Ambassador Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida’ie confirmed that he has accepted an invitation to visit Eastern next school year, in principle.

“I have indicated my acceptance in principle,” Sumaida’ie said on April 14.

Sumaida’ie, ambassador of Iraq to the U.S., was invited to speak on topics of the Middle East at Eastern next school year by the Public Policy Foundation.

Before Sumaida’ie visits, he suggested students and faculty attending the forum look at Iraq’s history, not just the past few years.

“I would strongly recommend them to look at the ancient history of Iraq,” Sumaida’ie said.

He also said it would be good to come into the forum and look at the issues discussed with perspective of ancient Iraq.

Sumaida’ie said some of the “burning issues” of the Middle East are revolution, protests and Israeli-Palestinian problem.

“As you will have noticed, there is a wave of revolution and protest,” Sumaida’ie said.

An article titled “Hard-liners rally on Iraq anniversary” published in the April 10 edition of Herald&Review said Muqtada al-Sadr, a political leader, made a threat warning there would be “‘escalating military resistance’ by the Mahdi army” if U.S. troops do not leave by the intended date, Dec. 31.

Sadr’s political party currently has 40 seats in parliament of 325 seats.

“(Sadr) changed course and decided to change his militia into a political movement,” Sumaida’ie said. “He does have influence. He is by no means in control.”

As for U.S. military presence in Iraq, Sumaida’ie said most troops are not engaged currently and many withdrawn months ago.

“Most of them are just waiting to be withdrawn,” Sumaida’ie said.

He also said reconstruction efforts in Iraq shifted from the U.S. military to American embassy civilians.

As far as U.S./Iraq relations go, Sumaida’ie said Iraq is destined to have an on-going relationship with the U.S.

“I believe (the U.S./Iraq relationship) is not without its challenges, but it is there to stay,” Sumaida’ie said.

Sumaida’ie described future U.S./Iraq relations as “a mutually fruitful relationship.”

For students hoping to have a future career in international politics, Sumaida’ie said they should think of themselves as “a citizen of the world.”

“To be interested in international politics you really have to work on your world view,” Sumaida’ie said.

As ambassador, Sumaida’ie’s duties included presenting Iraq to the American Administration, dealing with congress, speaking to the American public through media and other forms and looking after the Iraqi community in the U.S.

He said his interests in politics were peaked by family.

“I was born in Iraq in a time when everybody had an interest in politics,” he said.

Sumaida’ie, who served as one of the leaders of opposition of Saddam Hussein, has also served as a member of the Governing Council in Iraq and Minister of Interior of Iraq.

Sam Bohne can be reached

at 581-2812 or