How do we communicate the experience of modern combat and the viewpoint of soldiers who serve, and what are our professional and personal responsibilities to tell these stories? What are the similarities and differences between British and American perspectives on the current Iraq war?

Join a distinguished panel of former and current soldiers, an expert foreign affairs journalist and the Director of Black Watch to explore our depictions of conflict in the current Iraq war and the military who serve there, including what role the arts can play in discussing divisive social issues.

PANELLISTS

			Shane Belvin is a former US Army Captain who was awarded the Bronze Star for direct fire engagements during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and took part in the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003. Since leaving the Army, Belvin has worked as an engineer in the aerospace industry, an investment banker and an entrepreneur.
			Captain David Hood joined The Black Watch (Royal Regiment of Scotland) in 1985 and has served around the world, including deployments to Iraq in 2003 and 2004.  In 2004 his Company was deployed north into the ‘Sunni triangle’ to support US forces operations in Fallujah; events surrounding this deployment to Camp Dogwood inspired the play Black Watch.
			John Tiffany is Associate Director (New Work) for the National Theatre of Scotland. As Director of Black Watch, Tiffany is at the core of its creative team, shepherding the play’s development from verbatim interviews with members of the Black Watch regiment through to a fully-realized theatrical drama.