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Editor's
Note:
This compilation provides a
summary of SAF and SUSRIS interviews, essays, items of interest and special
reports distributed between April 1 and June 30, 2005.
We'd like to take this
opportunity to thank you for helping make the SUSRIS a top choice
for news, analyses, discussions and interviews concerning US-Saudi
relations. We appreciate your continued interest in receiving
SUSRIS newsletters, in recommending SUSRIS to your friends and
colleagues, in visiting the SUSRIS Web site and in participating in
on-line discussions.
News
in Depth - A New List, Continued Resolve: The War on Terrorism in
the Kingdom
[SUSRIS News in Depth - June 30, 2005]
"The
capabilities of the Saudi security forces are much improved over
what they were before May 2003. The Saudi efforts since then have
resulted in almost decapitating the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization
or network in Saudi Arabia. Almost every leader they put forward has
been taken out by the Saudis. In addition they have lost a lot of
their technical capabilities -- the expert bomb makers, tacticians,
recruiters and so forth.."
[Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Arabia, Iran and the Search for Regional Security
Abdulaziz
Sager, Arab News
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - June
28, 2005]
"..Throughout
their contemporary history, Saudi-Iranian relations have ranged
between cooperation and tension. Decision-makers in both countries
now clearly realize that their ties have generally been more of an
echo of external changes than an expression of national interests.
When the US policy was based on the twin pillar of Riyadh and Tehran
maintaining regional security, the ties between the two countries
were characterized by an unprecedented level of cooperation and
coordination. But after the revolution Tehran�s efforts were
directed at confronting its regional neighbors in general, and the
littoral states of the Arabian Gulf in particular. Accordingly,
there was unjustified interference in the affairs of some regional
countries with a view to instigating domestic, sectarian and
national contradictions.." [Complete Item - HTML]
The DCM's Perspective: A Conversation With Gary Grappo
Part 1
[SUSRIS Interview - June 22, 2005]
"..It truly is
a booming economy right now. There are extraordinary opportunities
-- probably akin to what it was in the early- to mid-seventies, and
the Saudis want us to be there.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Secretary
Rice Roundtable
with Saudi Media
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - June
21, 2005]
"..the Foreign
Minister and I had a chance to meet and we had a chance to develop
the agenda. We've agreed, first of all, on process that we will meet
-- he and I will meet, twice a year, so once in Riyadh and once in
Washington. ..the first meeting in Washington will likely be in
September.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Secretary
Rice, Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal Meet the Press
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - June
21, 2005]
"..Our two
countries share a long and deep history of friendship. We are allies
in war on terrorism and partners in the search for peace and
stability in the region. We also have strong and mutually beneficial
commercial and economic relations that we both are trying to
enhance.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Trade Mission: US Diplomat Shares Upbeat Assessment
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - June
19, 2005]
"The timing of
this trade mission could not be better. You've heard from a number
of speakers already that we have some extraordinary developments
occurring in the kingdom, which should be attractive to American
businesses.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Arabia is Ready for Tourists
Prince Sultan bin Salman bin
Abdul Aziz
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - June
15, 2005]
"I happened to
read an article titled �Are We Ready Yet to Welcome Tourists?�
in the Arab News (May 29). In the article the author Amr Al-Faisal
mentions some of the obstacles and difficulties facing our efforts
to promote tourism. While thanking him for showing interest in the
subject, we would like to clarify some points.." [Complete Item - HTML]
On
Doing Business: A Conversation with Omar Bahlaiwa - Trade Mission
2005
[SUSRIS Interview - June
14, 2005]
"..We
organized this trade mission not just because it is good business,
but we also believe Americans are friends of Saudi Arabia. We wanted
to extend our hands to them to show them that Saudi Arabia remains
open to our American friends.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Update
on Saudi Arabia
Khaled Al-Maenna - Middle East Institute
Policy Brief
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - June
11, 2005]
"..Al-Maeena found much cause
for hope and optimism. Saudis, particularly the younger generation,
desire an active role in society and demand innovative ideas and
approaches. Reforms and reformers are no longer branded
"un-Islamic" by the rightist "obscurantists,"
and society as a whole is more tolerant than before of new and
different ideas. Change and reform, while they may be slow in
coming, are remaking much of Saudi society.." [Complete Item - HTML]
A
Fresh Start in Saudi-US Relationship
Hassan Yassin, Arab News
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - June
9, 2005]
"..the meeting
between .. President George W. Bush and Crown Prince Abdullah, at
Bush's Crawford ranch .. may be seen as a .. defining moment, a
moment that underwrites the next half-century of Saudi-American
relations.. ..Today both sides have realized their mistakes and are
making real efforts to overcome their differences and
misunderstandings. A strong injection of constructive energy and
understanding was needed; standing together, Bush and Abdullah
provided it.."
