Posted on 04/29/2007 6:28:08 PM PDT by SJackson
Saudi Arabia has long been known for its discretion and its subtle approach to diplomacy. As the home of Islam and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques a certain amount of detached nobility was expected from Saudi Arabia in its diplomacy. Over recent months we have seen that Saudi Arabia's nonpartisan detachment and its trusted dignity could be put to use also in a more active diplomacy-to great success. It is this development and the failed Middle Eastern policy of the Western world that have persuaded me to try to brush a picture of Saudi Arabia's policy today and over the next two years - by which time a new American administration will be in place - because it is clear that in resolving the myriad crises in our region Saudi Arabia has become the only game in town.
First, Saudi Arabia has expended great efforts in seeking a resolution to the Arab-Israeli dispute, a conflict that has frustrated participants and peacemakers for more than half a century. The conflict had recently deteriorated to the extent where the already impoverished Palestinian people were killing each other, sinking ever closer to civil war. With the democratic election of a Hamas government the wider issues between Palestinians and Israelis were completely disregarded by the West, who instead cut off funding and decided to boycott the Palestinian government at a time of great need.
Where all other mediators had failed, it was Saudi Arabia's determination and diplomatic skills that pulled Palestinians back from the brink of civil war and set them on a path of reconciliation and progress. It was a stroke of political genius on the part of King Abdullah to bring Palestinian parties to Makkah and to keep them there until they had reached an agreement. With the Makkah Accord Palestinians are now able to pursue the greater issue of achieving statehood and making peace with Israel. The credit must go to King Abdullah and to Saudi Arabia's bold and engaged diplomacy for bringing them to that stage in the first place.
After a lengthy period during which Americans and Israelis failed time and again to seize on opportunities for a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Saudi Arabia has relaunched the most courageous and promising peace plan currently on the table. In Beirut in 2002 as crown prince, and again in Riyadh last month, King Abdullah has offered Israel a comprehensive peace and full diplomatic relations with all Arab states in exchange for a withdrawal from Arab territories occupied since 1967. While the American and Israeli governments remain hesitant, the US Congress and public opinion in Israel, America and the Arab world are ready to take up this opportunity to end a dispute that has cost many lives and which has mortgaged the future of multiple generations across the Middle East.
Second, Saudi Arabia recently employed its political and diplomatic standing to try to bring an end to the tragic conflict in Darfur. Although the conflict is several years old, no nation or organization has succeeded in ending the tragic loss of life and the immense refugee problem of Darfur, and neither for that matter has Saudi Arabia. Dozens of humanitarian organizations, writers, movie stars and governments have contributed to exposing the tragedy of Darfur but the results have been very limited.
Last month in Riyadh however - at the Arab heads-of-state summit - King Abdullah's political skill and perseverance succeeded in bringing Sudanese President Omar Bashir to an agreement with UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon. After the failed efforts of several countries and public figures, the African Union and the UN, Saudi Arabia's stubborn efforts finally pushed the Sudanese president to accept a renewed UN presence in his country.
The Darfur conflict is not yet resolved but Saudi Arabia has clearly facilitated international efforts to work toward bringing an end to this tragic and shameful conflict. Most recently, a high Saudi Arabian official flew to Khartoum to insist on the full Sudanese acceptance and implementation of what was agreed in Riyadh. Adequate assurances were thus given by the Sudanese.
Third, Saudi Arabia has been instrumental in bringing feuding Lebanese factions back to the discussion table and, most importantly, in holding them back from an otherwise likely return to civil war. The Lebanese dispute has not yet been resolved but avoiding a civil war can certainly be seen as a partial success, rather than as a failure. The various parties involved have realized that Saudi Arabia is a central player in bringing the sides closer together and that they are also able to bring Syrian and Iranian cooperation to bear, not least in putting pressure on Hezbollah. In short, Saudi Arabian diplomacy has been invaluable in averting another bloody civil war and will continue in its efforts for stability and a lasting solution for the Lebanese people.
Fourth, Saudi Arabia has been an effective counterweight to a potentially aggressive Iranian policy in the region. Over several visits by Iranian officials, Saudi Arabia was able to impress upon the Iranians that undue meddling in Iraq and in Lebanon would not be in Iran's interest. Saudi Arabia's policy of steadfast engagement has yielded substantial successes in Iraq and in Lebanon, and in easing tensions across the Gulf region as a whole. Saudi Arabia has eased part of Iran's international isolation while making it clear to Iran that they should not pursue atomic weapons and cannot risk another war in the region.
Fifth, Saudi Arabia is playing a proactive role also in stabilizing the situation in the wider region of the Horn of Africa, from Eritrea and Ethiopia to Somalia and Kenya. Saudi Arabia's somewhat more discreet diplomacy in the region has been working toward a solution between the various parties and those who are destabilizing Somalia at great risk to the entire Horn of Africa.
