Washington DC |April 6th, 2009 | www.adc.org | The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is proud to present a panel on “US Foreign Policy in the Middle East” during the upcoming ADC Annual National Convention. This year‘s convention, “From the Grassroots to the Nation‘s Capital; Change for Our Future,” will be held from June 12 to 14 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
ADC has secured a special Convention hotel rate of only $149/night single or double occupancy. You can reserve a hotel room at our rate here or you call the hotel directly to 202-737-1234 to take advantage of this special ADC Convention price and be sure you mention code AAAA.
Click here to register for the Convention at an early-bird rate of only $199 which includes entrance to this panel and all the other Convention events, including all meals, parties and workshops.
As one of many educational panels at the ADC Convention this year, this discussion addresses one of the most pressing concerns of our day. Joining Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), ADC is pleased to confirm Professor John Mearsheimer; distinguished author of the New York Times Bestseller on the Israel lobby and its influence on US foreign policy and co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago, and Professor Saad Eddin Ibrahim; founder of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies in Cairo, Egypt.
The panel will address important questions about the role the United States should play in the region, addressing the Israeli/Arab conflict, relations with the Arab and Muslim worlds and questions surrounding the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Confirmed speakers joining us on this panel to provide informed and unique perspectives on these questions and more are:
Congressman Keith Ellison: Congressman Ellison (D-MN), representing Minnesota‘s 5th district, is the first Muslim American elected to congress. Recently Congressman Ellison joined the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and serves on the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. He has consistently been an advocate for a just peace in the Middle East and posed important and tough questions as a committee member. Recently, Congressman Ellison along with congressional colleague Brian Baird (D-WA) traveled to Gaza after the war to view firsthand what had taken place. Upon their return, Congressman Baird and Ellison shared the stories of destruction with other members of congress and the public. Congressman Ellison will discuss findings from his trip to Gaza during this panel.
Professor John Mearsheimer: Professor Mearsheimer is a renowned scholar of international relations and great power politics. He is currently the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science and the co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1982. Professor Mearsheimer, along with colleague Stephen Walt at Harvard University, sought to understand US support for Israel which is often against the US national interest. The results of their inquiry were an extensive book on the Israel lobby and its influence in American foreign policy. The book, a New York Times Bestseller, generated much discussion on the US role in the conflict and the region in general.
Professor Saad Eddin Ibrahim: Professor Ibrahim is the founder of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies in Cairo, Egypt, an independent research institution dedicated to promoting democratization and accountable government in the Middle East. Trained as a sociologist, Professor Ibrahim is well known for collections of critical essays, articles and books on Arab society and government.
More panelists may be added and complete bios of panelist will be available for viewing on our convention website. Also, stay tuned for more announcements in the coming days about other exciting panels, newly confirmed speakers, and events at the ADC Annual National Convention.