As United States military forces in the Persian Gulf region are in the midst of "Operation Iraqi Freedom," DePaul experts are available to the news media. The following experts can offer expert opinions on a range of topics, including chemical and biological weapons, how war with Iraq would impact Muslims living in the U.S. and the market’s anticipated reaction to war.

M. Cherif Bassiouni, law professor and president of DePaul’s International Human Rights Law Institute. Bassiouni is a world-renowned international criminal law expert who chaired the U.N. Security Council's War Crimes Commission in the former Yugoslavia. He also chaired the U.N.’s Drafting Committee for the establishment of an International Criminal Court. A Muslim who is a native of Egypt, Bassiouni served in the Egyptian armed forces in the 1956 war, in which he received the medal of military valor. He also has received the highest medals of Italy, Austria and Egypt, as well as the Order of Lincoln from the State of Illinois. Bassiouni can be reached at 312-362-8332 or by email at cbassiou@depaul.edu.

Karen Allen, director, Career Center at DePaul. She can discuss the war’s impact on hiring trends, employers, job seeking and the job market. Allen can be reached at 312/362-5490 or by email at kallen@depaul.edu.

Sheldon Cotler, professor of psychology. He can talk about the long-term psychological affects of war on families who have members in active duty, as well as the impact on the general public. Cotler can be reached at 773/325-4257 or scotler@depaul.edu.

Leonard A. Jason, professor of psychology and director of DePaul’s Center for Community Research. He can talk about unexplained illnesses associated with the Gulf War, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, and specific conditions that may plague soldiers following active duty in the war in Iraq. Jason can be reached at 773/325-2018 or by email at ljason@depaul.edu.

John F. Kordek, associate vice president, External Relations. A former U.S. ambassador who held posts in Washington, Europe, Latin America and Africa, Kordek can talk about U.S. international relations and the Geneva Convention. He can be reached at 312/362-5652 or by email at jkordek@depaul.edu.

Eugene Beiriger, associate professor of history at Barat College and the college’s associate dean: Can discuss foreign policy. He is coordinating a lecture series, “War and the Human Experience,” beginning this January on the Barat Campus. He can be reached at 847/574-4324 or by email at ebeirige@barat.edu.

Avrom A. Blumberg, professor of chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Can discuss the history of warfare; strategic defense initiatives and deterrence; chemical and biological weapons; and U.S. vulnerability to the aforementioned weapons. He can be reached at 773/325-7345 or by email at ablumber@depaul.edu.

Leonard Cavise, professor of law, DePaul College of Law: Can discuss homeland security and its impact on civil liberties. He can be reached at 312/362-6841 or by email at lcavise@depaul.edu.

Werner F.M. De Bondt, finance professor and chair, DePaul’s Driehaus Center in Behavioral Finance. Can discuss how investors and the markets may react to a U.S. strike on Iraq. He can be reached at 312/362-8394 or by email at wdebondt@depaul.edu.

Jacob Furst, associate dean, School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems: Can talk about the role and responsibilities of the technology community during wartime and in homeland security, as well as the need for technology education to address these issues. He can be reached at 312/362-5158 or by e-mail at jfurst@cti.depaul.edu.

Barry Kellman, professor of law, DePaul College of Law: Can discuss weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, national security and nuclear arms proliferation. He can be reached at 312/362-5258 or by email at bkellman@depaul.edu.

Aminah McCloud, associate professor of religious studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Can discuss Islamic religion and culture; Islam in America; Muslim women; and how war against Iraq would affect relationships with Middle Eastern and Muslim residents of the U.S. She can be reached at 773/325-1290 (office), 773-836-8240 (home) or by email at amccloud@depaul.edu.

Michael Miller, chair of the Economics Department, College of Commerce: Can discuss the potential effects a U.S. strike on Iraq could have on the U.S. economy, oil supplies, consumer confidence and federal monetary policy. He can be reached at 312/362-8477 (office); 630/234-2514 (cell phone) or by email at mmiller@depaul.edu.

Thomas Mockaitis, professor of history, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Can discuss historical relations between the United States and Iraq; status of the war and U.S. invasion of Iraq; the possibility of guerilla warfare in Iraq; the peace operation needed to stabilize the country. He can be reached at 773/325-7471 (office), 847/501-2623 (home) or by email at tmockait@depaul.edu.

Warren Schultz, associate professor of history, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Can discuss Middle Eastern history, including the pre-modern Middle East and the Islamic world. He can be reached at 773/325-1561 (office), 773/478-6488 (home) or by email at wschultz@depaul.edu.