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

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ITEM OF INTEREST
May 18, 2009

U.S.-Saudi Relations in a World Without Equilibrium
Conference Transcripts -- Session 3
Wyche Fowler

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 third and final session, "Through Saudi Arabia's Window and Other Lenses: Middle East Dynamics and Stakeholder Challenges". Among the featured speakers was The Honorable Wyche Fowler, Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Former United States Senator.

Separate emails will provide each panelist's remarks and the question and answer period transcript. 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 3
The Honorable Wyche Fowler
Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Former United States Senator

[Wyche Fowler] I want to say to the, all of the Saudis here, especially members of the Ambassador�s staff, your students are doing extremely well. They�ve been mentioned twice now, we�re back to 26,000 Saudi students studying in the United States, sponsored by the Kingdom. I was asked to pinch hit for Ambassador Jabar, and of all places, the University of Northern Iowa in January. As a Georgia boy, I�ve never been so cold in my life, in the snows and in the snow banks. But seated with the President of the University of Northern Iowa, I asked him quite naturally, well how they doing? He said they�re doing fantastic. And I said really. He says yes, they�re above average � went on and on to praise them. Well, I had to push him a little bit, I thought he was just taking the party line. I said you don�t have any problems? He said, well, they can�t make it to classes before noon, and they get arrested for fast driving six times a week. So at least I knew he was telling the truth about how well they were doing, and how they had been accepted not only by the administration, but by the students there.

As they say in the Congress, I want to associate myself with the remarks of my friend Abdullah Al-Saeed, and expand on them only in this way, and very briefly.

I�m sure our new President after one hundred days laments almost every evening the unfortunate timing of his arrival in the highest office in our land, with all the problems that confront him and that were waiting for his desk. There�s one in light of our context and our talks today. There�s one great fortunate timing, that he came to office with the King of Saudi Arabia our premier Arab ally, at the height of his powers, and the height of the respect within his country, within the region, and within the major powers of the world, who have become acquainted with King Abdullah. The timing of King Abdullah is also fortunate, because we have a phenomena today, if we know how to, if the Administration knows how to take advantage of it. But according to every poll, the political leader, the President of the United States of America is more popular with people who cannot vote for him than people who can. He�s doing fine, thank you very much for the 65, 67 percent approval rating in the United States, but that is nothing compared to the respect and the approval that he has in the Middle East, parts of Europe, and other parts of the world.

There�s also a dimension between these two men that has not been mentioned, and maybe people will disagree. In my opinion, they both possess what I call a spiritual impulse that is unique in modern day political leaders. You cannot read President Obama�s two books, follow his campaign, his speeches before he came to office but especially in these one hundred days, and not realize that he understands the role of religion and spirit in the life of people. Or to put it in political terms, that there religion and there spiritual life usually counts for more in their motivation, in their goals, in their hopes for their families and their countries, than all the politics put together. And for what Abdulrahman just said, in my five years of conversation in Saudi Arabia within the Crown Prince and now the King, I can tell you that I knew this initiative on Inner-faith Dialogue was coming. I knew that he would speak out on the role, the similarities, and the joint hopes of the three great monotheistic religions of the world, and it was only through the cooperation in matters of the spirit between Jews and Muslims and Christians could genuine progress, solidarity on many of these problems throughout the region be solved.

You�ve heard a lot about the centrality of Saudi Arabia today in dealing with the Afghans, certainly with the Pakistanis. Our hopes for a solidified Iraq that cannot, will not happen without the Saudis and their understanding of Sunni-Shia differences. But I leave you with just one word where there is no dispute of their centrality. Jerusalem. The Palestinians will never agree to any peace proposal, comprehensive peace proposal without the endorsement and blessing of the Saudis on the ultimate status of Jerusalem. Why? Because you know they are the Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina, but in the Islamic world, all two billion of them, that custodianship extents to the third holiest place in Islam, in Jerusalem. And as a failed politician, I can switch from the religious to the absurd. I have never been able to understand why any of the three, Christian, Muslim, or Jew, ever wanted to be the exclusive custodian in Jerusalem because my reading of history, every time that�s happened, you�re going to have a two or three hundred year war to take it back.

I�m hoping that our President, with these impulses, in combination with King Abdullah, with his impulses, will use that as the beginning of a comprehensive peace, as Mr. Brzezinski and others, peace alliance, that will be based on the understanding of each others� political needs, their cultural history, but more importantly, the primary motivation of man, his religious impulse. Thank you.

[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 Three Video

Courtesy New America Foundation

Video MP3

Speaker Biography:

The Honorable Wyche Fowler
Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Former United States Senator

The Honorable Wyche Fowler currently serves as the chairman of the board of the Middle East Institute. Before assuming this position, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 1996 to 2001. Senator Fowler represented the State of Georgia for 16 years in the United States Congress. Elected to the Senate in 1986, he served as Assistant Floor Leader, where he helped to mold bipartisan consensus for major public issues. Prior to that, Mr. Fowler was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977-1987. Before his election to Congress, Fowler practiced law in Atlanta for eight years and was elected in 1970 at age 29 to the Atlanta City Council. Four years later he was selected president of the Council, and served in that capacity until 1977. Senator Fowler received a B.A. in English from Davidson College in 1962 and a Juris Doctorate from Emory University in 1969. He holds honorary degrees from Hofstra, Davidson and Morris Brown College.

Source: New America Foundation / Committee for International Trade

AGENDA

Panel III: Through Saudi Arabia's Window and Other Lenses: Middle East Dynamics and Stakeholder Challenges

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