The Democratic Forum of Sioux Falls, which sponsors this blog, just updated its program for today, offering a panel discussion of the conflict with Iran and how it effects South Dakota.
The Democratic Forum of Sioux Falls will present “The Conflict with Iran: Impacts on South Dakota”, taking place at the Royal Fork Buffet on January 10, and featuring Dr. Michael Saba, State Representative District 9, along with two Middle East experts from Nebula Group USA.
“The Conflict with Iran” will present an insider’s view of the process that led to the assassination of General Qasem Suleimani and the events currently evolving in the Middle East region.
Lunch is served from 11 a.m.. The program convenes at 12 p.m. with a presentation from the guests followed by a question-and-answer period.
DR. MICHAEL SABA:
Michael represents District 9 in the South Dakota State House, and has a long history of world travel. Dr. Saba is a native of North Dakota, and earned his PhD in International Relations. He was in one of the first classes of Peace Corps Volunteers and served in Africa and Malaysia which launched his international business career. He’s a published author, a teacher, a polyglot, and has worked as an executive for several well-known hospitals including St. Judes, Sanford, and Avera.
The son of a Swiss-American mother and Lebanese-American father, worked extensively in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including with slain journalist Jamal Khashoggie, and developed a life-long friendship with many prominent Saudi leaders and other prominent Middle Eastern and world figures.
At the beginning of the First Gulf War, Michael was working in Baghdad, Iraq where he was taken hostage by Saddam Husain. In a daring move, he used his Arabic speaking skills to arrange an escape from his captors by hiring a taxi and making a six hour run to the Jordanian border. He subsequently testified before Congress, and has been featured on multiple national television news programs.
RUSSELL J. HANKS
Russell is a retired Foreign Service Officer with a 30-year State Department career. He’s been stationed in many countries throughout the world, focusing on the Middle East and Africa. Taking on special assignments, Mr. Hanks served multiple times as Political Counselor in various Embassies. He spent years as the Senior State Department Advisor for U.S. European Command where he coordinated diplomatic and military efforts throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Mr. Hanks served at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq from 2010 to 2011 where he managed U.S.-Iraqi relations and international engagements, including the successful effort to get the new Iraqi government to work with the government of Kuwait for the time since the 1991 Gulf War.
He is a graduate of the National Defense University in Washington, DC and speaks Portuguese and Arabic. Mr. Hanks earned the Department of State award for Valor for the rescue of an American who had been taken hostage in Chad. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
BAJUN MAVALWALLA
Bajun is a retired military intelligence officer who served 4 years in the US Army as an electronic warfare/voice intercept operator, and then 22 years in the California Army National Guard. He graduated from the Defense Language Institute on the Presidio of Monterey, and after 17 years as an enlisted soldier, was awarded a direct commission.
He has worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency as an analyst, on cyber warfare for STRATCOM, and led a SOT-A team with 19th Special Forces Group in Afghanistan in 2002-2003. He spent two years in Iraq from 2009-2011, first with the 49th Military Police Brigade, and then as the United States Forces-Iraq Liaison Officer to the Political Section of the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
He has expertise in asymmetrical warfare, counterinsurgency, policing, and the transition from military to civil authority.
Among his awards are three Bronze Stars, a Joint Services Commendation Medal, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (in gold), and a Master Recruiter Badge.
He is the owner of Nebula Group USA which is a Defense, Training, and Security company headquartered in Sioux Falls [Democratic Forum of Sioux Falls, press release, 2020.01.09].
The panel discussion starts at noon and is open to the public. The originally scheduled speaker, Aaron Matson, will come to Forum February 7 to talk about the U.S. Census.
Wow! What a sterling lineup! Will we get a report from attendees?
I attended – Nice crowd – Excellent!
My gut says Putin/Syria/Trump are behind the “accidental” shoot down of Ukraine Air leaving Iran.
Putin/Trump/Assad are monsters doing whatever they can to hide their devious attack and manipulation putting their feet on the throats of Ukraine and Western democracies.
https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-air-flight-655-us-navy-shot-down-1988-photos-2020-1