Political Islam and the United States: A Necessary Engagement

Political Islam and the United States: A Necessary Engagement
Emile Nakhleh CCGA/file
Political Islam and the United States: A Necessary Engagement
Emile Nakhleh CCGA/file

Political Islam and the United States: A Necessary Engagement

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America’s relations with Islamic countries have long been fraught. Emile Nakhleh makes the case that public diplomacy and policy toward Arab and Islamic nations must be reassessed and renewed. To do so requires serious, coordinated, high-level commitment and the recognition that American national interests and security hinge on such action.

Emile Nakhleh was a senior intelligence service officer and director of the political Islam strategic analysis program in the Directorate of Intelligence at the Central Intelligence Agency. He was awarded several senior intelligence commendation medals, including the Intelligence Commendation Medal (1997), the William Langer Award (2004), the Director’s Medal (2004) and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal (2006). Prior to joining the CIA, he taught for 26 years and was the John L. Morrison Professor of International Studies at Mount St. Mary’s University. He’s widely recognized as an expert on political Islam in the Middle East, political and educational reform, regime stability and governance. He holds a B.A. from Saint John’s University, an M.A. from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. from American University. He is the author of the book A Necessary Engagement: Reinventing America’s Relations with the Muslim World.

Recorded Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at Fairmont Hotel.