Battling the Hydra: The Al Anbar Insurgency from the Perspective of a U.S. Marine
Colonel G. H. Bristol
Mon Jan 30, 10am-02:00pm, E38-714
Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 20 participants.
Single session event
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM is one of the most complex operations faced by US Armed Forces. The Al Anbar Province is the most volatile area in Iraq. Facing Sunni disenfranchisement, a kaleidoscopic insurgency, and triple border incursions and tension, the Marine Corps battles a "three block war" daily.
The class details the 2004-2005 year in a combat zone of the 1st Marine Division. Topics include organization for combat, intelligence architecture and collection, tactical success and failure, insurgency analysis, effects-based targeting, and combined operations with Iraqi Security Forces.
Col. George H. Bristol, USMC is Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellow at SSP. A 30-year Marine Corps officer, he was the G-2 for 1st Marine Division during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II.
Contact: Colonel G. H. Bristol, E38-670, x8-9440, gbristol@mit.edu
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Beginning Kyudo Instruction: First Shot
Marion Taylor, Don Seckler, Jim Katz, Peter McDade
Sat Jan 14, 01-05:00pm, MAC Court
Sun Jan 15, 09am-02:00pm, Rockwell Cage
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 06-Jan-2006
Limited to 15 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Fee: 20.00 for instruction
Kyudo, or Japanese archery, means the "way of the bow" and was considered the highest discipline of ancient Japanese samurai. Kyudo is based on standing Zen meditation used by Zen Buddhist monks as a means of cultivating self-awareness. Beginners will receive instruction in the basic form of kyudo, the Seven Coordinations or "shichi-do," at a short-range target. Advanced students will be able to shoot long-distance at 28 meters. Cosponsored by Byakko-kyudojo.
Contact: Joyce Wu, x8-7355, jowu@mit.edu
Cosponsor: MIT Japan Program
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Ikebana: The Art of Japanese Flower Arranging (CLASS IS FULL)
Hiroko Matsuyama
Tue Jan 24, 01-02:30pm, E38-714
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Limited to 15 participants.
Single session event
Fee: 10.00 for cost of materials
Hiroko Matsuyama, an accomplished instructor of the Ohara school of Ikebana, will show you the basics of this ancient art as you create your own flower arrangements.
NB THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL.
Contact: Daniela Reichert, E38-728, x8-8208, dreichert@mit.edu
Cosponsor: MIT Japan Program
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Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy
Tong Chen, Sean Gilbert
Thu Jan 26, 02-04:00pm, E38-714
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Limited to 20 participants.
Single session event
Fee: 8.00 for materials and instruction
Learn the fundamentals of Chinese Calligraphy. No knowledge of Chinese needed.
Contact: Sean Gilbert, E38-734, 253-5068, seang@mit.edu
Cosponsor: MIT China Program
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Is it the Economy, the Media or What? Electing a Mexican President in 2006
Alejandro Poiré Visiting Professor, Kennedy School of Government, MIT Professor Chappell Lawson
Wed Jan 25, 12-01:00pm, E51-095
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
In July 06, Mexico will choose a President to succeed Vicente Fox, in office since 2000. Favorable economic conditions suggest that the incumbent party’s candidate, Felipe Calderón, has a chance of victory. Yet, unemployment, inequality & poverty suggest that voters will lean to former mayor of Mexico City Andrés Manuel López Obrador & his leftist Party, the Democratic Revolution (PRD). Further, voter disillusionment with Fox’s performance, marked by legislative deadlock on structural reform may sway voters back to the former hegemonic Partido Revolucionario Institucional’s (PRI) reputation for effective governance under traditional politician Roberto Madrazo. We will discuss the meaning & likely outcome of the 2006 race, using data from a major study of voter perceptions, opinions & attitudes.
Poli Sci Dept & Clubmex cosponsors.
Contact: Amy Kirkcaldy, kirkcald@mit.edu
Cosponsor: MIT Mexico Program
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Modern Japanese Cinema Movie Mini Series
Daniela Reichert
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
This series is entitled "Urban Solitude - Beautiful Imagery" and is cosponsored by Foreign Languages and Literatures.
Contact: Daniela Reichert, E38-728, x8-8208, dreichert@mit.edu
Cosponsor: MIT Japan Program
Film: Distance
Daniela Reichert
Distance 2001, directed by Hirokazu Koreeda.
Japanese with English subtitles.
