Can Lebanon Be Saved?

On March 10, 2022, the National Council convened an online program, “Can Lebanon Be Saved?”, exploring a recent policy brief from the American Task Force on Lebanon and the Middle East Institute, Helping the Lebanese People Move Toward Recovery: Recommendations for U.S. Policy.

 

 

Joining the program were:

Welcome:

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

Featured Specialists:

  • Ambassador (Ret.) Edward Gabriel, American Task Force on Lebanon President and CEO; Former United States Ambassador to Morocco (1997-2001).
  • Ms. Mona Yacoubian, United States Institute of Peace Senior Advisor for Syria, the Middle East, and North Africa; Former United States Agency for International Development Middle East Bureau Deputy Assistant Administrator.

Moderator:

  • Mr. Jean AbiNader, American Task Force on Lebanon Vice President for Policy; International Programs and Communications Specialist.

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

“Can Lebanon Be Saved?” podcast (.mp3)

An Emerging Axis: Strategic Trends Between Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China

On February 24, 2022, the National Council convened an online program exploring “An Emerging Axis: Strategic Trends Between Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China, and What it Means for the Middle East.”

 

 

Joining the program were:

Context Provider:

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

Featured Specialists:

  • Mr. David H. Rundell, Author of Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads, Former United States Diplomat, and National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations International Advisory Board Member.
  • Ambassador (Ret.) Michael Gfoeller, Former United States Diplomat, and Consultant on Foreign Affairs and International Security.

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

“An Emerging Axis: Strategic Trends Between Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China, and What it Means for the Middle East” podcast (.mp3)

Cutting Edge Trends and Indications: Raghida Dergham’s Perspective

2022 is underway. So, too, is the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ work in pursuit of its ongoing mission: education.

To this end, the National Council (ncusar.org) is delighted to share [LINKED BELOW] the first of what, for the 39th year, is scheduled to be a continuum of the Council’s series of insights and analyses. A diverse and complex array of issues – among them dynamics related to Iran, Russia, and other phenomena pertaining to America’s relations with the Arab region and beyond – are examined and addressed herein. The author is the renowned international affairs specialist, Ms. Raghida Dergham.

Ms. Dergham, a Member of the National Council’s International Advisory Board, is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Beirut Institute. The Institute is an international, non-partisan, and non-governmental public policy research organization.

King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies Chairman HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, Ms. Dergham’s fellow National Council International Advisory Board Member, is a Member of the Institute’s governing board and Co-Chair, together with Ms. Dergham, of the Beirut Institute Summit in Abu Dhabi.

A Trailblazer

Ms. Dergham is also a columnist for The National (UAE) and Annahar Al Arabi. Simultaneous to serving as President of the United Nations Correspondents Association, she was a Columnist, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent, and New York Bureau Chief for the London-based Al-Hayat for 28 years.

In addition to serving as a frequent political commentator for major U.S. television networks, Ms. Dergham was for eight years an exclusive political analyst for MSNBC.

A pioneer for women in international media, Ms. Dergham is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Among them is a special recognition from the National Council, presented at the Council’s 27th Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference in October 2018.

Ms. Dergham is no stranger to supporters of the National Council’s programs, projects, events, and activities. Particularly notable have been her roles in the Council’s Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conferences.

The National Council’s 30th Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference – Whither U.S.-Arab Relations? Unnerving Uncertainties Amidst Complex Realities and New Possibilities – was held this past November 17-18, 2021.

General (Ret.) David Petraeus and Ms. Raghida Dergham at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations' 2019 Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference.

General (Ret.) David Petraeus and Ms. Raghida Dergham at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ 2019 Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference.

For four years in succession (201820192020, and 2021), Ms. Dergham has conducted hour-long interviews and exchanges with former CIA Director and previous U.S. Central Command Commanding General David Petraeus (who, like herself, is a fellow Member of the National Council’s International Advisory Board). She has also chaired and served as a resource specialist for other Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference sessions.

In doing so, as in the informed analysis presented herein, Ms. Dergham has furthered the National Council’s role as an educational clearinghouse. She has thereby enhanced our awareness. She has improved our knowledge. And, she has strengthened our understanding.

