Renewed political and social unrest in the Middle East has prompted UNM groups to invite anti-war activist Richard Becker to campus tonight to share his thoughts about the conflict.
Becker, a director of the San Francisco-based antiwar group International Action Center, will deliver a presentation titled "Axis of Evil: Creating New Enemies and Preparing for Perpetual Wars - An Examination of U.S. Policy in Afghanistan and in the Middle East," in Dane Smith Hall, Room 120, from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
The Arab/Jewish Peace Alliance, Cambio, the Muslim Student Association and the Progressive Student Alliance organized the event.
Tariq Khraishi, a UNM engineering professor, said the groups wanted him to speak with students because he has been to the Middle East and can provide a unique perspective on conflict in the region.
"We're hoping he will provide basically education and educate the public on the reality of the situation and some of the ramifications of some of the U.S. policies in that region," Khraishi said.
The talk will center on the United States' involvement in the Middle East. The U.S. government's continual war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Israel's occupation of Palestinian cities after a rash of suicide bombings has incited debate, ranging from whether the United States should be in the Middle East at all to providing more U.S. support to Israel.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The title of Becker's talk refers to President Bush's State of the Union Address declaration that Iran, Iraq and North Korea are an "axis of evil." Following outcry over the remark, Bush drew fire by refusing to aid Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat when Israeli forces barricaded him in his compound.
Bush recently ordered Israel to pull out of Palestine and sent Secretary of State Colin Powell to negotiate with Arafat and Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon for a ceasefire.
Khraishi said that while Bush's stance was improved due to international pressure, he feels Bush is prejudiced against Palestine.
He said that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians began in 1948 after Israel was established as an official state for Jewish refugees. He added that the change spurred violence among Israeli Jews and the Palestinians, along with Arab neighbors.
"So it's a fight over land, obviously, although it has religious aspects and economic aspects," he said.
Becker was co-leader of the third Iraq Sanctions Challenge, comprised of 51 people from five countries who delivered medicine to Iraq, according to the Davis Coalition to End the Sanctions Web site. The International Action Center was founded in 1992, when the aftermath of the Gulf War by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and other antiwar activists.
Becker also is the national coordinator for the International ANSWER-ACT NOW to Stop War and End Racism, a nonprofit organization against the bombing of Afghanistan. He is co-author of the book NATO in the Balkans and has spoken at numerous events about the 1999 war in Yugoslavia waged by the United States and NATO.
For more information on the event, contact Ahmed Lobad at alobad@usa.net or Joan Robins at 341-2306.
