For Immediate Release
May 8, 2008
Contact:
Michael Lynn
773-860-6969
mlynn226@gmail.com
Alderman Joe Moore
773-848-5796
aldmoore@aol.com
WHAT: Press Conference & Committee Hearings on Iran Resolution
WHEN: Tuesday May 13 — Press Conference 10:30 AM, Hearings 11:30 AM
WHERE: City Hall — Second Floor Council Lobby & Room 201-A
WHO: Scott Ritter, John Mearsheimer, Stephen Kinzer, Doug Cassel
With the prospect of a U.S. military strike on Iran looming, America's third largest city will decide next week whether to take a stand on this volatile international situation.
At the Chicago City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 14 at 10:00 AM in the City Council chambers, the body will vote on a resolution introduced by Alderman Joe Moore (with the support of Chicago's No War on Iran Coalition) that would declare the city opposed to a U.S. military attack on Iran.
Hearings on the resolution will be held the day before — Tuesday, May 13 at 11:30 AM in Room 201-A of City Hall. Testifying will be:
John Mearsheimer
Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and Co-Director of the University's Program on International Security Policy
Scott Ritter
Former Chief Weapons Inspector for the United Nations Special Commission in Iraq (UNSCOM) and Intelligence Specialist with the U.S. Marine Corps
Stephen Kinzer
Professor of Political Science and Journalism at Northwestern University and Former Foreign Correspondent for the New York Times
Douglass Cassel
Director of the Center for Civil and Human Rights at Notre Dame Law School and a Weekly Commentator on Chicago Public Radio's Worldview Program
Norma Claire Moruzzi
Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of the International Studies Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
Farrah Hassen
Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
All of the experts but Professor Cassel will be on hand at a press conference one hour before the hearings, at 10:30 AM in the Council lobby, second floor, City Hall (just outside the elevators).
While a handful of American cities have passed similar resolutions, Chicago would be by far the largest to do so. "With the economy in a freefall," said Alderman Moore, the resolution's author, "another unnecessary military adventure would sap even more of the resources critically needed to improve the quality of life in Chicago's neighborhoods."
"No one harbors any illusions that the resolution will stop a U.S. attack on Iran," said Michael Lynn of Chicago's No War on Iran Coalition. The measure is rather "a vehicle to raise the profile of the issue — right in the country's heartland — and demonstrate broad opposition to a wider war."
The goal, said Lynn, is "to influence policy by showing there would be serious political consequences to any attack." The resolution's passage, he said, "could inspire people in other cities to press their local governments to pass similar measures."
WHEN: Tuesday May 13 — Press Conference 10:30 AM, Hearings 11:30 AM
WHERE: City Hall — Second Floor Council Lobby & Room 201-A
WHO: Scott Ritter, John Mearsheimer, Stephen Kinzer, Doug Cassel
With the prospect of a U.S. military strike on Iran looming, America's third largest city will decide next week whether to take a stand on this volatile international situation.
Hearings on the resolution will be held the day before — Tuesday, May 13 at 11:30 AM in Room 201-A of City Hall. Testifying will be:
John Mearsheimer
Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and Co-Director of the University's Program on International Security Policy
Scott Ritter
Former Chief Weapons Inspector for the United Nations Special Commission in Iraq (UNSCOM) and Intelligence Specialist with the U.S. Marine Corps
Stephen Kinzer
Professor of Political Science and Journalism at Northwestern University and Former Foreign Correspondent for the New York Times
Douglass Cassel
Director of the Center for Civil and Human Rights at Notre Dame Law School and a Weekly Commentator on Chicago Public Radio's Worldview Program
Norma Claire Moruzzi
Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of the International Studies Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
Farrah Hassen
Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
All of the experts but Professor Cassel will be on hand at a press conference one hour before the hearings, at 10:30 AM in the Council lobby, second floor, City Hall (just outside the elevators).
While a handful of American cities have passed similar resolutions, Chicago would be by far the largest to do so. "With the economy in a freefall," said Alderman Moore, the resolution's author, "another unnecessary military adventure would sap even more of the resources critically needed to improve the quality of life in Chicago's neighborhoods."
"No one harbors any illusions that the resolution will stop a U.S. attack on Iran," said Michael Lynn of Chicago's No War on Iran Coalition. The measure is rather "a vehicle to raise the profile of the issue — right in the country's heartland — and demonstrate broad opposition to a wider war."
The goal, said Lynn, is "to influence policy by showing there would be serious political consequences to any attack." The resolution's passage, he said, "could inspire people in other cities to press their local governments to pass similar measures."
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