In This Issue

1. "Novak: Bandar, Bush and 'Plan of Attack'," by Robert Novak
2. "Clarke claims responsibility," by Alexander Bolton 
3. "U.S. Group Gets Positive View of Kingdom," by Roger Harrison  
4. "Economic Reform in Saudi Arabia" - Usamah Al-Kurdi
5. Joint U.S. and Saudi Action in the Financial War on Terror - Remarks of Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary Juan Zarate
6. In the News
7. On the Bookshelf - The Desert Caves of Saudi Arabia by John Pint
8. From the History of Saudi-U.S. Relations
9. What is SUSRIS?

An Item of Interest from SAF

"Did President Bush really brief Prince Bandar on his Iraq war plans before he informed Colin Powell? Did the Saudi ambassador really cut a deal with the Bush administration to increase oil production in time for the presidential election? The answer to both questions is no, but those allegations entered the election year bloodstream thanks to distortion of Bob Woodward's Plan of Attack.."  

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[Discuss this item]

An Item of Interest from SUSRIS

Who Authorized the Flights? C

"Richard Clarke, who served as President Bush's chief of counterterrorism, has claimed sole responsibility for approving flights of Saudi Arabian citizens, including members of Osama bin Laden's family, from the United States immediately after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.."

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[Discuss this item] 

Secretary Powell Affirms U.S. Confidence in Saudi Arabia's Oil Production

The United States is confident in the ability of Saudi Arabia to continue to provide a secure and uninterrupted flow of oil to the world, Secretary of State Colin Powell said June 1, responding to questions about the recent terrorist attacks targeting Western workers in that country.

[The following is an excerpt of Secretary Powell's remarks from the June 1 press conference.]

Question: Do you want -- well, just the question is, with the attacks in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, do you think Saudi Arabia is capable of continuing to supply, you know, continuing to offer uninterrupted oil supplies to the world?

Secretary Powell: I have no reason to doubt their ability to do that. They are doing it now and they are making a commitment to do more. And there will be OPEC meetings later this week to see what the international oil community is prepared to do, but I have confidence in the ability of the Saudi Arabians to continue to provide a secure flow of oil products from Saudi Arabia.

Question: If I could just follow up on that, I'm less concerned about the oil flow, although others probably are, but what about what it means about Saudi Arabia's capacity to deal with the terrorism and the apparently increasing al-Qaida threat to foreigners resident in that country?

Secretary Powell: It just makes it clear that al-Qaida remains a threat throughout the world, in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. It shows, as the President has said all along, that this is a threat that affects all nations, and not just the United States. And I am confident that the Saudis, as all other nations should, will be redoubling their efforts with respect to law enforcement, with respect to intelligence exchange, with respect to drying up terrorist financing, with respect to border controls, knowing who is in your country and for what purpose.

And I think the Saudis will redouble their efforts. They've been doing a great deal in recent months, and I would expect them to do more. They know that this kind of terrorist activity cannot be in any way found to be something that is tolerable, and I expect them to use all the resources at their disposal to go after them, just as every other civilized nation should.

Click here to read the complete transcript.

Source:  U.S. Department of State

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The Desert Caves of Saudi Arabia
By John Pint

Book Description
Beneath the harsh deserts of Saudi Arabia lie dark chambers and complex mazes filled with strange shapes and wondrous beauty. Ever so slowly formed over hundreds of thousands of years, these impressive cave formations could be damaged or destroyed in a matter of seconds by a careless visitor. The author and photographers of this book present these pictures to all those who dwell in this desert land, in the hope that they will join in an effort to protect and preserve a beautiful but hidden part of Saudi Arabia's patrimony.

[more]                                                                                                      

Ordering Information

Source:  Aramco ExPats

[Book Note: The SUSRIS provides listings of books on subjects relating to US-Saudi relations as a service to subscribers but does not necessarily endorse the views expressed.]
                                                                                                         Back to top

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 
                                                                                                         Back to top

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
Fahd Shidayed, Arab News; White House; Ryan & Associates; Roger Harrison, Arab News; U.S. Department of the Treasury; U.S. State Department photo by Michael Gross; George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Users of the The Saudi-US Relations Information Service are assumed to have read and agreed to 
our terms and conditions and legal disclaimer.
Copyright 2004

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In This Issue

1. "Saudi knew of Bush war plans just hours before Powell," by Robert Novak
2.  "U.S. Group Gets Positive View of Kingdom," by Roger Harrison
3. "Clarke claims responsibility," by Alexander Bolton
4. In the News
5. SUSRIS Discussion Forum -- Speak Out!
6. On the Bookshelf - The Desert Caves of Saudi Arabia by John Pint
7. From the History of Saudi-U.S. Relations
8. What is SUSRIS?