“Of what?” one might ask.

It is this: she has enhanced, improved, and strengthened our ability to comprehend more clearly and accurately a range of challenges and opportunities pertaining to U.S. interests and involvement in the Arab region, the Middle East, and the Islamic world.

For that and more, we are in her debt.

Dr. John Duke Anthony is the Founding President & CEO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations.

[Ms. Raghida Dergham’s TwitterFacebook, and LinkedIn profiles contain updated links to her latest writings and commentary.]

Read from Raghida Dergham:

 

Despair Is Forbidden. We Must Not Fear.

By Raghida Dergham

الإحباط ممنوع والمهم ألاّ نخاف

 بواسطة راغدة درغام

Surveying Geo-Political Dynamics in Arab North Africa: What Implications for the United States and the Region?

On January 27, 2022, the National Council convened an online program “Surveying Geo-Political Dynamics in Arab North Africa: What Implications for the United States and the Region?”

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialist:

  • Dr. William Lawrence, American University School of International Service Professor and C&O Resources Senior Advisor; Analyst, Educator, International Programs Director, and Former Diplomat.

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.

“Surveying Geo-Political Dynamics in Arab North Africa: What Implications for the United States and the Region?” podcast (.mp3)

Iraq Update: A Conversation with Ambassador Dr. Fareed Yasseen

On December 15, 2021, the National Council convened an online briefing program titled “Iraq Update: A Conversation with His Excellency Dr. Fareed Yasseen, Ambassador of Iraq to the United States.”

 

 

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:

  • 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.

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.

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

The Lebanese Cause

On October 5, 2021, the National Council convened an online program on “Unpacking Lebanon’s Crisis: Assessing the Leadership Failings Causing the Current Human Calamity.”

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialists:

  • Ms. Daizy Gedeon, Writer and Director of ENOUGH! Lebanon’s Darkest Hour; Journalist, filmmaker, and entrepreneur.
  • Mr. Ziad El Sayegh, Civic Influence Hub, Executive Director – Lebanon; Specialist in public policy and refugee issues.

Moderator:

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

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.

“Unpacking Lebanon’s Crisis: Assessing the Leadership Failings Causing the Current Human Calamity” podcast (.mp3)

How to Grow U.S.-GCC Trade, Economic Cooperation, and Investment Opportunities?

On September 21, 2021, the National Council convened an online program exploring “How to Grow U.S.-GCC Trade, Economic Cooperation, and Investment Opportunities?”

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialists:

  • Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt, U.S.-Saudi Business Council President and CEO; Former Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce Chairman.
  • Mr. Christopher Johnson, Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce Chairman; Attorney based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; KKR Saudi Limited Chairman.
  • Mr. Robert Hager, American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar Founding Chairman; Attorney based in Doha, Qatar.
  • Mr. Steve Lutes, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Middle East Affairs.
  • Ms. Sarah Karle, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Director of Middle East Affairs.
  • Ms. Liz Beneski, American Chamber of Commerce in Abu Dhabi Chief Executive Director.
  • Ms. Mary McGinnis, American Chamber of Commerce in Bahrain Executive Director.
  • Mr. Fred Shuaibi, American Business Council of Kuwait Board Member.

Moderator:

  • Mr. Mike Jones, Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce Washington, D.C. Representative; Capitol Capital Group, LLC Founding President.

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.

“How to Grow U.S.-GCC Trade, Economic Cooperation, and Investment Opportunities?” podcast (.mp3)

Why Egypt Should Be Your Next Destination: A Conversation with H.E. Ghada Shalaby

On September 9, 2021, the National Council convened an online program, “Why Egypt Should Be Your Next Destination,” to explore Egypt’s vibrant locales and the many renowned sites that showcase its rich cultural heritage.

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialist:

  • H.E. Ghada Shalaby, Egypt’s Vice Minister for Tourism Affairs at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Welcome:

  • H.E. Motaz Zahran, Ambassador of Egypt to the United States.

Moderator and Context Provider:

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