Iowans for Diplomacy with Iran
by Jeffrey J. WeissIowans for Diplomacy with Iran encourages policy makers and the public to work for diplomacy and goodwill between the government and peoples of the United States and Iran. The organization, formed in the summer of 2008 and formerly known as 'Iowans to Prevent the Bombing of Iran,' organizes visits to congressional offices and public forums.
The group is chaired by Jeffrey J. Weiss, director of the Catholic Peace Ministry, and has among its members representatives from the Iowa Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility and other members of the public.
Drake University professor and author Ismael Hossein-Zadeh, a native of Iran, is also a member of the group. He recently spent considerable time in Iran with his wife, Karla Hansen. Karla produced a documentary after their visit, called Silent Screams, detailing the toll taken on civilians by U.S. bombing in Central Asia. Silent Screams
features scenes from the couple's visit to Iran, including a rural
Kurdish wedding. Karla Hansen is available to show her film and lead
discussions on the need to make peace with Iran. Click here to contact Hansen via e-mail. Civilian casualties were also the feature of an August 14th, 2009 episode of 60 Minutes by Lara Logan focusing on 'Pilotless Drones,' a new weapon of the air force that raises a number of questions. In our lexicon, it should be noted that the term bombing has been replaced by the antiseptic “air strikes.”
Recently some members of the U.S. Senate have called for harsher sanctions on Iran and used reckless rhetoric. We ask all Iowans to meet with their representatives and contact Senator Tom Harkin at 515-284-4574 and Senator Charles Grassley at 515-284-4890 and ask them to refrain from further sanctions and animosity towards Iran.
It is now time for reinvigorated diplomacy and sending a special envoy to Iran for direct negotiations.
Iowans for Diplomacy with Iran supports the call of President Obama and former President Ronald Reagan to build a world without nuclear weapons. In
addition we call upon all lawmakers to push President Barack Obama to
advance the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, banning all nuclear weapons
testing around the globe. We are also currently working on a Spring event to bring Iranian native and new director of the United Nations Association to Des Moines to provide a lecture on Persia and its peoples! Stay tuned!
~Jeffrey J. Weiss is Director of the Catholic Peace Ministry of Des Moines, Iowa and Chair of Iowans for Diplomacy with Iran. He holds a masters degree in political science from Iowa State University and has conducted workshops titled, “What is Terrorism?” “Understanding US Media,” “Afghanistan 101” and “Iraq, Before and After 2003.” Contact Jeffrey J. Weiss by e-mail, phone (515) 255-8114 or snail mail at Catholic Peace Ministry, 42nd and Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50312.
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