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An
Item of Interest from SUSRIS
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 A
Combustible Mix: Politics, Terror, Oil and the
Future of the U.S.-Saudi Relationship
Remarks
by Chas W. Freeman, Jr.
"There
is a tremendous contrast between what is
happening inside
Saudi Arabia
on many levels and the state of the U.S.-Saudi
relationship, notwithstanding the headlines, and
I think the very serious problem of internal
terrorism that has now risen.
For example, over the last year and a
half, the stock market in
Saudi Arabia
is up 125%.
There is a building boom.
There is tremendous bank equity.
The economy is growing rapidly.
Of course the non-oil sector has been
doing exceedingly well, even as oil revenues
have grown.."
-- Chas W. Freeman, Jr.
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An
Item of Interest from SUSRIS
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 From
Exclusivism to Accommodation: Doctrinal and
Legal Evolution of Wahhabism
By Abdulaziz
H. Al-Fahad
"On
August 2, 1990, Iraq attacked Kuwait.
For several days thereafter, the Saudi
Arabian media was not allowed to report the
invasion and occupation of Kuwait.
When the Saudi government was satisfied
with the U.S. commitment to defend the country,
it lifted the gag on the Saudi press as American
and other soldiers poured into Saudi Arabia.
In retrospect, it seems obvious that the
Saudis, aware of their vulnerabilities and
fearful of provoking the Iraqis, were reluctant
to take any public position on the invasion
until it was ascertained whether the United
States was willing to commit its forces to the
defense of the Kingdom and eventually the
liberation of Kuwait.
."
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An
Item of Interest from SUSRIS
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 Cooperation
with Saudi Arabia on Combating Terror Financing
"The
Saudis are regularly portrayed as either our
worst enemies or our best, most loyal and
steadfast allies. The reality in my limited
experience is that our relationship with the
Saudis has much in common with our other
bilateral relationships: it is strategically
important, and complex, and we seek to maximize
areas where our interests overlap, while we
minimize conflict in order to achieve as many of
our common goals as possible.." -- Joseph
M. Myers
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 President
Bush Praises Saudi Arabia's Progress in the War
on Terror
President Bush
discussed progress in the war on terror at Oak
Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge,
Tennessee on July 12, 2004.
"Three
years ago, terrorists were well-established in
Saudi Arabia. Inside that country, fundraisers
and other facilitators gave al Qaeda financial
and logistical help, with little scrutiny or
opposition. Today, after the attacks in Riyadh
and elsewhere, the Saudi government knows that
al Qaeda is its enemy. Saudi Arabia is working
hard to shut down the facilitators and financial
supporters of terrorism. The government has
captured or killed many first-tier leaders of
the al Qaeda organization in Saudi Arabia --
including one last week. Today, because Saudi
Arabia has seen the danger and has joined the
war on terror, the American people are
safer." -- President George W. Bush
Click
here to read the complete transcript
of President Bush's remarks.
Source: The
White House
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First
municipal elections announced in Saudi Arabia
ArabicNews.com
"Saudi
Arabia announced the completion of procedural
measures to carry out the first municipal
elections in the country in order to elect half
members of the municipal council in
Autumn." Complete
report..
Website
Offers Virtual Tour of Saudi Arabia
Arab News
"A
former American expatriate in Saudi Arabia has
set up a virtual tour for people thinking of
visiting the Kingdom." Complete
report..
 Top
Al-Qaeda Figure Surrenders
By Abdul
Wahab Bashir, Arab News
"A disabled
Saudi terror suspect has handed himself in to
the authorities, the third to do so under a
month-long partial amnesty announced in June,
the Interior Ministry announced yesterday. The
man is suspected of being a top Al-Qaeda figure
close to Osama Bin Laden and had been hiding
along the Iran-Afghan border." Complete
report ..
More
militants surrender
CNN
"Another 27 wanted militants have
surrendered to Saudi security officials over the
last several days under a month-long leniency
offer set to expire this week, according to the
Saudi Interior Ministry.."
Complete
report ..
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Secretary
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Interviewed