NCUSAR Organizes & Escorts a Delegation of Naval Academy Midshipmen on a Study Visit to the UAE

Posted on March 26, 2013 by NCUSAR

Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, in coordination with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), organized and led a May 11-20, 2012 study visit to the United Arab Emirates for the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland. The Academy’s delegation was comprised of twelve Midshipmen and two faculty members. The visit provided the Midshipmen an opportunity to explore the dynamics of some of the major economic, political, and social determinants of UAE culture as well as the country’s modernization and development.

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Summer Intensive Language Program at the Center for Cross Cultural Learning in Morocco

Posted on March 22, 2013 by NCUSAR

The National Council, in collaboration with The Center for Cross Cultural Learning (CCCL) for the summer of 2013, is pleased to announce its Summer Language Program in the Kingdom of Morocco. Students will spend six weeks in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, taking part in an intensive Arabic language program. Students will spend four (4) hours each weekday in formal Modern Standard Arabic classes, as well as complete out-of-the-classroom assignments. Students at all levels of Arabic proficiency are encouraged to apply.

CCCL is a private institution and Morocco’s leading institution in study abroad education. CCCL was founded in 1995 by Moroccan experts in cross cultural learning and education; it is based in a 19th century Riad (traditional Moroccan house located in a historical quarter of the city) in the 17th century old medina of Rabat. CCCL premises have expanded as its programs continue to attract several educational and cultural institutions and schools to include two more buildings in and around the medina of Rabat. CCCL offers several classrooms, conferences rooms, a cafeteria for its participants only, a library of 4,200 books without counting the most valuable and exclusive collection of our students’ projects (over 700 projects).

CCCL organizes a variety of cultural and educational activities, which include language courses, seminars, and lecture series on Moroccan society and Arab and Islamic cultures. CCCL also sponsors art exhibits and musical performances and organizes educational excursions to various parts of Morocco both in urban and rural areas. The aim of these activities is to provide participants with opportunities to learn from the rich cultural diversity of Morocco and to better understand and appreciate the country’s cultural heritage. CCCL has 33 full time staff in addition to a long list of part-time guest speakers, university lecturers, travel guides, host families, instructors, and artists and music performers.

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Upcoming Event: “Rhetoric and Reality in Arab-U.S. Energy Relations” – April 11 in Washington, DC

Posted on March 21, 2013 by NCUSAR

On April 11, 2013, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and the U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee are hosting a public affairs briefing on “Rhetoric and Reality in Arab-U.S. Energy Relations” featuring Mr. John Hofmeister, Founder and Chief Executive of Citizens for Affordable Energy and former President of Shell Oil Company; Professor Paul Sullivan, Professor of Economics at National Defense University and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University; and Ms. Randa Fahmy Hudome, President of Fahmy Hudome International and former Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy.

Mubarak Offshore Platform, United Arab Emirates

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Gulf in the News – 10th Anniversary of Invasion of Iraq

Posted on March 19, 2013 by NCUSAR

March 19, 2013 marks the 10-year anniversary since the United States fired the opening salvo in Operation Iraqi Freedom by bombing the Dora Farms complex southwest of Baghdad. Today the Arabia, the Gulf, and the GCC blog presents a collection of stories that reflect on what has happened in Iraq over the preceding decade.

The human cost of the Iraq war: 112,000 civilians dead in a decade

Source: Al Arabiya (Read full story)

At least 112,000 civilians were killed in the 10 years since the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq that ousted Saddam Hussein, a new report published on Sunday said.

Including combatants on all sides of the decade-long conflict, as well as yet undocumented civilian fatalities, the figure could rise as high as 174,000, according to the Britain-based Iraq Body Count (IBC) group.

