Saudi billionaire supports use of force to oust Saddam

Washington Times ^ | 2/27/03 | Rowan Scarborough

[kattracks]

A Saudi billionaire with close ties to the royal family in Riyadh has sent a private letter to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell endorsing the forcible removal of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

U.S. officials say the letter from hotel magnate Mohamed bin Issa Al Jaber illustrates that while the oil kingdom's rulers take the public position of opposing war, many prominent Saudis want Saddam removed by force.

[bybybill]

But this cannot be true, after all, every Saudi hates us and they all follow Islam. It must be a trick.

[dixiechick2000]

Mohamed bin Issa Al Jaber rocks, at least.

[Pro-Bush]

I agree, it sounds like a Saudi power grab...What nerve.. America does all the work, including incurring the criticism, expense, support that comes along with it. If this guy is so earnest, why not go public? Wait for a denial from this Saudi Billionaire tomorrow, denouncing this report as US propoganda.

[sheik yerbouty]

He is covering his posterior.

[DontMessWithMyCountry]

yes. The word, 'opportunist', comes to mind immediately. Wonder how much he raised/contributed to the 'cause' of the Palestinian homicide bombers. Wonder why he hasn't 'shared' some of his Billions with them to construct their own little state in SAUDI ARABIA? Oh, I must be mistaken; surely he is a representation of altruism at its finest. < /sarcasm>

[dixiechick2000]

Bump!

[STARWISE]

From this site: http://www2.soas.ac.uk/CNMES/MBITrust/mbi.html

Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber

Founder & Chairman: Jadawel International, JJWorldwide Group, and AJWA Group of Food Industries

Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber is a man of vision. As well as successfully running a global group of companies, he is directly involved in many charitable and educational trusts, and still finds time to actively promote the business and cultural interests of Saudi Arabia whenever possible.

His exceptional entrepreneurial skills emerged early in his life and continue to be seen to this day. In 1977 Sheikh Mohamed embarked on the first of his many successful business ventures. In 1983 he was the inspiration behind the founding of Jadawel International.

Established to gain a foothold in the property development and service sector in Saudi Arabia, the Company has now grown to become one of the largest within the Kingdom. Jadawel now owns and manages many luxury residential compounds across the country, and Sheikh Mohamed remains both Chairman and Managing Director of the Company.

A natural and energetic leader, it was apparent that Sheikh Mohamed possessed the strength of character, resilience and flair necessary to build upon this initial success. Later, he looked further afield for fresh business challenges and JJWorldwide was born in 1988. Additional affiliates were quickly added to create a worldwide network of hotels and leisure resorts planned, constructed and managed by JJWorldwide. These include the exclusive Pinheiros Altos Golf Resort in Portugal.

Further start-ups followed including AJWA, an agri-food processing company dedicated to providing quality products and services. Founded in 1992, AJWA-RMTI is now the largest miller and distributor of rice in the Middle East. The Company has grown to become a thriving multinational organisation including bases in the USA, Mexico and South America, with a reputation for innovation and interests in other grains and edible oils as well as rice. As with all his companies, Sheikh Mohamed continues to play a pivotal role in formulating and executing complex business strategies to ensure continued success.

Combining a high level of creativity with an acute commercial acumen, Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber has built a portfolio of profitable businesses throughout the world. These spread from the USA across Europe and beyond, as well as covering the Middle East and North Africa. Adopting an assertive but collaborative leadership style to inspire colleagues to achieve common goals.

Sheikh Mohamed has achieved his goals by combining Western management techniques and thinking with traditional Saudi values. His desire to provide practical assistance to the community, especially the young, has resulted in the establishment of various important educational trusts.

This commitment has led Sheikh Mohamed to forge links with the Universities of London and Westminster in order to further the education of deserving individuals from the Middle East.

He is pursuing his interest and studies in Middle Eastern History and Politics at The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Sheikh Mohamed is married with two daughters and one son.

[Mr. Mojo]

"After that, reformers in other countries will take heart and the balance of power will shift to trade liberalization, democracy and human rights."

Yeah right, Saudis are ones to talk about "human rights" and "democracy."

[Mr. Mojo]

Your naivete is striking.

[xm177e2]

Yeah right, Saudis are ones to talk about "human rights" and "democracy."

He's a dissenter and a reformer, and it sounds like he's one of the good guys. In any case, he's using our definitions of human rights, not some crapulent Islamist definitions like "the right to wage jihad against civilians."

[xm177e2]

"The regime of Saddam Hussein is vicious and has to be removed as a first step," Mr. Al Jaber says to Mr. Powell in the Feb. 19 letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times.
...
Like President Bush and senior administration officials, Mr. Al Jaber views the fall of Saddam as the beginning of a Middle East transformation that will lead to more moderate regimes.
"With this communication I want to place myself and all that I can do — my businesses, my relationships within the region and my knowledge of its culture at the service of this transformation," Mr. Al Jaber said in his letter to Mr. Powell.

This guy sounds like a neoconservative, not an opportunist. And he's offering to help us.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #5

He is carefully placing his bets. I am sure that he also hedges his risk by having dontated some money to the other side, the Islamic Charities for Jihadis.

Many more will follow Dubya "the victorious" if the war goes as planned.