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SALISBURY, MD---¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ hosts the symposium “The U.S. and the Middle East: America’s Troubled Moment” 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Friday, October 5, in the Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons Assembly Hall.

    The event addresses the current socio-political and economic complexities of U.S.-Middle East relations. It particularly focuses on the increasingly active U.S. role in the region during the presidency of George W. Bush, which brought about an unprecedented enthusiasm for political transformation in the Middle East.

Issues are viewed from multiple perspectives including history, political science, literature, film, conflict analysis and geography. Topics and presenters include:

9:30 a.m. - Opening remarks with Drs. Emin Lelic, symposium organizer, History Department; Maarten Pereboom, dean, Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts; and Emily Story, History Department chair

10-11 a.m. – “Film and Literature” panel (chair: Kevin Birch, History Department)

•    “Scheherazade on Capitol Hill: Fairy Tales, the War on Terror and the Politics of Enchantment” with Dr. Ryan Habermeyer, English Department

•    “U.S. Portrayals of Middle Eastern Wars in Film” with Dr. David Johnson, English

11:10-12:40 p.m. – “U.S. Policy and Consequences” panel (chair: Dr. Michael McCarty, History)

•    “Simple Minds: The Fault and Folly of Contemporary U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East” with Dr. Leonard Robinson, Political Science Department

•    “In the Footsteps of Empire: U.S.-Middle East Relations” with Lelic

•    “A White House Perspective on the Middle East” with Dr. Dean Kotlowski, History Department

1:10-2:40 p.m. – “U.S. Models of Conflict Intervention” panel discussion with Dr. Brian Polkinghorn, Robert Becker and Dr. Ignaciyas Soosaipillai Keethaponcalan, Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution Department (Chair: Dr. Belen Vicens Saiz, History Department)

4-5 p.m. – “Middle Eastern History and Geography” panel (chair: Tegwa Fadl Alla, Modern Languages and Intercultural Studies Department)

•    “U.S.-Middle East Relations During the Cold War Era” with Dr. Joseph Venosa, History

•    “U.S. Foreign Policies and Cities of the Middle East” with Dr. Amal Ali, Geography and Geosciences Department

5:10-6:40 p.m. – Veterans panel with SU community members David Garcia, Kenneth Forest and Matthew Blades (chair: Shannon Hardester, SU Registrar’s Office veterans and special populations coordinator)

Following the talks, the College of William and Mary Middle Eastern Music Ensemble performs beginning at 7 p.m. Optional activities also include a Middle Eastern lunch in the Commons.

    Admission to the talks and concert is free, and the public is invited. Participants may attend the full symposium or individual sessions.

For more information email Lelic or visit the SU website.