WFU experts available for comment on potential war with Iraq

Jonathan Marks, visiting scholar in the Wake Forest School of Law
Marks, a practicing barrister in London’s Matrix Chambers, is an international law expert who teaches a class this spring in the university’s political science department on lawful responses to terrorism. He is available to discuss the question of going to war with Iraq, and the role of the United Nations in the ongoing conflict.

Charles “Hank” Kennedy, professor of political science
Kennedy, an expert on Pakistan and South Asia, is available to discuss the impact that a U.S. war with Iraq would have on that region. The author or editor of 14 books dealing with South Asia, Kennedy is recognized internationally as a leading authority on Pakistan. He served as the director of the American Institute of Pakistan Studies from 1988-2001, and he has undertaken significant field research in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.

Russell Lucas, visiting assistant professor of political science
Lucas has spent a significant amount of time in Israel and Jordan studying the politics of those countries. He is available to comment about the impact that war would have on the Middle East.

Peter Furia, assistant professor of political science
Furia is an expert on U.S. foreign policy. He has studied the options available to the U.S. and the international community in the aftermath of a war with Iraq. He leads a class at Wake Forest that requires students to develop U.S. foreign policy and come to consensus on ways to deal with issues like Iraq, North Korea and terrorism, among others.

Allan Louden, associate professor of communication
An expert on political rhetoric, Louden can comment on presidential communication during wartime. Louden is director of the university’s nationally-ranked debate program and served as Elizabeth Dole’s personal debate coach during the 2002 North Carolina senate race.

Ananda Mitra, associate professor of communication
Mitra can provide expert commentary on media’s response to the war, including national and international coverage. He can also discuss how technology has changed the way Americans stay informed.

Sheri Bridges, associate professor of business
An expert on advertising and branding, Bridges can comment on how advertisers will respond during wartime.

Robert Whaples, associate professor of economics
Whaples can comment on the history of the U.S. economy during wartime and general economic indicators during a time of war. He is currently developing a seminar course on war and the economy.

Jac Heckleman, associate professor of economics
Heckleman can comment on the timing of military action to the election cycle. He is an expert on politics and the economy and has published papers on political business cycles.

Charles Kimball, professor and chair of religion
Kimball, an internationally known expert on Islam and the intersection of religion and politics, is available to talk about the religious issues raised by a U.S. war in the Middle East. Kimball is the author of the award-winning 2002 book “When Religion Becomes Evil.”

Bill Leonard, professor and dean of the Wake Forest Divinity School
Leonard, an expert on church history, is available to discuss the ways that religious congregations tackle the question of war. He is the author or editor of more than 14 books and is writing a new history of the Baptists for Judson Press. Leonard has been a frequent commentator for both print and broadcast media on issues dealing with conflict between moderate and fundamentalist Christians.

Sarah Watts, professor of history
Watts is available to comment on parallels between Theodore Roosevelt (George W. Bush’s favorite president) and President Bush. She is the author of the book “Rough Rider in the White House: Theodore Roosevelt and the Politics of Desire,” scheduled to be published by University of Chicago Press in July.

Simone Caron, associate professor of history
Caron can comment on the history of protest movements. She teaches a course on U.S. Social History since 1865.