Send Books, Build Democracy

Hey you. Yeah you, glancing sheepishly at the pile of books gathering dust on your shelves. Those books you keep meaning to read/give to Oxfam/sell on Ebay. Face it. You're never going to get around to them. So here's what you do: gather up a few and send them to the new American University of Iraq.

Located in Sulaimani, in the northeastern region which has grown and prospered under Kurdish administration for the past decade and a half, the university is modeled on the successful American Universities in Cairo and Beirut. Its board of trustees includes Kanan Makiya, Ayad Allawi, Fouad Ajami, and President Jalal Talabani. It aims to "promote and preserve a peaceful and democratic Iraq with liberty and prosperity for all its citizens and for the entire region." Officials hope to expand the university to Baghdad and Basra when the security situation improves.

Here's its first student.

Since classes are conducted in English, an English-language library is essential, and the university is asking for donations of books. They especially need literature, social science, history, international affairs, that sort of thing. You can send your books to:

Nathan Musselman
The American University of Iraq—Sulaimani
Building No. 7, Street 10
Quarter 410
Ablakh Area
Sulaimani, Iraq
(+964) (0)770-461-5099

Make sure to include that number at the end.

Get going then. Those books aren't going to send themselves. (Thanks, Christopher Hitchens)