"Never
Hate in Plurals": US-Saudi People-to-People
Relationships
Khaled Al
Maeena at the Hampton Roads World Affairs
Council |
|
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
OF GREATER HAMPTON ROADS
KHALED A. AL MAEENA
September 16, 2004
William
Butler, President and CEO of Suntrust Bank, Hampton Roads:
This is a
real honor for me to be here tonight with our guests, and
to extend a warm Hampton Roads welcome to all of them.
I spent four
summers in Dhahran in Saudi Arabia in the early '60s, back
when oil was very much cheaper than it is today. I think
it cost us ten to fifteen cents a gallon at the pumps just
outside Dhahran. Unfortunately, I wasn't old enough to
drive back then. I also had the opportunity to spend four
years in Iran, in Abadan, Iran. My father was an engineer
with an oil company. And that experience, coupled with my
experience in Saudi Arabia has given me a deep
appreciation for the Middle East culture, the Arab
culture. And I really enjoyed tonight catching up with
what's taking place in the Kingdom, how Dhahran where I
lived for four summers has transformed. And, again, it's a
real honor for me to introduce Dr. Khaled Al Maeena and
his wife Samar Fatany. Welcome.
As you've read,
Dr. Maeena is a well-known PR consultant, media
personality, editor and journalist in Saudi Arabia. He was
CEO of Saudi Public Relations Company for eight years. His
many media and diplomatic achievements include
representing the Saudi media at several very important
summit meetings in the Arab world, including Arab summits
of Baghdad and Morocco. He was a member of the Saudi
Diplomatic Delegation to the People's Republic of China
and Russia, after relations between the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and those countries were established. He has
extensive knowledge of Western media, and throughout his
professional life he has made frequent visits to the
United States, Europe, Asia, and Gulf countries. And his
children have studied here in this country. He has
consequently been involved as a guest lecturer at many
internationally renowned colleges and universities and
institutions. And while he's been here in Hampton Roads
this week, he has spent a lot of time with high school
students and college students in this region and also with
the League of Women Voters. And we really appreciate what
both Khaled and Samar have done to gain a more balanced
perspective or a perhaps a different perspective than what
we hear from much of the American press.
Dr. Al Maeena has
been the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News which is the
largest English daily in the Middle East. And he's been in
that capacity for over fifteen years. He first joined the
newspaper in June of 1982 and served as Editor-in-Chief
until February of 1993. He rejoined Arab News in
March of '99, has been Editor since then. He's also been
an anchor on Saudi television and hosted many popular talk
shows. He's worked as a radio announcer on a TV program.
He's very interested in sports and has been a sports
promoter in Saudi Arabia, promoting both squash and tennis
tournaments. He has been educated extensively abroad,
studied in the United States, Britain, Pakistan, and
India.
It's a real honor
having someone of his stature here to give us his
perspective.
His wife is
equally accomplished. Mrs. Samar Fatany is a senior
announcer, journalist, and radio talk show host for Radio
Jeddah. She has a masters.. a BA from Cairo
University in Egypt and has studied with the BBC on a
number of occasions and she, in many respects, is the
best-known female radio personality in the Kingdom, and
has covered just about all of the major affairs in her
country. She has accompanied Khaled on numerous
trips abroad and has been involved in many high-level
interviews of foreign and local officials and opinion
leaders.
So, please join
me in welcoming Dr. Al Maeena and his wife here to Hampton
Roads.
Dr. Khaled Al
Maeena
 Thank
you, ladies and gentlemen. It is indeed a pleasure and a
privilege to be here and I'm very happy to be in your fair
city. But I am sad at the same time, sad because I lived
in Virginia all these years and never discovered Norfolk..
it's my loss. But anyway, Virginia has always been a
second home to us, to my children.
Before I was
born, America was a second home to many Saudis for many
reasons: first, because the discovery of oil in Saudi
Arabia after it was formed in 1932, thanks to these young
American drillers who came in from California and Texas
and Arizona and other parts of the United States, in those
days just before the Second World War, and braved
inclement weather, extreme heat and extreme cold,
scorpions, snakes, and hostile terrain and dug, drilled
for oil, fueled the economic engine of Saudi Arabia, which
was a small country, and really helped us to get on the
map. And so, for that, we owe Americans a great deal of
thanks. As a result of the discovery of oil by the
American companies, our trend was that we started looking
at America. And this was done not only through government
directives, but also through people.
| In
1946, you had Saudi students studying at the
University of Southern California. And one of them
ended up marrying an American lady from Pasadena
and brought her home. And she wrote a book called At
the Drop of a Veil. The second edition is
coming out now. She's a sprightly old 84 year-old
lady who still lives in Pasadena. Thus, you see
the relationship that the United States and Saudi
Arabia and especially the people had was a special
relationship. It was a cordial relationship, and
things were moving smoothly. |
..the
relationship that
the United States and
Saudi Arabia and especially
the people had was a
special relationship..
