I just want to welcome, joining us from Falls Church, Virginia, Ayad Jamal Aldin, who is the former deputy of the Iraqi Parliament and also a scholar. Glad that you could join us.
We're going to get you to make some opening comments. We've been in session now for about an hour and we're going to finish off the last hour. We've got a couple of other guests here so sir, I'll turn it over to you for your opening remarks and then we'll continue with our second round of questioning and continue on for the next hour.
Sir, the floor is yours.