U.S.-Saudi Arabia - Introduction - Conference - CIT / New America Foundation

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ITEM OF INTEREST
May 15, 2009

U.S.-Saudi Relations in a World Without Equilibrium
Conference Transcripts -- Session 2
Introduction - Jane Sasseen

Editor's Note:

Last week a major forum addressing the state of and prospects for the relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was convened in Washington by the New America Foundation (NAF) and the Committee for International Trade (CIT) of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Distinguished speakers spent the day providing perspectives and insights on what the relationship should look like, how economics was shaping the national security picture vis a vis the relationship, the challenges for America in the region and how the perspective on these challenges look from the Saudi Arabian point of view.

Today we are pleased to provide the transcripts from the second session, "Economics as a National Security Imperative: Challenges for Saudi Arabia and the U.S."

Separate emails will provide each panelist's remarks and the question and answer period transcript. Transcripts for the remaining panel and luncheon remarks will be provided over the next few days. You can find all of the conference materials and related links at a new SUSRIS Special Section. [ "U.S.-Saudi Relations in a World Without Equilibrium" - Conference Special Section ]

Video MP3

U.S.-Saudi Relations in a World Without Equilibrium
Conference Transcripts -- Session 2
Introduction - Jane Sasseen
Washington Bureau Chief, BusinessWeek

[Jane Sasseen] Let me start with an introduction. First on my side, first to my left here is the Honorable Ibrahm Al-Assaf, who is obviously well known as Saudi Arabia�s Minister of Finance. He�s been the minister since 1996. Prince Turki said last night at the dinner that to an extent Saudi Arabia now has the strongest reserves in its history, much of the credit belongs to him. He is also on the board of directors of Saudi Aramco, Chairman of the Fund for Saudi Development, and also Chairman of the Public Investment Fund, one of the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Funds. Next to him is Heidi Crebo-Rediker, who since early 2009 has overseen the International and Financial Issues section for the Senate Foreign Relations committee. She was a founding co-director of the Global Strategic Financial Inititive in 2008 at the New America Foundation after returning from about sixteen years in Europe as an investment banker. Next to Heidi, we have Brad Bourland, who is considered the dean of economic analysts in Saudi Arabia. Since 2007, he has been the head of research and the chief economist of JADWA Investments. Prior to that, he spent many years as the chief economist of the SAMBA Financial Group. He is widely read for his deep and very balanced approach to the economy in the region and his knowledge of markets and global economy. Next in line on our panel is the Honorable Muhammad Al Jasser who was recently named the new Governor of the Saudi Arabian Central Bank. In fact, so recently that he still sometimes introduces himself as the Vice Governor. He began his career with the Ministry of Finance in 1981, then later joined the IMF and eventually became the executive director of the IMF, a post he held until 1995. That was the year he was appointed the Vice Governor of the Central Bank, a post from which he also played a key role in negotiating Saudi Arabia�s entry into the WTO. And then last we�ve got Flynt Leverett who is currently the senior fellow and director of the New America Foundation�s Geopolitics of Energy Initiative. He also teaches at Pennsylvania State University and a new school of International Affairs. He worked on Middle Eastern issues for the U.S. Government for 11 years as a senior analyst at the CIA, a member of the Secretary of State�s policy planning staff, and as a senior director of Middle Eastern Affairs for the National Security Council. He left the National Security Council in March of 2003, just before the Iraq invasion, a date that he points out is not, the timing was not coincidental. So that�s our panelists for the next couple of hours.

[Visit the SUSRIS Special Section "U.S.-Saudi Relations in a World Without Equilibrium" for the transcripts from this and other panels and additional resources.]

Session Two Video

Courtesy New America Foundation

Video MP3

Speaker Biography:

Jane Sasseen
Washington Bureau Chief, BusinessWeek

Jane Sasseen is Washington Bureau Chief for Business Week. Previously, she was a national correspondent, responsible for investigative projects, and a senior editor, overseeing the News Analysis and Commentary section. From February 1997, through December 1999, she was responsible for Business Week�s coverage of corporate strategies. Ms. Sasseen joined Business Week in 1985 as a staff editor from Forbes. She left Business Week in 1986 and became a freelance journalist in Paris. In 1989, she joined International Management magazine. Ms. Sasseen rejoined Business Week in February 1995. Ms. Sasseen received the 1997 Gerald Loeb Award for financial journalism and the National Women�s Political Caucus 1997 Exceptional Merit Media Award. Ms. Sasseen is a graduate of the University of California at Berkley.

Source: New America Foundation / Committee for International Trade

AGENDA

Panel II: Economics as a National Security Imperative: Challenges for Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

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