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