National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Welcomes Ambassador (Ret.) Richard W. Murphy as New Co-Chair of International Advisory Board

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AMBASSADOR MURPHY HEADS COLLECTIVE OF NATIONAL COUNCIL ADVISORS GUIDING U.S.-ARAB RELATIONS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

 

Washington, D.C.: The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations [ncusar.org], founded in 1983, is pleased to announce that Ambassador (Ret.) Richard W. Murphy, one of America’s most accomplished Arabist statesmen, has been named Co-Chair of the Council’s International Advisory Board. The Board’s other Co-Chair is HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. While the International Advisory Board does not formally govern the organization, its members make suggestions and recommendations. They also provide strategic support to the Council’s Board of Directors together with its Founding President and Chief Executive Officer.

In announcing the appointment, National Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony and Board of Directors Chairman John Pratt stated, “We are honored that Ambassador Murphy has accepted Co-Chairmanship of the Council’s Advisory Board. The evidence of Ambassador Murphy’s exemplary record of public service is abundant and impressive. His command of Arabic and intercultural skills have been honed and tested for decades. His extensive empirical experience navigating the Arab region’s strategic and geopolitical challenges and opportunities is virtually unmatched. His integrity is beyond question. Ambassador Murphy will be an extraordinarily valuable resource and advisor as we work to continuously improve, strengthen, and expand the Council’s U.S.-Arab relations leadership development and bridge-building educational efforts.”

Ambassador (Ret.) Richard W. Murphy

Ambassador (Ret.) Richard W. Murphy

Ambassador Murphy served in the United States Foreign Service for 34 years. His early career postings in the Arab region included Beirut, Lebanon; Aleppo, Syria; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Amman, Jordan. From 1968-1971, he was Country Director for the Arabian Peninsula and Director of Personnel for the Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs.

In 1971, President Nixon appointed Ambassador Murphy as U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania. From 1974 to 1983, he served successively as Ambassador to Syria, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. Between 1983 and 1989, he held the highest possible position of any specialist in the United States Government with regard to the Arab region, the Middle East, and the Islamic world: Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs. During this period, he took an active role in the Arab-Israeli peace process.

In 1985, Ambassador Murphy was named Career Ambassador. Illustrative of the high professional esteem, innumerable accomplishments, and unrivalled prominence that this position reflects, it is a title held by only five of America’s thousands of diplomats serving at any given time.

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At the Cutting Edge: The National Council’s Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League

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National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President & CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony writes to students about what is possible through the National Council’s flagship student-focused initiative, the Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League. Please share with any students who might be interested in or benefit from this program.

Fall is upon us. September is back-to-school time. You and countless millions of other students are hitting the books.

What Do You Want to Do?

What are you seeking to achieve this academic year?

Do you envision yourself as a leader? What kind? Diplomat? Policymaker? Opinion formulator? Teacher? Military officer? Entrepreneur?

Whatever your answer, do you possess the necessary and essential skills that are characteristic of great leaders?

For instance, can you:

  1. Debate within 45 seconds;
  2. Speak clearly, rapidly, and effectively;
  3. Write clearly, rapidly, and effectively;
  4. Edit clearly, rapidly, and effectively;
  5. Deploy parliamentary procedure;
  6. Organize a coalition;
  7. Draft public policy resolutions;
  8. Cultivate respect among your peers; and
  9. Empathize with others’ needs, interests, and concerns?

This academic year, if you can manage to master only one of these vital leadership skills, you will never be the same as before. Imagine what you might be able to accomplish if you can learn to employ all nine!

Students utilize parliamentary procedure during Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League sessions

Students utilize parliamentary procedure during Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League sessions. Understanding and utilizing basic rules of meetings helps to train future leaders how to consider viewpoints and make decisions in a fair, consistent, and effective manner.

At the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, cultivating these skills in students has long been our focus. In no way are we new at this – educating and training the leaders of tomorrow is something we have done for decades.

The diamond in the National Council’s tiara, so to speak, is its Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League (YLDP/MAL). Like nothing else, the program prepares students to be knowledgeable, well-trained, and effective citizens as well as civic, private sector, and public affairs leaders.

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The War of 2003 & its Unintended Consequences for Iraq, the Middle East, and the United States

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On July 19, 2019, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations hosted a public affairs briefing in Washington, D.C., with Dr. Zuhair Humadi exploring “The War of 2003 and its Unintended Consequences for Iraq, the Middle East, and the United States.”

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations July 19, 2019 Public Affairs Briefing featured a conversation with international education specialist Dr. Zuhair Humadi.

The featured specialist was:

  • Dr. Zuhair Humadi, International Education Specialist; Former General Director, Iraqi Education Initiative.

A podcast recording of the program is available below.

