At Planthouse Gallery - 55 West 28th Street, NY, NY

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The plight of Iraqi and Afghan interpreters left behind by the United States remains one of the most significant human rights issues of the Global War on Terrorism, America’s longest, and ongoing, military conflict.  Join us for a book talk with Col. Steve Miska (Ret.) as he discusses his recent book “Baghdad Underground Railroad” and his efforts to assist Iraqi interpreters during the worst years of that conflict. In light of recent events, the author will also discuss the Afghan evacuation and engage with the audience in a conversation about Afghanistan policy. He will be joined by Community Advocate Fatima Rahmati and the Barakzai Tribe’s leader and LEARN founder, Pashtana Durrani in a conversation moderated by Immigrant ARC's Executive Director, Camille Mackler. All speakers have been actively engaged in efforts to evacuate vulnerable Afghan allies since the withdrawal announcement last April.

About the book: In 2007, Iraq was in the midst of violent sectarian cleansing. Col. Steve Miska led a team within the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (known as Dagger Brigade) that established an underground railroad from Baghdad to Amman to the U.S. for dozens of Iraqi interpreters facing near-certain death at the hands of the “death squads” that hunted down and slaughtered interpreters and their families. The mostly young men and women who embraced American idealism risked their lives to support U.S. service members in countries where understanding the language, the people, and the contours of the culture are often a matter of life and death. Yet, according to recent estimates, more than 100,000 interpreters and at-risk family members remain in Iraq and 70,000 remain in Afghanistan, each in grave danger. 
Books will be available for purchase and signature at the event.

*Please ensure you walk with your COVID-19 Vaccine Card as we will be checking them at the door.*