Author Archives: NCUSAR

Founded in 1983, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR) is a non-profit, non-governmental, educational organization dedicated to improving American awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the Arab world.

Carolinas Committee on U.S.-Arab Relations Spring 2021 “NEWSLINES”

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The Carolinas Committee on U.S.-Arab Relations (CCUSAR), with Dr. Joe P. Dunn serving as Director, is an initiative of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Dr. Dunn is an alumnus of the Council’s Malone Fellowship in Arab and Islamic Studies Program, the coordinator of the Southeast Model Arab League conference, and the faculty advisor heading the Converse College Youth Leadership Development / Model Arab League program.

CCUSAR recently published its Spring 2021 “NEWSLINES” newsletter, available for download through the link below.

The issue features:

  • powerful illustrations and testimonials from participants in the National Council’s Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League, sharing how the program impacted them; along with
  • observations on how the Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League adapted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and also
  • a book review of Munther Isaac’s The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Narrative of Lament and Hope.

DOWNLOAD “CCUSAR NEWSLINES (Spring 2021)” [PDF]

Exploring Oman: The Jewel of Arabia

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On April 22, 2021, the National Council convened an online program, “Exploring Oman: The Jewel of Arabia,” as a virtual visit to one of the most historically and culturally rich of all Arab and Islamic societies.

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialist:

  • Mr. Badar Al Yazeedi, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Cultural Affairs Fellow; Panorama Travels CEO; Oman Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee Member; Oman Tourism Awards Jury Member.

Discussant:

  • Professor Linda Pappas Funsch, Author of Oman Reborn: Balancing Tradition and Modernization; Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center Research Fellow; National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Malone Fellow and International Advisory Board Member.

Welcome and Context Provider:

  • Dr. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO; Author, inter alia, of Historical and Cultural Dictionary of The Sultanate of Oman and The Emirates of Eastern Arabia and Arab States of The Lower Gulf: People, Politics, Petroleum.

Examining Saudi Arabia’s Humanitarian Outreach: A Conversation with H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah

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On April 15, 2021, the National Council convened an online program, “Examining Saudi Arabia’s Humanitarian Outreach: A Conversation with H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah.”

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialist:

  • His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre Supervisor General; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Royal Court Advisor; Former Saudi Arabia Minister of Health.

Moderator:

  • Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk, Former U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Senior Military Advisor; Former Embassy of the United States in Saudi Arabia Defense and Army Attaché; HyphenPoint LLC President; National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Board of Directors Member.

Welcome and Context Provider:

  • Dr. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO.

Audio and video recordings of the program are available above and below, and on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and elsewhere.

“Examining Saudi Arabia’s Humanitarian Outreach: A Conversation with H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah” podcast (.mp3)

Regional Dynamics in Context: A Conversation with H.E. Walid Joumblatt

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On April 12, 2021, the National Council convened an online program, “Regional Dynamics in Context: A Conversation with H.E. Walid Joumblatt.”

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialist:

  • H.E. Walid Joumblatt, Progressive Socialist Party (Lebanon) President; Lebanese politician and leader.

Moderator:

  • Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk, Former U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Senior Military Advisor; Former Embassy of the United States in Saudi Arabia Defense and Army Attaché; HyphenPoint LLC President; National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Board of Directors Member.

Welcome and Context Provider:

  • Dr. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO.

Audio and video recordings of the program are available above and below, and on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and elsewhere.

“Regional Dynamics in Context: A Conversation with H.E. Walid Joumblatt” podcast (.mp3)

Qatar’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington to Address Youth Leadership Development Program

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Dr. Hamad Al Muftah to Speak at Annual National University Model Arab League Forum

 

Students in the Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League role-play as diplomats representing different Arab countries. As they analyze and address issues from a perspective different than their own, they dramatically improve their ability to think critically and empathetically.

Washington, D.C., U.S.A.: During the final weekend in March, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (“National Council” / “Council”) will host the Deputy Chief of Mission from the Embassy of the State of Qatar. Dr. Hamad Al Muftah will address the Council’s forthcoming 38th Annual National Youth Leadership Development / Model Arab League Conference. He will make remarks to the Council’s student-led forum virtually as it convenes online at the National-level for the first time. The Embassy of the State of Qatar is the exclusive sponsor of the 2021 National Youth Leadership Development / Model Arab League Conference.

Background and Context

Each school year, the National Council convenes as many as 25 different Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League conferences. The forums are held in more than 20 cities throughout the United States, reaching a large and diverse collection of future American and Arab leaders.

Since its establishment 38 years ago, the National Council’s Youth Leadership Development Program has produced over 50,000 alumni. Many of the former participants now serve as elected and appointed leaders, prominent diplomats, national security analysts, commanders in the United States and other countries’ armed forces, international media correspondents, international business executives, and a broad range of other roles and positions where they work to sustain and deepen the Arab-U.S. relationship.

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Changing Security Dynamics of the Middle East North Africa Region

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On March 24, 2021, the National Council convened an online program exploring “Changing Security Dynamics of the Middle East North Africa Region.”

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialist:

  • Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman, Center for Strategic and International Studies Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy; Consultant to the U.S. State Department, Defense Department, and intelligence community; Former Office of the Secretary of Defense Director of Intelligence Assessment.

Moderator:

  • Mr. David Des Roches, U.S. Department of Defense National Defense University Near East/South Asia Center for Strategic Studies Associate Professor; National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Senior International Affairs Fellow.

Welcome and Context Provider:

  • Dr. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO.

Audio and video recordings of the program are available above and below, and on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and elsewhere.

“Changing Security Dynamics of the Middle East North Africa Region” podcast (.mp3)

Examining Dynamics in Iraq: A Conversation with Ambassador Dr. Fareed Yasseen

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On March 22, 2021, the National Council convened an online program, “Examining Dynamics in Iraq: A Conversation with Ambassador Dr. Fareed Yasseen.”

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialist:

  • H.E. Dr. Fareed Yasseen, Ambassador of Iraq to the United States of America; former Ambassador of Iraq to France.

Moderator:

  • Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk, Former U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Senior Military Advisor; Former Embassy of the United States in Saudi Arabia Defense and Army Attaché; HyphenPoint LLC President; National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Board of Directors Member.

Welcome and Context Provider:

  • Dr. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO.

Audio and video recordings of the program are available above and below, and on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and elsewhere.

“Examining Dynamics in Iraq: A Conversation with Ambassador Dr. Fareed Yasseen” podcast (.mp3)

League of Arab States Secretary-General to Address Youth Leadership Development Program

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Groundbreaking National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Event

 

Students in the Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League role-play as diplomats representing different Arab countries. As they analyze and address issues from a perspective different than their own, they dramatically improve their ability to think critically and empathetically.

Washington, D.C.: During the final weekend in March, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (“National Council” / “Council”) will host the leader of the Arab region’s oldest regional organization. His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (“Arab League”), will address the Council’s forthcoming 38th Annual National Youth Leadership Development / Model Arab League Conference. The Secretary-General will make remarks to the Council’s student-led forum virtually from the League’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Background and Context

Each school year, the National Council convenes as many as 25 different Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League conferences. The forums are held in more than 20 cities throughout the United States, reaching a large and diverse collection of future American and Arab leaders.

Since its establishment 38 years ago, the National Council’s Youth Leadership Development Program has produced over 50,000 alumni. Many of the former participants now serve as elected and appointed leaders, prominent diplomats, national security analysts, commanders in the United States and other countries’ armed forces, international media correspondents, international business executives, and a broad range of other roles and positions where they work to sustain and deepen the Arab-U.S. relationship.

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