Director of the schoolcraft institute of internationalst here at the texas a m university. I would like to welcome our specialco event this evening wih kim ghattas who will speak on a recent book, black wave, saudi arabia, iran and the 40 year rivalry that unraveled culture, religion and collective memory in the middle east. I have to say i spent the weekend reading and did not quite get the right but cannot put it down because it wasnt so interesting. If you have not read it afterre this evening im sure you will try to get the book if you have not already but i would urge you to read at grade its absolutely fascinating and well written and well researched and a narrative flow to it anded its troublingi have to say but thats the purpose of the book. I would like to announce unfortunately that our event in todays with ambassador dennis ross who is another expert in the middle east is unable to come to College Station and had and so hisergency lecture wednesday evening will be postponed