Thursday: “Challenging Empire” at Timberlake’s

We are pleased and proud to host Phyllis Bennis at Timberlake’s this Thursday, April 13, 6:30-9.

She will be discussing her book “Challenging Empire” and answer questions about the current situation in the Middle East.

“Challenging Empire” tackles the question of why we went to war in Iraq, examining whether the cause may be rooted in empirical ambition. It’s a particularly timely book given how the Iraq situation has developed since our president declared “Mission Accomplished” 3 years ago, as well as the potential crisis with Iran.

As per tradition on speaker night, free appetizers, and drink specials until 9pm.

A short bio on Dr. Bennis after the jump:

Phyllis Bennis, a leading nominee for Progressive Ambassador to the UN in the Backbone Cabinet is a fellow at both the Institute for Policy Studies and the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. She has been a writer, analyst and activist on Middle East and UN issues for many years. While working as a journalist at the United Nations during the run-up to the 1990-91 Gulf War, she began working on U.S. domination of the UN, and stayed involved in work on Iraq sanctions and disarmament, and later U.S. war and occupation in Iraq. In 1999 Phyllis accompanied a group of congressional aides to Iraq to examine the impact of U.S.-led economic sanctions on humanitarian conditions there. Denis Halliday, author of the UN oil for food program who resigned due to the human toll of sanctions, as well as will be joining the Conversation with Phyllis Bennis. Also joining us on the call were Bert Sacks who’s been to Iraq many times to deliver humanitarian aid, and Dick Blakeney, President of the United Nations Association of Seattle.