Bert Sac delivered an educational presentation on Iraq in the Anheuser-Busch Auditorium at Saint Louis University on Nov. 13.
Sac has traveled to Iraq nine times, most recently with Congressman Jim McDermott and Representatives David Bonior and Mike Thompson. He traveled to Iraq to help facilitate the work of the delegations sponsored by Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility in 1999 and 2002.
Although he has worked professionally as an electronics engineer and a software programmer, Sac has been actively educating people on sanctions and the crisis in Iraq since 1995. He has organized protests, arranged for visiting speakers and worked to educate for fairer media coverage of this crisis.
He began his presentation with a brief history and a look at the geography of the Middle East.
“What is happening here is not about weapons of mass destruction,” Sac said. “But about a regime change.”
Sac explained the extent of the famine and epidemic in Iraq and the role the United States has played in forming and maintaining these conditions through sanctions.
Sac said it is important to examine the mass media. He believes that the printed statistics are not always clear or that facts are missing.
“Look at the bare facts that are public record and think about it a bit,” Sac asked the audience. “I think you’ll come to the same conclusion. This is a terrible thing.”
Sac discussed former administrations and the U.S. relationship with Iraq over the past few decades. He believes that the U.S. has demonized Saddam Hussein and argues that Americans should take a closer look at the support our country’s administration gave Saddam prior to the Gulf War.
“If we want to work for nonviolence and peaceful solutions, we can not demonize,” Sac said. “Look at the facts without the hatred.”
Sac gave advice to those who want to be more involved–pick one issue, educate yourself and enjoy doing it.
Following the presentation, Sac showed a brief video clip depicting life in Iraq. The footage stressed the lack of clean water and electricity in Iraqi cities. According to the video, 15,000 gallons of sewage is pumped into the river every hour, in one city.
Sac opened the floor to questions from the audience. He addressed the need for evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in his responses.
