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.

Middle East Policy Council Event: “U.S. Grand Strategy in the Middle East”

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On January 16, 2013, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President & CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony will join Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Jr., Chairman of Projects International, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and former President of the Middle East Policy Council (MEPC); Dr.  William B. Quandt, Professor at the University of Virginia and former staff member on the National Security Council; and Dr. Marwan Muasher, V.P. for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment, former Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan, and former Ambassador of Jordan to the U.S.; at MEPC’s 71st Capitol Hill Conference on “U.S. Grand Strategy in the Middle East: Is There One?” The program, which will live-streamed by MEPC, will be moderated by Dr. Thomas R. Mattair, Executive Director of MEPC.

Middle East Policy Council 71st Capitol Hill Conference
“U.S. Grand Strategy in the Middle East: Is There One?”
January 16, 2013 — 9:30am – Noon
Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (2168)
RSVP Acceptances only: (202) 296-6767 or info@mepc.org

Learn more on the Middle East Policy Council website

Middle East Policy Council Home

2012 Northeast Regional Model Arab League

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The November 2-4, 2012 Northeast Regional Model Arab League, convened at Northeastern University in Boston, MA, gathered students from 13 schools to learn about the politics and history of the Arab world, and the arts of diplomacy and public speech. Student delegates debated and passed resolutions on numerous diverse topics reflecting the real-life domestic dynamics and policy challenges presently facing all 22 of the League’s Arab member-states.

Students interested in learning more and participating in Model Arab League should visit ncusar.org/modelarableague.

Gulf in the News – 33rd GCC Summit Roundup

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33rd GCC Summit concludes in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Source: Bahrain News Agency (Read full story)

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The Supreme Council reviewed the reports and recommendations of follow up submitted from the Ministerial Council aimed to boost full GCC citizenship as part of GCC leaders’ keenness on boosting mutual cooperation.

The Supreme Council explored regional and international political issues and passed resolutions on mutual GCC action regarding article (3) of economic agreement for the purpose of boosting GCC citizenship in various spheres and deepening economic integration between GCC-member states and also discussed the economic situation in the GCC states and expressed delight at the remarkable growth and development in various sectors .

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Gulf in the News – December 21, 2012

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Yemen’s president restructures armed forces

Source: CNN International (Read full story)

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“We are working towards a unified army under a unified leadership, and this needs to take place now,” the presidential aide said, asking to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue.

The changes came as protests continued in front of Hadi’s residence. Demonstrators said they wouldn’t participate in the upcoming National Dialogue Conference unless Saleh’s relatives and loyalists who hold key military and security posts are removed. Yemeni officials have been hoping all the political factions in the country would meet at the conference.

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GCC Information for Reference

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As the 33rd Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial and Heads of State Summit approaches on December 24-25, 2012 in Manama, Bahrain, the Arabia, the Gulf, and the GCC Blog presents for reference a listing of GCC-related posts from the past several months.

“Regional Geo-Political Dynamics: The Arabian Peninsula (GCC Countries and Yemen)” at the 2012 Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference

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Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, Professor of Political Science, United Arab Emirates University (Abu Dhabi) and lead author, 2008 Arab Knowledge Report, at the 2012 Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference

Dr. John Duke Anthony, Dr. Abdel Aziz Abu Hamad Aluwaisheg, Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, and Dr. Abdullah K. Al-Shayji  gave remarks on “Policymaking Opportunities and Lessons Learned From Regional Geo-Political Dynamics: The Arabian Peninsula (GCC Countries and Yemen)” at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ 21st Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference. The conference, on the theme “Arab-U.S. Relations Amidst Transition within Constancy: Implications for American and Arab Interests and Policies,” was held October 25-26, 2012 at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

Watch session in the C-SPAN Video Library

Listen to a podcast of the session

Read a transcript of remarks as delivered

Malone Fellow Linda Pappas Funsch on Lebanon

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Professor Linda Pappas Funsch (far right) and a student delegation from the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations visits the remains of the great forest of cedars of Lebanon, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

From June 21-July 3, 2012, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, in partnership with the Lebanon Renaissance Foundation, organized and escorted ten students on a study visit to Lebanon. The delegation was led by National Council Malone Fellow and Model Arab League advisor Professor Linda Pappas Funsch, who lived in Beirut for three years in the 1970s while working for the Ford Foundation. Professor Funsch contributed several stories about this summer’s visit to the Frederick News-Post, which can be access through the link below.

Linda Pappas Funsch, “Lebanon,” The Frederick News-Post, 2012.

Professor Funsch previously contributed a series of stories to the Frederick News-Post on Oman drawn from her experiences participating in the National Council Malone Fellowship Oman Cultural Immersion Program.

Linda Pappas Funsch, “Oman Rediscovered,” The Frederick News-Post, 2006.

NCUSAR Model Arab League Student Leaders Prepare to Travel to Saudi Arabia

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Later in December the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations will escort a delegation of student leaders from the Council’s Model Arab League program on a cultural immersion study visit to Saudi Arabia. The visit will provide the young American leaders a hands-on experience in the Arab world that few others their age have had.