An Evening with a Whistleblower, Former CIA Analyst
Mel Goodman
Tuesday, May 8th
7:00 PM at Garden Street United Methodist Church, Room B, 1326 N. Garden St, Bellingham
Bellingham's Veterans For Peace Chapter 111 is once again hosting author and CIA dissident Melvin A. Goodman at Garden Street Methodist's basement Fireside Room on Tuesday, May 8 at 7:00 PM. Currently the Director of the National Security Project at the Center for International Policy in Washington, DC and adjunct professor of government at Johns Hopkins University.
Mel Goodman’s talk will focus on his career as a respected intelligence analyst specializing in US/Soviet relations, which ended abruptly in 1990. After twenty-four years of service, Goodman resigned when he could no longer tolerate the corruption he witnessed at the highest levels of the Agency. In 1991 he went public, blowing the whistle on top-level officials and leading the opposition against the appointment of Robert Gates as CIA director. In widely covered Senate hearings, Goodman charged that Gates and others had subverted “the process and the ethics of intelligence” by deliberately misinforming the White House about major world events and covert operations.
Don't be surprised also if Mel provides us with a report card of Trump's first 18 months in office. It's shaping up to be an interesting discussion.
Mel has authored, co-authored, and edited eight books, including his recent Whistleblower at the CIA: An Insider's Account of the Politics of Intelligence. In this breathtaking expose, Goodman retraces his career with the Central Intelligence Agency, presenting a rare insider’s account of the inner workings of America’s intelligence community, and the corruption, intimidation, and misinformation that lead to disastrous foreign interventions. Whistleblower is described by Daniel Ellsberg as “an invaluable historical exposé, a testimony to integrity and conscience, and a call for the U.S. intelligence community to keep its top leaders in check.”
The 24-year veteran with the CIA and the Department of State, Goodman also taught international relations at the National War College for 18 years. His articles and op-eds have appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Harper's, Foreign Policy, Foreign Service Journal, Baltimore Sun, and the Washington Post.
Prior to this event the chapter has reserved the Brandywine Kitchen mezzanine, 1317 Commercial St, from 4:00 - 5:45 PM for dinner. Please join us.
MARCH ON BELLINGHAM
Saturday, January 20, 2018
10 am City Hall
Saturday, January 20, 2018
10 am City Hall
A day shy of 2017's Womxn's March on Bellingham
organizers and hundreds of supporters are expected to gather again on the streets of Bellingham.
'This is a march for solidarity with each other, to raise a voice against the fear and hatred this new administration was ushering in. This march will usher in a weekend of change and hope, highlighting every attempt we are making, at change, awareness and solidarity! It all matters! Let’s share this weekend with a spirit of hope and love!'
Full Disclosure Campaign Update - September 6
To: VFP Chapters and Active At-Large Members
Re: Burns/Novick PBS Series on Vietnam
If you were at VFP's Chicago convention or heard from someone who was, you know that the "Full Disclosure" workshop generated lots of ideas for VFP to have its voice heard in the national discussion that will follow the airing of PBS' "Vietnam" series beginning Sept. 17.
We can't stress how important that will be. As one person said in Chicago, "The PBS series will put a national spotlight on Vietnam and the 50th anniversary events. It'll be our last time to effectively set the record straight. After a 50th anniversary, it'll be all ancient history...we'll be just walking with the dinosaurs after that."
So let's seize the moment, friends and comrades! Time is short, but there are ample opportunities if we don't delay.
RESOURCES
VFP members have been hard at work preparing some really solid material for you to use locally. There's more coming. And we invite you to plug in and add your ideas.
1) The VFP "Full Disclosure" website. One feature not to miss is the timeline/chronology. Another is the most comprehensive critique of the Burns/Novick documentary we've seen so far, written by Thomas A. Bass in the Mekong Review, titled "America's Amnesia."
2) Then there's "Full Disclosure," the newspaper, It's essential. Initially 28 pages, expanded to 32 pages to include another review by Camillo Mac Bica. If you haven't ordered a bundle yet, do so here today. You will need them.
3) PBS affiliates and many libraries have scheduled or soon will schedule various kinds of local programs. If there's not a viewing party or discussion already scheduled where you live, organize one! The PBS p.r. team has encouraged VFP to participate and to let them know if there's any problem doing so. We have a perspective that is terribly important for the public to hear. Millions will be listening. The material is there to help you do it. All that's needed is your participation.
WHAT'S IN THE SERIES?
Bass' review appears to be based on him seeing the whole series, but no one we've talked with has, so it's unclear exactly what will be presented. But we do know this much:
1) PBS has published a thumbnail description of each of the 10 episodes and we've prepared some talking points based on those (see attached file) and
2) As these things go, it's unlikely that American Exceptionalism, American Empire or America's Addiction to War will be highlighted, thus the importance of VFP members taking a leading role in the local discussions.
WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP?
Reach for your phone. Call your local PBS affiliate and your library. Ask them if they have a presentation of some sort planned in conjunction with the documentary. If yes, tell them you want to be part of it. If no, ask them if they'd like to be part of one.
