Kinzer, Retired U.S. General John Johns, Iran Scholar Reza Aslan Hold Two L.A. Events Calling for Diplomacy and Support of H.R.5056

http://FollyofAttackingIran.org

Washington, DC – Award-winning author and former New York Times correspondent Stephen Kinzer begins a cross-country speaking tour in Los Angeles on February 7^th to warn against U.S. military intervention in Iran.  An expert in the history of U.S. foreign policy, Kinzer will join other experts during his 22-city national tour to call for real diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran and for support of the Iran Diplomatic Accountability Act of 2008.  The Tour is in San Francisco on February 11^th, then moves on to Portland, Peoria and elsewhere, ending in Washington, DC on March 6, 2008.

Kinzer was a New York Times correspondent for 20 years, has covered more than 50 countries on five continents and written several books on U.S. policy in the Middle East and Latin America.  The Washington Post called him "among the best in popular foreign policy storytelling."  His 2003 book about the legacy of the U.S.-sponsored coup against Iran's democratic government in 1953, All The Shah's Men, was just reissued by Wiley & Sons with a new foreword, "The Folly of Attacking Iran."

"Historically, when America engages in regime change, it's often for the wrong reasons or under false pretenses," said Kinzer. "In most cases, these operations end up having terrible results, not only for the target country but also for the United States itself.  The emergence of a militant religious regime in Iran is in part a result of the American-sponsored overthrow of Iran's elected government in 1953.  It's vital that we not make the same mistake again."

Following President Bush's singling out of Iran in his January 28 State of the Union Address, Kinzer said: "An attack on Iran now would seriously damage America's position in the Middle East and would create intense anti-American feeling in the only Muslim country in that area whose people are now pro-American."

Joining Kinzer in Los Angeles will be Brig. General John Johns (Ret.), military scholar and former member of the office of Army Chief of Staff, and Reza Aslan Ph.D, Research Associate at USC's Center on Public Diplomacy and noted religious scholar. (Bios at http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/iran/speakers.html.)  Each of these experts favors direct, unconditional and comprehensive talks with the Iranian government, particularly in light of the recent National Intelligence Estimate finding that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

Event I

What: Public Forum, "The Folly of Attacking Iran", sponsored by Occidental College Office of Global Affairs

When: 12:30 P.M. Pacific, Thursday, February 7, 2008

Where: Occidental College, in Fowler Hall Room 302, 1600 Campus Rd., Los Angeles, CA

Who: Journalist/Author, Stephen Kinzer; noted Iran scholar, Reza Aslan

Event II

What: Public Forum, "The Folly of Attacking Iran", sponsored by the UCLA Coalition for Peace

When: 5:00 P.M. Pacific, Thursday, February 7, 2008

Where: UCLA Campus, Dodd Hall Room 121, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA

Who: Journalist/Author, Stephen Kinzer; Brig. General John Johns (Ret.), military scholar

Complete national tour schedule and speakers' bios at: http://FollyofAttackingIran.org/.

Iran Diplomatic Accountability Act of 2008 details at: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/iran/hr5056.html

#####

"The Folly of Attacking Iran: Time for Real Diplomacy" tour is organized by Just Foreign Policy (www.justforeignpolicy.org) and co-organized by Americans for an Informed Democracy, the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, the National Iranian American Council, Peace Action and Physicians for Social Responsibility with support from the Colombe Foundation, Lee and Gund Foundation, The Pluralism Fund and the Stone Foundation.

Contact: Anne Singer, 202-271-4679
 

... Payvand News - 02/04/08 ...