UNH Hosts Series On Iraq War

Contact: Erika Mantz
603-862-1567
UNH Media Relations

Oct. 8, 2004



DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire will kick off a series of talks on the Iraq war with a look at “The Choice for War” Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, from 12:30-2 p.m. in Theater II of the Memorial Union Building. All of the discussions are free and open to the public.

“With the presidential elections less than one month away, New Hampshire voters must fully understand the reasons why President Bush decided to invade Iraq, and why Senator Kerry objects to the prosecution of the war,” said Chris Reardon, moderator of the forums and associate professor of political science at UNH. “In crucial times like these, the university realizes the importance to encourage discussion of the war, and the implications for U.S. foreign policy, the global war on terrorism, and U.S. domestic policy.”

The first forum will feature four speakers on the decision to go to war with Iraq. They are Donald Petterson, former U.S. ambassador to Sudan and head of the American Embassy in Liberia, who will comment on the war in general; Lionel Ingram, political science instructor and West Point graduate, who will speak about other options for war; Andrew Smith, director of the UNH Survey Center, on public opinion about the war in the U.S. and New Hampshire; and Stacy VanDeveer, associate professor of political science, on Trans Atlantic Difficulties.

Each speaker will summarize his views for 10 minutes, and then the discussion will be opened to the audience.

The second forum Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, from 12:30-2 p.m. in Theater I of the Memorial Union Building will look at democracy and Iraq. Speakers will be Sara Wolper, associate professor of history, on Shi’ism in Iraq; David Corbin, political science instructor, on victory in Iraq; Alynna Lyon, assistant professor of political science, on the dilemmas of democracy; and Tom Trout, professor of political science, on the security requirements for democracy.

The talks are sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Political Science Department and the College of Liberal Arts. Additional forums will be scheduled in November and throughout the spring semester. Visit http://calendar.unh.edu/ for more information.