In This Issue

1. Riyadh:  Rooting Out Al-Qaeda by Edward S. Walker and Wyche Fowler
2. President Bush Nominates James Oberwetter to Serve as the New Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
3.  Same Tactics, New Target by Amir Taheri
4.  From the History of Saudi-U.S. Relations
5.  SUSRIS Discussion Forum -- Look Who's Talking
6. On the Bookshelf - The Legal Regime of Foreign Private Investment in Sudan and Saudi Arabia by Fath El Rahman Abdalla El Sheikh (Author)
7. What is SUSRIS?

An Item of Interest 
From The Saudi-American Forum

At midnight on Saturday [Nov. 8], suicide bombers careened into a residential area, killing 17 and wounding over 100 others, mainly women and children. The perpetrators were from Al Qaeda or one of its affiliates. The victims were largely Arab, not Israeli or Western. The timing was deliberate, as always, and struck just as families were crowding the streets to attend Ramadan dinners that often last into the early morning. The target of the attack was America's long-time ally Saudi Arabia. The goal is unchanged: drive out all Western and foreign influences in order to weaken the country economically, undermine the House of Saud and ultimately establish a radical, Islamic state that has more in common with the 14th century than the 21st. 

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An Item of Interest From the Saudi-American Forum

President Bush Nominates James Oberwetter to Serve as the New Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate James Curtis Oberwetter, of Texas, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Currently, Mr. Oberwetter serves as Vice President of Governmental and Political Affairs for Hunt Consolidated, Inc. 

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An Item of Interest From the 
Saudi-U.S. Relations Information Service

With the terrorist attack on Riyadh last week, which killed at least 17 people, the Saudis are finally experiencing the nightmare many other Arab and Muslim regimes have already lived through: the Islamist monster they created has turned against them.

The Shah of Iran played Islamists against the left and liberals for 20 years. He was overthrown by an Islamist-led revolution in 1979. President Anwar Sadat of Egypt promoted Islamists against pan-Arabists throughout the 1970's. Islamists murdered him in 1981. Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan gave up drinking and promoted Islamists in the army as a move against leftist and centrist opponents. In 1979 he was hanged by General Zia ul-Haq, the Islamist officer he had put in charge of the army.

What is surprising in the case of the Saudis is that it has taken so long. And what is unknown is whether they will succeed in slaying the monster they helped to create.

[Click here to read the complete article.] 

This article originally appeared in the New York Times.  We thank the author and Benador Associates for permission to reprint it here.
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From The History of the Saudi-US Relationship

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
November 20, 2000

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 20, 2000 -- Saudi Arabia's second deputy prime minister lauded the contributions to Mideast peace provided by Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and praised the partnership between the United States and his country.

Prince Sultan bin Abdullah Al Aziz, who also serves as defense minister, met with Cohen and discussed a wide range of subjects. Cohen said the United States and Saudi Arabia, "have a very strong and enduring relationship."

Working together, the two countries have been able to produce peace and stability in the region, Cohen said. "Whoever succeeds me in this position, I am confident they will carry out the same commitment to peace I and others have made," he said.

The secretary said there are many challenges to Mideast stability. Iraq and the continuing violence between Palestinians and Israelis are two problems that threaten to disrupt the peace.

"It is my hope that both the Israelis and the Palestinians can return to the bargaining table to reach a just and fair resolution, so that peace can be reestablished," he said.

Cohen called on Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to allow U.N. inspectors back into Iraq to search for weapons of mass destruction. "Saddam Hussein holds the key to lift the economic sanctions from Iraq," he said.

Prince Sultan said the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia) believe Iraq "should comply with the U.N. Security Council resolutions and should allow the return of the international inspection community to Iraq.

"When we are certain that Iraq is doing so, Iraq could return" to a more respected position among Arab nations, and have the sanctions lifted," Prince Sultan said.

Cohen, nearing the last leg of his ninth Middle East trip, sounded hopeful for Mideast peace prospects.

"Based on the countries I've been to, to date, and those I will visit in the next several days, our standing in the Gulf region is still very high," Cohen said. "We enjoy support for the contribution we make to peace and stability and prosperity throughout the Gulf region.

On a personal note, bin Sultan told reporters he'd miss Cohen, who in January is retiring after more than 30 years of public service. Cohen is a hardworking and trusted partner, the Prince said, adding that it would be difficult to replace him.

Source:  U.S. Department of Defense                                                  Back to top

The Saudi-US Relations Information Service Discussion Forum

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at present is confronting serious internal and external threats. Al Qaeda and other radical elements are determined to bring down the Kingdom from within. The Iranians continue to threaten the Kingdom from outside. While the Iranian threat is currently deflected by the American presence in Iraq one can only speculate on what might transpire in the future. The war in Iraq is not over. The Saudis have a legitimate fear that the American effort in Iraq will fail and a radical Shiite regime might come to power in Iraq. Add to the possibility of a catastrophe in Iraq the threat of a nuclear armed and radical Iran and you can see the difficulties the Saudis face."

Sign up for the forum and contribute to the dialogue.

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On the Bookshelf

Book Description
Although developing countries require foreign investment for growth, investors often encounter a range of obstacles in the existing economic order. This comparative study of two developing countries with similar socio-ethnic backgrounds--the Sudan and Saudi Arabia--considers how international and Islamic law have evolved in new directions in post-Soviet years. Topics include incentives and facilities for foreign investors, investment treaties, investment insurance programs and remedies for aggrieved investors.

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Ordering Information
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About the Saudi-US Relations Information Service

The Saudi-US Relations Information Service (SUSRIS) provides you information resources and interactive features through a web site and weekly newsletter -- all designed to enhance your understanding of the historic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-US Relations Information Service is a public service of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations as an element of its mission to educate Americans about Arab countries, the Middle East, and the Islamic world.

We invite you to explore the site: signup for the SUSRIS newsletter, join the discussion forum, browse the bookshelf and photo album, and more. Make the SUSRIS your home page or add it to your Favorites List. Check back from time to time to see what we've added -- what you see today is just the beginning.

For more information about the service please visit the website at: http://www.SaudiUSRelations.org 
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Saudi-US Relations Information Service

A Public Service of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
eMail: [email protected] 
Web: http://www.Saudi-US-Relations.org 

Photo Credits
Hunt Ventures, L.P., Saudi Press Agency, Raid Qusti, Gerry G. Gilmore, U.S. Department of Defense   

Users of the The Saudi-US Relations Information Service are assumed to have read and agreed to 
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