Official Web Site (Japanese only) http://www.kore-eda.com/distance/
Wed Jan 11, 06-08:00pm, 3-270
Film: Tony Takitani
Daniela Reichert
Tony Takitani
Japanese with English subtitles.
2005, directed by Jun Ichikawa.
Official Web Site (English and Japanese) http://www.tonytakitani.com/
Wed Jan 18, 06-08:00pm, 3-270
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Technology for the Silver Generation
Bernd Widdig, Sigrid Berka
Mon Jan 9 thru Sun Jan 15, 08am-10:00pm, Germany
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 28-Nov-2005
Limited to 15 participants.
Single session event
Prereq: Preference given to MIT grad students & advanced undergrads
Fee: 300.00 for travel expenses
When we think of “technology” we may associate younger people as primary users. But as advanced societies rapidly age, older generations increasingly interact with new technologies in all aspects of life. Our workshop focuses on future mobility asking: How can we envision the future of communication in the car for an aging population? How should a car's interior accordingly be designed? How should companies market products for an elder generation?
Organized by the MIT-Germany Program together with the MIT AgeLab and its director, Dr. Joe Coughlin, the workshop will take place in Berlin. Our German counterparts are from DaimlerChrysler and Siemens. Cultural excursions in Berlin as well as company site visits follow the workshop. The workshop is sponsored by DaimlerChrysler, Siemens, Lufthansa and the German Academic Exchange Service.
Contact: Sigrid Berka, sberka@mit.edu
Cosponsor: MIT Germany Program, CIS
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The Art and Science of Dogfighting 1915-1983: A "How-To" Course
Marshall Michel USAF Retired, former Air Attaché to Israel
Mon Jan 30 thru Fri Feb 3, 11am-12:30pm, Simmons Hall, Multi-Purpose Room
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Tired of being a strafe panel when using an online flight simulator game? Having trouble keeping your barrel roll attacks from turning into vertical rolling scissors? Wonder why, since air combat began, 20% of the pilots have gotten 80% of the kills? Do you just want to watch the good parts (i.e. dogfights) of classic flying films like "Wings", "Battle of Britain", and "Top Gun" and hear an explanation of what these guys are doing and why?
Instructor is a CIS Security Studies Program Fellow and a former USAF F-4 & F-15 pilot with 321 combat missions.
Contact: Marshall Michel, michelm@mit.edu
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The Future of Power
Ali Wyne
Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 20 participants.
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
What structure of power will emerge after the United States' reign as superpower concludes? This question may appear to exhibit ignorance of the current distribution of global power, for the United States' preponderance does not appear to be immediately imperiled. However, it recognizes an outcome that may well prevail in the forthcoming centuries, if not by the conclusion of the 21st. After examining the interrelated challenges to America's exercise of power in the global theater, these sessions will discuss possible answers to the above question.
Contact: Ali Wyne, awyne@mit.edu
Cosponsor: Political Science
Stephen Van Evera
This session centers on the challenges that "global issues" -- for example, the proliferation of nuclear weapons of mass destruction and the decentralization of global terrorist networks - pose to the exercise of American leadership.
Wed Jan 11, 07:30-09:00pm, 1-135
TBA
This session examines the utility and relevance of military prowess and armed force in the 21st century.
Wed Jan 18, 07:30-09:00pm, 1-135
TBA
This session documents the growing challenges that the global community pose to the United States' economic and intellectual clout.
Wed Jan 25, 07:30-09:00pm, 1-135
TBA
This final session discusses some international orders that might arise in a world in which the United States is no longer the predominant power.
Wed Feb 1, 07:30-09:00pm, 1-135
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U.S. Special Operations Forces Roles and Missions
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Conner
Tue Jan 31, 09am-04:00pm, E38-714
Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 20 participants.
Single session event
The use of U.S. Special Operations Forces has figured prominently in the response to the 9-11 attacks and in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Consequently, much has been written regarding their roles, training, and recent operations.
This class is designed to familiarize you with the actual charter of these unconventional warriors as well as to dispel some myth, rumor and innuendo.
Colonel Conner is the US Army Senior Service College Fellow at CIS's Security Studies Program. He is a Special Forces Officer and was in command of Special Forces units during three combat rotations in Iraq, the first as Special Forces A Team Leader during Operation Desert Storm, and twice as a Special Forces Battalion Commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Contact: Lieutenant Colonel Chris Conner, E38-670, 258-9440, cconner@mit.edu
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