Middle East perspectives and points of view
County Journal, The (Washburn, WI) - December 11, 2002
Strzok, who now lives in Washburn, headed the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance Operation in northern Iraq, and helped hundreds of Kurds resettle back to their mountain villages between 1993 and 1994. Strzok took the approach that the suffering of the people of Iraq is not a direct result of vindication and humiliation, but blames the policies and governance of Saddam Hussein, who he said is as bad as Hitler or Stalin.
Strzok showed a video and slides from his years in the northern part of Iraq, where the Kurds were being resettled. Hydroelectric dams, bridges (some built by Alexander the Great and others which were more modern), schools, the prisons where the Kurds were incarcerated in and other infrastructure were included in the presentation.
Strzok first started studying Middle East issues in 1964 when he began his study of Persian history and culture.
Although Miles believed and gave evidence from U.N. spokespersons that Husseins weapons of mass destruction had for the most part been destroyed or dismantled Strzok gave evidence also supported by U.N sources that Hussein does have weapons of mass destructions, notably large quantities of anthrax, small pox and other bio-agents which it had developed before the Gulf War.
Strzok spent several years not only in Iraq, but in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yeman as a Department of Defense engineer and foreign area specialist. After retiring from the Army in 1979, he began a career of delivering humanitarian aid and aiding in infrastructure particularly agriculture support to emerging and developing countries. He continues this work in Africa, with a focus on rural communities and female food producers, in terms of environmentally-sound agricultural production, access to credit, literacy and business training.
Strzok currently serves as president of AFGRO, a non-profit agency which facilitates the growth of rural organizations in Africa.
Reader says he sees need for military censorship
Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities (MN) (Published as Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities) - March 17, 1991Browse Issues
Peter Strzok, a retired Army officer, said that he was disturbed by my March 3 column about Star Tribune writer Paul McEnroe ("Reporter in war zone used fax to avoid censorship"). He also took issue with my comment that "the Pentagon's effort to control access to the news backfired in some ways."
McEnroe eluded censors with his tales of British commandos operating behind Iraqi front lines by using his hotel's facsimile machine.
Strzok asked, "Was he placing British commandos at risk by detailing their operations and methods used?
"Such operations are risky enough in total news blackout conditions; one is never sure what additional information can give an opponent a total picture of both the order of battle and probable next targets . . . .
"I spent two tours in Vietnam, two in Saudi Arabia and three in Iran. I think I understand the absolute need for reporter oversight in combat actions. Your apparent delight that McEnroe beat the system is terribly misplaced. You should, instead, have looked at the consequences of a profession unable to police itself, whether in pursuit of a good story, scoop or whatever."
Why can't world do for Bosnians what it's doing for the Kurds?
Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities (MN) (Published as Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities) - February 3, 1994
Peter Strzok, head of the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance operation in northern Iraq, was in the Twin Cities earlier this week. Prospects for the Kurds are improving, he said. They are rebuilding; with outside help, last year 100,000 were resettled in villages once destroyed by the Iraqis.
The emphasis on agriculture has dramatically increased crop production, Strzok said. He was here partly to encourage the University of Minnesota to send a technical assistance team to northern Iraq and partly to see his family. Strzok, who once was at the Humphrey Institute, still makes his home in Minneapolis.