Category Archives: US-Arab Relations

National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Conference and Awards Gala Bring Together Top Policymakers

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By Ms. Paige Peterson and Dr. William Lawrence

National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Conference and Awards Gala Bring Together Top Policymakers
HRH Prince Turki Bin Faisal, H.E. Mohamed Abou El Enein, Edward Benes, Special Envoy Timothy Lenderking, Paige Peterson, Dr. Abderrahim Foukara, and Judith Miller

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations celebrated its 32nd annual conference and gala awards ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on November 12 and 13, 2024. The event boasted an all-star gathering of policymakers, diplomats, humanitarians, media icons, educators, and future leaders to discuss world affairs in the context of the new U.S. presidential administration.

Among the leaders and dignitaries who contributed were His Royal Highness Prince Turki Bin Faisal of Saudi Arabia, General David Petraeus, World Central Kitchen’s Chef José Andres, KSRelief Founder and Supervisor General His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Ambassador James Jeffrey, His Excellency Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian parliament Mohamed Abou El Enein, U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking, His Excellency Samy Gemayel of Lebanon, CEO of Leo A. Daly Edward Benes, Al Jazeera DC Bureau Chief Dr. Abderrahim Foukara of Morocco, National Council President H. Delano Roosevelt, 60 Minutes producer and author Chris Whipple, ABC Chief Correspondent Charles Glass, Pulitzer prize winner Judith Miller, Atlantic columnist Dr. Hussein Ibish, Dr. Jay A. Levy (who co-discovered and named the HIV virus) and Pulitzer, Polk and Peabody Award winner Dr. Laurie Garrett.

The evening of November 12 began with a cocktail reception accompanied by a masterful oud performance by Maestro Muath Edriss and featuring Khaled Al Mawlawi’s Sufi whirling dance performance.


Maestro Muath Edriss welcomes guests in the Ronald Reagan Building atrium


Maestro Muath Edriss on the oud and accompanying musicians serenading guests


Khaled Al Mawlawi performing a Sufi Whirling Meditation


Before the gala awards dinner, Washington DC Bureau Chief of Al Jazeera Dr. Foukara interviews U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking


National Council Founder Dr. John Duke Anthony greets H.E. Dr. Al Rabeeah (foreground) with John Pratt, Fadi Hilani, Cynthia Anthony, and Pat Mancino in a circle (left to right)


Out on the street, President H. Delano Roosevelt greets HRH Prince Turki Bin Faisal (center) with (left to right) Paige Peterson, Dr. Naila Al Sowayel, and H.E. Abou El Enein.


Dear friends Dr. Naila Al Sowayel and Paige Peterson beelining towards the atrium


President H. Delano Roosevelt, National Defense University Deputy Commandant Ambassador John Desrocher, and Special Envoy Lenderking share a moment


Elizabeth Dahouk, National Council Board Treasurer Elizabeth Wossen, and Pam Kiser


National Council Board Member Oliver Zandona greets old friend


Jasmine Eden and Marwa Ghumrawi at the welcome gathering


Ragad Aljouaid and her sister Saudi Defense Attaché representative Alhanouf Aljouaid and National Council Area Studies Director Dr. William and Bouchra Lawrence


Patrick Mancino, H. Delano Roosevelt, Bruno Damieno, Carol and Stefano Deleidi, Elizabeth Wossen, Jasmine Eden, and Fadi Hilani heading into dinner


HRH Prince Turki and Paige Peterson welcome Brigadier General Abdullah Alammar (left) and Chris Whipple (right) to dinner

At the gala dinner, National Council President H. Delano Roosevelt welcomed the attendees and introduced remarks by Sarah Dodd, winner of the John Duke Anthony Award for outstanding contributions to the Council’s summer internship program. Dr. Foukara then delivered profound remarks on both Middle Eastern humanitarian issues and world affairs that were among the highlights of the conference.

