Akbar Ahmed

planning a better long-term US foreign policy.

line up of expert speakers. All those interested in attending should see the link above to register for what will surely be a fascinating conversation concerning the legacy of the past 20 years of American interventionism intended to combat terrorism and the path forward in

impacts of US drone strikes on these societies and the ways in which drone warfare has contributed to the sense of resentment which has led so many to join those fighting the US and our allies across the Muslim World.

me - out of all the distinguished scholars with knowledge of the region - as a foremost expert on the tribal nature of Afghan and Pakistani society, referencing my 2013 book 'The Thistle and the Drone' which includes 40 case studies from Morocco to Central Asia and examines the

it brings me much joy to see how warmly 'Gems and Jewels' has been received by Kristiane and other distinguished figures in journalism, the Muslim world, and academia.

above picture and wrote "With your beloved daughter today! She was kind enough to bring her book for me, so I am now the proud owner of Gems and Jewels and it’s taken pride of place on my coffee table.” I am very proud of Dr. Hoti and all the effort which went into this book, and

know that both Rabbi Lustig and I deeply miss him as one of our world's greatest scholars and bridge-builders.

"great teachers," as each of us had developed a close relationship through our efforts to improve interfaith relations, especially between Jews and Muslims. November will mark one year since the passing of Rabbi Lord Sacks, a true lover of knowledge, faith, and humanity, and I

Afghanistan and other theaters in the war against terrorism and to promote better relations between nations. Rather than one of destruction and force, our message needs to emphasize education and the development of Afghan society.

will take the form of drone strikes rather than the deployment of "boots on the ground." It is crucial that the US heed the lessons of the past decade of military drone usage - which are comprehensively covered in my book - if we are to successfully chart a new path forward in

group of promising young students from throughout the Muslim world. With the withdrawal of American ground forces and in-country air resources such as those previously housed at Bagram Air Base, it looks all but certain that future American military intervention in Afghanistan

and swiftly - with wisdom and a willingness to learn from past errors- to counter the threats we face now and in the days to come. We must learn from the blunders which have landed us at the Kabul airport.

relationship going forward, and it is the responsibility of American Muslims and all others to do what we can to ensure our nation does not repeat the mistakes of the past. Whatever America does next, it must act compassionately towards those who need our help, and move precisely

hostages. We cannot and should not expect anything from the Taliban. They have been and still are the enemy of America and the West . As I have previously repeated, it is the responsibility of our government to utilize the American Muslim community in the US-Afghanistan