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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
communiqu� 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.
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