Category Archives: NCUSAR

Council Chronicle Vol. 9, No. 2 Now Available

Posted on by

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations is pleased to provide the 29th edition of the Council Chronicle, the Council’s periodic newsletter. The Chronicle seeks to keep the Council’s alumni, donors, and other supporters informed and updated, expanding the nature and extent of the Council’s efforts in pursuit of its vision and mission. One among other efforts to do so on an ongoing basis is achieved by presenting highlights and special reports on the Council’s programs, projects, events, and activities. For new readers interested in learning more about the Council’s vision and mission, and for ongoing supporters keen to keep abreast of the Council’s accomplishments, together with the ways and means it utilizes to pursue both objectives, please read on and visit the Council’s website at ncusar.org.

ACCESS Council Chronicle Vol. 9, No. 2 (.pdf)

Model Arab League pictures from Council Chronicle, Vol. 9, No. 2.

Continue reading »

Carolinas Committee on U.S.-Arab Relations Spring 2016 “NEWSLINES”

Posted on by

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 alumni of the Malone Fellowship in Arab and Islamic Studies Program, the coordinator of the Southeast Model Arab League, and the faculty advisor heading the Converse College Model Arab League program.

CCUSAR recently published its Spring 2016 “NEWSLINES” newsletter, available for download through the link below.

DOWNLOAD “CCUSAR NEWSLINES (Spring 2016)” [PDF]

National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Presents its First-Ever Global Philanthropic and Humanitarian Achievements Award to His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud

Posted on by

Washington, DC: On May 8, 2016, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (National Council) was honored and privileged to present its first-ever Global Philanthropic and Humanitarian Achievements Award to HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud. The award was presented in recognition of his tireless and magnanimous efforts in helping to build a world of greater tolerance, acceptance, respect, equality, opportunity, and justice for all.

National Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony, Council Board Member Ms. Paige Peterson, and Council Executive Vice President Mr. Patrick Mancino personally conveyed the award to Prince Alwaleed.

Dr. Anthony noted that Prince Alwaleed, through his charitable organization Alwaleed Philanthropies, has pledged to donate his entire $32 billion fortune to charity. In making this promise, Prince Alwaleed said: “Philanthropy is a personal responsibility, which I embarked upon more than three decades ago and is an intrinsic part of my Islamic faith. With this pledge, I am honoring my lifelong commitment to what matters most – helping to build a more peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world for generations to come.”

Alwaleed Philanthropies serves millions of people across the globe. It collaborates with a range of philanthropic, governmental, and educational organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief, and create cultural understanding through education. Prince Alwaleed has already donated $3.5 billion over 35 years to find impactful solutions to some of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time, without regard to gender, race, or religious affiliation.

Information about Alwaleed Philanthropies can be found at alwaleedphilanthropies.org.

Information about the National Council can be found at ncusar.org.

Fostering U.S.-GCC Trade, Economic Cooperation, and Investment Opportunities

Posted on by

On April 13, 2016, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, the Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee hosted a public affairs briefing on “Fostering U.S.-GCC Trade, Economic Cooperation, and Investment Opportunities“ in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC.

Featured specialists included Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt, Chairman, Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce, Member, Board of Directors, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, Director of New Business Development, Reza Investment Group; Ms. Nahlah Al-Jubeir, Director, Center for Career Development, Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, Senior International Affairs Fellow, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations; Mr. Khush Choksy, Senior Vice President for Middle East and Turkey Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Christopher Johnson, Attorney based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Chairman, KKR Saudi Limited; Ms. Randa Fahmy, President, Fahmy Hudome International, Treasurer, Board of Directors, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, Former Associate Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy; and Mr. Mike Jones, Founding President, Capitol Capital Group, LLC. Dr. John Duke Anthony, Founding President and CEO, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, and Member, U.S. Department of State Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy and Subcommittee on Sanctions, served as moderator and facilitator.

A video recording and a podcast of the program are available below. The podcast can also be found in iTunes along with recordings of other National Council programs: http://bit.ly/itunes-ncusar.

“Fostering U.S.-GCC Trade, Economic Cooperation, and Investment Opportunities” podcast (.mp3)

2016 Rocky Mountain Model Arab League Pictures

Posted on by

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ 2016 Rocky Mountain Model Arab League was held March 4-6 in Denver, Colorado.

Some pictures from the conference are available below.

Click ‘Continue Reading’ to view the full gallery.

Continue reading »

Summer 2016 Intensive Arabic Language Study Abroad Opportunities

Posted on by

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 2016, is pleased to announce a Summer Language Program in the Kingdom of Morocco. Students will spend six weeks in historic Meknes, Morocco taking part in intensive Arabic language instruction. Students at all levels of Arabic proficiency are encouraged to apply. The AALIM center is a host to a community of Arabic learners throughout the summer, providing for a fully immersive program. Those selected will also gain direct personal expertise in Moroccan culture, history, and society through a variety of day excursions, local outings, workshops, and demonstrations.

For more information, visit: http://ncusar.org/study-abroad/aalim

2016 AALIM Application (.pdf)

Students should submit completed applications to the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Applications are due by April 10, 2016.

