S4 Episode 7 - Interview with KRG's Foreign Minister, Mr. Safeen Dizayee

Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in the United States. In this second episode of season five, hosted by Delovan Barwari, we are honored to have a very special guest, Mr. Falah Mustafa.

Mr. Falah Mustafa, Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs to the President of Kurdistan Region, His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani, delves into the recent visit of the Kurdistan Region Presidency delegation to Washington DC. From navigating the complexities of Erbil-Baghdad relations to discussing potential US intervention to mitigate disputes, this conversation offers invaluable insights into Kurdistan's geopolitical dynamics.

Moreover, Mr. Mustafa shares personal reflections on his birthplace and memorable experiences visiting Washington DC, providing a unique blend of personal narrative and diplomatic analysis.

Join us on 'The Kurdistan in America' for engaging dialogue, expert analysis, and a deeper understanding of US-Kurdistan relations, along with valuable insights about the political situation in Iraq, Kurdistan, and the broader region.

Welcome to 'The Kurdistan in America' podcast, the official podcast of the KRG Representation in Washington DC, hosted by Delovan Barwari. In the Season Five kickoff episode, we are honored to welcome Dr. Yerevan Saeed, the Mustafa Barzani Scholar in Residence at American University and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute.

In this episode, Dr. Saeed shares his academic journey, including his impressive accomplishment of earning a PhD in Peace and Conflict Resolution from George Mason University. We'll also explore his role as the Mustafa Barzani Scholar in Residence.

We delve into Dr. Saeed's recent thought-provoking article in The Hill, titled 'America must stop treating the Kurds like temporary allies.' Our conversation goes deep into topics such as Iran's ballistic attack on Erbil, the U.S. response to these attacks, and the broader implications of America’s approach to Kurdish relations, all of which are highlighted in his article. Dr. Saeed also reflects on his hometown and his experience as a four-time refugee.

Join us for this enlightening discussion on Kurdish-American relations and the pressing geopolitical challenges of our time. Tune in now!

Welcome to a new episode of the 'Kurdistan in America' podcast, marking our twelfth and final episode of Season Four. We are honored to feature Ms. Bonnie Carroll, the president and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting families affected by military losses.

As we approach the new year, we'd like to take a moment to extend our warm wishes to our audience for a joyous holiday season and a New Year filled with hope and positivity.

Ms. Carroll, the surviving spouse of Brigadier General Tom Carroll, also served in the military, retiring as a Major in the US Air Force Reserve.

In her earlier civilian career, she served three Presidents in senior policy positions in Washington, D.C., lobbied on Defense and Aerospace issues, and was posted in Baghdad, Iraq from '03 to '04 during Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Advisor to the Ministry of Communications.

Her experiences in Iraq inspired a global network offering hope and healing to all those grieving a military loss. The connections she forged among widows and mothers of the Peshmerga and Iraqi Army laid the foundation for TAPS' research on supporting the enduring legacies of service and sacrifice—the families left behind.

Ms. Carroll was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, the highest civilian recognition in the United States, in 2015.

In this episode, Ms. Carroll shares her experiences in the U.S. military, her time in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the inspiration behind establishing TAPS International, and her perspectives on the Kurdish people.

Join us on this enlightening journey as she shares her remarkable life story. 

Welcome to a new episode of the 'Kurdistan in America' podcast, marking our eleventh episode of Season Four. We are honored to feature retired Brigadier General Ernest C. Audino, a renowned strategic military leader and a seasoned expert in national security and foreign policy.

General Audino serves as the District Director for U.S. Congressman Michael Waltz and as a Senior Military Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy. He is the only U.S. general officer to have served a full year as a combat advisor embedded inside a Kurdish Peshmerga brigade in Iraq and is authoring a book about this experience, emphasizing the Kurdish resilience and quest for freedom.

With a Bachelor of Science from West Point, two master's degrees, and a Juris Doctor, General Audino retired from the Army in 2011. 

In this episode, he discusses his motivations in Middle Eastern and Kurdish military affairs, the impact of the Israel-Gaza conflict on Kurdistan, U.S. deterrence in the region, and his perspectives on Kurdish Peshmerga forces. He also recommends policies for U.S. support of the Peshmerga and KRG.

Join us on this enlightening journey as General Audino shares his experience and knowledge, guiding us through the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, with a focus on Kurdistan and Iraq.

Welcome to another insightful episode of the "Kurdistan in America" podcast, our tenth episode of Season Four. We are privileged to have Dr. Michael Knights, a renowned Middle East expert from The Washington Institute, join us.

Dr. Knights is the Jill and Jay Bernstein Fellow at The Washington Institute, specializing in the military and security affairs of Iraq, Iran, and the Gulf states. He also co-founded the Militia Spotlight platform, offering in-depth analysis of the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

He earned his PhD from the Department of War Studies at King's College London.

In this episode, Dr. Knights discussed the challenges facing Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He offered his take on the potential role Washington can play in addressing the disputes between Erbil and Baghdad. Additionally, he shared his personal perspectives on the Kurdish people and stressed the importance of Kurdish unity.

