booktv. he talks about the shifting alliances in the fight against isis and the u.s. government s relationship with the kurds and the current situation in syria. [inaudible conversations] good afternoon everyone and welcome on this very snowy day. this book roundtable with david phillips. i am professor of political science at barnard and deputy director for social sciences and programming. on behalf of of the hammer institute and columbia university and want to welcome you to this book launch, book conversation the kurdish spring a new map of the middle east authored by david phillips sitting here to your right. david is director of a program on peacebuilding and rights about the study of human rights. he has worked as senior adviser to the united nations secretariat and the foreign affairs expert and senior advisor to the u.s. state department. so positions, different academic universities conflict resolution program director at the american university program on confli