ADVISORY TEAM
Andrea Kaye, Producer/Director of Development
20 Years experience in Business Development/Sales/Marketing for major corporations such as Xerox, Pitney Bowes Management Services and Burlington Industries B.S. Degree in Business from Louisiana State University Extensive experience in production of and on-camera spokesperson for corporate videos “Industrials”. Credits Include – Xerox Corporation, UCSD medical school, etc. Producer/Reporter – “The Home Front” Documentary.
Working on “The Home Front’ not only inspired my passion for documentary film making, but my desire to document the factual account of the results of the United State’s involvement in Iraq. It became clear during the making of “The Home Front” that Americans were uninformed – a pervasive problem that continues. Was it worth it for Iraqis and for Americans?
The TRUTHFUL answer to that question must be told. Broadcasting experience – Producer/Co-Host/Reporter.
Assistant Producer/Reporter/Co-Host – “Good Evening San Diego” Assistant Producer/Co-Host – “Calling All Seniors” Spokesperson - No Nonsense Fashions Producer/Reporter – “The Home Front” Documentary.
Working on “The Home Front’ not only inspired my passion for documentary film making, but my desire to document the factual account of the results of the United State’s involvement in Iraq. It became clear during the making of “The Home Front” that Americans were uninformed – a pervasive problem that continues.
Was it worth it for Iraqis and for Americans? The TRUTHFUL answer to that question must be told.
Kawa Akrawi, Director, editor, and D.O.P. Was born in Musel Iraq 1970, Studied film at Orste folke hogskole in Norway.
After graduation, he started to work at the first Kurdish satellite TV, MED TV in Brussels, where he made 4 documentary films in Berlin and Paris, then moved to Sweden, where he made his first Kurdish film (kawe Asen Ger).
Back in Brussels he started his own production company cinekurd. Kawa spend 3 month in Moscow and St. Petersburg, filming a two part film about Russia, Then he travelled to Syria and Egypt to document it’s ancient times.
USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios (L) Kawa Akrawi, Director, editor, and D.O.P. After the liberations of Iraq Kawa was back in Iraq documenting the crime of Saddam, he made two films, Saddam’s mass grave and Chemical Ali.
Some Films and documentaries by kawa
1- The Coffin. Short film.
2- Animation films in Norway, Doc.
3- The kebab shop, Doc.
4- The refuges, Doc.
5- Bad boys in Berlin, Doc.
6- Textiles worker in Paris, Doc.
7- Under the line, Doc.
8- Silence of the escargot, (editor) short film.
9- Jiyan, (editor) Film
10- Mass Graves, Doc.
11- WMD, Doc.
12- O kilometre. Film (1.assistant director)
13- Chemical Ali, Doc.
14- The Armenian genocide, (Under production).
Born in 1986 in Woodland hills, Ca and at the age of two, Tara’s family relocated to Saudi Arabia where she grew up as a child. In 1991, due to the Gulf War, Tara’s family moved back to the United States where she now lives in San Diego. Currently attending the University of California, Berkeley, studying to earn her degree in both Political Science and Spanish.
She intends to continue her education at law school, which will allow her to work in a career involving International Relations.
“I got involved with Ridoc not only due to my Iraqi heritage but also because I aim to fulfill its mission in creating a more well-rounded view of the current situation.”
Tara’s role in Iraqi Voices is to assist in developing network of Iraqi Voice accounts as potential interviews in our planned trip to Iraq for the documentary.
Dina Amin was born in Woodland Hills, California where she lived only a year before moving to Saudi Arabia where she spent the next 5 years. After returning to the United States, she earned her high school diploma at San Dieguito Academy.
Currently she is studying at the University of California, Berkeley where she plans to earn a Bachelors degree in Arabic and Political Economy of Industrial Societies.
In the future, she hopes to aid the establishment of a peaceful sentiment between the Middle Eastern and Western world.
Dina’s role in Iraqi Voices is to assist in developing network of Iraqi Voice accounts as potential interviews in our planned trip to Iraq for the documentary.
Thair Al Bayati--Iraqi Community Group
Todd's biography
The three passions that have shaped my life are: love, knowledge and freedom. Love has made my life worth living. Knowledge has always made me want to learn more, and made me realize how much I do not know.
