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Radio spots focus on 9/11
Commission Report to quash lingering doubts
CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS
Saudi Arabia has launched two new
radio advertisements in 19 cities across the United States. These
radio ads, entitled "Speculation" and "Fear,"
highlight the recently released findings of the 9/11
Commission Report.
Both ads feature the 9/11
Commission's finding that there was "no evidence that the
Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials
individually funded the organization" Al Qaeda. The ads also
feature the commission's recommendation of a renewed pledge
between the United States and Saudi Arabia -- "A commitment
to fight the violent extremists."
"We want to put to rest the
charges that have been lingering around since 9/11 that the Saudi
government or Saudi officials have funded terrorism or
extremism," said Nail Al-Jubeir, Director of Information at
the Saudi Arabian
Embassy in Washington D.C., on CNN's "American
Morning" show on August 18. "I think the 9/11 report
from the commission vindicated us on this, and we want to make
sure that people in this country are aware of it."
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Other issues
addressed in the ads include the
controversy over the Saudi flights after 9/11. The
"Fear"
ad answers this question using the commission's finding
that "We found no evidence that any flights of Saudi
nationals took place before the reopening of national
airspace. We found no evidence of political intervention.
No one with known links to terrorism departed on these
flights."
The "Speculation"
ad addresses concerns that Saudi Arabia has done too
little, too late in combating terrorism. This ad uses the
9/11 Commission's finding that "The CIA learned
in the spring of 1998 that the Saudi government had
quietly disrupted bin Laden's cells in its country that
were planning to attack U.S. forces. They had arrested
scores of individuals with no publicity." |
Both radio ads end with the
statement: "A message from the people of Saudi Arabia. Strong
allies, committed friends."
"We have been allies for over
70 years," said Al-Jubeir, commenting about the ads' ending
message. "We worked together - through the thick and thin. We
were allies in the fight against extremism, against communism,
against socialism, whether it's in Africa, Central America, our
part of the world, and also in Afghanistan, to fight the Soviet
occupation. So, it goes longer.
"What detractors have been
saying is they're trying to define U.S.-Saudi relations based on
9/11 and as if the Saudi government has -- was fully complicit in
that attack. And, those ads are saying no, there's more to it.
This -- we have nothing to do with it, and this is what your own
commission is saying."
Thomas Lippman, author of Inside
the Mirage: America's Fragile Partnership with Saudi Arabia,
commented in an
interview with the Saudi-U.S. Relations Information Service,
"Probably the single most beneficial thing that has happened
to the U.S.-Saudi relationship in some time was the publication of
the 9/11 report. You can now stand there with the 9/11 report in
your hand and say, 'The Saudi Arabian government is not financing
or promoting acts of terrorism against the United States.'"
The new radio ads will run through
September 6 in select cities, including Washington, Dallas,
Chicago, and Boston.
BACKGROUND
Since the terror attacks of
September 11, 2001, Saudi Arabia has come under intense scrutiny,
especially in the media. The kingdom has been questioned as a U.S.
ally in numerous books and film. The film "Fahrenheit
9/11" casts the personal and financial ties between the Saudi
royal family and President Bush in a negative light while also
questioning the departure of Saudi nationals from the United
States following 9/11. The 9/11 Commission in its final report
found no impropriety in these flights.
Prince
Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in
late July following the release of the 9/11 Commission Report,
"The 9-11 Commission has put to rest the false accusations
that have cast fear and doubt over Saudi Arabia. For too long,
Saudi Arabia stood morbidly accused of funding and supporting
terrorism. In contrast to the insinuations of the infamous
Congressional report, with its 28 redacted pages, which aimed
at perpetuating these myths instead of investigating them
seriously, now there are clear findings by an independent
commission that separate fact from fiction.
"For too long, almost any
rumor about Saudi Arabia was accepted as truth and a rush to
judgment ensued. What the pundits and constant critics of Saudi
Arabia may not realize is that the image of Saudi Arabia they
tried to impress on the American psyche is in line with what the
terrorists themselves wanted to accomplish. And both pundits and
terrorists, through their actions, intended to sever ties between
our two countries and peoples."
Pat Buchanan, political
commentator, former presidential candidate and author of The
Death of the West, said in
a May 2004 American Conservative article [featured in the
Saudi-American Forum], "For much of the animosity
[towards Saudi Arabia] is coming from pundits who pride themselves
on hard-headed realism .. Saudi-bashing makes for good politics. Even
John Kerry has gotten in on the act. But there is a vital
interest here. Can anyone believe that if the Saudi monarchy
collapses in revolution the regime that rises in its place will be
as friendly to this country or that, in deciding whether to pump
or not to pump oil, it will be as receptive as the kingdom is
today to America's needs and requests?"
Saudi Arabia has countered these
allegations with media ads of its own. The latest radio ads, which
use the findings of the 9/11 Commission, are just two examples of
the kingdom's determination to rebuild its image with the American
people. Previously, Saudi Arabia has run print ads in various
newspapers. These print ads emphasize the kingdom's sympathy with
Americans over the 9/11 attacks while also affirming Saudi
Arabia's role as an ally with the United States in combating
terrorism.
The kingdom has released news of
its successes in the war on terror to also help counter
allegations in the media. In a 2003 report, the kingdom verified
that, "Since September 2001, Saudi Arabia has arrested more
than 500 individuals with suspected ties to terrorism."
Saudi Arabia has also incorporated
quotes from high-ranking U.S. government officials in some of its
public relations campaign ads. In one such example, President Bush
said in July 2003, "American and Saudi Arabia face a common
terrorist threat, and we appreciate the strong, continuing efforts
of the Saudi government in fighting that threat."
CONCLUSIONS
The two new radio ads released by
the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia aim to achieve maximum impact by
their timing and medium. They believe radio is the best way to
reach Americans in August and September when people are traveling.
Nail Al-Jubeir, at the Saudi
Arabian Embassy, said on CNN's "American Morning" show
on August 18, "What detractors have been saying is they're
trying to define U.S.-Saudi relations based on 9/11 and as if the
Saudi government has -- was fully complicit in that attack. And,
those ads are saying no, there's more to it. This -- we have
nothing to do with it and this is what your own Commission is
saying.
"The more people know about
Saudi Arabia, the less ammunition it gives to the enemies of the
relationship."
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