Special Report
March 31, 2006

SUSRIS Quarterly Summary
A Review of January - March 2006 Production

This compilation provides a summary of SUSRIS articles, interviews, essays, items of interest and special reports distributed between January 1 and March 31, 2006.

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.  

Perspectives on US-Saudi Relations 
from Foggy Bottom: A Conversation with Ambassador C. David Welch

Assistant Secretary C. David Welch has served as the head of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in the U.S. State Department since March 2005, following about three and a half years as U.S. Ambassador to Egypt.  His Foreign Service career has included numerous postings in the field (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Pakistan) and in Washington (Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau he now heads, desk officer for Syria and Lebanon, staff member at the National Security Council and Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs) that have prepared him well for his present job -- overseeing US foreign policy and diplomatic relations in 18 countries stretching from Morocco to the Arabian Peninsula.  SUSRIS talked with Mr. Welch about the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the challenges that confront them in his office at the State Department.  From his current perspective as the top American diplomat focused exclusively on the region and with his background as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Kingdom, including two years as Charges d'Affaires, he provided a rare insight into issues facing the countries.

18th Arab Summit - Khartoum, Sudan
Preview
March 26, 2006

"Arab leaders who gather for yearly summits have enough trouble dealing with the Middle East�s running disputes. But this week�s Arab League meeting in Khartoum takes place amid a build-up of crises that have left the region even more turbulent than usual, and the search for a meaningful consensus among leaders more elusive.." 

US Joint Chiefs Chairman in the Kingdom
General Peter Pace Confers with Saudi Leaders
March 24, 2006

General Peter Pace, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs, visited Saudi Arabia this week for discussions with the Kingdom's leaders about cooperation in military affairs.  The Chairman, the first US Marine Corps officer to hold the position when sworn in last September, is the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. The top U.S. general met with Saudi Arabian leaders here yesterday and discussed cooperation between the United States and the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia and the WTO
Samba Office of the Chief Economist
March 18, 2006

The Office of the Chief Economist of Samba regularly produces reports on the Saudi Arabian economy that are timely, accurate, and clearly written and illustrated. SUSRIS has been privileged to share summaries of these reports with you in the past. Today we are pleased to provide the Summary section from the just- released "Saudi Arabia and the WTO" report.  It is featured on the Samba Web site in the " Economy Watch" section. 

Saudi Arabia and Congress: Understanding the Tension
David T. Dumke
March 15, 2006

In our recent interview with Prince Turki al-Faisal, the new ambassador to the United States talked about one of his missions in America being the relationship with Congress: "Our severest critics are in the Congress. And that is part of my brief from the King when I was coming here. I asked him how do you want me to deal with President Bush and the American people and he said, 'Just be frank with them.'�

A Conversation with Saudi Arabia's New Ambassador to the United States - Prince Turki al-Faisal

Saudis Look East for Higher Studies
March 13, 2006

Last April President George W. Bush and King Abdullah, then Crown Prince, met at the Western White House in Crawford, Texas to discuss the broad range of issues attached to the Saudi-US relationship. In the joint statement following the visit they said, "The United States and Saudi Arabia agree that our future relations must rest on a foundation of broad cooperation. We must work to expand dialogue, understanding, and interactions between our citizens." First among the elements of the expanded dialogue was an increase in the number of young Saudi students to travel and study in the United States.  There have been efforts to realize this goal such as the award of 5000 scholarships from the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education for Saudis to study in the United States. However, there are still hurdles to increasing the number of Saudi students traveling to America. Topping the list of complaints is the trouble getting visas. In December SUSRIS presented an article by Joel Brinkley in the New York Times outlining the problems. It noted that US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Oberwetter advised visa applicants to be prepared to wait eight weeks for an interview.  Today P.K. Abdul Ghafour writing in Arab News updates the story of Saudi students seeking higher education with his article, "Saudis Look East for Higher Studies."

Death of a Deal - The Reaction Begins
March 10, 2006

Arab News Editorial -- "Yesterday's vote in a US House of Representatives committee blocking a Dubai company from running six major US ports was not about stopping foreign companies from running US ports. It was a specifically anti-Arab move. US politicians did not have a problem when British-owned P&O operated the ports. But now that an Arab company, Dubai Ports World, is buying out P&O, it is a different matter. It is glaringly, provocatively anti-Arab."

Franco-Saudi State Visit - President Chirac in Riyadh
March 10, 2006

French President Jacques Chirac conducted a three day state visit to Saudi Arabia to promote Franco-Saudi relations in a wide range of fields -- political, financial, military, cultural -- through discussions with King Abdullah, an address to the Consultative Council, art exhibit visits and press briefing.