An Item of Interest from SAF

"Did President Bush really brief Prince Bandar on his Iraq war plans before he informed Colin Powell? Did the Saudi ambassador really cut a deal with the Bush administration to increase oil production in time for the presidential election? The answer to both questions is no, but those allegations entered the election year bloodstream thanks to distortion of Bob Woodward's Plan of Attack.."  

[more]                                                                                            Back to top

[Discuss this item]

An Item of Interest from SAF

U.S. Group Gets Positive View of Kingdom
By Roger Harrison

"The reactions of a group of visiting American civic and elected officials to the 'real' Saudi Arabia focused on the similarities of the peoples rather than the differences or the damage done to Saudi-U.S. relationships since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The group passed through Jeddah yesterday before concluding their five-day familiarization tour of the Kingdom.."

[more]                                                                                            Back to top

[Discuss this item]

An Item of Interest from SUSRIS

Clarke claims responsibility Ex-counterterrorism czar approved post-9-11 flights for bin Laden family By Alexander Bolton "Richard Clarke, who served as President Bush's chief of counterterrorism, has claimed sole responsibility for approving flights of Saudi Arabian citizens, including members of Osama bin Laden's family, from the United States immediately after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.." [more]                                                                                           Back to top [Discuss this item]  In the News Secretary Powell Affirms U.S. Confidence in Saudi Arabia's Oil Production The United States is confident in the ability of Saudi Arabia to continue to provide a secure and uninterrupted flow of oil to the world, Secretary of State Colin Powell said June 1, responding to questions about the recent terrorist attacks targeting Western workers in that country. [The following is an excerpt of Secretary Powell's remarks from the June 1 press conference.] Question: Do you want -- well, just the question is, with the attacks in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, do you think Saudi Arabia is capable of continuing to supply, you know, continuing to offer uninterrupted oil supplies to the world? Secretary Powell: I have no reason to doubt their ability to do that. They are doing it now and they are making a commitment to do more. And there will be OPEC meetings later this week to see what the international oil community is prepared to do, but I have confidence in the ability of the Saudi Arabians to continue to provide a secure flow of oil products from Saudi Arabia. Question: If I could just follow up on that, I'm less concerned about the oil flow, although others probably are, but what about what it means about Saudi Arabia's capacity to deal with the terrorism and the apparently increasing al-Qaida threat to foreigners resident in that country? Secretary Powell: It just makes it clear that al-Qaida remains a threat throughout the world, in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. It shows, as the President has said all along, that this is a threat that affects all nations, and not just the United States. And I am confident that the Saudis, as all other nations should, will be redoubling their efforts with respect to law enforcement, with respect to intelligence exchange, with respect to drying up terrorist financing, with respect to border controls, knowing who is in your country and for what purpose. And I think the Saudis will redouble their efforts. They've been doing a great deal in recent months, and I would expect them to do more. They know that this kind of terrorist activity cannot be in any way found to be something that is tolerable, and I expect them to use all the resources at their disposal to go after them, just as every other civilized nation should. Click here to read the complete transcript. Source:  U.S. Department of State Back to top

Discussion Forum -- Speak Out!

Speak Out! -- 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 out Click Here.   Among the posts in current threads:

Sign up for the forum and contribute to the dialogue.

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The Desert Caves of Saudi Arabia
By John Pint

Book Description
Beneath the harsh deserts of Saudi Arabia lie dark chambers and complex mazes filled with strange shapes and wondrous beauty. Ever so slowly formed over hundreds of thousands of years, these impressive cave formations could be damaged or destroyed in a matter of seconds by a careless visitor. The author and photographers of this book present these pictures to all those who dwell in this desert land, in the hope that they will join in an effort to protect and preserve a beautiful but hidden part of Saudi Arabia's patrimony.

[more]                                                                                                      

Ordering Information

Source:  Aramco ExPats

[Book Note: The SUSRIS provides listings of books on subjects relating to US-Saudi relations as a service to subscribers but does not necessarily endorse the views expressed.]
                                                                                                         Back to top

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 
                                                                                                         Back to top

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

Users of the The Saudi-US Relations Information Service are assumed to have read and agreed to 
our terms and conditions and legal disclaimer.
Copyright 2004

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