I was born on November 12, 1950 in Diyala-Iraq. My father was a farmer in a village for half of his life and a construction contractor in a town for the rest of his life until he died at the age of 69. My father was self educated and loved history. Both of my parents were moderate Muslims and allowed me to think freely. They encouraged and supported me to continue learning and searching for knowledge. Ever since I was young, I always had a strong interest in Science and Mathematics. This interest encouraged me to finish my Bachelor's degree in Mathematics. Searching for knowledge and freedom pushed me even further to pursue my Masters and then eventually a PhD degree in pure Mathematics in England. Living and studying in England allowed me to have a better taste for the freedom in the west and to experience the differences between the eastern and the western cultures. In England my new multi cultural life started to emerge. I found a world of freedom and diversity.
My wife and I were newly wed in England and we soon began our family. We had two daughters, one in 1982 and one in 1984. In 1985, as the Iraq-Iran war had been going on, I realized that I could not go back to Iraq to live under the rule of Iraqi regime. With respect to job opportunities, I began looking for a new country that I could call home. I arrived in America as a visitor in July of 1985 and was granted political asylum in 1991. As soon as we arrived in America, my wife and I started a small produce business, which eventually developed to a produce market with a comfortable income. The freedom I enjoyed in America always made me question why people in my country and the Middle East can not enjoy the same freedom. I joined the Iraqi Community Organization in August 2002 and became an active member. We worked to help improve the situation in Iraq and to give Iraqis a voice. In November 2002, I was elected to be the President of the Iraqi Community Organization. I wished that same freedom I was granted could be granted to my people in Iraq. That wish came true in March 2003 when the American government began to take action in changing Iraq's Brutal dictator. In March 2003, the coalition forces, lead by America invaded Iraq. I consider that to be the beginning of the road to freedom. In March 2003, I joined the Iraqi Reconstruction and Development council, which was sponsored by the USA Defense ministry. The group had to join the American military in Iraqi for Reconstruction, Humanitarian Assistance and Consultation to the Iraqi communities. I remained in Iraq until March 2004. I returned home to continue my life in America. Yet, whether I am in Iraq or in the states, I continue to support the America government and work for the freedom of Iraqis. I have considered the American efforts in Iraq to be the beginning of a new history of freedom and stability in the Middle East and the world in large.
Todd Al bayati
BACKGROUND
Born in Iraq; finished high school and 2-year college in Iraq; immigrated to the States over 20 years ago.EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Political Science, Northern Arizona (state) University (NAU), spring 1998
Master's Degree in Political Science, San Diego State University (SDSU), spring 1992
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, minor in Cultural Geography, SDSU, summer 1990 Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts, San Diego City College, spring 1989DISSERTATION
The Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait: A Realist Interpretation, Chair: Dr. Stephen WrightEXPERIENCE
*Teaching with National University in California since January 2000.
*Adjunct Faculty, San Diego Mesa College,since 2000.
Published over sixty articles or opinion pieces in various Arabic newspapers and magazines
Ten reports aired on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Radio Free Iraq, 2000
Six Published interviews with major local newspapers.Tinue Shak--Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Mr. Tinue Shad formerly Talib Berzinji. Tinue was born and raised in Sulaimaniya City, in Kurdistan- Iraq in 1933. He received his education from Kirkuk City in Kurdistan and Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.
After graduation he became a teacher in various Iraqi high schools, both in the south and north. Additionally Tinue is a poet, an actor and writer along with being a professional translater including stage plays. Like any other Kurdish patriot, Mr. Shad was involved in political affairs, for which he was arrested and jailed four times where he was tortured severly twice bye the thugs of Saddam Hussein, but luckily he was released and immediately went to the mountains to contact the Kurdish peshmergas, which mean "death facers".
He worked as an announcer of Kurdistand native radio till it ended up by tricky deceptive trickery of former Shah of Iran and Saddam Hussein in March 1975. Necessity obliged him to flee out of the country to Iran where he was able to look for a safer place to live in peace. Luckily, he was honored with political asylum by the U.S.A, and now resided in San Diego County where he is busy as a professional translator of three languages.
Farouk Gewarges--Chaldo-Assyrian Association
Born In Karkook/Iraq
Graduated in 1963 from AlMansour H.S. in Baghdad and Baghdad University in the Sciences College.