|
The Second World
War ended and oil was needed again to fuel economic growth
in Europe. It was Saudi oil which also helped the Marshall
Plan, which the United States very generously implemented
so that those countries in Europe that were devastated by
the war would progress. And at that phase, I think, of
world history, there was the ominous danger that was the
Cold War. And as the Cold War started to become colder,
what happened was that the Saudis decided to join the
Americans in their fight and containment of Communism, and
they did so. We were very happy to sign several treaties,
including defense training, including social and economic
development programs. And as such, I think that the United
States' President Eisenhower became almost a household
name in the Arab World. And even in Iran, there was a
big.. the biggest boulevard in Tehran was called
Eisenhower Boulevard. And there were others, like Truman
Boulevard. And so the relations not only of the
governments but of the peoples in the Arab world and the
United States were very strong. We were together in the
fight together against communism, in its containment.
At the same time,
we looked at America as a beacon of freedom to help us and
help our governments progress and move ahead. Thousands
and thousands of students came, not because they had to
but because of choice. America offered in many ways many
things that were similar to our way of life. Yes, we
differed in many ways culturally. Yes, there were
different attitudes and social mores, but in the basic
essence -- the belief in God, the family values, the
upward mobility -- these were similar, these were the
similarities in our mode of thinking. And people started
to come here.
| In
the 70's and the 80's, too, with the oil prices
going up, the development program started in Saudi
Arabia. And thousands, literally, of Americans
came and settled there. In addition to the people
that were working there for Saudi Arabian Oil
Company -- ARAMCO -- we had others who took part.
TWA started managing Saudi Airlines, other
companies -- Parsons, Bechtel and all -- these
names became very familiar. It was not just an
import from American culture; it was know-how. It
was a relationship based on equality. We were not
just a client state. Yet, even in those days, we
were accused of pandering to the Americans. But we
said, 'no.' The Americans are partners who we look
up to, who have helped us also develop so many of
our initiatives and bring them into reality. And
things went on, despite the various political
bickering from leaders of both sides. There was a
cordial relationship and atmosphere. |
At
one time, there
were 27 flights from
Saudi Arabia, weekly
flights, to the United
States.. Now, there
are only two.
|
I remember coming
here all the time, and for Saudis coming here it was a
natural destination, not only for education but for
tourism. At one time, there were 27 flights from Saudi
Arabia, weekly flights, to the United States and
Washington. Now, there are only two.
And I think what
happened was that 'good things don't last', as they say.
And then came September 11th, a great day of shock and
horror to people. To many of us, it was something
unbelievable. It was like watching a horror movie. And I
say this, the two countries that were most effected by
September 11th were the United States -- because 3,000
people were murdered on a fine morning, innocent people --
and Saudi Arabia second. because the perpetrators of this
evil act had come from there or belonged to that area. In
fact, the first thing that the Saudi leadership did was to
immediately condemn these attacks.
| I
remember that I was in Boston, and I had traveled
by road to Washington when I saw the first
statement, and it was a genuine statement by the
Crown Prince who is deeply committed to US-Saudi
relations, and by the people, the clergy. But the
shock was there. And America was really hurt, and
they asked why. And they had every right and
reason to ask why. And we asked why. Why did these
people do it? Who are these people? Because we
couldn't identify them at that time. There was
that denial. And people accused us of being in
denial. I said yes, the shock was that in a
country which prided itself that there are no
crimes -- for those who have lived there literally
no armed robberies, no rapes, no kidnappings --
there was certainly denial. To have people
from our country commit such horror really put us
in a state of shock. |
..then
came September
11th.. ..in a country
which prided itself that
there are no crimes..
..there was certainly
denial. To have people
from our country commit
such horror really put us
in a state of shock..
|
In America,
people were in shock and grief. And we did feel America's
grief, and we did feel upset. And there was
soul-searching, despite what one read in the newspaper --
and I've got a foot in both camps. I was here at
that time. The grief was significant. As events
unfolded we came to know the 'why' and the 'who' -- that
this was a band of thugs and murderers who in no way
represented our society or our religion. But what happened
then -- and I pleaded with many of my American friends to
start a joint action and to search and probe and find out
-- on our part we felt aggrieved because suddenly the
avalanche of hate which followed the grief.. and I do not
blame people for getting upset.. and it pained me that the
same friends and people had suddenly changed.
The majority of
the people in the United States, like the majority of
people elsewhere, do not have an idea of the nitty-gritty
of what governments do, what are the relations between
certain Saudis and the Americans, of how many Saudis were
there. We were condemned, and that was something that we
had to live with. The application of the principle of
collective guilt: every one of us was a terrorist, a
crook, a criminal, a murderer. And this pained me.
So, I decided to
take the rest into my own hand. And you have a saying
here: 'when the going gets tough, the tough get
going." So, we decided to look into what was
happening. As a newspaper, as private individuals, the
first month post-September 11th, we received 600,000
emails full of hate and venom. But we were not upset. We
knew America was angry, and we knew why they were angry.
