State of the Union and the U.S.-Saudi Relationship
January 31, 2006
In the annual State of the
Union Address last week President George W. Bush
touched on issues connected to the U.S.-Saudi
relationship. The January 31, 2006 speech
at the U.S. Capitol included remarks about Saudi
Arabia's efforts in the area of political reform
and comments about U.S. dependency on foreign
oil. The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the
United States, Prince Turki al Faisal, asked the
Administration for clarification of the the
President's comments about the Middle East as a
source for oil. This SUSRIS IOI captures
some of the comments that were made, in the
State of the Union, at the State Department and
by Prince Turki. We welcome your
comments on these items at the SUSRIS
Discussion Forum.
President Bush and the
State of the Union
United States Capitol,
Washington, DC
January 31, 2006
Political Reform
"..Our offensive against
terror involves more than military action.
Ultimately, the only way to defeat the
terrorists is to defeat their dark vision of
hatred and fear by offering the hopeful
alternative of political freedom and peaceful
change. So the United States of America supports
democratic reform across the broader Middle
East. Elections are vital, but they are only the
beginning. Raising up a democracy requires the
rule of law, and protection of minorities, and
strong, accountable institutions that last
longer than a single vote. The great
people of Egypt have voted in a multi-party
presidential election -- and now their
government should open paths of peaceful
opposition that will reduce the appeal of
radicalism. The Palestinian people have voted in
elections. And now the leaders of Hamas must
recognize Israel, disarm, reject terrorism, and
work for lasting peace. (Applause.) Saudi Arabia
has taken the first steps of reform -- now it
can offer its people a better future by pressing
forward with those efforts. Democracies in the
Middle East will not look like our own, because
they will reflect the traditions of their own
citizens. Yet liberty is the future of every
nation in the Middle East, because liberty is
the right and hope of all humanity. (Applause.)
Addicted to Oil
"..Keeping America
competitive requires affordable energy. And here
we have a serious problem: America is addicted
to oil, which is often imported from unstable
parts of the world. The best way to break this
addiction is through technology. Since 2001, we
have spent nearly $10 billion to develop
cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable alternative
energy sources -- and we are on the threshold of
incredible advances..
..Breakthroughs on this and
other new technologies will help us reach
another great goal: to replace more than 75
percent of our oil imports from the Middle East
by 2025. (Applause.) By applying the talent and
technology of America, this country can
dramatically improve our environment, move
beyond a petroleum-based economy, and make our
dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the
past. (Applause.)"
Complete
State of the Union Address
Saudi
surprise at Bush oil call
"..President George
Bush's call to reduce America's dependence on
Middle Eastern oil has sparked "serious
concern" in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's
ambassador to Washington has said.
"I
was taken aback," Prince Turki al-Faisal
told CNN television in an interview on Sunday.
He was commenting on Bush's State of the Union
speech last Tuesday in which he said America
needed to end its addiction to oil.
Expressing his surprise, al-Faisal said he had
brought up Saudi concerns over the speech with
White House officials.."
US State Department -
Washington, DC
Taken Question - Office of the Spokesman
Question Taken at the
February 3 Daily Press Briefing
SAUDI ARABIA: Ambassador's
Question Regarding the State of the Union
Address
Question: The Saudi
Ambassador to the U.S. requested clarification
about the President's call for reduced U.S.
dependence on foreign oil during the State
of the Union Address. Has the U.S. responded
to him?
Answer: The United
States and Saudi Arabia engage in bilateral
relations on an ongoing basis, and discussions
on energy are part of our ongoing Strategic
Dialogue. We would be happy to address any
questions it might raise about statements made
by the Administration or the President in the
course of these discussions.
As for the State of the Union
Address, the President's comments on U.S. energy
policy and reducing our dependence on foreign
oil were clear. A fact sheet on the Advanced
Energy Initiative can be found on the White
House web site.
2006/148
Released on February 3, 2006
U.S. POLICY ON ENERGY --
Excerpt from interview with Ambassador Turki al
Faisal on CNN's "Late Edition" with
Wolf Blitzer - Feb. 5, 2006 (more)
BLITZER: Here's what the president said
the other day. And I'm not going to play the
sound bite. You've heard it many times, but
basically, the president, in his State of the
Union address said the United States is addicted
to oil and this must stop. A lot of that
oil comes from your kingdom.
AL-FAISAL: Not true. Most of the oil you
receive comes from other places.
BLITZER: But a lot comes from Saudi
Arabia.
AL-FAISAL: We export to the United
States only 15 percent of the United States'
imports. I would hardly call that a lot.
BLITZER: So, how did you react when you
heard the president say the United States must
end its addiction to oil?
AL-FAISAL: Well, he went further than
that, actually, and said "Middle East
oil." I was taken aback and I raised this
point with government officials.
BLITZER; You were sitting in the chamber
when he said that.
AL-FAISAL: I was, indeed, and the next
day had a very good meeting at the White House
with National Security Council Director Stephen
Hadley. And we are talking through that issue,
both governments.
BLITZER: Well, what does that mean --
we're talking through that issue? Because, as
you know, you're developing your oil fields
assuming there's going to be an appetite for
that oil?
AL-FAISAL: And stemming from a joint
communiqué that came out of King
Abdullah's visit to Texas last year in which
both he and the president agreed on a joint
energy policy that includes the increase in
Saudi oil output and working together to
increase refining capacity to provide oil
products and so on.
It is something that is of serious concern to us
because oil is our major income earner.
BLITZER: So, what happens now? You and
Stephen Hadley, the president's national
security adviser met. Where do you go from
here?
AL-FAISAL: We're talking about these
issues and that's where we're going.
BLITZER: We have to leave it right
there, unfortunately. Mr. Ambassador, this was a
good discussion.
