America’s Interests in a Changing Middle East Part 1 Ussama Makdisi Rice University Tuesday, August 24 The Junior League 1811 Briar Oaks Lane Registration: 6.00 p.m. Program: 6.30 - 7.30 p.m. Members: Free Non-members: $20 Email: rsvp@wachouston.org Phone: (713) 522-7811

There is a striking shift in the power and relationships in the Middle East today. Turkey is looking outward and asserting a new influence in regional politics; Egypt is turning inward as domestic issues and the presidential elections next year take center stage. Iraq is more stable even while Yemen becomes more fragile and concern over Iran’s nuclear program is now shared by many in the region. What are America’s interests and responsibilities in the shifting sands of the new Middle East? This two part program will examine current US relationships and vital interests with views from distinguished Middle East experts, Ussama Makdisi, on August 24th and Haim Malka, on August 26th. Ussama Makdisi is a professor at Rice University. Dr. Makdisi is first to hold the Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies at Rice University. He was named a Carnegie Scholar in 2009. In his writings, Professor Makdisi reshapes the view of the history of America in the Arab world by exploring missed opportunities for cultural understanding, retrieving unused historical evidence, and juxtaposing Arab perspectives with American ones. He is an award winning author of three books. His writings have appeared in publications such as The Journal of American History, International Journal of Middle East Studies, and Middle East Report. His latest book, Faith Misplaced: the Broken Promise of U.S.-Arab Relations, 1820-2001, will be available at the lecture. Registration for this event has closed.