And we started replying. And this is no exaggeration. I
had a task force of volunteers, Saudi men and women who
were very concerned about this link, this 70-year link
between us and the United States which is based on more
than oil.
| Many
people in America view us as a gas station, as a
big gas station. We offered more to America. In
times of need we stood by them, whether it was
Afghanistan, whether it was Nicaragua, whether it
was other things that were happening in the Middle
East. And especially in stopping the tide of
Communism. People don't realize that we were
surrounded, and had it not been for Saudi-American
cooperation, half of that part of the world would
have fallen to the Reds.
We wanted
the Americans to know this, but the Americans were
in grief. And I remember among the hateful things
that came, people sort of thought of us as the
reincarnation of the devil, and they made Islam
the religion of the devil. Some people are
ignorant of our Judeo-Christian roots.
|
..We
offered more to
America.. ..especially in
stopping the tide of Communism.. ..had it
not been for Saudi-American
cooperation, half of that
part of the world would
have fallen to the Reds..
|
I'll illustrate
one example which again shows of how the American people,
once they know the truth and once they have an idea, they
can change their minds. So, on the 16th of December of
2001, just three months after the horror attacks on New
York and Washington, I received an email from a gentleman
in Montana. Usually we divided the letters that came in
into three categories: one with the four-letter words --
and I led a very sheltered life, so I kept those on the
side. Another was for intellectuals who wrote and
sent things in impeccable English, keeping those on the
side, knowing that this person, no matter how offensive
the message was to us, must be a graduate or working in
academia or maybe a businessman. The third category was
our answer to them. But anyway, this gentleman said, and I
quote, and I remember that email-he said, "I hope
that you pigs and swines and murderers.." (he didn't
use the 'f word') "..will be decimated by the armies
of Christ. The armies of Lord Jesus Christ will come and
kill you.." And he went on. Knowing he was from
Montana.. [AUDIENCE LAUGHS]
..and knowing a
little bit about America, I decided to send him an email
using an American adage that 'you can catch more flies
with honey than with vinegar'. At first, I said that I was
going to sock it to this guy, but I said no. I feel his
pain. So, I decided to write to him.
I said,
"Please do not apply.." -- that was the first
time I used that expression in my dealings with Americans
-- "do not apply the principle of collective guilt. I
am not Mr. Bin Laden's agent, nor do I subscribe to his
theories." And I did explain my condolences, and I
wrote "Peace."
Two hours later
he replies back and says, 'What do you animals know about
peace? You swine, you pigs!' And he went on.. tough nut to
crack, but I am a tougher nut.
So, I decided to
send another email to the guy, and I said, 'I'm sorry, but
I don't know why you use this venom against me. I am as
innocent as you are.'
Anyway, on the
25th of December which was just five days later, and this
was the first Christmas after this sad incident, I decided
to send him a gift. You can send gifts through email, so I
went to the Qur'an and took out from the words of Mary,
the mother of Jesus Christ, the story of the nativity of
Jesus Christ, the birth of Jesus Christ. And I sent it to
him, and I said, 'This is my Christmas gift to you.'
One hour later he
sends me an email and says, "And now you steal our
Bible?!"
And it sort of
made me think about it, and then I sent another email on
the 28th. I said, 'This is not the Bible. You have been
accusing us of being anti-Christ, but I think that Muslims
more firmly believe in Christ maybe more than you."
And I explained to him why, that you cannot be a Muslim if
you do not believe in Jesus Christ. You cannot be a Muslim
if you do not believe in Moses and Abraham, and especially
I focused on the Lord Jesus Christ. And I explained to him
and gave him other notes from other transliterations from
the Holy Qur'an. I'm not in the preaching business, nor do
I want to convert people. As it is, there are many
preachers around. So, I again wrote "Peace."
Three days later
he sends me an email -- I think three days was respite for
me -- he sent me an email, and it was the most profound
email I had ever received in my life. He said, "Dear
Mr. Al Maeena, thank you for your last email." And I
was waiting and bracing myself for what was coming up
next.. and he said, "If my father was alive today, he
would have hit me on the knuckles for being so rude to you
and for being nasty to you and for applying this principle
of collective guilt that you said. And I'm sorry. I never
knew that Muslims believed in Jesus Christ." And he
said, "I apologize, and I'm going to my church
tomorrow, and I'm going to speak, and I'm going to
apologize to you in front of the congregation."
I felt very
touched. And it was indeed an example of the greatness of
the American people, that if they know the truth, if they
seek the truth, if they come to that conclusion, then they
can change their minds.
We corresponded
for quite some time. Three months later an email came from
the same family name but a different first name and said,
"My father who corresponds with you is ill,
terminally ill. I hope that you will pray for him."
So, I posted it on the "net." And there were
maybe about five hundred Muslims from Indonesia to Morocco
who sent emails to him, saying that we were praying for
you in our Friday prayers in our mosques.