Join us on this enlightening journey as Dr. Michael Knights shares his comprehensive knowledge, guiding us through the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

Welcome to another engaging episode of the Kurdistan in America podcast: our ninth episode of Season Four. We're honored to host a seasoned guest, Myles B. Caggins III.

Myles, a retired U.S. Army colonel, has transitioned into a crucial role as the spokesperson for The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan, known as APIKUR. His shift from a military realm to a pivotal voice in Kurdistan's oil sector is truly remarkable.

In this episode, we discuss the impactful halt in Kurdistan’s oil exports via the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline, following the International Chamber of Commerce ruling earlier this year. Myles explains its adverse impacts on both the Kurdistan Region's economy and the international oil firms operating in Kurdistan, while also shedding light on the broader geopolitical repercussions.

We delve further into discussing the essential steps required to mitigate these challenges, emphasizing Washington's potential role in fostering a conducive environment towards resolution.

Representing APIKUR, Myles extends a message of strategic resilience to the people of Kurdistan, illuminating hope during such economic challenges.

Join us, as Myles shares practical steps to help Kurdistan’s oil sector find stability in a challenging global setting.

Welcome to the eighth episode of Season Four of the Kurdistan in America podcast. We are delighted to have Dr. Nahro Zagros, the Editor-in-Chief of Kurdistan Chronicle, as our distinguished guest.

Dr. Zagros, previously the Vice President of Soran University, currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy in Washington, D.C. Beyond his academic achievements, he shares his insights on politics and culture through various local and international media platforms.

In this episode, our central focus revolves around Kurdistan Chronicle, journalism, and the crucial topic of press freedom in the Kurdistan Region. Moreover, Dr. Zagros also delves into the historical context of the Kurdish question in Iraq and the present-day dynamics in the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad.

Join us for an enlightening and engaging conversation as we explore the realms of journalism, democracy, and Kurdish politics.

Welcome to the seventh episode of Season Four of the Kurdistan in America podcast. We are honored to have Minister Safeen Muhsin Dizayee, Kurdistan Region's top diplomat and head of the Department of Foreign Relations, as our special guest.

With an impressive track record, Minister Dizayee previously served as the Chief of Staff to the former KRG Prime Minister, as well as the Spokesperson and Head of the Department of Media and Information, and the Minister of Education. He also held important positions in the Kurdistan Democratic Party, including as its Representative in Turkey and as its head of foreign relations.

In this episode, our focus centers on Minister Dizayee's current visit to Washington, where he shares insights into Washington’s policy towards Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as his assessment of the state of affairs between Erbil and Baghdad. 

Minister Dizayee also discusses the challenges confronting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and offers his formula for attaining a more stable Iraq and fostering a stronger Kurdistan Region. He also sheds light on the Department of Foreign Relations’ future plans.

Join us for an engaging conversation exploring diplomacy and governance with Minister Safeen Dizayee.

The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the Kurdistan Regional Government Representative to the United States, as its guest in episode 6 of season four.

Ms Abdul Rahman was appointed the KRG envoy to the United States in 2015 and is about to embark on a new chapter of her career in public service by taking on the role of advisor to Prime Minister Masrour Barzani for foreign affairs and climate change.

In this interview, Ms Abdul Rahman recounts her childhood in Kurdistan, Baghdad and Iran before moving to the UK as a refugee. She describes her successful career as a journalist in the UK and Japan, working for the Financial Times among other newspapers, and her transition to a career in diplomacy, first in London and then Washington.

The KRG envoy’s father, Sami Abdul Rahman, was a veteran of the Kurdish freedom movement and played a critical leadership role in the Kurdish and Iraqi opposition to Saddam Hussein’s regime. He was killed alongside his elder son Salah and more than 100 others in a twin suicide bombing in 2004.

Our conversation covers Representative Abdul Rahman’s personal journey, her reflections on some of her achievements in the past eight years in Washington and what drives her passion for public service.

The Kurdistan in America podcast is proud to present an interview with two special and distinguished guests, a father and son, in the fifth episode of Season Four. We are honored to have Ariel Sabar, an acclaimed author, and Professor Yona Sabar, the central figure of Ariel’s book, ‘My Father's Paradise.’

In this episode, we hope to deepen our understanding of the history of the Jews in Kurdistan and explore the vibrant diversity and cultural heritage of Kurdistan, with its various ethnic and religious components.

Our conversation with Ariel Sabar covers a wide range of topics, offering insights into the motivation behind writing ‘My Father's Paradise’ and Ariel's personal journey that compelled him to undertake this extraordinary project.

Professor Yona Sabar, Ariel's father, shares his heartfelt memories from Kurdistan and discusses his lifelong dedication to the preservation of the Aramaic language and Kurdish-Jewish heritage through his academic contributions. With over 80 scholarly articles and numerous books to his name, including ‘The Folk Literature of the Kurdistani Jews’ and ‘A Jewish Neo-Aramaic Dictionary’, Professor Yona Sabar's expertise hard to match.

Ariel Sabar is not only an accomplished author but also an award-winning journalist. ‘My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for his Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq’ was awarded the National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography. His latest book, ‘Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man, and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife’, garnered critical acclaim as a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best True Crime Book of the year and the Investigative Reporters and Editors Book Award. Smithsonian Magazine also recognized it as one of the best books of the year.