Summer Institute for Intensive Arabic Language and Culture at the 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 at the Lebanese American University (Beirut Campus). In business for over 17 years, SINARC has quickly become a top choice for Arabic language learners looking to not only improve their language skills but also to gain a true understanding of the cultural and social dynamics in the region. SINARC offers courses in Arabic language and culture at various levels of proficiency. Formal language instruction is enriched by immersion in an authentic cultural context. 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 throughout Lebanon.

For more information, visit: http://ncusar.org/study-abroad/lau

2016 LAU Application (.pdf)

Students should submit completed applications to the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations; students will be admitted on a rolling basis.

Intensive Arabic Language Programs at the Center for International Learning in Oman

The National Council is pleased to offer students an opportunity for intensive Arabic language study with our partner organization in Muscat, Oman, the Center for International Learning (CIL). Comprised of Americans and Omanis with PhD and Masters Degrees, the CIL faculty facilitates experiential education, cultural exchange, and comparative studies to deepen understanding, promote common interests, and explore the shared aspirations of people from different cultures. CIL offers all three levels of Modern Standard Arabic (beginner, intermediate, and advanced), as well as Omani dialect, media Arabic, and skills classes.

For more information, visit: http://ncusar.org/study-abroad/cil-oman

For more information:

If you have questions or need more information about any of the National Council’s summer language programs you can contact Kaylee Boalt, Director of Student Programs (kaylee(at)ncusar.org).

Dr. Khalid J. Al-Jaber Joins NCUSAR as Fellow

Posted on by

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON U.S.-ARAB RELATIONS WELCOMES DR. KHALID J. AL-JABER AS DISTINGUISHED INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FELLOW

Al-Jaber Joins Collective of National Council Scholars Contributing Analysis on the Arab World and U.S.-Arab Relations

Washington, DC: The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations [ncusar.org], founded in 1983, is pleased to announce that Dr. Khalid J. Al-Jaber has been named a National Council Distinguished International Affairs Fellow.

In announcing the appointment, National Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony said, “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Al-Jaber to this important position. His extensive experience as a journalist in Qatar and thoughtful and incisive academic scholarship on media in the Arab world, particularly in the Gulf, is necessary to the understanding of mass communication, public diplomacy, and news in and on the region. Dr. Al-Jaber will be a vital resource as the Council works to strengthen and expand its publications and bridge-building efforts.”

Al-Jaber is Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula, Qatar’s leading English language daily newspaper. Previously, he served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Al Sharq (“The East”), the sister Arabic daily of The Peninsula. In addition, he is Principal at Global Media Consultants in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Among his additional responsibilities, Dr. Al-Jaber is Assistant Professor of Political Communication in the Gulf Studies Program (GSP) at Qatar University. The GSP, established and led by Dr. Abdullah Baabood in conjunction with College of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Eiman Mustafawi and University President Dr. Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, and for which Dr. Anthony serves as a member of its advisory board, is in the process of becoming the world’s foremost center for Gulf studies. It is also the GCC region’s first accredited university program for Gulf studies offering Master’s and Ph.D. degrees.

Al-Jaber’s scholarship has appeared in academic and professional journals such as International Communication Gazette and the World Press Encyclopedia. He holds an M.A. in journalism from the University of Florida, USA, and a Ph.D. in political communication from the University of Leicester, UK. He has also conducted postgraduate studies at Fordham, Stanford, and Georgetown Universities.

About the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations: Founded in 1983 and based in Washington, DC, the National Council is an American non-profit, non-governmental, educational organization dedicated to improving American knowledge and understanding of the Arab world. Information about the Council’s program, projects, events, and activities can be found at ncusar.org.

National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Condemns Presidential Campaign Bigotry

Posted on by

Washington, DC: The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations [ncusar.org] condemns the bigotry, demagoguery, and fear mongering directed against Muslims, immigrants, refugees, and communities of color in the 2016 presidential campaign. It joins HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, Dr. Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor, the Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, and Secretary General of the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – and countless other global statesmen and leaders in denouncing calls from prospective nominees and other prominent American national personalities such as those recommending implementation of a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.”

Upon his return from the GCC’s 36th Annual Summit, National Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony remarked that “America’s GCC friends, allies, and strategic partners said repeatedly that calls to impede people from entering the United States based solely on their religion or ethnicity can be likened in effect to a slap in the face of the Statue of Liberty. Such inflammatory language not only runs counter to the principles upon which this country was founded. It is callous. It is offensive. It is insensitive in the extreme. It serves only to instigate and invigorate religious prejudice, hatred, and violence. It tarnishes the image of 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide. It smears the record of Muslims serving positively and contributively in all walks of our local, state, and national life. Such calls are nothing short of shameful. They are as un-American as one can imagine. They need to stop.”

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations takes no position on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for office.

About the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations: Founded in 1983, the National Council is an American non-profit, non-governmental, educational organization dedicated to improving American knowledge and understanding of the Arab world. Information about the Council’s program, projects, events, and activities can be found at ncusar.org.