So, there were these
guys from Montana who thought, these Muslims, we are
abusing them, and they are praying for us -- and indeed
they were genuine. There were people who wrote letters to
this man in Montana. Anyway,
the gentleman died in April, but we still maintain good
relations with his family. Not only his family but even
the barber in that community started writing to us.
| It
shows that basically people are the same. There is
no hatred among people. Hatred is caused by
ignorance. It's caused by the media -- I'm also
responsible for that because I'm in the media.
It's also caused by suspicion, when we paint
pictures, when we tell about it, when we demonize
Islam -- and forgetting and conveniently
obliterating the fact that we are an extension of
Judaism and Christianity. True, there are
problems. I'm not being idealistic. There are many
problems that this world has. Otherwise it would
be heaven, without problems. There are political
differences. There are social differences. But
basically, I think we have a common enemy, that of
ignorance and hunger and disease, AIDS, other
health issues, global warming, now, that are
confronting humanity, confronting all of us. I
think that we have to focus on points of
convergence rather than divergence. |
..basically
people are
the same.. ..Hatred is
caused by ignorance..
..It's also caused by suspicion.. ..I'm not
being idealistic.. ..There
are differences. But, I
think we have a common
enemy, that of ignorance
and hunger and disease..
..we have to focus on
points of convergence..
|
Anyway, after
that, we decided to talk openly to the American people and
tell them that we are also victims of terror, as you are
victims of terror, not on that large of a scale, but on a
scale that frightens us. People do not hate America. The
Muslim is not your enemy. And they started believing that.
We are not a PR company, and I'm just an ordinary man, but
I saw among the Saudis, among the Muslims, the idea that
we have to maintain that link.
We wanted friends
in this part of the world. We wanted partners in this part
of the world. We are not a banana republic, and God has
blessed us, as is known, with wealth. And we were doing
things, not to appease America, but we believed in the
American people and the goodness of the American people.
And we wanted to destroy the terrorists, those who want to
create a wedge between religions and between peoples. Our
victory would have been if we would all have said 'no' to
them instead of being accused of shaming each other.
Unfortunately, it didn't subside on this part. Many things
are.. you know, one of the generals spoke about 'your
God', and one person said the Muslims worship the moon
god. We worship the same God as you do. We have the same
prophets as you do. I was discussing Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John with somebody, and they said, "Did you read
the Bible? And do you know Noah's Ark?" I said,
'This is in the Qur'an."
| So,
I would always.. I'm not being overly
optimistic. Things can be better. I think if we
all try, and if we all seek the truth, because we
read in the newspaper.. sometimes I read things
here in the newspaper that really make me upset
and pain me, when people write and they still make
fun of our Prophet. As I said, we believe in Jesus
Christ and that he will come back, but we also
believe that there was a prophet after him, which
was our Prophet Muhammad. And when you read
someone like Ann Coulter saying blasphemous
things, and when you read other things, how do you
expect people who live in that part of the world,
who also listen --"They hate us,"
"Us against them," "Either with us
or against us" -- they get suspicious. And
this fuels the tempers of young people who then
tend to be enticed by these devils who want them
to come. |
..I
read things here in
the newspaper that
really make me upset
and pain me, when
people write and they
still make fun of our
Prophet.. ..when you read
someone.. saying
blasphemous things..
..this fuels the tempers
of young people who then
tend to be enticed by these
devils who want them to
come.
|
So, there's no
organic problem between the United States and the Arab
world. As I've said, the Muslim world was the natural ally
of the United States for a long time. And we want it to
remain that way. I believe that somebody asked me,
"What should we do?" I said, "It takes
people-to-people connections." And I said that people
should try and clamp down on those who incite people
against each other and against other religions because all
of us are the children of God, all of us have the same
concerns -- the concerns of bringing up our children, the
concerns of seeing that they get a better position in
life, upward mobility, taking care of ourselves. You ask a
Saudi mother, "What would you like your son or
daughter to have?" And she will say, "I would
like them to have a laptop in their hands." No mother
would want their daughter or son to have a grenade, to
have a dagger to go on killing. Yes, there are the
realities of the world. There are people who espouse
violence. This is on both sides, and both sides are
to blame.
| So,
I think those who are in business, those who are
intellectuals, those who are in academia should
get together, talk frankly. We have differences.
People talk about violence, people talk about
things. Yes, we disagree with US foreign
policy in the Middle East. We disagree with US
foreign policy elsewhere. But that doesn't mean
that we hate the American people. We would like to
iron out these differences. The United States is a
harbinger of peace and prosperity and justice. It
should be viewed in the Middle East, it should be
viewed in our part of the world, as an honest
broker, as a country that can push through
positive things. It should be able to create
the image and the perception in the minds of
people that, yes, this is a country that would
stand with the weak and be righteous, not only in
its capacity as people but also as leaders. |
..The
United States
is a harbinger of
peace and prosperity
and justice. It should
be viewed in the Middle
East, it should be
viewed in our part of
the world, as an honest
broker, as a country
that can push through
positive things..
|
Unfortunately,
there is no morality in politics in many places of the
world. And it happens in our part of the world, it happens
in this part of the world. There are politicians, people
who look for short-term gains. But I think that we can
impress upon our local leaders and upon others that
whatever steps they take, whatever utterances come, and if
you have people amongst us, whether they are church
leaders, or whether they are business leaders, we should
ask them to be calm and not come up with things that could
hurt us.