The Council then awarded both KSRelief and H.E. Dr. Al Rabeeah global health and humanitarian leadership awards for their inspirational work implementing projects in over 170 countries and for Dr. Al Rabeeah’s trailblazing success separating 61 sets of conjoined twins, more than anyone on the planet. The gala and conference included two sets of moving remarks by Chef Andres, recorded live among flood victims in Valencia, Spain. At the dinner, these remarks focused on his remarkable collaboration with KSRelief and Dr. Rabeeah.

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Middle East Update at Mid-Year 2024

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On June 13, 2024, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations hosted a discussion titled “Middle East Update at Mid-Year 2024.” The program featured former United States diplomats Ambassador (Ret.) Michael Gfoeller and Mr. David H. Rundell. It was moderated by Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk, with Mr. Patrick Mancino, Executive Vice President of the Council, joining them for the proceedings.

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialists:

Moderator:

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

Introduction:

  • Mr. Patrick Mancino, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Executive Vice President and Director of Development.

The discussion can be viewed on the National Council’s YouTube channel.

A Day at West Point: Forging Alliances, Connecting Cultures

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By Paige Peterson and Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk

The United States Military Academy at West Point stands among the foremost institutions globally for cultivating leaders. Those within the esteemed Long Gray Line uphold the ethos of “Duty, Honor, Country,” leading in various spheres, whether in uniform or beyond. Beyond rigorous academic and physical challenges, West Point instills essential military proficiencies crucial for success in today’s intricate landscape of war and peace, fostering a commitment to excellence and national service among cadets as future Army officers.

Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk and I serve on the Board of Directors of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. We joined fellow members from the National Council – Board Chairman John Pratt and Executive Vice President & Director of Development Patrick Mancino – for a recent visit.

We first explored the Malek Visitors Center, an essential stop when entering the Military Academy at West Point. The center features seven exhibit areas, including two movie theaters, and 20 exhibitions. A nine-minute film, West Point – The National Treasure, plays every 20 minutes.

“The Long Gray Line,” in its simplest definition, encompasses all graduates and cadets of the military academy. The phrase signifies the unique bonds connecting every graduate to those who came before and those who will follow. It symbolizes the demanding four-year journey experienced by all cadets, a period of instruction steeped in tradition and largely unchanged since its inception. The term evokes the image of the gray cadet uniforms worn by generations of young individuals, enduring the discomfort of itchy wool fabric and stiff collars—a tradition integral to West Point’s pageantry. This shared tradition is reflected in the resilience of outstanding American leaders, including two U.S. presidents, numerous generals, industry leaders, and over 80 thousand graduates who have led our Army’s soldiers as young officers.

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Carolinas Committee on U.S.-Arab Relations Spring 2024 “NEWSLINES”

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Cover of the Spring 2024 NEWSLINES newsletterThe 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 2024 “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
  • Highlights from the 2024 National University and Southeast Regional Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League conferences; and also
  • A story about interfaith dialogue in Spartanburg, South Carolina; together with
  • A book review of Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict by Oren Kessler.

DOWNLOAD “CCUSAR NEWSLINES (Spring 2024)” [PDF]

A U.S.-Yemen Case Study in Safeguarding Antiquities and Cultural Heritage Amidst Conflict

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On April 30, 2024, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations hosted a discussion on “A U.S.-Yemen Case Study in Safeguarding Antiquities and Cultural Heritage Amidst Conflict.” The program explored successful collaboration in working for the protection and preservation of Yemen’s cultural heritage.

 

 

Featured Specialists:

The discussion can be viewed on the National Council’s YouTube channel.

Community Connections in Asir: Prince Turki and Maha, King Khalid University, and the Abha Football Club

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has mountains, beaches, coral reefs, grasslands, forests, all in addition to the largest sand sea in the world. Its human history can be traced back more than 7,000 years.

Its land area is larger than some might imagine — Saudi Arabia is approximately the combined size of France, Spain, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom (twice), Greece, and Portugal. More than three times larger than the state of Texas, it is roughly equal in size to all the states east of the Mississippi River.

