April 1, 2005

U.S., Iraq And A Changing Middle East: Panel April 7

By Barry Jagoda

Elections in Iraq and the West Bank and Gaza, demonstrations in Lebanon, stirrings of democracy in Egypt, and continuing large-scale U.S. military involvement in the region--where is the Middle East headed? The University of California, San Diego will present a panel discussion on political change and conflict in the Middle East, "The U.S., Iraq, And a Changing Middle East" on Thursday, April 7, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Weaver Center, Institute of the Americas on the UCSD campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Moderated by Professor Miles Kahler, director of UCSD's Institute for International, Comparative & Area Studies, the panel will feature Tony Perry, a Los Angeles Times staff writer who has been "embedded" with U.S. troops in Iraq for two separate tours during the conflict; Michael Provence, UCSD assistant professor of history, a specialist in the modern Middle East and Joseph Logan, who was an Iraqi based correspondent for Reuters in 2003-2004 and currently, as a television producer and print reporter, covers Syria and Lebanon.

"Recent events in the Middle East have led some to welcome new signs of democratization in the region, while others suggest another "false spring" amid stalled peace efforts and continuing insurgency. The deep and varied expertise of our panelists will provide current guidance on the present and future course of the Middle East," said Professor Kahler.

This session is one in a series of discussions on the Middle East sponsored by the UCSD international studies institute. The first, on "Media and the Iraq War," was held in November, 2004 and produced a very lively discussion among journalists and scholars with passionate engagement from the large audience. For directions to the event see http://www.iamericas.org/background/directions.html and for more information contact Leslie Kamps, (858) 822-5297

Media Contact: Barry Jagoda (858) 534-8567