We were talking a
couple of minutes ago with some people about the Saudis
coming from Saudi Arabia to here. The numbers have
trickled down, and somebody asked me why. I said that it
was racial profiling, not getting visas and all. I
personally would be hurt if this link that has been there
for 70 years was broken because of some bureaucrat not
getting his papers in order. I would really like people in
academia to push through and get students here.
|
I would
like to make the point that these 15 of the 19 who
did these acts were not students. None of them
were studying in a graduate school. None of them
were studying in a university. These were people
who had already slipped in through these
immigration laws, who had come in as temporary
students or had come in to learn how to fly and
all. The image of the Saudi student, or the Muslim
student, is one who came here -- and many of these
people who came from the Muslim countries that
were not rich worked hard in order to get a green
card and to come and stay here.
And so
again, I would like to humbly state that we
shouldn't apply this principle of collective
guilt, that we should take each on a case-by-case
basis. As I tell people, "America is not out
to get you. It has its own problems. It has an
election going on, and it's enough. These guys are
at each other, so take some respite." The
same thing I told the Americans: "Believe me,
the natives don't bite."
So, I
hope that I will be able to carry this message,
that when I go back I can say that I was met in a
very friendly manner, that people in America were,
yes, upset and hurt. But we have to make something
from this, to try and to utilize this horrific
act, this evil day, to make something good that
will be permanent and will be lasting. I'm not
being idealistic.
|
..I
hope that I will be
able to carry this
message, that when I
go back I can say that
I was met in a very
friendly manner, that
people in America were,
yes, upset and hurt. But
we have to make
something from this, to
try and to utilize this
horrific act, this evil day,
to make something
good that will be
permanent and will be
lasting..
|
I think it's
important that we walk that extra mile, to exert that
extra ounce of strength, to see to it that this hate,
ignorance, ill-feeling, and ill-will will be banished
forever. And I think that will be the best legacy that we
will have for our children. Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
Moderator:
I assume you're prepared to take some questions. I think
you may have provoked a few, my friend.
Khaled Al
Maeena: Well, from such nice people, I don't mind.
Host: Well,
with the World Affairs Council certainly the question and
answers session is one of the finest traditions.
Question:
Hi. I'm sure you're familiar with the Arab Human
Development report that was written by Arabs throughout
the Arab world, and I think there's a second edition
that's come out now. It's provided a very controversial
but honest appraisal of the achievements as well as the
shortcomings. And I was wondering what your personal
reaction was to it as well as perhaps the official
reaction inside Saudi Arabia to that report.
Khaled Al
Maeena: Well, I was pleased with that report
because it was done by the Arab people, for the Arab
people. And it is high time that we, in the Arab world,
call a spade a spade, that we realize and we point our
fingers at whatever problem or whatever situation exists.
You can only solve a problem by admitting that there's a
problem. And for years, call it social mores, or whatever
it is, people didn't want to think anything bad, that
everything was alright. But this report opened peoples'
eyes because it focused on the need to focus on young
people, education, bureaucracy, accountabilities. So, I
think it is a good sign that people now are realizing that
there is illness in our society and we have to take care
of that.
Question:
Is that your opinion, or is it official?
Khaled Al
Maeena: I have no post. I am a man of the
people.
Question:
Dr. Al Maeena, a few years ago the Crown Prince spent
considerable capital, I think, in bringing together all
the Arab leaders, to agree on a concord, a way of
approaching the Israelis, so that this issue could be
settled. Unfortunately, it didn't materialize, but his
efforts were considerable and there was great hope
throughout the world. Do you think there's an opportunity
again for the Kingdom to work with the Arab nations to
moving this issue a little bit closer to resolution?
Khaled Al
Maeena: Well, I was there on that great day in
Beirut when the Crown Prince announced that there would be
complete normalization, and all the Arab countries signed.
But unfortunately, the next day the sad events happened on
the West Bank. There were these killings, and Mr. Sharon
blocked it. I really believe that if there was another
government down there this wouldn't have happened.
The Arab
countries would like normalization, but at the same time
would like to see implementation of UN resolutions 242 and
338, which the United States is a signatory of. And as I
said, people want peace. At times we are told, "But
these are the guys that said they want to throw Israel
into the sea." This is Cold War rhetoric. This is the
same thing that Khrushchev did when he banged his shoe in
the United Nations. Nobody does these things anymore.
Young people on both sides want peace. To me, the problem
is the interference with the Palestinians and Israelis by
outsiders. And I think if both these people are allowed to
talk to each other and allowed to deal and negotiate and
have a new set of leaders, believe me, I'm sure the
problems would be solved much sooner than we think. But
outside interference by groups, by parties, by
governments, by people from our area and outside the area
have impeded any sort of travel on this road that will
take us to a complete and normal peace in the Middle East.
