Retired Iraq Forces Commander To Keynote MRE Conference

By: Joe Strupp Retired Lt. Gen. Richardo Sanchez, who commanded coalition forces in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, will keynote this year's Military Reporters and Editors conference in October, MRE officials announced Monday.

The annual event is set for Oct. 11-13 at the Doubletree Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Va.

"Back in Washington after last year's Chicago fest, the MRE
conference will be chock-a-block with the interesting panels,
informal get-togethers and an evening of war stories and remembering our absent colleagues," a MRE release stated.

Among the events and seminars are those titled:

--Covering wounded troops and their families;

--Where's the justice in military justice?;

--Photojournalism on the front lines and the home front;

--Media and the military - are we at a crisis point?;

--and Covering the defense business - from stealth fighters to private armies.

"And, for a second year, the War Correspondents' Dinner, hosted by past President Sig Christenson, will be held Friday night," the release stated. "It will be a time for war stories from Iraq, Afghanistan, the first Gulf War, Vietnam and other conflicts."

Registration for MRE members is $100 before Sept. 15 and $125 after Sept. 15. Non-members pay $125 for early registration and $150 after Sept. 15. Single-day registration is $75 for members and non-members.

Registration and more information are available at www.militaryreporters.org.