Talk to cover security issues in South Asia

Talk to cover security issues in South Asia

by By Patricia Asaad
Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX)
09/08/2004

Special to the Star-Telegram

As part of a "Hope Not Hate" lecture series, an expert will talk about South Asia and nuclear risk reduction tonight at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Michael Krepon will speak on U.S. security policies and nuclear issues affecting Kashmir, Pakistan and India. Krepon founded the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., an organization that says it is committed to promoting peace and security around the world. Americans for an Informed Democracy, a nonprofit student organization, is hosting the lecture.

Tonight's forum is the first in a series of events planned this year and will include a question-and-answer session.

The nonprofit organization began in 2002 when some American students living in Great Britain formed the group to promote a greater understanding among people from all around the world. The three founding members held their first meeting with 25 other students at Oxford University.

Seth Green, co-founder and executive director, estimated that the nonpartisan organization has at least 2,500 members.

Green, 24, a law student at Yale, said the organization was formed because of the change in attitude toward Americans he saw while he was living in London.

After 9-11, Green said he saw compassion toward the United States. But when the war in Afghanistan began, Green said that sentiment gave way to a surge in animosity.

"They look at us as bullies, and we caricature Europeans as appeasers or wimps," Green said. "We wanted to create conversation where people can reclaim common ground; we agree on more than we realize."

Umer Raffat, 20, a UT-Arlington junior, said he was interested in the organization's mission statement and that he attended an informational retreat in Vermont during the summer. When Raffat returned, he founded and became president of the Arlington chapter, which has 20 members.

IN THE KNOW

Hope Not Hate

• Lecture United States Security Policy in South Asia

• 7:30 to 9 p.m.

• University of Texas at Arlington, University Center, Rio Grande Room

• 300 W. First St.