Question:
Sir, I admire your courage tonight. I'm intrigued. My
question is, given your Qur'an and your sunna and, I
guess, your hadith for the Wahhabi, which gives you the
sharia for your everyday behavior, given your five times a
day involvement in prayers, how do people like Osama Bin
Laden and the other people who want to fight, break loose
from your community because it's such a superb, welded
religious operation, and I don't understand how they got
loose?
Khaled Al
Maeena: Well, it's mind-boggling. Sometimes I
try to wonder why did this guy travel this road, and I
sort of researched.. and again, this is not a blame game.
Most of these people, the extremists and the terrorists,
were products of the Afghan war. It was very unfortunate.
When the Russians
invaded Afghanistan -- and not many people know this-in
1979 there were two countries that were really alarmed.
The United States was alarmed, and then, of course,
Pakistan was alarmed because the Soviets were coming up.
And on the other side there was another country, India.
And then, of course, Saudis were alarmed. But at that
time, Saudi oil prices were going up. There was money. So
the United States asked Saudi Arabia to help play a role
in stemming and stopping this tide of the Russian
onslaught that was coming in. And so the people were
encouraged to go and fight.
Young people left
school. It was exactly like the Spanish Civil War, the
romantics and everyone. And then, of course, religion
stepped in: "Go and fight the godless
communists." So, then it became an Islamic fight. But
then, not only was it an Islamic fight -- everybody came
in. And I will remember in 1982 I was in Peshawar when I
saw a hippie type of character walking, and I said,
"Why are you here? Who are you?" He said,
"I'm a bartender from Brussels, and I've come to
fight the Soviets." So, I said, "Are you a
Muslim or an Asian or an Afghan?" And he said,
"No. It's a great thing for me to be here." Now,
this is a guy from Brussels who wanted adventure. But
there were many others who were told to go and fight in
the name of God, and fight in the name of religion, and
they did so.
Now, when the
Soviet forces were defeated or, as you say, vacated from
the premises of Afghanistan, these people had nothing to
do. The mistake that the United States did -- and the
other Arab countries -- they did not use these young
people. The United States just walked out. The Arab
countries just left. Pakistan pulled its troops. And these
people had no one. They were like the lost legion. 20,000
to 25,000 people from all over the Muslim world and even
from Europe and Africa and Asia were there. And, for
whatever reason, they had no one to guide them. They could
not go back to school. People viewed them with suspicion.
Many of them had come to the Arab countries and were put
in jail by the same people who told them to go and fight.
Then, of course,
a savior came in the form of Al Qaeda, Bin Laden and all,
and those people took them under their wing and told them
something else. They said, "You guys have defeated
one of the superpowers and made them retreat to Moscow.
There's another superpower, so let's go and hit it."
And that's why September 11 happened. Because of the
twisted logic of some people who took these young people
-- and I feel sorry for them. And I really feel sorry
because we owe it to them. And we are responsible for the
neglect of these young people, be we governments or
parents or educators and all. And let them loose. They had
no place to go. And when you have no hope, the first
person who offers you aid, you gladly accept that, and
that's why this happened.
Question:
I'd like to ask what advice you'd give to aspiring Muslim
journalists who face slander?
Khaled Al
Maeena: Who face slander? Well, I think
journalists should be brave enough. You know, I believe
that if you are in this field, whatever you write becomes
public property, because the next day anyone who reads it
can attack you. I believe that the Muslims of America --
and I was very happy to note there were many Muslims I met
in California. And the first thing they said was:
"Please don't bring your problems from the Middle
East and Asia and Africa to us. We may be ethnically
belonging to that part, but we are Americans first."
And that gave me hope. Because, if you are here, you are
first an American, and your loyalty is to the flag and the
Constitution. America is a secular society. And before
9/11, somebody wrote in a Saudi paper that it is the
greatest place for religion. And he also wrote that
America is a promised land because you can be a Bill
Clinton, Bill Kristol, Bill Gates, anything in the United
States. And this was true when I read it. In America, you
can be anything.
Question:
Dr. Al Maeena, first I'd like to say something. Your
countryman, Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Basnabi, is a very good
friend of mine. We were studying for our doctorate at the
University of New Mexico. I'm talking about early '80s.
And we discussed many thing like you said here. And at
that time was the Afghanistan invasion. And he was a
staunch anti-Communist, like myself, because I suffered in
my native Hungary. But my question to him was, "What
can we do to change the Americans' minds concerning Arabs
or Muslims?" Still, today, the same problem. Even
here I was talking to some people, you cannot change
because they are "terrorists." Now, because some
are involved, how come everybody is like that? Something
should be done concerning changing the minds of the
Americans. Maybe we should call the White House? I doubt
it. So, what is your opinion, sir? Thank you.
| Khaled
Al Maeena: Well, peoples' opinions
change. I think this media hype has made it in
such a way and there is media in certain quarters
with a vested interest in the United States to
create a wedge. They're trying to make it as if
the Muslims are from Mars. We're not. We're from
here, too. There are American Muslims, there are
Anglo-Saxon Muslims and so forth. There are
others who want us to placate them and sort of
grovel. This happened in Europe and it has
happened elsewhere. I think if we take everything
in stride, work hard to produce results and get on
with our lives, you know, nothing will happen. As
they say, "Sticks and stones may break my
bones but names won't hurt me." So, that's
the thing with Americans. There will be bigots.
