was burdened by tension with special envoy George Mitchell, to the point that Ross and Mitchell sometimes refused to speak to one another. This report indicated that the tension was caused, at least in part, by Ross' occasional efforts to conduct negotiations with Israeli government officials without notifying Mitchell. For example, in both September and November 2010, Ross was said to have tried to persuade Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to freeze settlement construction during negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, in exchange for unspecified private assurances and a major military arms transfer from the United States.^[23]

Palestinian officials reportedly viewed Ross as beholden to the Israeli government, and not as an honest broker or even-handed facilitator of negotiations. For a significant period, Ross refrained from meeting Palestinian Authority officials, while continuing to hold talks with Israeli officials during his visits to the region.^[23]

On November 10, 2011, Ross stepped down from his post in the Obama administration.^[24]

Controversies[link]

For background, see Positions on Jerusalem

Ross states in his book The Missing Peace that he and other American negotiators pushed Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to accept Palestinian sovereignty over Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem during the Middle East Peace Summit at Camp David.^[25] Ross wrote part of Barack Obama's speech to AIPAC during the 2008 Presidential campaign, and the speech stated that "Jerusalem is Israel's capital" and that it should not be divided again. The Jerusalem Post reported in November 2008 that, according to Ross, these were "facts." However, Ross stated that the "third point," which is the position of the United States since the Camp David Accords, is that the final status of the city will be resolved by negotiations.^[26]

Bibliography[link]

• Acting with Caution: Middle East Policy Planning for the Second Reagan Administration. Policy Papers #1. Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 1985. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC04.php?CID=100. 
• Reforming the Palestinian Authority: Requirements for Change. Policy Focus #43. Washington Institute for Near East Policy. August 2002. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC04.php?CID=102. 
• The Missing Peace: The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. August 2004. ISBN 0-374-19973-6. 
• Foreword for: Levitt, Matthew (May 1, 2006). Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad. Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-11053-7. 
• Statecraft: And How to Restore America's Standing in the World. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. June 2007. ISBN 0-374-29928-5. 
• Myths, Illusions, and Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East, with David Makovsky, Viking, 2009, ISBN 0-670-02089-3 ISBN 978-0670020898.

See also[link]

• Obama Administration
• Israel – United States relations
• Nuclear program of Iran

References[link]

External links[link]

• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Dennis Ross on Charlie Rose
• Dennis Ross at the Internet Movie Database
• Works by or about Dennis Ross in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Dennis Ross collected news and commentary at Al Jazeera English
• Dennis Ross collected news and commentary at Bloomberg News
• Dennis Ross collected news and commentary at The Jerusalem Post
• Dennis Ross collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Living the Peace Process, Interviewed by the Middle East Quarterly June 1996
• The Missing Peace: The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace, interviewed by Thomas Friedman, Council on Foreign Relations September 13, 2004 (video)
• Council on Foreign Relations Panel Discussion: America and the World: Challenges Facing the Next Administration--Remarks by Ambassador Dennis Ross, October 13, 2004
• Questions for Dennis Ross: Handling Hamas, interviewed by Deborah Solomon, The New York Times February 5, 2006
• Problem Countries: Syria, Iran and Russia stir up trouble, interviewed by Paul Gigot, The Wall Street Journal December 4, 2006
• Dennis Ross discusses Statecraft at the Commonwealth Club of California, July 2, 2007
• Dennis Ross: Myths, Illusions and Peace, The Economist, May 28, 2009

Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956) is an American writer, director, and actor. He is best known for directing Pleasantville and Seabiscuit, both of which featured Tobey Maguire in the lead role. He is also the director and co-screenwriter of the film, The Hunger Games, which was released on March 23, 2012.

Life and career[link]

Ross was born in Castro Valley, California, the son of screenwriter Arthur A. Ross.^[1] Ross is Jewish.^[2]

Screenwriter[link]

Ross's first produced screenplay was 1988's Big, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. He also received a Best Original Screenplay nomination for 1993's Dave. He wrote early drafts of 1992's Mr. Baseball and 1994's Lassie. He wrote the screenplay for 1998's Pleasantville, which also marked his directorial debut. In 2003, he wrote, directed and produced Seabiscuit based on Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He wrote the screenplay for 2008's The Tale of Despereaux based on the Newbery Medal-winning children's book by Kate DiCamillo. He has also written the screenplay for the forthcoming remake of 1954's Creature from the Black Lagoon on which his father was a screenwriter. He has written scripts titled Dog Years and The Free State of Jones which have not yet been produced as feature films. He also co-wrote the film, The Hunger Games, with Suzanne Collins, who wrote the novel which the film is based on.

