Speakers

The United States started a war by bombing Iran and assassinating its leadership. Is this war necessary? What is the cost in human life, financial assets, war material, and our deterrence of threats elsewhere in the world while we attack Iran? 

Dr. Michael Baker will explore what he says are the real reasons for starting this war, who wins, who loses, and who profits the most; he will "follow the money" with film clips and analysis to explain why we are really in Iran and who benefits.

About the Speaker

Dr. Michael Baker is a retired surgeon who served 30 years in uniform and retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of rear admiral, having earned numerous awards, including a Combat Action Ribbon and 3 Legion of Merit Awards. He has been a staff planner for Naval Forces Central Command (CENTCOM) covering the Mideast; was deployed with the U.S. Marine Corps to combat duty in Desert Storm; and has had numerous assignments in CENTCOM, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt. He currently teaches history, political science, and military affairs for the Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI) Programs at UC Berkeley, Dominican University, Cal State University East Bay, Cal State University Channel Islands.

Last May, a representative for the Spaulding Marine Center, which is a 501(c)3 entity and had provided a Rotary Vocational Scholarship.
Their longtime mission has been to preserve the Spaulding Boatworks as a working and living museum, to educate the next generation of shipwrights and marine service technicians, to restore and return to active use historically significant vessels such as their flagship schooner the Freda B, and to share with the community the maritime history and culture through classes and public programming.