Finally, Saudi Arabia continues its efforts in Iraq despite the ever-bleaker outlook for Iraqis. It was Saudi Arabia that launched the several rounds of national reconciliation talks between Iraqi factions under the umbrella of the Arab League. These definitely succeeded in reducing some of the tensions between parties and at least brought a semblance of discussion between the various Shiite and Sunni parties. Meanwhile, King Abdullah's statement at the Riyadh summit was a strong warning to Iraq's occupiers when he said in no uncertain terms that the occupation was "illegitimate" and was effectively compounding Iraq's problems. With Saudi Arabia's encouragement of dialogue and its principled stance on Iraq, we will be in a strong position to effect some positive change in Iraq once the key players allow the situation to evolve from the current impasse.
Saudi Arabia has come a long way in its regional diplomacy and its foreign policy. First of all we have realized that it is impossible to isolate ourselves from some of the conflicts and problems of our region. Today Saudi Arabia is playing a much more active role, often with great success, and we have come to be recognized as the only game in town when it comes to resolving otherwise intractable conflicts.
It is essential that we take stock of our achievements and of their significance. Saudi Arabia's response to the various crises may have been made on a case-by-case basis but it is obvious that the various situations are closely linked and that our diplomacy will gain a great deal by applying a coherent framework to our efforts. On the one hand this means clarifying our agenda and our objectives, and on the other it means creating the conditions for a strong and successful follow-up.
Tying our successes together and working on an overall strategy that will allow us to resolve all the issues with the relevant parties will be the first step. Next of course we must make sure that we put even more effort and determination into the follow-up of the different situations. This is where our efforts will either succeed or fail. The foreign ministers' meeting in Cairo and its decision to send an Egyptian-Jordanian team to Israel is a strong example. Our diplomats in Europe and America must follow up the various issues aggressively, reminding the public of what was decided in Riyadh and what is expected from Western leaders.
Saudi Arabia's diplomacy does not aim to score points or to promote itself. Our only aim is to see a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflicts that threaten our region and the livelihoods of so many people around us. It is greatly to Saudi Arabia's credit that we do not seek a role of dominance; this allows us to put forth a clear and global vision, to maintain the qualities of our diplomacy and to honestly see the Arab situation as it is, both in its successes and in its failures. Arabs are finally playing a proactive role in the region, working sincerely toward peace rather than just paying it lip service. America and the West must approach us now on that new level.
This new policy trend and vision extends also to other areas than just regional diplomacy. The areas of education, participatory government, and overall standards of living have also received a great deal of attention. It is an acknowledged imperative for us today that we need to continue improving our educational system, that we must better prepare our children for the challenges that lie ahead, that we need to keep raising overall standards of living, and that we must provide our people with more freedoms, as well as input and participation in policy-making. These developments are the domestic facet of our new approach and they are equally essential.
Saudi Arabia can be proud of its achievements, both in the regional and domestic arenas. King Abdullah's skilled and courageous policy initiatives have already achieved a great deal for the region. Significantly, they have finally given Arabs and the rest of the world some hope of bringing the many conflicts of the Middle East to an end in the not-so-distant future. Through continued and deliberate engagement we will no doubt also encourage more ideas, more input and more recognition. Next year the Nobel Peace Prize Committee should have no problem in spelling "Abdullah".
TE Lawrence’s (and the UK Foreign Office’s) big mistake: putting a bunch of semiliterate camel farmers into a “United Kingdom” inclusive of Mecca and Medina. Quite a nice payday for helping against the Turks.
They didn’t get their reputation for double-talk for nothing.
It's called, "keeping your friends close, and your enemies even closer."
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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Saudi Arabie=A pack of mealy mouthed Ayrabs playing both ends against the middle.
AND SAUDI-FUNDED ARMIES HAVE TRIED TO CRUSH ISRAEL FIVE TIMES
The conflict had recently deteriorated to the extent where the already impoverished Palestinian people were killing each other, sinking ever closer to civil war.
SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
With the democratic election of a Hamas government the wider issues between Palestinians and Israelis were completely disregarded by the West, who instead cut off funding and decided to boycott the Palestinian government at a time of great need.
BECAUSE HAMAS IS PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST CABEL DEDICATED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WEST.
Where all other mediators had failed, it was Saudi Arabia’s determination and diplomatic skills that pulled Palestinians back from the brink of civil war and set them on a path of reconciliation and progress.
THAT AND SOME ISRAELI 2000 LBS GP BOMBS.
It was a stroke of political genius on the part of King Abdullah to bring Palestinian parties to Makkah and to keep them there until they had reached an agreement.
AT THE POINT OF A US BLANK CHECK.
With the Makkah Accord
WHICH IS ALREADY UNRAVELING
Palestinians are now able to pursue the greater issue of achieving statehood and making peace with Israel.
WHICH THEY HAVE SWORN NEVER TO DO.
The credit must go to King Abdullah and to Saudi Arabia’s bold and engaged diplomacy for bringing them to that stage in the first place.
AND WHEN IT ALL FAILS, WHO GETS THE BLAME?
UNCLE SAP, OF COURSE!
The Wahabbist/Saudi nation is a prime target in the WOT as far as I’m concerned.
If King Abdullah brought the Palestinian parties to Mecca to reach an agreement, that means that the Christian Palestinians are politically negligible (since no non-Muslims are allowed to enter Mecca).
Arab News is a wholly owned subsidiary of the family Saud.
You mean for US arms sales,probably.
& allowing that kingdom to be named after their clan,the Sauds.
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