Director[link]

Ross started directing with the film Pleasantville, which was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Original Score. In 2003, he directed, produced and wrote the film Seabiscuit, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Ross recently directed the movie adaptation of the novel The Hunger Games. However, Ross decided to step down as director for the film's sequel, Catching Fire, though it's unknown wheather he'd reprise his role as co-screenwriter.

Producer[link]

Ross has produced several films starting with the 1988 film Big, which he co-produced. Ross produced more films, including Trial and Error (1997) and Pleasantville (1998), which he also wrote and directed. In 2003, he produced the film Seabiscuit, about the legendary race horse. He recently produced 2008's The Tale of Despereaux, for which he also wrote the screenplay. He will also produce the forthcoming film The Black Lagoon.

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Gary Ross at the Internet Movie Database

This article about a United States film director born in the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Jason Isbell
Background information
Origin	Greenhill, Alabama
Genres	Rock Progressive country Alternative country
Occupations	Singer-songwriter Guitarist
Instruments	Guitar Electronic Keyboard Vocals
Years active	2001 – present
Labels	New West Records, Lightning Rod Records
Associated acts	Drive-By Truckers Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Website	http://www.jasonisbell.com/

Jason Isbell (born February 1, 1979^[1]) is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Greenhill, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals.^[2]

Background[link]

Almost all of Isbell's family, except his parents, were musicians, and his father was an avid music listener.^[3] After some work as a songwriter, in 2001 Isbell joined the rock band Drive-By Truckers while they toured in support of their album Southern Rock Opera.^[4] Isbell recorded and wrote with the Truckers for their next three albums, and for most of this time was married to Shonna Tucker, who joined the band as a bassist after Isbell. The two later divorced.^[2]

On April 5, 2007, Isbell announced that he was no longer a member of Drive-By Truckers. The following day, Patterson Hood confirmed the break on the band's official site. In his letter to the fans, Hood described the parting of ways as "amicable" and expressed the hope that fans would continue to support Drive-By Truckers as well as Jason's solo efforts.

Jason Isbell released his first solo album, Sirens of the Ditch, on July 10, 2007.

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit's eponymous album was released on February 17, 2009, on Lightning Rod Records. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit is Isbell's second solo release and his first release with his band The 400 Unit. Matt Pence of Centro-Matic serves as co-producer, drummer and engineer.

Isbell and the 400 Unit released their second album, Here We Rest, on April 12, 2011, on Lightning Rod Records. The album was produced and recorded by the band themselves.^[5]

Emergence of the 400 Unit[link]

The "400 Unit" was the former colloquial name of the psychiatric ward of Florence, Alabama's Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital, which is now named the Behavioral Health Center, or One North, and is located on the hospital's first floor. [1]

Isbell's current band, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, is primarily made up of other Alabama musicians. The lineup is currently:

• Derry DeBorja (keyboards) formerly of Son Volt.
• Jimbo Hart (bass)
• Chad Gamble (drums) brother of Al Gamble.

Discography[link]

• Sirens of the Ditch (2007)
• Live at Twist & Shout 11.16.07 (2008)
• Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit (2009)
• Here We Rest (2011)^[6]

Guitar Equipment[link]

Guitars[link]

• Duesenberg Starplayer TV Goldtop
• Fender Stratocaster
• First Act Custom Delgada w/ Bigsby
• First Act Custom Delia LS w/ Bigsby
• First Act Delia LS (standard fixed-bridge version)
• Gibson Les Paul Standard
• Gibson ES-335
• Reverend Buckshot
• Reverend Flatroc w/ Les Trem

Amps[link]

• Sommatone Roaring 40 2x12 Combo

Other Gear[link]

• Marion Henry Guitar Pedals
• Mr. B's Bottleneck Guitar Slides

Sources[link]

1. ^ Deeds, Michael."Southern singer-songwriter Jason Isbell keeps on Truckin.'" January 25, 2008. IdahoStatesman.com. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
2. ^ ^{a b} Mitter, Siddhartha. "He'll keep on trucking, but solo." Boston Globe July 15, 2007.
3. ^ Dodds, M.S. "Jason Isbell: Not Far From The Tree." Illinois Entertainer. June 27, 2007.
4. ^ Schmergel, Daniel Patrick. "An Artist Revealed: Interview with Jason Isbell." lostwriters.net.
5. ^ Hunt-Murphy, Ronan. "Album News: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Here We Rest" Swear I'm Not Paul
6. ^ Wilson, David. "Post Trucker – A Review of Here We Rest" Frontier Psychiatrist

External links[link]

• Official website
• Interview March 2008
• Jason Isbell live review on Citizen Dick
• [2]