For Bush to say that Islam is a peaceful religion is insipid. Bush claims his
own war policies are peaceful, he calls Sharon a man of peace. Religions have
been used for peace and war, for liberation and oppression. While we have some
supporters of Bush claiming that Christianity is superior to Islam because it
is more peaceful, these same individuals advocate massive aggression. Bush
claims that Jesus is his great influence even as he militarizes the United
States on an unprecedented global scale. This is precisely the type of
hypocrisy which Jesus derided.
-Sam Husseini, Institute for Public Accuracy
--
Between the Lines QA:
A weekly column featuring progressive viewpoints on national and international
issues under-reported in mainstream media
U.S.-Saudi Relationship Ignores the Oil-Rich Kingdom's Repression and Human
Rights Violations
Interview with As'ad AbuKhalil,
author of forthcoming book, The House of Bush and the House of Saud,
conducted by Scott Harris
Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, where 15 of the 19 men who
hijacked three U.S. planes were citizens of Saudi Arabia, the oil-rich
kingdom has come under close scrutiny. The fact that Al Qaeda terror
network mastermind Osama bin Laden is a member of one of Saudi Arabia's
most prominent families has also contributed to new inquiries into Saudi
terror connections.
But because of the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia, which possesses
the single largest reserves of oil in the world, successive American
presidents have been hesitant to criticize the Saudi monarchy, its
government's repressive policies and its officially sanctioned religious
intolerance. In the post-9/11 period, the Bush family's positive
personal and business relationship with members of the Royal Saudi
family has added additional conflicts of interest in formulating U.S.
policies to effectively confront the roots of terrorism.
Recent unconfirmed reports alleging that the U.S. Saudi ambassador's
wife had funneled money to 9/11 hijackers underscores the strains now
apparent in this once strong relationship. Between The Lines' Scott
Harris spoke with As'ad AbuKhalil, associate political science professor
at California State University and author of the forthcoming book, The
House of Bush and the House of Saud. Professor AbuKhalil explains why
he feels the U.S. must dramatically transform its relationship with the
Saudis if our nation is serious about applying one standard in
challenging oppression and supporting human rights.
As'ad AbuKhalil: There has always been a very close association between
the government, the elite of the United States and the elite of Saudi
Arabia -- a certain kinship between the royal family and the so-called
royal families of the United States who have ruled over. One of the
things I point out is that there are so many paradoxes about this
relationship. They tell us that they are based on shared values and one
wonders what these are -- unless they are speaking about religious
intolerance, misogyny, extremism and sexism that prevails in much of
Saudi Arabia. The president of the United States, despite the negative
press of Saudi Arabia in this country, assured the crown prince in a
phone interview that there is a permanent eternal friendship between the
two nations.
While there is now sudden attention to the record of the royal family in
funding, financing and supporting some elements of fundamentalist,
extremist Islam, the United States has a similar joint effort in that
regard. For much of the recent history of the Cold War, the United
States, through the CIA and the Defense Department worked hand in hand
with the royal family to support, sponsor and arm extremist,
fundamentalist Islam all in the hope of undermining the powers of
secularism and socialism in the Middle East. In many ways, you cannot
open the files of the responsibility of Saudi Arabia in the support for
the Islamic extremism from which emerged Osama bin Laden, without paying
some attention to the same record by the U.S. government.
Between The Lines: Why has the Bush administration gone out of its way
to placate the Saudi royal family? There are many obvious answers to
that question, including the word petroleum.
As'ad AbuKhalil: Well, it's not only about oil, however. Oil is a big
factor. But not only this government, Bush, as well as Clinton, as well
as Bush before him, as well as Reagan, Carter, everybody -- they have
had an extremely deferential, respectful relationship with the royal
family because they are basically obedient clients of the United States.
They do what they are told, and most importantly, they provide the
United States with cheap oil and they play an extremely pro-American
role within the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and
for that, they are rewarded with the kind of praise and deferential
treatment that they receive.
Between The Lines: What should American citizens be concerned about in
terms of
