SPECIAL REPORT
April 26, 2009

Big Stuff Is Up

Last week we reported on the "US-Saudi Relations in a World Without Equilibrium" forum set for Monday, April 27 in Washington. Today we are pleased to share an excerpt from an insightful scene-setter blog post from Steve Clemons, of the New American Foundation. In it he recounts much of the "big stuff" going on and how the US-Saudi relationship "lies at the nexus of many key issues" in the region. We invite your attention to the entire posting at the link below. The conference agenda follows and it can be viewed on-line live on The Washington Note from 8:45 am until 4:00 pm (ET) on Monday, 27 April, with some segments airing on C-Span.

The forum was organized by the New America Foundation/American Strategy Program and the Committee for International Trade (CIT) of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce.

Link:
The Washington Note - US-Saudi Relations in a World Without Equilibrium 

US-Saudi Relations in a World Without Equilibrium
Steve Clemons, New America Foundation

"..Because of cultural dissimilarities and almost a purposeful "remoteness" that has become institutionalized in the US-Saudi relationship, except when behind closed doors -- or perhaps in the privacy of the oval office or big estates here or there, or in Riyadh -- the US-Saudi relationship remains "overly exotic" -- and is not acted out in public view to the degree it should be.

"The conference that follows below will hopefully become a starting point for a more regular, public exchange of views on the key strategic and economic challenges that face the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the broader Middle East and international system.

"Whether many Americans want to acknowledge it or not, the fact is that the US-Saudi relationship is vital to America's geostrategic and geoeconomic interests today -- and like all diplomatic frameworks between key geostrategic players, this relationship as seen from both the American and the Saudi sides has warts and shortcomings. Nonetheless, it is not healthy to allow a vital relationship to be perceived and discussed through only very narrow lenses.

"What we have coming up on Monday is pretty significant in my view, and I am grateful to officials in the Obama administration and in the Saudi Kingdom -- as well as other private sector speakers -- for supporting the kind of open encounter we are promoting in this meeting.."

Link:
The Washington Note - US-Saudi Relations in a World Without Equilibrium

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