IRAQ AND MIDDLE EAST PEACE FORUM
May 29th, 2008, Thursday 7:30 pm
Golden Eagle Building, 3rd Floor Ballroom
At Cal State LA!
Moderated by SONALI KOLHATKAR of KPFK 90.7 FM and
“Afghan Women’s Mission”
Speakers Include:
RAED JARRAR, an Iraqi political analyst
and consultant to American Friends Service Committee's
Iraq Program currently based in Washington, D.C.
After the U.S.-led invasion, Jarrar became the country
director for CIVIC Worldwide, the only door-to-door
casualty survey group in post-war Iraq. He then
established Emaar, (meaning "reconstruction" in
Arabic); a grassroots organization that provided
humanitarian and political aid to Iraqi internally
displaced persons (IDPs). Emaar delivered medicine
and food as well as helped initiate micro-enterprise
projects for IDPs. Additionally, Emaar engaged in
political advocacy on behalf of displaced populations.
COL. ANN WRIGHT, who resigned from the U.S. Foreign
Service on March 19, 2003, while serving as Deputy
Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Mongolia. She
resigned due to her disagreement with the Bush
administration's decision to go to war in Iraq without
the authorization of the UN Security Council, the lack
of effort in resolving the Israel-Palestinian
situation, the lack of policy on North Korea and
unnecessary curtailment of civil liberties in the
United States. Ms. Wright joined the Foreign Service
in 1987 and served as Deputy Chief of Mission of US
Embassies in Sierra Leone, Micronesia and briefly in
Afghanistan. Before entering the Foreign Service, she
served in the Army and has a combined regular
Army/Army Reserve service time of 29 years. She served
primarily in special operations units and attained the
rank of Colonel. Ann Wright will also have her book
for sale at the event, titled “Dissent: Voices of
Conscience” about how government insiders speak out
against the Iraq War.
EDGAR CUEVAS, who was stationed in Germany for three
years as a Cavalry Scout for the United States Army.
Twelve days before his contract was about to expire he
was Stop Lossed and forced to serve in Iraq for a year
and a half. He served in Iraq from February of 2004
through March of 2005. He was stationed in Tikrit and
witnessed innocent people being mishandled and
tortured. He is a member of ‘Iraq Veterans Against the
War” in Los Angeles.
Sponsored by the Student Friends Service Committee of
CSULA. Co-sponsored by the Humanist Association at
CSULA. Info: call (310) 795-2235
The California State University at Los Angeles campus
is located at the intersection of the 10 and 710
freeways. A campus map and parking instructions can be
found at
http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/maps/cslamap.htm
_____________________________________________________
The following are some reviews of Col. Wright's book:
GOVERNMENT INSIDERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ
Authors: Col. (ret.) Ann Wright and Susan Dixon
Foreword by Daniel Ellsberg
“When the actions of government become dangerous to
the security of the nation, it takes a special courage
for men and women inside the government to speak out.
If we care about keeping democracy alive, we must
welcome this book. "
—Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the U.S.
During the run-up to war in Iraq, Army Colonel (Ret.)
and diplomat Ann Wright resigned her State Department
post. She was one among dozens of government insiders
and active-duty military personnel, who leaked
documents, spoke out, resigned, or refused to deploy
in protest of government actions they felt were
illegal. In Dissent: Voices of Conscience, Ann Wright
and Susan Dixon tell the stories of these men and
women, who risked careers, reputations, and even
freedom out of loyalty to the Constitution and the
rule of law.
"This … illuminating and remarkably impressive … book
should be leaked into the government. … This book
could awaken … officials to withdraw their complicity
and … tell the truth to [the public]. This country
will not escape further human, legal, and moral
catastrophes, or preserve itself as a democratic,
constitutional republic, if that does not happen. If
you're at all like me, you will have a whole set of
new heroes when you finish reading this. …Dissent:
Voices of Conscience could change your life." — from
the Foreword, by Daniel Ellsberg
"Voices of conscience are usually smothered in spin.
That the stories of these heroes are recorded here
gives me great hope and shows that it is still
possible to do the right thing."
—Ray McGovern, Retired CIA Analyst and Presidential
Briefer for George H. W. Bush
"As a soldier and a diplomat, Ann Wright always placed
her country, its direction, and its welfare at the top
of her priority list. She is, without question, one of
the most honest and ethical individuals I have been
privileged to know. I salute Ann Wright and the
powerful voices of truth heard in Dissent. "
—Brigadier General (Ret.) Pat Foote, Former Commanding
General, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"Ann Wright is not one to be silenced." —Ms. Magazine
"Ann Wright is an American hero. She has shown immense
bravery and resolve in her quest for peace. For her
energy and commitment to peace, justice, and
strengthening democratic principles, Ann Wright has
earned the first annual Truthout Freedom and Democracy
Award."
– Victoria Harper, truthout.org
"Truthout has traveled the country covering the
anti-war movement, and wherever we go, Ann Wright is
there providing steady leadership. We recently
announced that Ann was one of three recipients of our
first annual Freedom and Democracy Award. I'm sure I
will see her soon. Wherever there is an important
event calling for peace, Ann Wright will be there,
leading by example."
—Scott Galindez, truthout.org
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