 A
Diplomat's Call for War
Prince
Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz
Al-Saud
The
Saudi ambassador to the United States,
Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz
Al-Saud, wrote a rather unusual
article for last Tuesday's edition of
the Saudi government daily newspaper Al-Watan.
In it, he seeks public support for a
Saudi "jihad" against
terrorists -- presumably al Qaeda --
who have lately staged a series of
deadly attacks in the kingdom,
including one in Khobar last weekend
in which 22 people, most of them
foreigners, were killed.
[more]
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 Prince
of a Guy or Al-Qaida Spy?
Amid
allegations, horsemen, Saudi royals
rise to defend late racing magnate
Prince Ahmed
By John Eisenberg
"Two
years ago, the Preakness Stakes
spotlight shone brightly on Prince
Ahmed bin Salman, an affable, highly
Westernized member of the ruling
family of Saudi Arabia.
"A familiar face in thoroughbred
racing circles, he was in Baltimore as
the owner of War Emblem, winner of the
Kentucky Derby. He stayed at the
Harbor Court Hotel, attended the post
position draw at the ESPN Zone and
went to Pimlico Race Course to watch
his horse gallop.."
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An
Essay from SAF
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 The
Attack in Alkhobar, Saudi
Arabia: Reflections on
"Tolerance"
By
John Duke Anthony
"The
author makes an interesting
point in recalling a more
innocent time when violence of
practically any kind in
Alkhobar, or for that matter
anywhere else in
Saudi Arabia
, was an exceptionally rare
occurrence. Underscoring the
point is the extraordinary
degree of mutual respect, and
the bridging of a multiplicity
of cultures amidst a mutuality
of benefits, that Saudi
Arabians and expatriates from
many nationalities and
different walks of life have
long shared in Alkhobar.
Indeed, one could add that
such sharing has more often
than not been a hallmark of
cultural interaction from
virtually one corner of the
Kingdom to the other over a
period spanning most of the
past two generations.."
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A
Special Report from
SUSRIS
|
 Remembering
President Ronald Reagan and
the U.S.-Saudi Relationship
"The
friendship and cooperation
between our governments and
people are precious
jewels whose value we should
never underestimate. The
positive nature of our
relations demonstrates that
cultural differences, as
distinct as our own, need not
separate or alienate peoples
from one another.." -
President Ronald Reagan
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An
Item of Interest from
SAF
|
 Homemade
Oil Crisis
By
David Ignatius
"Desperate
to slow the recent rise in oil
prices, finance ministers from
the Group of Eight
industrialized countries last
weekend demanded that OPEC
countries raise their
production, arguing in their
communique that "lower
oil prices would be of benefit
to the whole world
economy." Since Saudi
Arabia is the only OPEC
country with much spare
capacity, that put the kingdom
back in the familiar position
of receiving entreaties from
skittish Europeans, Japanese
and Americans.."
[more]
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On
the Web
|
 Freshman
diplomat faces immense challenges
U.S.
ambassador has long ties to oil, Bush
family
By Dave
Montgomery, Knight Ridder Newspapers
"Before
beginning his assignment as U.S.
ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jim
Oberwetter and his wife, Anita,
underwent the customary training
course for foreign diplomats and their
spouses.." Complete
article..
Related
Item: Sojourn in the Desert
 Expatriate
Life Loses Luster After Saudi Attacks
By
Samia Nakhoul, Reuters
"A
year of increasingly violent attacks
against Western targets that killed
more than 80 people had done little to
unsettle the lives of Saudi Arabia's
tens of thousands of expatriates --
until May 29. That day's attack
by al Qaeda on the residential Oasis
compound in the oil city of Khobar in
eastern Saudi Arabia seemed
different.." Complete
report..
 Alleged
Plot to Kill Saudi Ruler Detailed
Libyan Leader Behind It, Detainee Says
"..revealed
a plot by Libyan leader Moammar
Gaddafi to assassinate the head of the
Saudi government, Crown Prince
Abdullah.. ..account is corroborated
by a Libyan intelligence official --
Col. Mohamed Ismael, who is in Saudi
custody -- has told U.S. officials
that he twice met with Gaddafi late
last spring and last summer, and that
both times the Libyan leader told him
to speed up the plot to kill
Abdullah.." Complete
report..
Links
to "On the Web" items were
active on the day this newsletter is
distributed. Host sites may
remove the item at a later date or
alter the link.]
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 Traditional
Crafts of Saudi Arabia
By John Topham
Book
Description
This large photographic book examines
the Bedouin of Arabia and gathers
material on weavings, costumes and
jewelry, their leatherwork, woodwork,
basketry, metalwork, and equipment
needed for survival in the desert.
[more]
Ordering
Information
[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.]
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Statement
by Reagan's Deputy Press Secretary
Speakes on the Congressional Disapproval
of the United States Arms Sale to Saudi
Arabia