…

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Summer Arabic Language Study Abroad Opportunities — Deadlines Approaching

Posted on March 14, 2013 by NCUSAR

REMINDER — application deadlines are approaching for some of the National Council’s Summer 2013 Arabic language study abroad opportunities:

Summer Intensive Language Program at The Arab-American Language Institute in Morocco

The National Council, in collaboration with The Arab-American Language Institute in Morocco (AALIM) for the summer of 2013, is pleased to announce its Summer Language program in the Kingdom of Morocco. Students will spend six weeks in historic Meknes, Morocco taking part in an intensive Arabic language program. Students at all levels of Arabic proficiency are encouraged to apply. The AALIM center is host to a community of Arabic learners throughout the summer, providing for a fully immersive program. Those selected will also gain direct personal experience in Moroccan culture, history, and society through a variety of day excursions, local outings, workshops and demonstrations.

Learn more: http://ncusar.org/study-abroad/aalim

Summer Institute for Intensive Arabic Language and Culture at Lebanese American University

The Summer Institute for Intensive Arabic Language and Culture (SINARC) is a multi-faceted language and cultural immersion program that welcomes students from all over the world. The SINARC program is hosted each year at the Lebanese American University (Beirut Campus), one of the premier institutions of higher education and research in Lebanon and the region. SINARC offers courses in Arabic language and culture at various levels of proficiency. Cultural activities include weekly lectures on topics related to Arab and Lebanese politics, history, society, and culture. In addition, students partake in a series of excursions to historical, cultural and tourist sites.

Learn more: http://ncusar.org/study-abroad/lau

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Basic Facts about Oil and Gas in the Arab World

Posted on March 13, 2013 by NCUSAR

Source: Bassam Fattouh and Laura El-Katiri, “Energy and Arab Economic Development,” Arab Human Development Report Paper Series, 2012, http://www.arab-hdr.org/publications/other/ahdrps/ENGFattouhKatiriV2.pdf.

Arab countries hold more proven oil reserves than any other region (713.6 billion barrels), comprising more than 43 percent of the world’s total proven reserves.
With an average output of 26.3 million barrels per day in 2011, the Arab world produces nearly a third of world oil supply.
Oil reserves in the GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) are among the cheapest in the world to find, develop, and produce (with the exception of those in Oman). The IEA estimates total production costs in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE to vary between $3 and $5 per barrel of oil produced.
Saudi Arabia holds more than 265 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, 16 percent of global total reserves. Four of the world’s ten largest producers of oil are Arab oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq.

World Oil Reserves and Production by Region

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Malone Fellow Linda Pappas Funsch on Oman

Posted on March 7, 2013 by NCUSAR

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ 2006 Malone Oman delegation spent time aboard a traditional Arab sailing dhow, fashioned from wood and crafted by hand in the manner of Omani shipwrights and mariners of yesteryear.

In 2006, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ Malone Fellow and Model Arab League advisor Professor Linda Pappas Funsch contributed a series of stories to the Frederick News-Post drawn from her experiences participating in the National Council Malone Fellowship Oman Cultural Immersion Program. Her seven-part series, “Oman Rediscovered,” explored various dynamics of the Sultanate’s culture, economy, international relations, and modernization since her first visit in 1974.

“Oman Rediscovered” Home

Model Arab League Update – January & February 2013

Posted on March 5, 2013 by NCUSAR

Students at the 2013 Ohio Valley Model Arab League, held at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ Model Arab League program saw the successful completion of 5 Models during January and February. High school conferences were held in Atlanta, Georgia (January 24-25) and Little Rock, Arkansas (February 22-23), and university conferences were held in Grand Rapids, Michigan (February 14-16), Houston, Texas (February 16-17), and Oxford, Ohio (February 21-23). Below are a collection of stories detailing some schools’ experience at these recent Models.

Additional Model Arab League conferences will continue to be held across the United States through April. Students and schools wishing to participate in the Model Arab League program this year or in future school years should contact the National Council’s Director of Student Programs Megan Geissler or Deputy Director of Student Programs Josh Hilbrand to learn how to get involved.