Dr. Elizabeth ManakCIR News:
Join CIR for Afghan Naan Chaasht: Updates from Afghanistan, a unique luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 8 at Christ Lutheran Church, 1701 Arroyo Chamiso in Santa Fe.
Six Afghans (here as part of the CIR International Visitor Program), together with two experts on US-Afghan relations will provide a fascinating discussion exploring the many sides of modern Afghanistan.
Lunch will be catered by Beyond the Plate, with Afghan women refugees preparing a series of delectable dishes.
What is the impact of President Trump’s desire to withdraw completely from Afghanistan? How does direct U.S. negotiation with the Taliban affect the Afghan government? After so many years of war, where does Afghanistan go from here?
Todd Greentree
Drawing on the expertise of the visitors, what is the general status of women’s rights in Afghanistan? How does domestic violence reflect broader currents in the country? And how has Afghanistan’s rule of law — with an eye to, for instance, gender-based violence — changed under conditions of war?
Joining us will be six Afghans, here through our partnership with the U.S. Department of State and its International Visitor Leadership Program. While we cannot publish their names, they come as representatives of:
- Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) – with two representatives;
- Attorney General’s Office;
- Ministry of Interior;
- Women for Afghan Women; and
- Asghari Legal Office.
Lunch will be served around 11:45 a.m. and at 12:15 p.m. the program begins with the two speakers. After responding to points raised in the initial discussion, there will be an opportunity to ask questions of the visitors.
Lunch will be catered by Beyond the Plate, a culinary and vocational training program for refugees. Beyond the plate is designed to prepare refugees for a career in food service. The program allows aspiring refugee chefs to share their expertise through a series of cooking classes, catering events, and food markets in which they teach or participate in throughout the Albuquerque community.In addition to the six visitors, our two speakers for the luncheon are:
Dr. Elizabeth Manak was a career Intelligence Officer in the CIA. A South Asia and nonproliferation specialist, she worked in a variety of positions both in the US and abroad most recently as the Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia in the National Intelligence Council. She also served as the Chief for Community Collection Strategies for Weapons Intelligence and Nonproliferation and Executive Officer for the Nonproliferation Center. As Deputy Director in the Department of Energy’s Office of Intelligence, she managed intelligence analysts and provided direction and oversight to the intelligence components at the National Laboratories. Dr. Manak has a Ph.D. in South Asia History and Agricultural Economics and a Master’s in African History.
Todd Greentree is a former Foreign Service Officer who served in El Salvador from 1981-82, a time when violence from local “death squads” was at its peak. He also served in Afghanistan from 2008-2012, the height of what was then termed the Global War on Terror. Greentree has lived as a diplomat in conflict zones; his work has included encounters with Oliver North in Central America and close collaboration with the U.S. military’s “Stryker Brigade” in Afghanistan. He is a frequent writer for War on the Rocks.
Cost of admission is $40 for one or $75 for two (includes lunch). Discounts available for students and teachers. Preregistration required by Friday, April 5. Go to the Council’s website at www.sfcir.org or telephone the office at 505.982.4931.
