Military

DATE=October 19, 2001

TYPE=Dateline

NUMBER=7-35457

TITLE=Ambivalence of Saudi Arabia

BYLINE=Judith Latham

TELEPHONE=202-619-3464

DATELINE=Washington

EDITOR=Neal Lavon

CONTENT=

INTRO: Saudi Arabia is crucial to U-S strategy in the Middle East and to the worldwide campaign against terrorism. Yet some analysts say there are growing tensions between the two countries. The tensions concern what is perceived by some as Saudi ambivalence over military operations in Afghanistan and a reluctance to investigate the background of several alleged terrorists. Today's Dateline explores the question of the "Ambivalence of Saudi Arabia." Here's Judith Latham.

JL: Some regional experts say that terrorism finds a much too congenial atmosphere in the Saudi brand of religious fundamentalism known as Wahabbism [wah-HAHB-bism]. An article in The New Yorker magazine and echoed in other major American media outlets warn that Islamic extremists might be on the verge of taking over Saudi Arabia. But former U-S ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Akins says, although reputed terrorist leader Osama bin Laden has sympathizers in Saudi Arabia, they do not include the ruling family who expelled him in 1991.

TAPE: CUT #1: AKINS [FM WARNER 5-50338] x:xx

"The Saudis know very well Osama bin Laden hates the Saudi ruling family even more than he hates the United States. And there is no reason not to cooperate with us in fighting Osama bin Laden and his group. There is going to be a mass execution of Saudi princes if Osama takes over in Riyadh, and they know that."

JL: William Rugh, president of Amideast [ah-mid-EAST], a Washington-based educational organization, and a former U-S ambassador to Middle Eastern countries, says much of the Saudi criticism of the United States is linked to American foreign policy. And the Saudi ruling family reflects popular opinion by opposing U-S policy towards Israel.

TAPE: CUT #2: RUGH [FM WARNER 5-50338] x:xx

"If you ask most Saudis, 'Do you support Osama bin Laden," they will say, 'No.' If you ask them if they think it was acceptable in Islam to blow up the World Trade Center, they will say 'No.' But if you then say, 'What do you think of America's policy toward Israel?' they would be very critical."

JL: True enough says former U-S Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East Edward Walker. But, contrary to some of the media criticism of Saudi ambivalence to U-S foreign policy and even its objections to the bombing campaign in Afghanistan, he notes that the Saudi government is supportive of the United States where it counts.

TAPE: CUT #3: WALKER Q&A [FM LATHAM] x:xx

"EW: I've talked to people in the departments of Treasury and State, the N-S-C, and everybody tells me that the Saudis are doing what they need to do for the campaign at this time. I've had talks privately with members of the administration, and they all report to me that they're satisfied with the cooperation they're getting.

JL: There are criticisms, particularly in the American press, of a Saudi contribution to the terrorist attacks on the United States that is, about half the hijackers were young Saudis. And much of the financing for Osama bin Laden has come from other wealthy Saudis. And the Saudi government was the main funder of the Taleban. To what degree are those criticisms legitimate?

EW: Well, if you go back far enough, the primary supporter of the Taleban was the United States in the war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Through one mechanism or another, we supplied all the weapons. We formed the opposition. It depends on the time frame you're talking about. It was in those days a positive thing to go off and fight in Afghanistan against the Russians. It was only later that it was clear this group of people was being perverted. Yes, there is no question that the Saudis were funding the Taleban, as were the Pakistanis. What we need to focus on now is the terrorism itself. And in that regard, the Saudis seem to be doing what is necessary.

JL: Now, the other side of the coin, of course, is that bin Laden and his followers are highly critical of the Saudi government for allowing U-S troops to remain in Saudi Arabia the guardian of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. What is the relationship between those people who are members of the al-Quida network and the Saudi government? There are some criticisms that Saudi Arabia has allowed these young warriors to plan from their soil.

EW: I haven't seen that anytime I've looked at intelligence during my time in the administration up until May. There are some vested interests out there that would like to see us in a confrontation with Saudi Arabia. This is all related to the possibility of an attack on Iraq and the isolation of the United States from the Arab World. I don't know where information is correct and where it's being manufactured. Or it may not be clear.

JL: Right after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Saudi Arabia condemned the terrorism. But, in recent days, it has cautioned the United States to avoid civilian casualties. Is this what appears to be ambivalence largely because of popular pressure on the government in Riyadh from the street? And how important is the "man on the street" in an absolute monarchy such as Saudi Arabia?

EW: When you've got al-Jazeera in every home and you've got CNN in every home and the Internet, there is no such thing as a dictatorship or a controlled environment. People make up their own minds these days. It does mean there is pressure from the population on the government. There has been a long-standing concern that predates September 11th about American policy. People are really angry about the way we deal with the Iraqi situation so the average Iraqi is the one who is hurt. And Saddam Hussein is not hurt. They are also angry with this administration for not taking a leading role in trying to deal with the Palestinian issue but appearing to simply let Sharon have his way. The issue is of importance to virtually everybody in the Arab world. (OPT) It gives people a sense that the United States is not being an honest broker in its approach to the problems of the region. (END OPT) I think it's terribly important for the United States to make this a priority.

JL: The U-S administration has said publicly that it is satisfied with Saudi Arabia's level of support. But it has been vague about what that support is. What kind of support do you think Riyadh may have offered that would lead U-S officials to say they are satisfied?

EW: A lot of the support we need right now is either through banking circles or intelligence circles, which are under any circumstances things the United States isn't going to talk about and which is probably better off left to the professionals dealing with them. We have always been provided for by the Saudis, ever since the Gulf War. That kind of support continues, and it's imperative to maintaining our presence in the region.

JL: (OPT) Moving to Yemen, Kuwait, and some of the smaller Gulf States, what is the level of their support?

EW: In the case of some of these countries, it is in the nature of military support. There is intelligence sharing. And in many instances, the question of financial flows will be very important in the future. (END OPT)

JL: In the case of media coverage of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and the other states of the Gulf, is it your sense that it has been unduly negative and does not really take into account the complexity of the political situation in the Middle East?

EW: I think a lot of it is being fed by those who want to serve their own interest. I don't think it is totally objective. I don't think the news reporting is anything but objective. This is what people are being told. And the journalists are doing their best to get the right story. That I can see. But, when you are constantly being fed information that purportedly comes from classified files, the tendency is to want to report it.

JL: What parties have an interest in misleading?

EW: Anybody who wants to create a wedge between the United States and the Arab World. (OPT) And the two most important countries in the Arab World are Egypt and Saudi Arabia. And those are the two countries that surprisingly are under attack now.(END OPT)"

JL: Ambassador Edward Walker is president of the Middle East Institute in Washington. "The Ambivalence of Saudi Arabia" was the subject of today's Dateline. I'm Judith Latham.