The U. S. and Saudi Domestic Politics: Striking the Balance

The issues of terrorist financing and the "battle of ideas" in the Muslim world are, at least in part, foreign policy issues for the Saudis, and thus areas where American pressure can have positive effects. For the United States, the more difficult question we face is the extent to which we seek to make domestic political changes inside Saudi Arabia the centerpiece of our bilateral relationship. The underlying question is how much of the U. S.-Saudi agenda should focus on greater political freedoms, educational reform, women's rights and, most sensitive of all these sensitive issues, the official Saudi interpretation of Islam, "Wahhabism."                               
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The Saudi-American Forum wishes to thank Dr. Gause for permission to share this important contribution to the dialogue on US-Saudi relations with you.  This paper was originally published by the Brookings Institution, Saban Center for Middle East Policy. 

"The Approaching Turning Point: The Future of U.S. Relations with the Gulf States" is being provided to Saudi-American Forum members in weekly serials due to the length of the report.  A complete version is posted to the Saudi-American Forum library.

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Nineteen American heroes still await American justice.

Responding to last week's terrorist attacks in Riyadh, President Bush declared that "the United States will find the killers, and they will learn the meaning of American justice." This is a president who is serious about fighting and winning the war on terrorism. The liberation of Iraq and the continued effort to bring al Qaeda to justice are all the proof anyone should need. 

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The Saudi-American Forum wishes to thank Louis J. Freeh for permission to share this important contribution to the dialogue on US-Saudi relations with you.  This essay was originally published in The Wall Street Journal On-Line.

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Look Who's Talking...  The Saudi-US Relations Information Service web site features a discussion forum for you to post your ideas, opinions and questions.  To sign on and speak up Click Here.   Among the posts in current threads:

"There are many detractors and many advocates of Saudi Arabia within the number of American "stakeholders." Ones are attacking the country, others are defending it. However, I believe the basic question to be asked by both, then acted upon accordingly, is the following:

"Is it in the interest of the US, and I mean the whole of the US and not a special interest group or any cabal with its own agenda, to improve the frayed relations with Saudi Arabia or to contribute to their further deterioration?"

Sign up for the forum and contribute to the dialogue.

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