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Events

Veterans Forum Addressing National Security and Veterans' Issues

Wednesday, September 1, 2004
1:00PM

the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 42 West 44th Street, Manhattan
New York, New York

PRESS ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

For more information:
Stewart Nusbaumer                  Acie Byrd                      
Press Contact                           Forum Coordinator                                  
Office: 212-866-1114              Office: 202-966-9853

Cell: 917-656-3208                 Cell: 202-320-1926

SNusbaumer@aol.com             aciebyrd@comcast.net                                          


Veterans Forum during Republican Convention

Addressing the Bush Administration’s Record

On National Security and Veterans’ Issues

 

The Veterans Institute for Security and Democracy, a national veterans’ public policy and issues advocacy organization, will host a public veterans’ forum on Wednesday, September 1, from 1-4 PM, at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 42 West 44th Street, Manhattan.

 

The forum’s National Security Panel discussion topic will be: Making America Safer. Panel members, consisting of retired military leaders and national security experts, will include retired General Claudia Kennedy, former Pentagon Chief of Intelligence; Brig. General Ann Wright, US Army, Retired; David Ensum and Kempton Jenkins, foreign policy experts; and Paul Rieckhoff, a former Army officer in Iraq. Among the topics to be discussed will be: Is the United States doing enough to protect its citizens from the threat of terrorism? Is the Bush Administration’s foreign policy eroding U.S. national security? Will the continuation of current Bush Administration foreign and military policies over-extend U.S. military forces?  

 

Featured speakers on the veterans’ issues panel, titled Keeping Our Commitment to America’s Veterans, will include David Gorman, Executive Director of the Disabled American Veterans; Larry Rivers, former National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; Mack Fleming, former Staff Director, House Veterans Affairs Committee; and Steve Robinson of the National Gulf War Resource Center. Panelists will focus on the failures of the Bush Administration in meeting the needs of veterans, particularly in the area of health care and in preparing for those now returning from the Iraq War.

 

In addition to addressing the forum, panelists will be available for media interviews as counterpoint to Republican pronouncements on foreign policy, national security, and veteran’s issues.

 

The Veterans Institute for Security and Democracy, based in Washington, D.C., was formed to strengthen the security and enhance the democracy of the United States of America. The Institute’s mission is to provide a forum for veterans to express their perspectives on critical foreign policy, national security, domestic, and veterans’ issues.

 

There are 26.4 million U.S. veterans, nearly 13 percent of the voting age population. When the veterans’ household members are included, they make up a whopping 30 percent of the national electorate. In the last several presidential elections, the veterans’ vote has favored the Republican Party’s candidate for president. For the first time in many years, in this election the veterans’ vote is “in play.” Veterans are not only a large voting sector; they possess widespread credibility and possess the potential to significantly influence crucial swing voters in critical battleground states. 

Both political parties are acutely aware of the significance of the veterans’ vote to this year’s election. Consequently, the Republican Convention is likely to feature veterans as patriotic backdrop to a four-day “infomercial” portraying President Bush as the candidate most qualified to lead our country as Commander in Chief for another four years. The Veterans Institute for Security and Democracy is concerned that issues that are important to America's veterans, ranging from V.A. health care to the Iraq War and national security, will be glossed over at the upcoming convention. At this forum, however, these issues will be thoroughly explored. 

 

The Veterans Institute Advisory Board:

Gen. Robert Gard, USA (Retired), Advisory Board Chairman, Former President National Defense University
Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, USMC (Retired), Former Commander Central Command
Gen. Merrill McPeak, USAF (Retired), Former Chief of Staff, US Air Force
Gen. E. Randolph Jayne Ii, Major General, USAFR (Retired)

Gen. Anthony A. Verrengia, USAF (Retired)

Col. David McGinnis, USAR (Retired)
Larry Rivers, Former National Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Cecil Roberts, President, United Mine Workers
Bobby L. Harnage, Sr., Immediate Past President, American Federation of Government Employees
Arianna Huffington, Journalist/Commentator
Andrew Jampoler, Captain, USN (Retired)
Dr Elizabeth Turpen, The Stimson Center
Fred Allingham, Consultant
Brenda D. Reed, WAC & USA

1725 Eye Street NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20006   202-349-3914

http://www.veteransinstitute.org/