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An
Item of Interest from SUSRIS
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 9-11
Commission Report -- Saudi Arabia
"Cooperation
with Saudi Arabia against Islamist terrorism is
very much in the U.S. interest. Such
cooperation can exist for a time largely in
secret, as it does now, but it cannot grow and
thrive there. Nor, on either side, can
friendship be unconditional.."
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An
Item of Interest from SUSRIS
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 Secretary
Powell Interview
Al
Ikhbariya Television, Saudi Arabia
"I
think as time has passed from 9/11 and as all
the facts have become known .. more and more
Americans realize that Saudis are threatened by
terrorism .. We are partners in the campaign
against terrorists." -- U.S. Secretary of
State Powell
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An
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 From
Exclusivism to Accommodation: Doctrinal and
Legal Evolution of Wahhabism [Part 3]
By Abdulaziz
H. Al-Fahad
"In
contrast with the intermittent local challenges
that the Saudis faced after the consolidation of
the state, the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
presented a radical new threat not previously
witnessed by the modern Kingdom.."
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 Secretary
of State Powell Discusses Saudi Arabia and the
9/11 Final Report
The
following remarks were given en route to Cairo,
Egypt on July 27, 2004.
[Excerpt from
Secretary Powell's remarks]
Question:
"Mr. Secretary, with your trip to Saudi
Arabia, the 9/11 Commission last week singled
out our relationship with Saudi Arabia and said
we need to improve and move beyond oil. And,
specifically talked about the need for openness
and political and economic reform in addressing
the deeper problems. What's your reaction to
that? And, what is your general reaction to the
state of reform in Saudi Arabia right now, even
though they've done well countering terrorism,
what's your overall view?"
Secretary of
State Colin Powell: "In almost every
meeting I've had with Saudi leadership we've
talked about reform. And they have a very clear
idea of how they have to manage reform inside
the Kingdom, and the care that they have to take
before launching into reform efforts that they
believe would be destabilizing. Nevertheless, we
continue to point out to them areas where they
could make changes and improvements, or continue
to do so. We have a good relation with Saudi
Arabia that is based on common interests over
the past decades, 50 years or so. And, to a
large extent it reflects the importance of oil
and they, being a major supplier of oil for the
world. But, it also reflects the fact that we
have worked together in so many other areas. I
look forward to continuing to work positively
with the Saudi government."
Click
here to read a complete transcript of
Secretary Powell's remarks.
 Foreign
Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal comments on 9-11
Commission Report
Minister of
Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal made the
following statement in Jeddah on July 27, 2004.
[Excerpt from
Prince Al-Faisal's statement]
Minister
of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal:
"We
are pleased with the report and we feel
vindicated. We also hope that the
"Saudi bashing" will now come to an
end as people acknowledge the true facts about
terrorist activity and our determined efforts to
combat it. Today, the government and the
people of Saudi Arabia are engaged in a
determined and deadly battle with Al-Qaeda
forces. This is a battle that we cannot
and will not lose, God willing. But to
succeed, we need encouragement, not
recrimination; we need partners, not prejudice;
and we need cooperation, not condemnation.
"For too
long, almost any rumor about Saudi Arabia was
accepted as truth and a rush to judgment ensued.
What the pundits and constant critics of Saudi
Arabia may not realize is that the image of
Saudi Arabia they tried to impress on the
American psyche is in line with what the
terrorists themselves wanted to accomplish. And
both pundits and terrorists, through their
actions, intended to sever ties between our two
countries and peoples.
"But
now is the time to put the hyperbole behind us
and join hands to build a better future.
There is much work to be done to restore
U.S.-Saudi relations to the basis of friendship
and trust that existed in years past, and which
both countries recognize as critical to national
and international interests. We
welcome the Commission's call for a reassessment
of our relationship. Together, we need to
strengthen the pillars upon which the
Saudi-American relationship rests. Our
relationship is built upon goals for global
energy security, combating terrorism, the
stabilization of Iraq, regional peace and
security, and extensive trade and investment.
Each of these areas is of great importance and
directly impacts the economic well-being and
security of both countries. And in each of
these areas, there is much work to be done to
broaden and deepen ties between us to herald a
new era in our relationship."
Click
here to read a complete transcript of
Prince Al-Faisal's remarks.
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New
US Consular Website Launched
By Mohammed Rasooldeen, Arab
News
"Americans living in or traveling to Saudi
Arabia can now register and receive warden
messages online under new State Department
programs. The US Embassy in Riyadh launched a
new website last week, riyadh.usembassy.gov. Its
consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran will launch
their respective websites later this
month.." Complete
report..
Saudi
Arabian Oil Fields Brimming
"If global petroleum markets required it,
Saudi Aramco could nearly double its current
world-leading oil production output to 15
million barrels a day and comfortably sustain
that rate for at least 50 years.." Complete
report [PDF]..
The
9/11 Commission Report: Strengths and
Weaknesses
By Anthony H. Cordesman
"The
United States needs to be very careful about
rushing to act upon the recommendations of the
9/11 Commission. This may seem to be a desirable
instant solution to a difficult political
problem in an election year.
At the same time, the Commission report
has more weaknesses than strengths.
." Complete
report [PDF]..
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President
Bush Comments on Saudi Arabia's Role in Combating
Terrorism