By George Lewis

"We are assembling a superb group of former generals with extensive and diverse expertise in many areas critical to the use of force against Iraq, including technology and logistics, special operations and air power, guard and reserve roles, and operational planning."

-- Mike Desch,
associate director,
UK Patterson School

Lexington, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2003) -- The University of Kentucky Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce will sponsor a panel of military experts who will discuss the military aspects of a possible war with Iraq on Monday, Dec. 9, from 8 until 9:30 p.m. at the William T. Young Library Auditorium. The event, which will include a question-and-answer session, is free and open to the public.

"We are assembling a superb group of former generals with extensive and diverse expertise in many areas critical to the use of force against Iraq, including technology and logistics, special operations and air power, guard and reserve roles, and operational planning," said Mike Desch, associate director of the Patterson School.

The panelists include:

-- Gen. John Coburn, former commander of U.S. Army Material Command, who will comment on military logistics;

-- Lt. Gen. Clay Bailey, former commander of U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, who will comment on the deployment of special-operations forces;

-- Maj. Gen. Russ Groves, former Adjutant General of the Kentucky National Guard, who will comment on the deployment of reservists and members of the National Guard;

-- Brig. Gen. Jim Shane, head of the Governor's Commission on Military Affairs and a former Army war planner, who will comment on military planning, most notably that of Operation Just Cause, which took place in Panama in 1989 and is said to be the template for possible military operations in Baghdad.