A question crossed my mind soon after former US President Bill Clinton concluded his speech at the recent Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF). Is it possible that we will see George Bush in town as a guest of the next forum?
I asked a number of colleagues whether they would expect to see the current American president — after leaving office — standing on the same platform from where his predecessor addressed the JEF.
I was not surprised by the answers since they shared the same conclusion I arrived at; it would be quite possible for Bush to come here and give a speech at the meeting.
Seeing Bush at the JEF might have nothing to do with his policies toward the region and the Muslim world or his blatant support for Israel. Clinton, too, held the same views and adopted the same policy throughout his presidency. It all has to do with evaluating the abilities of the 42nd and 43rd presidents.
I will keep to myself my view on the capacities and performance of President Bush and will refer the reader to the American media and how it views their president.
An interesting point raised by Clinton in his JEF speech dealt with the Saudi economy. While acknowledging the important role of oil in a country that leads the world in production and reserves, Clinton advised the Kingdom to shift from being the capital of petroleum to become the energy capital.
I remember more than two decades ago I proposed the same idea to Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Zaki Yamani during a lecture at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. I asked the minister if the Kingdom had plans to invest in research and the development of alternative energy sources, something that would still ensure it a leading position when the oil had run out.
My idea was that the Kingdom would shift from being a major oil producer to a major energy producer and thus would still be a dominant world force. That was exactly what Clinton said. Unfortunately, my comments made more than two decades ago were met with disparagement and ridicule. Will the situation change now that Clinton has made the same suggestion?