PLEASE NOTE:
Also, sign up to be on the "Full Disclosure" email list if you want to communicate with VFP activists around the country who are working on this.
To join the Vietnam Full Disclosure "google group" you must have a Google login. Once logged onto Google, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/vnfd and submit a request to join the group. Alternatively, send a request to group manager Becky Luening at becky.pdx@gmail.com and she will directly add you to the group. After being subscribed, anyone can post to the group via the email address vnfd@googlegroups.com
Get involved in this rare opportunity to get America talking about what really went down in Viet Nam!
To: VFP Chapters and Active At-Large Members
Re: Burns/Novick PBS Series on Vietnam
If you were at VFP's Chicago convention or heard from someone who was, you know that the "Full Disclosure" workshop generated lots of ideas for VFP to have its voice heard in the national discussion that will follow the airing of PBS' "Vietnam" series beginning Sept. 17.
We can't stress how important that will be. As one person said in Chicago, "The PBS series will put a national spotlight on Vietnam and the 50th anniversary events. It'll be our last time to effectively set the record straight. After a 50th anniversary, it'll be all ancient history...we'll be just walking with the dinosaurs after that."
So let's seize the moment, friends and comrades! Time is short, but there are ample opportunities if we don't delay.
RESOURCES
VFP members have been hard at work preparing some really solid material for you to use locally. There's more coming. And we invite you to plug in and add your ideas.
1) The VFP "Full Disclosure" website. One feature not to miss is the timeline/chronology. Another is the most comprehensive critique of the Burns/Novick documentary we've seen so far, written by Thomas A. Bass in the Mekong Review, titled "America's Amnesia."
2) Then there's "Full Disclosure," the newspaper, It's essential. Initially 28 pages, expanded to 32 pages to include another review by Camillo Mac Bica. If you haven't ordered a bundle yet, do so here today. You will need them.
3) PBS affiliates and many libraries have scheduled or soon will schedule various kinds of local programs. If there's not a viewing party or discussion already scheduled where you live, organize one! The PBS p.r. team has encouraged VFP to participate and to let them know if there's any problem doing so. We have a perspective that is terribly important for the public to hear. Millions will be listening. The material is there to help you do it. All that's needed is your participation.
WHAT'S IN THE SERIES?
Bass' review appears to be based on him seeing the whole series, but no one we've talked with has, so it's unclear exactly what will be presented. But we do know this much:
1) PBS has published a thumbnail description of each of the 10 episodes and we've prepared some talking points based on those (see attached file) and
2) As these things go, it's unlikely that American Exceptionalism, American Empire or America's Addiction to War will be highlighted, thus the importance of VFP members taking a leading role in the local discussions.
WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP?
Reach for your phone. Call your local PBS affiliate and your library. Ask them if they have a presentation of some sort planned in conjunction with the documentary. If yes, tell them you want to be part of it. If no, ask them if they'd like to be part of one.
PLEASE NOTE:
- If the local programmers are NOT welcoming, explain to them that local panels are supposed to be diverse and open. PBS has funded 76 stations with grants to produce local content and PBS officials are expecting local affiliate panels to be welcoming to VFP members.
- Consult the list of PBS affiliates to see what sorts of things are planned around the country (see attached file).
- Nate Goldshlag and Gene Marx are working with chapter contacts and other members to urge their involvement.
- If you are experiencing push-back locally, contact Nate or Gene. They will try to resolve it. If unsuccessful, they'll contact the PBS staff who will take it from there.
- If none of the above works and you're still frozen out, don't be shy about a) talking to the press about it and b) organizing a VFP-sponsored talk/event or even a picket line of the affiliate's office.
Also, sign up to be on the "Full Disclosure" email list if you want to communicate with VFP activists around the country who are working on this.
To join the Vietnam Full Disclosure "google group" you must have a Google login. Once logged onto Google, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/vnfd and submit a request to join the group. Alternatively, send a request to group manager Becky Luening at becky.pdx@gmail.com and she will directly add you to the group. After being subscribed, anyone can post to the group via the email address vnfd@googlegroups.com
Get involved in this rare opportunity to get America talking about what really went down in Viet Nam!
VFP-111 to Hold July Mini-Retreat
Mark your calendars. A chapter gathering, for planning, socializing, and our shared journey into the future will take place on Sunday, July 16, at 2:00 PM. All VFP members, family, and friends are invited.
Where: At Alice’s house, 8181 Birch Terrace Place
About a mile from I-5 exit 270 (Birch Bay Lynden Rd.) This neighborhood is west and north of the exit.
Phone 360-312-8234 for additional information.
Mark your calendars. A chapter gathering, for planning, socializing, and our shared journey into the future will take place on Sunday, July 16, at 2:00 PM. All VFP members, family, and friends are invited.
Where: At Alice’s house, 8181 Birch Terrace Place
About a mile from I-5 exit 270 (Birch Bay Lynden Rd.) This neighborhood is west and north of the exit.
Phone 360-312-8234 for additional information.