Working as an Administrator for Niigata Engineering Co. Oil plant at Daura Refinery in Baghdad from 1974-1976.
Immigrated to USA in 1976 and resides in San Diego area of California.
Representative for the Cahldo-Assyrian Association.
Labib Sultan--Organization for Civil Society in Iraq
Summary
· Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
· 18 years Academic and Industrial management and technical experience.
· Founder and president of the Organization for Civil Society and the Rights of Iraqis
· Community and civil rights activists, Leader in the Iraqi Communities in Canada and USA since 1989.
Professional Positions
1. 2000-Present : Visiting Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at San Diego State University2. 1999-2000 : Associate professor , ECE Department, Boise State University, Idaho.
3. 1996-1999: Chief Executive Officer , MicroFuzz Technologies Inc., Toronto, , Canada.
4. 1993-1996: Director of Engineering and Development, MSI, Toronto, Canada
5. 1991-1993: Associate Professor, Computer Science &Eng. Department, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
6. 1989-1991: Senior Scientist, Real-time Systems Research Division , AECL of Canada Ltd., Ontario, Canada Community and Society Activities Founder and president of the Campaign for Civil Society in Iraq(CCSI) ( 2002-Present)
The CCSI is an organization of 120 Iraqi intellectuals, with offices in 15 cities around the world . The CCSI enjoys the widest membership of Iraqi intellectual- professional organization of the Iraqi communities in the world, and supported by more than 30 civil rights, legal, cultural and professional organizations.
The mission of the CCSI is:
- To help the efforts of the liberation of the people of Iraq from the dictatorship and tyranny.
- To help establishing the democratic and civil society institutions in Iraq post Saddam.
Volunteer at San Diego Universalist Unitarian Church ( The Social Paece group) 2002- Present.
Head of the Iraqi-Canadian Community ( 1994-1998) Information Center management of the Iraqi Community in California 2002-present.
Organized special section on emerging technologies group of IEEE Hamilton section (1992-1993) and Toronto –IEEE section (1994-1995).
York technology Association (Technical program planning, 1995-1997).
Since 1993 volunteer at the Ontario Science center, Toronto, Canada.
Personal
Married with two children.
Pete Oraha--Assyrian Democratic Movement
Melin Jackob--Assyrian Democratic Movement
Mel Jackob, born in Iraq came to the United Stated in the mid 70’s as a refugee escaping the Iraqi regimes war on the Assyrians in the north of the country.
Attended high school and college and graduated with a Mathematics degree.
Over 20 years of information security and network consulting experience working for large organizations such as DOD, Microsoft, EDS and other international businesses.
Has supported the liberation of Iraq and been involved in many rallies supporting our troops. As an Assyrian Christian with many relatives still living in Iraq, I constantly hear about how grateful the ChaldoAssyrians are for being liberated from the yoke Saddam’s regime whose policies were to deny the ChaldoAssyrian’s existence as a nation with distinct language, history, geography and classifying them as Arabs or Kurds.
I am very grateful for what America has given me, America was there for me when I need it, America liberated my birth place and Iraqis should work hand in hand with the United States and the coalition countries to build a democratic pluralistic secular free Iraq.
Brad Maaske is the Executive Producer of “WMD – The Murderous Reign of Saddam Hussein,” (www.iraqitruthproject.com) Based on the question: “Are you ready for the truth?” Brad Maaske is asking if Americans today can stand to know what’s really going on. Estimates of the number of victims from Saddam Hussein’s campaigns of genocide now top 1.3 million. In one particular action against Kurdish Iraqis, 182,000 men, women and children were systematically murdered or imprisoned – only to be unearthed now from their mass graves. Tortures, relentless beatings, rapes, decapitations, attacks by chemical air strikes on villages that now can no longer be found – these are just some of the atrocities America has been slow to know about and acknowledge. And, when the incumbent administration took military action to end this reign of terror, voices of detractors screamed from the streets of protest, the halls of Congress, and the red carpets of Hollywood. Another film made the scene portraying rosy living in the hamlets of Iraq and a bumbling chief executive in Washington’s Oval Office. Brad has offered to be a strategic advisor based on his recent production in Iraq.
Producer...
Dan Hare
Email
Telephone 760 942 5988