Where the World Comes to Windham County: What’s Next?
Friday, November 30, 2018 @ 7:30
“The US versus Iran: Will a proxy fight in Syria, Iraq and Yemen lead to War? “
Ambassador Peter W. Galbraith
The Centre Congregational Church (Sanctuary)
193 Main St. Brattleboro.
The Trump Administration has cited Iran’s malign activities in the region as one reason for withdrawing from the Iran Nuclear Agreement (formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA). Yet, the administration continues to support Iran’s allies in Iraq and is clearing the way diplomatically and militarily for Assad, Iran’s long time ally in Syria, to prevail in that country’s civil war. In Yemen, Trump has put the US firmly on the side of Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, who are the force in Yemen most opposed to al-Qaeda. Meanwhile, the unilateral US abrogation of its obligations under the JCPOA has angered America’s allies while driving Iran closer economically to Russia, China and India, all of which refuse to cooperate with renewed US sanctions. Within Iran, US sanctions have undermined Iran’s moderates who negotiated the JCPOA and strengthened the hardliners.
Can the Trump Administration accomplish its goals in Iran? Is there a risk of war, either because some in the Trump Administration want war with Iran or as the unintended consequence of muddled policy, broken agreements, harsh rhetoric and diplomatic isolation?
Ambassador Peter W Galbraith has worked on Near East issues for nearly 40 years in government and as a mediator. In 2015, he led the first Harvard University trip to Iran since the 1979 revolution. He is currently working on a mediation project related to Syria and has made 12 trips into the country in the last three years. Peter Galbraith served as the first US Ambassador to Croatia from 1993 to 1998 and was the negotiator of the 1995 Erdut Agreement that ended the Croatia War. A long time resident of Townshend, he began his career teaching at Windham College, the School for International Training and Keene State College. From 2011 to 2015, he represented Windham County in the Vermont Senate.
Also on Nov. 30
Annual Christmas Craft Show, 5-7 pm in Centre Church Parlor
Boutique with Quality Handcrafted Items. Soup and cookies for sale
