Let the Saudis choose their revolution

The Japan Times ^ | Monday, January 12, 2004 | AMIR BUTLER

[presidio9]

SYDNEY -- In November 2003, U.S. President George W. Bush described what he termed the third pillar of America's security: "global democratic revolution." If Iraq and Afghanistan were the first "beneficiaries" of this revolution, then it seems almost certain that Saudi Arabia will feature somewhere in Bush's revolutionary plans.

The post-Sept. 11 story portrays Saudi Arabia as the ideological and financial underpinning for global terrorism. Therefore, the only way to secure America is to liberalize and secularize Saudi Arabia.

That such an accusation should be made now -- nearly 80 years after the modern state of Saudi Arabia was founded -- is strange. Saudi Arabia has been run on effectively the same ideological line since its inception.

Throughout that time, Americans have been involved in most all aspects of Saudi society -- including the education system -- and no such claims were ever made. In fact, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States has been a mutually beneficial and friendly one. Although most Americans wouldn't necessarily agree with the practices or policies of the kingdom, the fact remains that there has been little criticism from those who have lived or worked in the country.

However, Saudi Arabia is not America. It was founded on the basis of Islam, and Islam has provided the guiding principles for the nation. The idea that religion should be separated from the affairs of the state is viewed as a heresy. In Islam, secularism equates with apostasy -- a fact that clearly shows the fallacy and risk of U.S. George W. Bush's messianic vision of democratizing the region.

For the visitor to Riyadh, the first thing that he will see when exiting King Khalid International Airport is the airport mosque. The architecturally magnificent mosque, with its dome, minarets and ornate structure, alongside a modern airport provides a powerful symbolism for Saudi Arabia's fusion of the technology of the modern world with religion.

Indeed, mosques are everywhere in the kingdom. Literally. Stand in any Riyadh suburb and you can see, dotting the skyline, at least four or five of the green lights that identify the minarets. Wait for the time of prayer and one can hear the call to prayer reverberating through the air from not one, but perhaps dozens, of mosques. Travel outside the cities, and most every service station is accompanied by a mosque.

Alongside the roads are signs exhorting travelers to "remember Allah," "give thanks to Allah" and "glorify Allah." Board any Saudi airline and the pilot will begin by reading the prayer for traveling. When the plane lands at its destination, gratitude is given to God for delivering them safely.

Whereas we in the West are accustomed to seeing the latest throwaway pop star attract thousands of young people, in Saudi Arabia the ones who draw the big crowds and command the most respect among the youth are the Islamic scholars and speakers.

The Saudi people are religious even though no one would identify himself as such. Praying five times a day in a mosque; sending one's children to learn the Quran; believing absolutely in one's faith; and living one's life according to the rules of Islam is normal. It's part of their national identity. The problem is that for many in the West, such devotion to religion is seen as extreme and disturbing.

Despite these realities, the Saudi people are being compared to the Iraqi people as people struggling under the yoke of some hated oppressor. Saudi Arabia is not Iraq. What criticism exists among ordinary Saudis for their government exists only because they see their government as not being sufficiently Islamic and not assertive enough in its relationship with America.

The fundamental issue for Saudis is not whether their government is a democracy or a monarchy; the fundamental issue is to what extent their government is implementing Islamic law in both its domestic and foreign affairs. A replacement of their Islamic government with a secular government isn't what they hope for; it's what they fear.

That the president of the U.S. should believe that democracy and secularism should and can be imposed upon Saudi society points to a fundamental disconnect between America's ambitions and the nature of human societies. It also points to the hubris that has overtaken American foreign policy. History shows that entire societies cannot be changed by force or revolution.

Those Muslims who fight America do so believing they are defending Islam. If America continues to interfere in the affairs of Saudi Arabia, attempting to bully the government toward secularism and liberalism, it will have an opposite effect of what is intended. America's security does not lie in proving Osama bin Laden's claims of a war against Islam as being true; America's security lies in proving bin Laden wrong by leaving the Muslim world to choose their own destiny, in its own time and in their own way.

[freedom44]

The Saudis are not like moderate Muslim countries, they prefer to live by an extreme form of Islam.

The main dissatisfaction among the people is that the government is too western, not that it is too Wahhabist.

In other countries a female not being able to drive, a massive moral police force known as the mutaweinee, and full covering known as abayana might be offensive, but it's perfectly normal in Saudi Arabia.

In democratic elections a radical Wahhabist would likely prevail.

[semaj]

"America's security lies in proving bin Laden wrong by leaving the Muslim world to choose their own destiny, in its own time and in their own way."

It appears that the Saudis have already made their choice. AS President Bush said, "If you are not with us, you are with the terrorists." It appears the Saudis have chosen poorly, and thus will eventually have to pay the price for their lack of wisdom.

[DarthMaulrulesok]

Saudi Arabia's internal desire to embrace Whaabi Islam is of no concern to us. Their support and funding of terrorism is. If we have to conquer and occupy them to prevent another 9/11, then let's go for it.