[Complete Item - HTML]
2005
Trafficking in Persons Report Released
[SUSRIS News In-Depth - June 5, 2005]
"On June 3,
2005 the US State Department released the fifth annual Trafficking
in Persons (TIP) Report marked by a press briefing by Secretary of
State Condoleeza Rice and Ambassador John R. Miller, Senior Advisor
on Trafficking in Persons. The Congressionally mandated
report noted that Saudi Arabia was among four countries -- the
others are Kuwait, UAE and Qatar -- that were added to the list of
Tier 3 countries [see below for Tier Placements]. The
Tier 3 countries which can be sanctioned unless they take
"significant steps against trafficking" according to
Ambassador Miller were cited based on "their failure primarily
to make significant efforts to combat forced labor
trafficking." This SUSRIS NID provides background on the TIP
and news reports relating to the inclusion of Saudi Arabia on the
Tier 3 country list." [Complete Item - HTML]
With
Friends Like These
SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM
The Inside Story of the Saudi-U.S. Connection
by Gerald Posner, Reviewed by Thomas W. Lippman
[SUSRIS Interview - June 2, 2005]
Readers who were
persuaded by the intimations of skullduggery in Craig Unger's House
of Bush, House of Saud , which reached a wide audience via Michael
Moore's movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," will find their
suspicions reinforced; those who take a more nuanced view of Saudi
Arabia and U.S.-Saudi relations are likely to find Posner's book a
tendentious rehash of old material, repackaged to put the kingdom in
the worst possible light. [Complete Item - HTML]
Building
Bridges: A Conversation with Princess Loulwa Al-Faisal
[SUSRIS Interview - June 2, 2005]
"..the visit
of Prince Abdullah, our Crown Prince, with President Bush in
Crawford, demonstrated the very strong relationship between Saudi
Arabia and the United States. The trade between our countries has
quite a long history - more than half a century. At the moment the
economy in the Kingdom is doing extremely well and Saudi Arabia
decided to open up the new business prospects to investors -- not
just to Saudis, but international investors and, of course, American
investors.." [Complete Item - HTML]
On
Relations and Reforms:
A Conversation with Rachel Bronson
Part I
[SUSRIS Interview - May 31, 2005]
"The overall
US-Saudi relationship went through a very difficult period after
September 11th but at the highest levels, exemplified by the recent
meeting at Crawford, it is being repaired. That being said, it
is a very troubled relationship. There is a lot of frustration on
both sides. There is anger about September 11th, about what's going
on in the region, about who's responsible for terrorism and a host
of other issues.." [Complete Item - HTML]
The
Need for Education Reform - "Saudi System is the Problem"
by Rachel
Bronson and Isobel Coleman
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - May
31, 2005]
"Today
Saudi Arabia faces an education crisis. During our recent two-week
visit to the kingdom, the need for educational reform arose
repeatedly among parents, policymakers, journalists, religious
clerics and business leaders.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Open Letter
to Saudis
by
Tanya C. Hsu, Arab News
[SAF
Item of Interest - May 30, 2005]
Since Sept. 11, I have tried in
vain to explain the Kingdom to a country reluctant to understand or
listen, have been the target of attacks, and have had professional
difficulty for insisting on clarity on Saudi issues. It is
acceptable in the US to be anti-war, anti-Bush, or support the
Palestinians; it is not acceptable on either side of the political
spectrum to be �pro-Saudi�. That is �sleeping with the
enemy� or �hero worship�. [Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi Arabia,
the United States, and Political Reform in the Arab World
Philip Zelikow
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - May
25, 2005]
"..Americans
are deeply bound up in the modern history of the Kingdom. Saudi
Arabia developed its energy resources in close partnership with the
United States. Thousands of Americans contributed to the development
of the Kingdom's energy and economic infrastructure, and thousands
of Saudis came to the U.S. to take advantage of our world-class
education system. As the holder of approximately one-quarter of the
world's oil reserves, the Kingdom is obviously important to the
United States, and the rest of the world.."
[Complete Item - HTML]
21st
Century World Still Needs Saudi Oil
By
Martin Sieff
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - May
24, 2005]
"The continued
safety and stability of Saudi Arabia will remain a priority goal for
major industrial nations dependent upon continued supplies of
high-grade, easily-accessible petroleum for decades to come."
[Complete Item - HTML]
A
Man With A Mission: Khaled Al Seif Talks About US-Saudi Business
Relations
[SUSRIS Interview - May 23, 2005]
"The business
relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is an old
and historic relationship, which has been very beneficial for both
Saudis and Americans. Over the years America has been Saudi Arabia's
primary trading partner. Most of the things you see in Saudi Arabia
are a result of this relationship -- American technology starting
from oil exploration to infrastructure and public works.."
[Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Women Moving Up in Business
Remarks by Princess Lolowah
Al-Faisal
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - May
18, 2005]
"The
tremendous annual increase of female graduates that outnumbered male
graduates for the past 10 years, as well as the opening of new
positions for women in the market pushed for more expansion of the
role of the woman in the society in general and in business in
particular. It is clear, however, that the expansion of the
population, which caused more economic pressures, made more women
choose to establish their own businesses instead of staying at
home.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Trade Mission Receives Warm Welcome in US
by P.K. Abdul Ghafour
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - May 16, 2005]
"US officials
and businessmen have accorded a warm welcome to a 50-member Saudi
trade mission currently visiting American states to promote
investment projects worth SR2.33 trillion ($623 billion) in natural
gas, petrochemicals, water, electricity and other vital
sectors.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Mega Projects 2005 Conference
[SUSRIS News In-Depth - May 11, 2005]
"The three-day
Saudi Mega Projects 2005 conference ended yesterday urging Saudi and
foreign businessmen to make use of the huge investment opportunities
in the Kingdom, especially in oil, gas, petrochemicals, electricity
and railroad.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Crawford
Summit Perspective: A Conversation with Thomas Lippman
[SUSRIS Interview - May 9, 2005]
"it was clear
from Abdullah's personal performance and from the way he was
received at the ranch that a lot of the clouds that hung over the
relationship the last time he was here have largely dissipated. That
was partly because of the 9/11 commission report, and partly because
the Americans now believe that the Saudis have cracked down on
domestic terrorism and incitement. Also the American side
understands that the oil price increase is not Saudi Arabia's
fault.."
[Complete Item - HTML]
2005
Saudi Trade Mission Begins US Visit
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - May
6, 2005]
Saudi Arabia is offering investment
projects worth SR2.3 trillion ($613 billion) to American companies.
A 50-member Saudi delegation begins a visit to five US states
tomorrow to introduce the projects in petrochemicals, natural gas,
electricity generation, water desalination, telecommunications and
other vital sectors. [Complete Item - HTML]
Easing
Visa Restrictions? Ambassador Oberwetter Provides an Update on the
Relationship
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - May
4, 2005]
I hope that our
Saudi friends will be patient as they apply for their visas, but I
do encourage them to come to the United States even though it's a
little bit more difficult now than it might have been several years
ago. Please understand the reasons for it, but do come.. ..We want
to remain an open country, and we want to remain open to our Saudi
friends to come and visit us. U.S. Secretary of State Colin L.
Powell [Complete Item - HTML]
US-Saudi
Milestone
by
Robert W. Jordan
[SAF Item of Interest - April
29, 2005]
"..But our own
society evolved from now-forgotten days of witch hunts, slavery,
civil war, women's suffrage and violent civil-rights struggles. A
society that has only recently seen the rise of skyscrapers and
paving of superhighways can also evolve in its own way to an Islamic
state prepared to lead the Muslim world in the 21st century. Neither
they nor we have another 60 years to wait for that day." [Complete Item - HTML]
Will
We Ever Come of Age?
Abeer Mishkhas
[SAF Item of Interest - April
28, 2005]
The curtain has gone down on the
elections in Jeddah and for all interested and cynical people, they
are over. For those who do not like how things ended, they�ll have
to keep talking about it. It was no surprise, even if it had a
bitter taste, that the result of the elections was so diligently
pre-decided and predictable. The seven candidates on the so-called
�Golden List� swept to victory. The Golden List appeared a few
days before the election, was circulated in text messages and on the
Internet and bore the signatures of well-known religious scholars
who supported the seven candidates. The difference between those who
won and those who did not has provoked plenty of thoughts among
people. Someone said that Jeddah people were cynical about the
elections. And I cannot help but believe that they were. During the
voter registration period, over and over, we heard the comment:
�What elections? No thanks, not for me.� The comments confirmed
a basic skepticism that has sadly become part of our character. [Complete Item - HTML]
We
Welcome You, Abdullah Tells US Businessmen
Khaled Almaeena
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - April
28, 2005]
With his
characteristic directness and clarity, Crown Prince Abdullah
yesterday invited American businessmen to invest in Saudi Arabia,
especially in its gas and mining sectors. �Economic reforms in the
Kingdom have created a new investment-friendly environment that
welcomes investors,� he said.
