With U.S. President George W. Bush just months away from leaving office, the war in Iraq seemingly a lost cause, and the possibility of a showdown with Iran looming, critics of both the U.S. administration are coming out of the woodwork. Yet few have been as vocal as former U.N. weapons inspector and U.S. Marine, Scott Ritter, who has vehemently opposed the war and U.S. policy from the get go, and even fewer can match his resume.

An intelligence specialist with a 12-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, Ritter joined the United Nations weapons inspections team (UNSCOM) in 1991 and conducted 34 inspection missions, 14 as chief inspector, in Iraq searching for weapons of mass destruction. He resigned from UNSCOM in 1998, frustrated with the U.S. and U.N.’s inability to enforce its own resolutions.

During his stop in Calgary, Ritter will address the current “surge” in Iraq, highlighting why it is failing, and why the failure increases the potential for a future conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

Ritter contributes regularly to the Nation and Truthdig, and has written a number of books, most recently Target Iran: The Truth About the White House’s Plans for Regime Change.

He will be speaking at the Knox United Church, 6th Ave. and 4th St. S.W., on June 4, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission charge, but donations will be accepted. (TH)