On the heels of the 15th anniversary of the Iraq War and recently mounting tensions across the Middle East, the state of relations with Iraq and the U.S. are at a critical intersection. In addition to Iraq’s challenges with ISIS and the future of its federal system, larger Middle East issues such as the proxy war in Yemen, a looming rhetoric around withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, and recent strikes in Syria mean questions abound for U.S.-Iraq relations. How might anyone of these things affect security and diplomacy in the region? How will the current administration's policies, vision, and expectations evolve through so much transition in the State Department? Former Iraqi Ambassador to the U.S. Lukman Faily has said he believes the U.S. should continue to have a presence in the region, but “the scale and the type of relationship” between Iraq and America must be made clear. With the imminent defeat of ISIS a question has been coming up about the nature of the next chapter for security and prosperity in Iraq. Can terrorism and extremism be managed and is it possible to (with or without the presence and aid of the U.S.) to write a new narrative or rebuilding and stability? Join us for this engaging look at the horizon of U.S.-Iraq relations.

Copresented with Portland State University's Middle East Studies Center.

*Please note this event is free for PSU Students & Faculty with ID

Lukman Faily recently served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iraq to the United States from May 2013 until June 2016. He has been a high-profile spokesperson for his government and Iraqi affairs, engaging with members of Congress, academia and think tank communities. Regular appearances on English and Arabic TV and radio news and particularly active on social media. Frequently speaks at public events in Iraq, Washington and across the United States and United Kingdom. He served previously as Iraq’s ambassador to Japan for three years. He now provides some consultancy services for US and international companies on Iraqi and regional markets.

Ambassador Faily represents a rising generation of professionals, business leaders and civic activists who have returned to Iraq to help build the country’s fledgling a free-market democracy. He brings to his position extensive experience in diplomacy, leadership, negotiation, stakeholder management, crisis management, political analysis, policy recommendations, strategic planning, communication, business organization management and development, marketing, information technology and civic activism, as well as familiarity with Middle Eastern, oriental and Anglo-American traditions and institutions.

Ambassador Faily lived in the United Kingdom for 20 years and held management and leadership roles in the British affiliates of two American companies for over a decade. An active leader in the large Iraqi diaspora community, Ambassador Faily served as a trustee of several Iraqi NGOs while in the UK. He was an outspoken opponent of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship and advocated for democracy, dialogue, development and rule of law in Iraq.

Fluent in English, Arabic and Kurdish, Ambassador Faily was born in Baghdad in 1966. He is married to Lameis Faily and is the father of four boys and a girl. An avid runner, Ambassador Faily participated in a number of marathons including Tokyo in 2012 and 2013, and in the Boston and New York Marathons in 2014.