[Complete Item - HTML]
Press
Briefing on the President's Meeting With the Crown Prince of Saudi
Arabia
[SUSRIS Special Report - April
26, 2005]
The Crown Prince comes to the United States as a friend and
long-standing ally who is committed to the relationship between the
two countries and is seeking ways to enhance it, strengthen it,
broaden it, deepen it and revitalize it. Our countries are facing
many challenges, whether it is the war on terrorism, where we face
the common enemy in Al-Qaeda; whether it is trying to broaden and
deepen economic ties between our two countries. And in this area,
the United States and Saudi Arabia are on the verge of concluding a
bilateral trade agreement which will allow Saudi Arabia to join the
World Trade Organization, God willing, before the end of the year. [Complete Item - HTML]
As
Saudi Visits, Bush Seeks Help on Lowering Oil Prices
by Richard W. Stevenson and Jeff
Gerth, New York Times
[SUSRIS Special Report - April
25, 2005]
When he meets at his
ranch here on Monday with Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia,
President Bush will confront one of his trickiest diplomatic
relationships. He will look for help on oil prices, try to find common
ground on the Arab-Israeli conflict and prod the crown prince to allow
more democracy at home , even as both sides struggle with deep strains
set off by the involvement of Saudis in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks,
American officials and analysts said. [Complete Item - HTML]
Third
Round Balloting Marks End of Landmark Elections
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - April
23, 2005]
"Candidates
endorsed by religious scholars swept the polls in Jeddah, clinching
all seven seats at stake.. ..The �Golden List� candidates�
widely anticipated win followed similar victories in holy cities of
Makkah and Madinah after voting on Thursday to elect half the
members of municipal councils in a landmark nationwide ballot.
Several western and northern regions were covered in Thursday�s
final round of elections, which began in the Riyadh region on Feb.
10." [Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Municipal Elections -- Round Three
[SUSRIS News In Depth - April
21, 2005]
A total of 244 seats
are up for grabs in today�s elections. In all, more than 4,600
candidates are courting the votes of some 333,000 Saudi men aged
over 21 who have registered to cast their ballots, according to official
estimates.
[Complete Item - HTML]
Militants
Losing Ground in Saudi Arabia: Gardner
Mohammed Rasooldeen, Arab
News
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - April
19, 2005]
BBC security
correspondent, Frank Gardner, who was seriously wounded in the
Kingdom when he was attacked by militants 10 months ago, said
insurgency in Saudi Arabia was on the back foot with the Saudi
security services gaining in confidence and skill. [Complete Item - HTML]
Insight
on the Kingdom
from the Author of Inside the Mirage --
A Conversation with Thomas Lippman -
Part 2
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - April
18, 2005]
We are
pleased today to bring you the second part of our recent
conversation with Mr. Thomas Lippman addressing developments in
Saudi Arabia and in the US-Saudi relationship. He is author of
"Inside the Mirage: America's Fragile Relationship with Saudi
Arabia," an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute in
Washington and former Washington Post Middle East bureau chief.
[Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Women Are Making Strides: Crown Prince
Raid Qusti, Arab News
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - April
14, 2005]
"Crown Prince
Abdullah said that Saudi women have started entering the mainstream
of national life and hoped that social attitudes toward them would
change for the better in less than five years. He also said
Saudi Arabia is working on achieving true democracy � democracy
that we want and aspire for � in the next 20 years.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Arabia's Progress in the War on Terrorism: A Conversation with
Anthony Cordesman - Part 1
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - April
11, 2005]
"Saudi Arabia
began dealing with al Qaeda as a threat really in the late 1990's --
long before 9-11. It has responded steadily over time to threats,
but it is also fair to point out that until May 2003 it really
didn't see this as an urgent internal issue. It was only then that
it began to restructure its security forces. They improved
cooperation between the security forces and the military. They
sought the kind of foreign help in intelligence support that could
improve their capabilities and produce better results.." [Complete Item - HTML]
Saudi
Arabia and the Struggle Against Terrorism
by Dr. Anthony Cordesman
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - April
11, 2005]
"The last few
weeks have confirmed the fact that Saudi counter terrorism forces
are becoming steadily more effective, that many of the leaders of Al
Qa�ida in Saudi Arabia have been captured, and that Al Qa�ida in
Arabia has not emerged as a major threat to the Kingdom's
stability.. ..The threat isn't over. The Saudi victory in Al-Rass
did not come quickly or easily. It took a three-day battle and Saudi
special forces, police, and security units took serious casualties.."
[Complete Item - HTML]
Women
of the Holy Kingdom
By Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
[SUSRIS Item of Interest - April
4, 2005]
Sharmeen
Obaid-Chinoy spent five weeks in Saudi Arabia filming a documentary
on the women's movement for the Discovery Times Channel.. "..My
first week in Saudi Arabia was an eye-opener. Jeddah looks just like
any other cosmopolitan city. Its wide boulevards and shopping malls
boast the likes of Gucci and Louis Vuitton � and almost every
American fast food chain. The streets are lined with BMWs and
Hummers. The Saudi government has imported hundreds and thousands of
palm trees from all over the world to turn its desert into an oasis.
But behind the glitz and glamour, I saw a country desperate for
political and social reform.." [Complete
Item - HTML]
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