Ann Wright - How US Policy Fosters Insecurity in the Middle East

Ann Wright, USA (ret.) Colonel and former Foreign Service officer, will speak on “How US Policy Fosters Insecurity in the Middle East”. Her presentation will also include information about the U.S. boat to Gaza as part of an upcoming international aid flotilla. Col. Wright’s presentation will be held at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Monday, November 1.

Col. Wright, with degrees in both law and national security affairs, served 13 years in the US Army and 16 additional years in the Army Reserves. She was an officer in the Foreign Service from 1987 until 2003. Col. Wright received the State Department’s Award for Heroism for her actions during the evacuation of 2,500 people from the civil war in Sierra Leone. She was part of the first State Department team to go to Afghanistan and reopen the Embassy there in December 2001.

On March 19, 2003, the eve of the US invasion of Iraq, Ann Wright cabled a letter of resignation to Secretary of State Colin Powell, stating that she could not support the invasion without the authorization of the UN Security Council. Since then, she has been writing and speaking out for peace. She has traveled to Iran and Afghanistan as a citizen diplomat, has made three trips to Gaza, was a key organizer of the 2009 Gaza Freedom March, and was one of 14 US citizens on the Gaza Flotilla that was attacked by Israeli commandos in May 2010. Ann Wright is coauthor of Dissent, Voices of Conscience: Government Insiders Speak Out Against the War in Iraq.

Col. Wright’s Port Townsend speech is part of her Pacific Northwest tour. The Port Townsend event is hosted by Veterans for Peace North Olympic Peninsula Chapter 139, Jefferson County BDS, Teen Peace Project, Code Pink Washington, Port Townsend Peace Movement and Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

The presentation is free; donations for the U.S. boat to Gaza are welcomed. Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is located at 2333 San Juan Avenue, Port Townsend. Doors open at 6:30; the presentation begins at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 31, Olympia Traditions Fair Trade 5pm

Monday, November 1, Port Townsend QUUF 7 pm

Tuesday, November 2, Seattle 7 pm Fundraiser Dinner (206) 499-1220