They're a nation of 300 million people. There will
still be people after I leave who will say that
they aren't convinced, that say this is a
whitewash. And there are people in the Arab world
who are still not convinced that the United States
is not an enemy to the Arab states. They believe
that the United States moved into Iraq to grab
Iraqi oil. Now, I don't know what the motives are
-- some of the planners don't know themselves --
but you cannot go around and sort of generalize.
The danger, my friend, is generalization. I am not
my brother's keeper, so I would also want the
Americans and for those who hear this, that do not
generalize. If one person is bad, don't claim that
everyone is bad. And this is exactly what I would
do. I would move on. Just wear that British stiff
upper lip and get on with my life. |
There
will still be
people after I leave
who will say that they
aren't convinced, that
say this is a whitewash.
And there are people in
the Arab world who are
still not convinced that
the United States is not
an enemy to the Arab
states.. ..The danger, my
friend, is generalization..
..If one person is
bad, don't claim that
everyone is bad..
|
Moderator:
I'd like to ask Samar a question. I think it would be a
great loss of an opportunity if she didn't speak. One of
the questions addressed taking democracy to the Arab world
and helping it take root. And we in the United States --
85 years ago, women didn't have the right to vote. More
than half of the population. The Voting Rights Act is not
even 40 years old which cemented the right of African
Americans to vote here. And we have expectations about how
other countries should be more democratic. I would like
your perception as a professional Saudi woman, about the
progress in Saudi society in terms of democratization and
in terms of opportunities for women. And perhaps would you
come up to the podium if your husband will share it with
you and talk to the group for a moment.
Khaled Al
Maeena: Well, I can't say no. In Saudi Arabia,
we say that I am the boss of the house, and I have my
wife's permission to say so. [LAUGHTER]
Samar Fatany:
Well, I think if I could give you an idea of what's
going on in Saudi Arabia today, you might get a picture of
the lifestyle and what is happening in Saudi society
today.
Saudi Arabia is
going through a reform movement today that is unstoppable.
Saudi women will be the first benefactors of this reform
movement. A lot of Saudi women are integrated into the
workforce. 50% are women, and 60% of the population are
under 25. So, we are in the process of nation-building.
And a lot of our young people are concerned, more
concerned and occupied about finding a job and getting a
better education and having better skills. The government
is reforming the educational system because a lot of our
graduates don't have necessary skills. They need to
have computer training. English has become obligatory in
the primary schools, as it is an international language,
and they need it in their work. Training centers are
opened up. The Saudization program is being implemented to
provide more jobs for our graduates because a lot of the
expatriate community is holding up a lot of jobs that are
available in the Kingdom. A center has also been set up
for women to do business deals and encourage them into the
business community. Women are also part of the political
agenda, as well. They are in committees, economic
committees that have been formed. Three women have been
appointed to our consultative council. A lot of women
participate in international conferences today. So, women
are also involved in the international community, whereas
in the past they were marginalized. A lot of our
graduates, 44 percent, are women. There's a lot that's
going on in Saudi Arabia. It's exciting times, and it's
very challenging. Our younger population is very focused.
And there's more focus towards giving them better
services, better education, and employment.
It pains me to
hear that Saudi Arabia is a breeding ground for terrorism
and that our youngsters are involved in terrorist acts.
Saudi Arabia today is a victim of terrorism. Our security
forces are working hard to combat terrorism. A lot of the
terrorists have been arrested. A lot of the security
forces have lost their lives in trying to protect our
country. So, our security and our prosperity is our main
concern. And it is important for us to have this reform
movement being supported by a strong ally like the United
States. I think it would be a great shame to lose the
whole of the Middle East to terrorism and to fuel this
hatred, to make the whole area into enemies of the United
States. It's as if people are saying, "Yes, you are
the enemy. Yes, we want to make you the enemy." And
that would be a fatal mistake. It would be a lost
opportunity not to create better friendships and good will
amongst our people.
Question:
A question for Mr. Al Maeena, please. A media question.
What is the role of an English-language newspaper in the
Middle East? And how much of your circulation is outside
of Saudi Arabia?
Khaled Al
Maeena: The role of an English-language newspaper
is to cater to all the English-speaking people. In our
case, the paper was formed to meet the needs of the
growing number of people who were coming in, coming in to
work. But now, we have also evolved, and now we are a
newspaper that everyone reads. We also distribute in the
Gulf, in Bahrain, the UAE. We have a strong Indian
readership because the subcontinent is very close to us.
Four and a half hours flying time. So, we do distribute
outside, and we are also on the Internet.
