SUSRIS Annual Summary

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Special Report
January 1, 2009

SUSRIS 2008
Special Sections, Articles, Interviews, Special Reports

Editor's Note

It was another remarkable year in the course of the historic Saudi-US partnership that showed both the strengths and strains which accompany such a complex strategic relationship. The challenges covered the spectrum: governmental, political, military, business, academic and on an individual level but the enduring nature of the connections between Americans and Saudis was probably best summed up by Ambassador Ford Fraker, "For more than seventy-five years, the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have enjoyed a strong relationship founded on common interests and mutual respect.. ..Our relationship is deep and long-lasting, and it grows stronger every day."

In 2008 we strived to make SUSRIS a faithful chronicle of developments in these areas and we hope SUSRIS will continue to be helpful to you in keeping pace with the dynamic and important connections that are the Saudi-US relationship.

As we turn the page to a new year of providing the most comprehensive view of the US-Saudi relationship on the Internet we want to provide a compilation of SUSRIS production this year past – special topic sections, articles, interviews, and special reports. You can use this compilation to dig down into the SUSRIS web pages to find needed reference materials or just as a review of the year past.

We also want to start the year with the reflections of some of the voices who were heard in the “pages” of SUSRIS in 2008 on the broad range of topics covered here. We will continue to turn to them and countless others to provide you the unvarnished analysis and perspective on US-Saudi relations that you have come to expect here.

This is a 75-year relationship. One of the things that really impressed me when I arrived was the depth and breadth of the different relationships we had with the Saudis across a whole range of activities. I’m absolutely sure, that that’s why the relationship did not break after 9/11.

U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ford M. Fraker

There is clearly an effort now being made to facilitate evolutionary change in Saudi society as well as in the economy. There are a series of things going on in the Kingdom and Saudi Arabia is very much a part of the world, no longer as it once was, probably the most isolated society in the world. The Kingdom is looking to become more cosmopolitan, never to abandon its traditions, certainly not to compromise its religious principles but to adapt these to modern conditions.

Ambassador Chas Freeman

You know the United States has been our primary trading partner. Based on the historic patterns in the relationships about half of the new business should be going to Americans. But the way it is going Americans will not get even 10% of that. That’s a shame. We don’t want to see the dwindling of American participation. Our historic primary trading partner should continue to be the United States. I would like to just say to all American businesses they are more than welcome in Saudi Arabia and that the Saudi businesses would like to see them more involved and more engaged. If there are any hindrances we need to hear about it so we can help. We welcome their participation.

Saudi Businessman Khaled Al-Seif

King Abdullah’s greatest achievement is pushing the Kingdom kicking and screaming into the 21st century. He is trying to bring enormous economic growth to the Kingdom and he knows economic gains can only be achieved if he marginalizes the most conservative Muslim elements that are now in control of society. In the last three years, his main actions have been against these conservative elements.

Professor Jean Francois Seznec

Throughout history, preoccupation with differences between the followers of religions and cultures has engendered intolerance, causing devastating wars and considerable bloodshed without any sound logical or ideological justification. It is high time for us to learn from the harsh lessons of the past and concur on the ethics and ideals in which we all believe. Matters on which we differ will be decided by our Omniscient Creator on the Day of Judgment. Every tragedy suffered in today’s world is ultimately a result of the abandonment of the paramount principle enunciated by all religions and cultures: The roots of all global crises can be found in human denial of the eternal principle of justice.

King Abdullah

We hope you will share this compilation with your friends and colleagues and that you will support SUSRIS with your feedback and your recommendations to others to join the email list.

We thank you for your interest and support of SUSRIS. Happy New Year.

Index to SUSRIS Articles - 2008

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//2004 Index//2003 Index//

SUSRIS SPECIAL SECTIONS 2008

SUSRIS Special Sections 2006, 2007, 2008 Index (Click here)

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