 

 

“The War of 2003 & its Unintended Consequences for Iraq, the Middle East, and the United States” podcast (.mp3)

Book Recommendations on Iraq

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At a National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations July 2019 public affairs briefing with the Ambassador of Iraq to the United States, His Excellency Dr. Fareed Yasseen, a question was asked by an attendee about what books the ambassador and other specialists present might recommend to better understand the Iraqi people and society. Though generated in an ad hoc fashion and certainly non-exhaustive, the below list of books were identified during the discussion as helpful in beginning to explore Iraq’s vibrant contemporary dynamics.

Allawi, Ali A. The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/851982045
https://www.amazon.com/Occupation-Iraq-Winning-Losing-Peace/dp/0300136145

Batatu, Hanna. The Old Social Classes & The Revolutionary Movement In Iraq: A Study of Iraq’s Old Landed and Commercial Classes and of its Communists, Baʻthists, and Free Officers. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1978.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55856626
https://www.amazon.com/Social-Classes-Revolutionary-Movement-Iraq/dp/0863565204

Fernea, Elizabeth W. Guests of the Sheikh. New York: Doubleday, 1965.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1299671
https://www.amazon.com/Guests-Sheik-Ethnography-Iraqi-Village/dp/0385014856

Madaras, Edward F. Al Baghdadi: Tales Told By The Tigris. New York: Jesuit Mission Press, 1936.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1882815
https://www.amazon.com/Al-Baghdadi-tales-told-Tigris/dp/B002DIUREQ/

Makiya, Kanan. Republic of Fear: The Politics of Modern Iraq. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38079204
https://www.amazon.com/Republic-Fear-Politics-Modern-Updated/dp/0520214390

Marr, Phebe. The Modern History of Iraq (3rd Edition). New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2018.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1048757389
https://www.amazon.com/Modern-History-Iraq-Phebe-Marr/dp/0813344433

Thesiger, Wilfred. The Marsh Arabs. London: Longmans, 1964.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2132535
https://www.amazon.com/Marsh-Arabs-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141442085

Tripp, Charles. A History of Iraq (3rd Edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/657649733
https://www.amazon.com/History-Iraq-Charles-Tripp/dp/052170247X

Tripp, Charles. Islam and the Moral Economy: The Challenge of Capitalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/254354997
https://www.amazon.com/Islam-Moral-Economy-Challenge-Capitalism/dp/0521863775

Exploring the Iraq-United States Relationship

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On July 9, 2019, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations hosted a public affairs briefing in Washington, D.C., with His Excellency Dr. Fareed Yasseen focused on “Exploring the Iraq-United States Relationship.”

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations July 9, 2019 Public Affairs Briefing featured a conversation with His Excellency Dr. Fareed Yasseen, Ambassador of Iraq to the United States of America.

The featured specialists were:

  • His Excellency Dr. Fareed Yasseen, Ambassador of Iraq to the United States of America.
  • Dr. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO.

A podcast recording of the program is available below.

 

 

“Exploring the Iraq-United States Relationship: A Conversation with His Excellency Dr. Fareed Yasseen” podcast (.mp3)

Analysis of U.S. and GCC Tensions with Iran: Implications for Key American Policies

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On June 28, 2019, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations hosted a public affairs briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., focused on “Analysis of U.S. and GCC Tensions with Iran: Implications for Key American Policies.”

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations June 28, 2019 Public Affairs Briefing explored implications of ongoing tensions between Iran, the United States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The featured specialists included:

  • Mr. Norman Roule, Former National Intelligence Manager for Iran; United Against a Nuclear Iran Senior Advisor.
  • Ms. Kirsten Fontenrose, Former White House National Security Council Senior Director for Gulf Affairs; Sonoran Policy Group Vice President for Global Relations.
  • Mr. Phillip Cornell, Atlantic Council Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow; Former Saudi Aramco Senior Corporate Planning Advisor; Former International Energy Agency Special Advisor.
  • Mr. David Des Roches, Senior International Affairs Fellow, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations; Associate Professor, Near East/South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense.
  • Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk, Former U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Senior Military Advisor; Former Embassy of the U.S. in Saudi Arabia Defense and Army Attaché.
  • Dr. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO; U.S. Department of State Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy Subcommittee on Sanctions Member; only American to have been invited to each of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Ministerial and Heads of State Summits since the GCC’s inception in 1981.

A podcast recording of the program is available below.

 

 

“Analysis of U.S. and GCC Tensions with Iran: Implications for Key American Policies” podcast (.mp3)

Commemorating International Partnership: The National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial in Washington, D.C.

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On May 30, 2019, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations joined with The National Desert Storm War Memorial Association to host a public affairs briefing in Washington, D.C. on “Commemorating International Partnership and Statesmanship: Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and The National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial in Washington, D.C.”

Mr. Scott C. Stump, President and CEO of The National Desert Storm War Memorial Association, discusses efforts to build the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial, and the monument project’s current status.

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