Former Iraq ambassador meets with Viking students

Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq from March of 2007 to February of 2009 hosted a private meeting for students of the Garfield-Palouse High School’s senior Current World Issues class after his presentation at the University of Idaho’s SUB Ballroom.

The students also attended his lecture, “Lessons from a Long War: Conflict and Engagement in the Broader Middle East.” Crocker, who calls Spokane his hometown, was a career senior diplomat and had also served as the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen.

After his lecture Crocker met with the Gar-Pal students and their instructor, Dennis Griner, for question and answer session.

Griner said it was a unique and rewarding experience for the students to meet and talk with the former ambassador.

Left to right: Griner, Vickie Griner, chaperone, Annie Leendertsen, Katie Dill, Tyeson Hodges, Stephen Sell, Becky Nelson, BJ Riggs, David Wall, Ambassador Crocker, Mikel Nisse, George Wilcomb, Cooper, Ashley Stewart and Schadoe Gamet.