VZCZCXRO3509
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHKU #1416/01 1150823
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250823Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4114
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001416 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR R, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, IIP/NEA/SCA, NEA/PI, ECA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OEXC OIIP KMPI SCUL XF KU
SUBJECT: U.S. SPEAKER EVALUATION: PROF. CALVIN MACKIE EDUCATES 
KUWAIT ON STATUS OF NEW ORLEANS, STUDY IN THE U.S. 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. GPRA FY06Q3: April 18-19, target-of-opportunity U.S. Speaker Dr. 
Calvin Mackie informed Kuwaiti officials and the public of the state 
of reconstruction efforts in New Orleans.  During an intensive 
two-day visit, the award-winning engineering professor and Louisiana 
Recovery Authority member sought to initiate ties between 
institutions of higher education and research in New Orleans with 
Kuwaiti counterparts.  He thanked the government and people of 
Kuwait for their pledge of $500 million USD and $2.7 million in 
private donations following Hurricane Katrina.  In inspiring talks 
at Kuwait University and with ACCESS English-language students, he 
promoted higher education at America's premier universities and 
colleges.  Dr. Mackie's visit achieved significant press coverage 
and a guest spot on Kuwait TV's leading early morning news and 
current events program, "Good Morning Kuwait."  End Summary. 
 
Fostering U.S.-Kuwaiti Links 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2.  Dr. Calvin Mackie, an assistant professor of mechanical 
engineering at Tulane University and appointed member of the 
Governor of Louisiana's Recovery Authority (LRA) visited Kuwait 
April 17-21, 2006.  Professor Mackie thanked Kuwait for its 
extraordinary support following the devastation of his home state by 
Hurricane Katrina.  He articulated the current situation in New 
Orleans and the Gulf states to a range of Kuwaiti contacts and 
media.  A Morehouse graduate and alumnus of Georgia Tech University, 
the Presidential Award-winning motivational speaker, author and 
inventor encouraged Kuwaiti students to pursue their dreams and 
consider study in the U.S.  Dr. Mackie invited Kuwaiti institutional 
leaders to establish formal linkages between Kuwaiti research 
organizations and universities with corresponding institutions in 
the United States, particularly those situated in New Orleans. 
 
A Public/Private Venture 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  Dr. Mackie's trip to Kuwait was sponsored by Mr. James E. 
Johnson, an Alexandria, Louisiana native and Co-founder of XGI 
Consulting Solutions International.  His speaking tour coincided 
with the Embassy's National Day Celebration.  Dr. Mackie was 
recognized as a special guest at the April 18 event that showcased a 
Mardi Gras theme and was attended by well over 4,000 Mission 
contacts.  He also was regaled as the guest of honor at the initial 
concert of the New Orleans All-Star Brass Band during its return 
visit organized by the Public Affairs Section in coordination with 
Kuwait's National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters on April 17 
(septel).  Leaders of key research, research funding, investment, 
and philanthropic institutions, held productive meetings with Dr. 
Mackie, including: Dr. Nader Al-Awadhi, Deputy Director General of 
the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR); Dr. Hilal 
Sayer, Vice President of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS); Dr. 
Ali Abdullah Al-Shamlan, Director General of Kuwait Foundation for 
Advancement of Sciences (KFAS); and Mr. Hisham Al-Woqayan, Deputy 
Director General at the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. 
 
