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Tuesday, 12-8-2009 Iraqi Priorities: A luncheon and conversation with Samir Sumaida'ie, Iraqi Ambassador to the U.S. Resources and Further Reading for Samir Sumaida'ie Event Samir Sumaida'ie , Iraqi Ambassador to the United States Moderated by Ryan Crocker, former United States Ambassador to Iraq What are the strategic priorities for the Iraqi government and how are those goals being met? How should the Obama administration continue to define its policy priorities in Iraq over the short and long term? How has the change in U.S. foreign and defense policy affected Iraqi governance, security, and development? The World Affairs Council presents Ambassador Samir Sumaida’ie, Iraqi Ambassador to the United States since April 2006. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador Sumaida'ie, he served as Permanent Representative to the United Nations from July 2004 - April 2006, as the Minister of Interior in Baghdad, and as a member of the Governing Council in Iraq. He has also held positions on the Security, Finance, and Foreign Relations Committees. Ambassador Sumaida'ie was born in Baghdad and resided there until 1960. He graduated from Durham University in the United Kingdom with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965. He then returned to Iraq to work with the Baghdad Electricity Board and Iraqi Petroleum Company before leaving the country in 1973. Prior to the removal of the Baathist regime under Saddam Hussein, Ambassador Sumaida'ie was actively involved in opposition efforts in the United Kingdom. As a founding member of the Association of Iraqi Democrats and the Democratic Party of Iraq, he is widely renowned as an expert on the political climate in Iraq. In addition, Ambassador Sumaida'ie is an entrepreneur and a designer. Ryan Crocker, former United States Ambassador to Iraq, was confirmed as Ambassador to Iraq on March 7, 2007. He assumed Chief of Mission duties at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on March 29, 2007 after serving as U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan from October 2004 to March, 2007. He served previously as the International Affairs Advisor at the National War College, where he joined the faculty in 2003. From May to August 2003, he was in Baghdad as the first Director of Governance for the Coalition Provisional Authority. He was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from August 2001 to May 2003, and served previously as Ambassador to Syria (1998-2001), Ambassador to Kuwait (1994-1997) and Ambassador to Lebanon (1990-1993). Since joining the Foreign Service in 1971, he also had assignments in Iran, Qatar, Iraq and Egypt, as well as Washington. He was assigned to the American Embassy in Beirut during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and the bombings of the embassy and the Marine barracks in 1983. The World Affairs Council is a non-partisan, non-profit organization which provides a forum for speakers representing diverse points of view. The opinions expressed by any and all speakers, presenters and/or guests at Council events are those of the speaker alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the World Affairs Council members, staff, Board of Trustees, or Advisory Council.
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11/25/09