Currently, Barbara Slavin is a Senior Fellow at the United States Institute for Peace. She has served as Senior Diplomatic Reporter for USA TODAY since 1996, with the responsibility of analyzing foreign news and US foreign policy. She has covered key issues including the US-led war on terror, American policy toward rogue states, the reform movement in Iran, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. She has also accompanied Secretaries of State on official travels, and reported from Libya, Israel, Egypt, North Korea, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Slavin received her bachelor's degree from Harvard University in Russian language and literature. Jump to Transcript

Dr. Wahid Hashim is an Associate Professor of Political Science at King Abdul Aziz University. Hashim has served as political consultant of the Okaz Organization for Press and Publication and supervisor of Okaz Newspaper’s International Department from 1998 to 2005. He writes for numerous Arab newspapers and magazines, including Al-Jazirah Newspaper and Saudi and Kuwaiti radio broadcasting. Hashim holds degrees from Arizona University, Colorado University, and King Abdul Aziz University. Jump to Transcript

Dr. Ibtisam Al-Kitbi is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at UAE University. Al-Kitbi serves on the boards of the UAE Society for Human Rights and the Arabic Organization for Transparency, and is also a member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Social Affairs – UAE. She has been on the Consultative committee for both the UAE Center for Strategic Studies and the UAE’s Federal National Council. Al-Kitbi holds a doctorate in political science from Cairo University. Jump to Transcript

Dr. Sami al-Faraj is President of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies, and an advisor to the Kuwaiti government on preparing for potential nuclear accidents in Iran. He advises the secretariat-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council in a similar capacity. Al-Faraj holds degrees from Oxford and Cambridge Universities as well as from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Jump to Transcript