Engineering the Message 
----------------------- 
 
¶4.  Dr. Mackie delivered a compelling lecture before 40 
undergraduate students and their professors at Kuwait University's 
Department of Mechanical Engineering titled, "The Challenges of 
Rebuilding New Orleans and their Socio-political Ramifications," 
highlighting the powerful impact and significant role that engineers 
have within a democratic society.  Public Affairs organized a tea 
for Dr. Mackie to share his views with members of Kuwait's academic 
community, including the acting President of the American University 
of Kuwait, the President of the Australian College of Kuwait and a 
professor from Kuwait University's Engineering Department.  Dr. 
Mackie also presented a rousing motivational address to a select 
group of ACCESS students and instructors at AMIDEAST on the 
importance of education and pursuing one's dreams.  Mr. Sabah 
Al-Rayes, a Kuwaiti Tulane University engineering school alumnus and 
honorary citizen of Louisiana, introduced Dr. Mackie as his guest of 
honor at a lavish dinner and musical presentation at his residence 
attended by approximately 40 illustrious Kuwaiti guests.  Dr. Mackie 
concluded his trip to Kuwait with a luncheon at the chalet of Mr. 
Sheikhan Al-Farisi, father of MP Bader Al-Farisi, to thank him for 
his $1 million USD personal donation to Hurricane Katrina relief. 
 
Justification and Objectives 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Dr. Mackie's visit to Kuwait advanced the Embassy's goals to 
enhance mutual understanding, promote American society and values, 
and increase the number of Kuwaitis considering educational 
opportunities in the U.S.  This program is part of a broader 
strategy to accomplish these objectives through intensive and vivid 
 
KUWAIT 00001416  002 OF 003 
 
 
engagement with Kuwaiti target audiences.  Kuwaiti students and 
academics gained access to an impressive American educator in a 
field of specialization that is of primary importance to the Kuwaiti 
economy.  Dr. Mackie, a noted American author, celebrated 
academician, and inspirational speaker spoke knowledgeably and 
authoritatively about aspects of American society, politics, and 
academia that was of great interest to Kuwaiti interlocutors.  The 
Embassy seeks to unite organizations and institutions of higher 
education and research with their respective counterparts in the 
U.S. to promote the exchange of knowledge, people and resources and 
Dr. Mackie furthered that aim throughout his program. 
 
Eloquent Impact 
--------------- 
 
¶7.  Dr. Mackie effectively and dramatically engaged Kuwaiti leaders 
as well as diverse groups of students and faculty on recovery and 
rebuilding in New Orleans as well as on the importance of quality 
education in the U.S.  Using well-documented examples and graphic 
anecdotes that gave insight into the workings of American local, 
state and federal government, he clearly explained the status of the 
recovery and reconstruction efforts in the state of Louisiana and 
the city of New Orleans.  Through private meetings, lectures, 
presentations, and media events, Professor Mackie reached hundreds 
if not thousands of Kuwaitis with his message of hope and 
determination of the American people. 
 
Fomenting Bilateral Cooperation 
------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  At the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) on April 
18, Deputy Director Dr. Nader Al-Awadhi expressed great interest in 
establishing a mechanism for cooperation and partnership with 
American institutions.  Modeled after Bechtel Corporation, KISR is a 
scientific research center.  He stated that their institution has 
never had a true partnership or participated in a joint study with a 
reputable institute under Kuwait's environmental conditions.  The 
University of California-Santa Barbara graduate eagerly pointed out 
that KISR has seven Ph.D. and two master's degree candidates pursing 
their education at top U.S. universities.  He encouraged Tulane and 
other American universities to connect with KISR's Training 
Department to help Kuwaiti students pursue graduate degrees in 
engineering and other scientific fields in the U.S.  He stressed 
that Kuwaitis have deep, positive feelings for the American people 
due to their role in the 1991 liberation of Kuwait.  He commented 
that he would like to see greater cooperation similar to their 
collaboration with Japanese research institutions, particularly in 
the fields of environmental science, agriculture, fuel cell 
technology, urbanization, and energy conservation. 
 
