MUSCAT, Oman, 14 January 2005 - Saudi Arabia is not the headquarters of world terrorism. In fact, it is the other way around, claimed one of the Arab world's most respected media personalities, Khaled Almaeena, editor in chief of the top-selling Arab News, one of Saudi Arabia's top-rated newspapers.
But, at the same time, Saudi Arabia is "not a banana republic, or a banana monarchy that can be pushed around," he stressed. "We cannot be pushed around."
Almaeena, 53, who presented a lecture on "Pre- and Post-Sept. 11 Impact on Saudi Arabia" at the Press Club here on Monday, also noted that the best way to root out terrorism in any part of the world was through frank and open dialogue with the youth of that country. "This is the only way - so that their minds will not be hijacked or preyed upon by extremists," he said.
In an exclusive interview with the Times of Oman, Almaeena, who did not mince words on any issue and was open to any question thrown at him, also added that though the current ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States were at the crossroads, both sides were committed to bringing them back on track.
He also dismissed the misconception that the problem between Saudi Arabia and the United States was actually a "clash of civilizations." Stressing that the Arab world did not hate America, he said: "Eighty percent of the Americans can be described as some of the best in the world. They are warm and generous but also gullible and ignorant."
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Q: How would you rate the current US-Saudi relations?
A: I think they are at a crossroads. There is a re-evaluation on both sides. Both are looking at their own interests first, and both are also committed to preventing a rupture in the relations because they are important for each other. We supply oil and at the same time we provide stability in many ways. But at the same time we have our own priorities - we are not a banana republic or a banana monarchy that can be pushed around. We cannot be pushed around.
Q: If you were asked to find a solution from the Saudi perspective to bridge the gap between the United States and Saudi Arabia, what would you do?
A: The first thing I would do is to have dialogue across America - not with the American people, but with the think tanks, academia and the institutes - and explain to them in no uncertain terms that Saudi Arabia is not a headquarters for terrorism. I would then ask them to review the benefits that they have gotten state by state, how many American jobs depend on Saudi trade and how many Saudi students were there, stressing the mutual benefits that we enjoy. I also would raise the point that peace and tranquillity would come if we wipe out the image that America and Saudi Arabia are at the loggerheads, as the media portray.
Q: But the American media is America, right?
A: Well, it is unfortunate, and it has affected the thinking of the Americans. Because of the media there is a lot of nonsense spread. I would like to cite the example of the time when Crown Prince Abdullah visited President Bush at Crawford, Texas, a couple of years ago. A paper ran a news item that the crown prince did not want any female air traffic controller along the flight path ... Soon many American papers began writing about it, but I made a thorough check and found it to be totally untrue and baseless. Moreover, even in the crown prince's plane there are female airhostesses. More importantly, the crown prince has always been an advocate of women's rights, but the story made headlines stating Saudis are against women.
Q: You said to counter this wrong information, the Arab world should have its own powerful English media, but wouldn't that be just a kneejerk reaction?
A: That is right. I don't like media mudslinging. I agree with you that they would do that. A controlled media is more prone to attacking, but when you have a free and independent media, there are different viewpoints. An independent media is more important. If it is controlled, then it is orchestrated by the conductor.
Q: Saudi Arabia is associated with extremism and terrorism - what is the best way to root it out?
A: I think with dialogue with the young people, so that their minds will not be hijacked or preyed upon by extremists.
Q: How would you engage them in a dialogue?
A: With the TV, literary clubs, etc. We recently had four dialogues, and the last one was for young people. I was surprised nobody older than 27 or 28 was present. We've also had a series of dialogues during the past year dealing with women and government people. It brought many issues to the forefront and showed some of the maladies of our society. But, it also suggested remedies.
Q: You said terrorism is a reaction and that was wrong, but how else should they react?
A: No, the reaction should not be a violent one. And even at the extent of sounding like a broken record, I must stress that there are some factors still to be resolved: The first one being the Palestinian question. It has to be resolved because young people see people who are dying unnecessarily around them. Then there is the great need to resolve the problems in Iraq. Of course, there also are certain internal factors for which we are responsible, but there are other external factors, which if erased will help cast the light of hope.
Q: But it is an alarming issue?
A: Yes it is. Let me be very plain. Unless these issues of Palestine and Iraq are resolved, there will always be conflict.
Q: You mean suicide bombers?
A: No, I mean there will be somebody who will excite someone and say 'go on and kill an American.' Whether it is suicide bomber or someone throwing a bomb, there will always be violence. I once told an American television reporter who asked me why they (the Palestinians) were killing themselves that if the Palestinians were given free Apache helicopters and M16 assault rifles, they wouldn't be committing suicide. They would be fighting on an equal and level-playing field.
Q: But then, wouldn't there be more 9/11s?
A: No. I have always stated that Sept. 11 will not justify any cause. The people in the Arab world do not hate America. Eighty percent of the Americans can be described as some of the best in the world. They are warm, generous, but they also are gullible and ignorant. So what they see on TV and what they hear from those with vested interests succeed in creating the wrong impression for them. There are those who say this is a clash of civilization - Islam vs. the West. I say that is nonsense. One million Catholics and Christians marched in Rome against the war - they were not Muslims. Two million British people marched against war, and Americans were sending aid to the people out there, so it is not a clash of civilizations. I think the United States should view the Arab world as a family would, but at the same time, it should play the role of an honest broker in the Palestinian conflict. And it is the right time for Bush to do so because it is his second term and he is not under pressure for re-election.
Q: What would you say to those who view PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as a moderate leader?
A: He is, but Yasser Arafat was a victim of international circumstances. They used Arafat as an excuse. Now that Arafat has gone, let us see what (Ariel) Sharon's new excuses will be.
