online – Iraq 20 Years Later

A Conversation with Jamal Al-Tahir, an Iraqi Living in Moscow

On the 20th anniversary of the start of the US war against Iraq on March 19, 2003, MAPA is privileged to present a talk with Jamal Al-Tahir, a retired Iraqi engineer who is now lives in Moscow with his Russian wife.

MAPA Board Member Jeff Klein will welcome Jamal on behalf of MAPA and act as his host and interlocutor during the webinar.

Jamal will discuss US-Iraq relations, including First Gulf War of 1990-91, the effects of US sanctions in the 1990s and the US invasion in 2003 (when Jamal was already living in Moscow).

Jamal al-Tahir’s life story is remarkable. In his own words:

-My childhood was colorful and unusual, I accompanied my parents when my father Dr. Abdul Jalil Al-Tahir was sent to study in France and after to the USA, where he received his Masters degree and Ph.D in Sociology from the University of Chicago. After 2-3 years I returned to Iraq and had to learn Arabic again, because English was the only language I knew.

-Graduated from high school in 1958 and was sent to the USSR to study in Moscow Power Institute (now technological research university)

-Upon graduation returned to Iraq and started working in Iraq National Oil Company in 1968, specifically in Geophysics. mainly in the field, in a seismic exploration crew as a party chief. (During the 1980s Jamal visited the US several times in his professional capacity).

-Retired in 1996 and left Iraq for Russia

-Married, have two sons, one granddaughter and three grandsons

-Belong to a certain slice of Iraqi intellectuals (this includes my whole extended family) that are left leaning and whose life and destiny is in one way or another tied to the Iraqi Communist Party.

Register to attend.

Photo: Anti-Iraq-sanctions and anti-Iraq-invasion marchers. 2002 or 2003, Washington, DC. Photo: DM2011/Wikimedia