The Power of Volunteerism 
------------------------- 
 
¶9.  Later that day, Dr. Mackie joined the Vice President of Kuwait's 
voluntary humanitarian society, the Red Crescent, Dr. Hilal 
Al-Sayer, in a roundtable discussion with Kuwaiti media.  During 
that meeting, Dr. Al-Sayer proudly indicated that Kuwait was the 
largest contributor worldwide to Hurricane Katrina relief.  (Note: 
Kuwait pledged $500 million USD, $25 million of which was delivered 
by then-Prime Minister and current Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed 
Al-Sabah.  The Kuwait Red Crescent Society also handed over $2.7 
million of donations from Kuwaiti private citizens.)  Answering 
press queries, the former chairman of the Surgery Department at 
Kuwait University and former dean of the Medical College recounted 
details of his visits to devastated areas of Louisiana and 
Mississippi and meetings with the American Red Cross.  Dr. Al-Sayer 
remarked that he had been moved most deeply by the spirit of 
volunteerism of the average American man-on-the-street during the 
disaster. 
 
Wanted: Joint Science Projects 
------------------------------ 
 
¶10.  On April 19, Dr. Mackie met with the Director General of the 
Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of the Sciences (KFAS), a 
research-funding institution.  The director enthusiastically 
welcomed cooperation with American universities.  In their 
conversation, Dr. Al-Shamlan highlighted existing linkages with 
Harvard University for top Kuwaiti executives from the public and 
private sectors.  An eminent and highly-regarded patron of the arts 
and sciences, Dr. Al-Shamlan, encouraged Tulane and Xavier 
Universities to submit research or project proposals in cooperation 
with KISR and Kuwait University for possible funding by KFAS, in 
water, environment, and health fields. 
 
Investment Opportunities 
------------------------ 
 
¶11.  Dr. Mackie also met with Mr. Hashem Al-Woqayan, Deputy Director 
of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Development.  This economic development 
 
KUWAIT 00001416  003 OF 003 
 
 
foundation provides loans, grants and humanitarian aid as well as 
technical assistance and services.  During their courteous and 
friendly exchange, Mr. Al-Woqayan pledged to raise the issue of 
investing in New Orleans reconstruction with the Kuwait Fund board. 
 
Teaching Success to ACCESS 
-------------------------- 
 
¶12.  Dr. Mackie delivered a rousing presentation to the 15 top 
ACCESS scholarship students at AMIDEAST, encouraging them to pursue 
excellence, study hard, and consider future education in the U.S. 
Using personal examples, he described taking pains to improve his 
reading and exam-taking skills to attend first-class universities 
and graduate with honors.  Dr. Mackie urged the students to pursue 
personal interests, remain devoted to their studies, and avoid the 
dangers of destructive distractions, such as drugs and alcohol. 
While persuading them to "aim for the moon," one female student 
expressed her interest in becoming an astronaut.  He gave her a copy 
of his inspirational book "A View from the Roof" and encouraged her 
to realize her dreams.  He pushed the students to be more 
competitive and exchanged emails with them so that he could follow 
their progress as their mentor and friend. 
 
Extensive Media Coverage 
------------------------ 
 
¶13.  Dr. Mackie's activities in Kuwait received positive coverage in 
all media outlets: 
 
Television: 
--Al-Rai satellite TV interview at the New Orleans All-Star Brass 
Band concert at the Abdul Aziz Hussein Cultural Center, taped on 
Monday, April 17, 2006. Broadcast on evening news. 
--"Good Morning Kuwait," television interview on Kuwait TV, 
broadcast live on Tuesday, April 18, 2006. 
 
Print:  April 19, 2006: 
--Al-Anbaa, p. 10, 1/8 page 
--Al-Rai Al-Aam, p. 5, 1/8 page, 1 photo 
--Al-Qabas, p. 4, 1/8 page, 1 photo 
--Arab Times, p. 2, 1/8 page, 1 photo 
--Kuwait Times, p. 5, 1/8 page, 1 photo 
--The Daily Star, p. 2, 1/8 page 
 
Cost Sharing 
------------ 
 
¶14.  Non-USG Funding: International air travel was funded by a 
Kuwait-based American corporate sponsor, XGI Consulting Solutions 
International. 
 
¶15.  USG Support: Public Affairs Kuwait organized Dr. Mackie's 
visit, arranged for his participation in the Mission's National Day 
event, and provided him with honorarium and per diem for two program 
days. 
 
LEBARON