The Impact of the Abqaiq Attack on Saudi Energy Security
Khalid R. al-Rodhan
February 28 , 2006

We are pleased to share a quick look report prepared by Khalid R. al-Rodhan, visiting scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.  In "The Impact of the Abqaiq Attack on Saudi Energy Security" he provides a comprehensive discussion of the security of Saudi energy resources and facilities and the specifics of the February 24 attack at Abqaiq. 

Terrorist Attack at Abqaiq Oil Facility Thwarted

Saudi Oil Facilities: Al-Qaeda's Next Target?
John C. K. Daly
February 24 , 2006

Judging by al-Qaeda's pronouncements, an attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities seems to be only a matter of time. "Such an attack would be more economically damaging than a dirty nuclear bomb set off in midtown Manhattan or across from the White House in Lafayette Square.. ..[and] would be enough to bring the world's oil-addicted economies to their knees, America's along with them."

Secretary of State Rice and Saudi Foreign Minister 
Saud al-Faisal - Remarks to the press in Riyadh
February 23 , 2006

King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz, as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, received a letter from President Bush shortly before the visit of Dr. Rice to Saudi Arabia. In his letter, President Bush stressed the depths of bilateral relations and the importance attached to developing it as being agreed between the two leaders in Crawford in the United States. These meeting developed into the formation of the Strategic Dialogue Committee which aims at putting the bilateral relations within an institutional framework.  The meeting of Dr. Rice with the Custodian of the Holy Mosques today was a good opportunity to review these issues and to exchange views on regional and international developments, including the Palestinian issue and the peace process in the region.

Prince Turki al-Faisal Talks With Charlie Rose

Earlier this month Prince Turki al-Faisal talked to CNN's Wolf Blitzer about a number of issues of the day including the cartoon controversy, the tragic loss of a ferry sailing from Saudi Arabia to Egypt and other concerns shared by Americans and Saudi Arabians. This week Prince Turki returned to American television, this time on Public Broadcasting's Charlie Rose interview show. It was just one of a number of recent public appearances that permitted him to, as he put it, "try to explain what Saudi Arabia is, where it comes from and where it is going."

Saudi Renaissance
Afshin Molavi
February 14, 2006

Afshin Molavi has penned an insightful essay on the promise of Abdullah bin Abdulaziz as the new King of Saudi Arabia. Molavi, a fellow at the New America Foundation, lays out an argument that the "reform-minded" Abdullah is well suited to the task of righting the Kingdom's course on a host of domestic issues and to "help build a modern Muslim world."

Jeddah Economic Forum 2006
Press Summary
February 14 , 2006

The Seventh Annual Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) began yesterday with delegates acknowledging a wide variety of national cultures while admitting certain common grounds as building blocks for sustainable economic growth. With the global village a reality, pressures are increasing for preserving cultural identity and respecting the beliefs and values of all without a �one size fits all� approach. Unlike previous forums, this year there is particular focus on cultural and social issues in the light of economic and political strategies. Following the opening remarks by the chairman of the JEF, Amr Enany, who pointed to this need for balancing globalization with local identity, the Saudi minister of culture and information, Iyad Madani, presented �Saudi Arabia-Vision 2020.�

Jeddah Economic Forum 2006 Opens
February 10, 2006

Seeding Potentials for Economic Growth
Honoring Identity And Celebrating Common Grounds

Each year, delegates from around the world meet with their counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the region, to share their experience and employ their expertise to create new and innovative approaches to deal with regional and global challenges.

Issues of the Day: Saudi Ambassador to the US On Sunday Talk Show
February 6, 2006

Ambassador Turki al Faisal, Saudi Arabia's top diplomat in the United States, was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer on CNN's "Late Edition" on Sunday, February 5, 2006. A number of issues of the day were discussed including the Maritime tragedy in the Red Sea along with the Cartoon Crisis concerning the prophet Mohammed. 

State of the Union and the U.S.-Saudi Relationship
February 6, 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.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq: Oil, Religion, and an Enduring Rivalry � Joseph McMillan, United States Institute of Peace

"Iraq's neighbors are playing a major role -- both positive and negative -- in the stabilization and reconstruction of "the new Iraq." As part of the Institute's "Iraq and Its Neighbors" project, a group of leading specialists on the geopolitics of the region and on the domestic politics of the individual countries is assessing the interests and influence of the countries surrounding Iraq. In addition, these specialists are examining how the situation in Iraq is impacting U.S. bilateral relations with these countries.

