Perspectives on Post-Election Iraq: What the liberal media is not telling you

The Tuesday, January 3, 2006 meeting of the Herndon and Vienna TownSquare groups will be a joint meeting.

Perspectives on Post-Election Iraq: What the liberal media is not telling you

An informative, objective and inspirational report on the important work our troops are doing, what remains to be done, and the prospects for a successful democracy in Iraq.

Tuesday, January 3, 7:00 PM
Young America's Foundation
110 Elden St.
Herndon, VA 20170

DIRECTIONS: From the Dulles Toll Road, take the Fairfax County Parkway exit north, go about 1/2 mile then take the Elden St exit toward Herndon. Take the first right, onto Laurel Way, then go about 50 yards - into the cul de sac - and take the right to go around the back of the building to the YAF offices in Building #110.

Seating is limited: Please RSVP by e-mail to info -at- novatownhall.com. For more information and to RSVP by phone, please contact Joe Budzinski at 703-505-9294.

Speakers:

Merrick 'Mac' Carey: CEO and founder of the Lexington Institute, a public policy think tank based in Arlington, Virginia. The Institute runs research, press efforts and policy forums to advance democratic capitalism and a strong national defense.

Carey was Press Secretary to Representative Jack Kemp (1982-1984). From 1985 to 1987, Carey was Chief of Staff to Representative James Courter, a member of the House Armed Services and Iran-Contra Committees, and in 1989 he served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean. From 1990-1993, Carey was Executive Vice President of the international economic advisory firm Johnson Smick International.

Carey also served for 7 years as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Naval Reserve. He joined in 1989 as a Petty Officer 3rd Class, was commissioned as an Ensign in 1990 and promoted to Lieutenant in 1994. His duties included 7 months as an Intelligence Watch Officer at U. S. Navy Headquarters, Europe, from September 1990-April 1991 as a mobilized reservist for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and as an Air Intelligence Officer for 5 weeks in 1996 preparing missions and flying with VP-11 in support of Operation Decisive Edge over Bosnia.

Carey has been published in Barron's, Proceedings, The San Diego Union Tribune, Richmond Times Dispatch, and numerous other publications. He has lectured at the Naval War College, Marine Corps University, the Heritage Foundation, and at numerous business and policy forums.

Michael Payne, who was embedded with the Army's 1st Cavalry Division in Baghdad: Founder of Take A Stand Ministries, a non-profit, tax-exempt Christian media corporation. Payne decided to go to Iraq because he didn't think the general media was giving the complete story about the United States' role in the war.

"I believed that the media is putting a bad light on the war effort by reporting only the negatives," Michael said. "To speak to that, though, I had to go see for myself and to bring the real story back."

Raised in Loudoun County, Payne is an Air Force veteran. After his four-year hitch in the military was over in 1975, Michael worked for 20 years in a family-owned butcher shop his father ran in Loudoun County. Michael phased out the butcher shop in 1992 and opened Country Butcher Barbeque.

He sold the barbecue business to his two sons, Brett and Beau, four years ago and began working at a Christian radio station, WJTM, in Frederick, Md. Michael was the station's manager in February, when the business was placed under contract to a National Public Radio affiliate, WYPR.
He then began working full time for Take A Stand Media Ministries.

"I have about six people who work closely with me in the ministry, and I hope we will be able to rotate in and out of Iraq as long as our troops are there."