Saudi Arabia is the 13th largest nation in terms of land area. The Kingdom is four times the size of France, western Europe’s largest country.

The area of modern-day Saudi Arabia formerly consisted of four distinct historical regions: Hejaz, Najd, Alhasa, and Asir. The Asir Mountain Range runs north and south parallel to the Red Sea on the southwestern coast of Saudi Arabia. Asir means ‘difficult’ in Arabic, reflecting the challenge involved in crossing the area’s mountains.

Asir has a short border with Yemen and a coastline on the Red Sea. It is the fourth largest region in Saudi Arabia and encompasses four thousand villages. There are more than 2.2 million residents. The Asir Region is the size of Austria and has the highest average rainfall in Saudi Arabia.

When I was the Executive Vice President at the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, I traveled to Saudi Arabia several times.

In 2019, the Kingdom opened its doors and actively started encouraging tourism as part of its Vision 2030 strategic initiative. Increasing numbers of visitors are now discovering that Saudi Arabia is unexpectedly diverse. I couldn’t wait to return.

I had the opportunity to spend time exploring Saudi Arabia with the purpose of photographing and writing about my experiences. Tourism and travel help to bridge people, time, and cultures, leading to deeper understanding. I had the privilege of visiting Riyadh, AlUla, Madain Saleh, Tabuk, NEOM, Jeddah, Taif, Jubbah, Hail, Al Khobar, Dammam, Al-Ahsa, and Abha in the Asir Region.

The enrichment in visiting different regions and landmarks was enhanced by meeting many extraordinary people along the way. While the stunning landscapes, sweeping vistas, pristine beaches, and fascinating history bring the mind wonder, connecting with new friends and seeing the strong sense of community in the Kingdom feeds one’s heart and soul.

This is the story of meeting Maha, visiting one of Saudi Arabia’s prominent public universities, and attending a celebration of sport and community.

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Dr. Fadi Hilani: Bridging Cultures Through Academia and Analysis

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In the world of academia and foreign policy analysis, Dr. Fadi Hilani stands as a bridge between cultures, bringing together his expertise in linguistics, Middle East policy, and U.S. relations with the Arab countries. Appointed in 2023 as the Senior Academic and Research Fellow-in-Residence at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, Dr. Hilani continues to delve into critical issues shaping the Arab Gulf region, including most recently an analysis of the growth of esports in Saudi Arabia, and rethinking strategies of defense, security, and economics.

man in a dark suit smiling in front of a navy blue backdrop

Dr. Fadi Hilani

Dr. Hilani’s diverse background in academia sets a strong foundation for his current role. Before joining the National Council, he served as a professor of linguistics at institutions such as Aleppo University in Syria, Isra University in Jordan, and Montclair State University in New Jersey, U.S.A. His journey also includes mentoring students across different countries, offering guidance on thesis writing, and other academic pursuits.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hilani’s scholarly contributions have extended beyond the classroom. He has lent his expertise as a peer reviewer for academic journals, including Research on Language and Social Interaction and Multilingua: Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication. His research interests have centered on Arabic conversation analysis, shedding light on the nuances of communication within the Arab world.

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Looking Ahead: What to Expect in the Middle East in 2024

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On February 8, 2024, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations hosted a discussion titled “Looking Ahead: What to Expect in the Middle East in 2024.” The program featured former United States diplomats Ambassador (Ret.) Michael Gfoeller and Mr. David H. Rundell. It was moderated by Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk, with Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt, the President and CEO of the Council, joining them for the proceedings.

The specialists provided analysis on the prospects of U.S. engagement with Iran and its proxies in the region after the recent deaths of three U.S. military service members in Jordan in an attack by the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization militia. The specialists also discussed the war in Gaza and prospects for a ceasefire agreement, looking in particular at U.S. diplomacy and Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s fifth visit to the region since the events of October 7, 2023.

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialists:

Moderator:

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

Introduction:

The discussion can be viewed on the National Council’s YouTube channel.