Question:
Dr. Al Maeena, nice to see you again. Actually, the
question I'm going to ask came up this morning, but since
that was a much smaller audience, I'm going to ask that
question again for the benefit of the larger audience. In
your presentation in the morning and again tonight, I draw
the conclusion that you make a distinction between the
hatred -- if I'm able to use that word; it's a very strong
word -- but the Arabs do not hate the American people, per
se. What they do not like is American foreign policy. As a
media person, since you share and seem to believe in that,
what are you doing -- and when I say you, I'm referring to
the media -- in convincing the average, ordinary Arab man
on the street that you don't need to hate Americans. What
you need to do is change the system. If people do not hate
Americans, I cannot understand for the life of me why they
would blow up 3,000 people, many of whom may not have even
agreed with the policies of the Administration. What is
the Arab News and all other media in the Arab world
doing to change the mindset of the average Arab on the
street?
Khaled Al
Maeena: Well, you have a very large media. That
media that has any connection with the governments of that
area are very moderate medias. Private medias, we cannot
control.
I'll tell you
what I did. When this incident happened, my editorials
said, "No to Terror." And on the first
anniversary of September 11 it was there, and I received
thousands of emails, and they were genuine.. and we walked
down the street and asked people for their reaction.
Now, I'll tell
you something else that was done. It was after the
Abu Ghraib Prison scandal -- that was something that
really shocked everyone. I had an editorial meeting with
my staff. And my staff said, "Let's put the most
offensive picture on page one." And I said,
"No, I'm not going to put that." And they said,
"Let's have voting." And I said, "Okay, but
remember, I'm like the United States, and I have the veto,
and I'm going to use it." In the end, we decided to
put the least offensive picture, the Iraqi prisoner
standing on that stool with the hood that I'm sure many of
you have seen. And not the one with the dogs and the woman
because that was what was most offensive to the Arabs and
the Muslims.
| But
I'm one newspaper and one outlet. Even in the
other newspapers that I directly or indirectly
have a say in, we decided not to put it. And I was
very pleased to see that most Saudi papers did not
put it in. Then came the second wave of pictures
that were published in most of the Western media.
I told my staff, just as I don't want the actions
of those who killed 3,000 people and murdered them
in cold blood attributed to me, I do not want
people in the Arab world to think that these bunch
of sick people and crazies who carried out these
prison atrocities represent the United States
Army. Because I know people. I have met many US
military people. I met many of them in the first
Gulf War. They are good people, they are soldiers.
But if we go on inciting.. the Arab world was
inflamed by seeing that picture of the private and
the dog -- you have seen that. There were the
other pictures of the naked prisoners. These
were things that were alien to us. And so if we
don't want the actions of thugs and murderers be
applied to us, it works both ways. |
"I
never hate in plurals."
It was a great answer
by a great man.
|
After the Second
World War, Eisenhower was asked a question by a British
paper, "Do you hate Germans?" He replied,
"I never hate in plurals." It was a great answer
by a great man. And I would like America to also subscribe
to that theory of Eisenhower. Never hate in plurals.
Mr.
Khaled Al-Maeena, a well-known public relations
consultant, media personality, editor, and journalist in
Saudi Arabia, has been Editor-in-Chief of Arab News,
the largest English daily newspaper in the Middle East,
for over 15 years. He first joined the newspaper as
Editor-in-Chief from June 1982 until February 1993 and
rejoined in March 1998. He was Chief Executive
Officer of the Saudi Public Relations Company (SPRC) from
1993 until 2000. He served as an anchor and hosted
popular talk shows on Saudi Television (STV), and has also
worked as a radio announcer and TV program director.
Mr. Al-Maeena has
represented the Saudi Arabian media at several important
summit meetings in the Arab world, including the Arab
summits of Baghdad and Morocco. He was a member of a
Saudi Arabian diplomatic delegation to both the People's
Republic of China and Russia after diplomatic relations
between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and those countries
were established.
Mr. Al-Maeena has
extensive knowledge of the Western media. Throughout
his professional life, he has made frequent visits to the
United States, Europe, Asia, and the Gulf countries, and
he has been a guest lecturer at a number of
internationally renowned universities, colleges, and
institutions.
Mr. Al-Maeena has
interviewed numerous heads of state and has himself
appeared on CNN, CBS, and STAR TV, especially during the
Gulf War. He steered the Arab News team
during the Gulf crisis and is credited with being the
first to bring newspapers back into liberated Kuwait.
A regular
political and social columnist for Gulf News, Asharq
Al-Awsat, Al-Eqtisadiah, Arab News, Times
of Oman, Asian Age, and The China Post,
Mr. Al-Maeena is also a committed sports promoter and has
successfully promoted squash and tennis tournaments in
Saudi Arabia.
In 1982, Mr.
Al-Maeena joined Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia). He
has served there in various capacities, including public
relations advisor to the airline and Editor-in-Chief of Saudia
World.
Mr. Al-Maeena
received his education in several countries, including the
United States, Britain, and Pakistan. He is fluent
in English, Arabic, and Urdu.
|
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