China Visit Wrap-Up
January 27, 2006

Chinese President Hu Jintao [Jan. 23] gave a red carpet welcome to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah at the Great Hall of the People and said the royal visit would open a new chapter in Sino-Saudi relations. The summit in Beijing saw the signing of five agreements, including a landmark pact for expanding cooperation in oil, natural gas and minerals. Both sides said the accords would usher in a new era of closer economic ties.

Saudi Arabia's Accession to the WTO:  Is a "Revolution" Brewing?
Middle East Policy Council Capitol Hill Conference Series
on US Middle East Policy

King Abdullah Prepares for China Visit
January 21, 2006 

Saudi Arabian King Abdullah will begin a state visit to the People's Republic of China on Sunday, January 22, 2006. The journey is the first for a Saudi ruler to China since diplomatic relations were normalized in 1990. The visit comes at a time when Saudi-Sino economic cooperation is booming. Bilateral trade was up 59% for the first eleven months of 2005 compared to the same period a year earlier and China's rapid industrialization has spawned a growing energy appetite. Against this backdrop King Abdullah will meet Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The Hajj Season Ends
January 16, 2006

The incredible journey of about three million pilgrims to Saudi Arabia's holy sites for the annual Hajj has ended. Left behind are questions about the tragedy that claimed over 360 lives on January 12 as pilgrims performing a religious rite at the Jamarat bridge were crushed in a stampede as well as new reflections on the meaning of the Hajj. Today we bring you a collection of reports on the end of Hajj including reaction to the the events at the Jamarat bridge. 

An Open Letter from a Saudi Businessman:
Amr Khashoggi
January 12, 2006

Working Shoulder-to-Shoulder for Better Saudi-US Relations

An open letter from a Saudi businessman, Amr Khashoggi, to Americans

I am a Saudi who graduated from American universities. I am a businessman and I have worked over the past three decades with American companies, and we were very successful to healthy mutual benefit. I am still working with American companies but it is getting harder to do business with America. 

Tragedy at Hajj
Hundreds Killed in Crushing Stampede
January 12, 2006

Tragedy visited pilgrims participating at the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia on Thursday as at least 345 people were killed and more than a thousand injured when a stampede occurred during a rite at Jamarat bridge.  The accident, which took place at the site of the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil, occurred after some pilgrims tripped over luggage that had spilled from buses. 

The Hajj in Perspective:
A Conversation with David Long
January 7, 2006

The Hajj is one of the five pillars or the foundation of Islam and therefore it is the obligation of everyone who is physically and financially able to do so to make the Hajj once in their lifetimes. Pilgrimages to Makkah actually predate Islam, but the Hajj is considered by all Muslims to be divinely inspired by God as set down in the Qur'an and the Sunna.

The Hajj and Its Impact on Saudi Arabia
and the Muslim World
By David E. Long
January 6, 2006

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims flooded the ports of entry in western Saudi Arabia this week to start the pilgrimage to Makkah.  On the occasion of the Hajj, we are pleased to present this essay from Dr. David E. Long which appeared in the Saudi-American Forum in February 2003.

Mecca Hotel Collapse
Special Report
January 6, 2006

The death toll from the collapse of a hotel in the heart of Mecca has risen to 53 according to Saudi officials cited by Reuters and BBC news reports this morning.  The four-story building, in the Gazza section of Mecca, collapsed at about 1:20 p.m. local time Thursday, January 5, 2006, as pilgrims were returning from noon prayers at the nearby Grand Mosque.  The number of people injured by the collapse was said to be 64.  More than a million pilgrims are in Mecca preparing for the annual Hajj which begins on Sunday, January 8, 2006. 

The Hajj
January 4, 2006

..the Hajj creates an opportunity for non Muslims and people who don't know much about Islam -- particularly those people who have a totally negative view of Muslims.. that this is a gathering of two million faithful people in a joyous time in the 21st century..  ..Today as pilgrims assemble in Saudi Arabia in preparation for the commencement of the Hajj on Sunday we provide for your consideration a compilation of online resources to help you understand this event: overviews, background, commentary and related links..

SUSRIS 2005
Annual Summary
January 1, 2006

We are pleased to offer a compilation of SUSRIS' 2005 production.  The articles, interviews, news in depth items, special reports and more covered a broad spectrum of interests while documenting the scope of developments in the relationship between America and the Kingdom.  We hope this listing will be useful to you as a review of the year past and as an index for future reference.