Opening Remarks and Introduction: Arab-American Perceptions of U.S. Policy Toward the Middle East

Before proceeding, I would like to thank the staff of ADC and the World Affairs Council of Washington, DC for helping to publicize this event. And would like to tell our visitors a little bit about the Secretary's Open Forum.

Since its inception 35 years ago, the Forum has explored viewpoints that span the ideological spectrum. The Open Forum's Distinguished Lecture Series examines important questions related to U.S. national interests and features presentations by opinion leaders in government, private industry, academia, the media, and the NGO community. The views expressed by featured speakers are neither official positions of the U.S. Department of State nor those of the Secretary's Open Forum.

The topic to which we turn our attention today is of enormous importance to all Americans. In early January, upon Dr. Asali's return from Egypt and Jordan, he sent a thoughtful letter to me about challenges confronting U.S. national interests in the Middle East. "Choices made at this point in time in Washington," he noted, "may cast a long shadow on the 21st century."

In light of all that has taken place in the Middle East in recent weeks, including the peace plan put forward by Crown Prince Abdullah, General Zinni's mission, Vice President Cheney's recent consultations, and the Arab Summit in Beirut, today's program is especially timely. And here to share his views on Arab-American perceptions of U.S. policy in the Middle East is a highly respected opinion leader and I'd like to take a moment to tell you a little bit about him.

As President of ADC, Dr. Asali heads the largest Arab-American grassroots civil rights organization in the United States. He is also the Chairman of the American Committee on Jerusalem (ACJ), which was founded in 1995 to develop and promote educational and informational activities related to the heritage and future of Jerusalem.

Dr. Asali was born in Jerusalem and completed his elementary and secondary education there. He received a B.S. from the American University of Beirut (AUB) and a M.D. from AUB Medical School. After completing his residency in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at the Latter Day Saints Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dr. Asali practiced medicine in Saudi Arabi and Jerusalem before returning to the United States in 1973.

He was the Medical Director, Laboratory Director, and Chairman of the Board at the Christian County Medical Clinic and St. Vincent Memorial Hospital in Taylorville, Illinois, until he retired 2 years ago. He remains licensed to practice medicine in Illinois, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Dr. Asali is a long-time activist on Arab-American issues. He has served as the President of the Arab-American University Graduates and as a member of the board of directors of the Council for the National Interest (CNI). For the past 10 years, he has been a member of the Chairman's Council of ADC. He is the author of Expedition to Jerusalem (1990), Zionist Studies of Crusade (1992), and From Crusades to Zionism (1993).

Over the course of his extraordinary career, Dr. Asali has addressed numerous international conferences, Arab-American conventions, academic groups, and community gatherings and has made many appearances on American and international television and radio.

We are delighted and honored to have Dr. Asali here with us today. Please join me in welcoming him with a warm round of applause.