A member of Saudi Arabia?s Majlis a-Shoura (Consultative Council), Aberahman al-Shubaili, wrote an open letter to US Vice President Dick Cheney, as Cheney was making his rounds in the region. The letter, printed in the Saudi newspaper al-Hayat, seeks to explain to ?our old friend? Cheney Arab disappointment with US foreign policy and to suggest a method to counteract such disappointment.
Al-Shubaili writes that the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia have been put to an ?unprecedented test? due to the actions of third parties and due to the ?clear bias it [the US] showed in favor of one side [Israel] against another [the PLO] from day one.? However, hopes were not totally dashed in Arab capitals, according to al-Shubaili, because President George Bush sent a ?famous letter? regarding a Palestinian State to Saudi Arabia?s Crown Prince Abdullah. Therefore, the author seeks to present the Arab view on the mission the US Vice President was sent to fulfill in the Arab world.
?If the aim of your visit to the region is to prepare an attack on Iraq because of considerations dating from the time of George Bush 10 years ago,? writes the Saudi Majlis member, ?we believe that many things have happened and changed in the intervening years.? Making a direct link between the possible US offensive against Iraq and its relationship with Israel, al-Shubaili writes, ?[T]here have been 10 years of peace talks under the Madrid process, which failed to relieve the Palestinians of occupation and oppression, or to realize any of the promises made by the sponsor of the peace process.? Furthermore, and more directly related to the Cheney mission, the al-Hayat article states, ?[T]he embargo on Iraq has been hurting the Iraqi people without damaging the regime.? The linkage between the two? ?[A]ny forthcoming military measure against Iraq this time will only benefit Israel?? writes al-Shubaili. He does not write that he objects to the American offensive against Saddam Hussein of Iraq, rather, ?there is no doubt that we differ over methods, priorities and timing.? According to al-Shubaili, the Saudis only object to American initiatives insofar as they are beneficial for Israel.
The open letter then provides an explanation for the linkage between Israel and Iraq by saying, ?If the US administration, backed by the British government, considers the Iraqi regime to pose a continuing threat to the region a viewpoint which holds much truth it is truer to say that Israel poses a bigger threat?? Speaking in the name of Saudi Arabia itself, the Majlis member writes, ?the message from this nation is that this region has spawned someone who surpasses Saddam Hussein in his brutality, terrorism and oppression? The premier terrorist is Sharon, then Sharon, then Sharon, then Saddam.?
Al-Shubaili writes that the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia have been put to an ?unprecedented test? due to the actions of third parties and due to the ?clear bias it [the US] showed in favor of one side [Israel] against another [the PLO] from day one.? However, hopes were not totally dashed in Arab capitals, according to al-Shubaili, because President George Bush sent a ?famous letter? regarding a Palestinian State to Saudi Arabia?s Crown Prince Abdullah. Therefore, the author seeks to present the Arab view on the mission the US Vice President was sent to fulfill in the Arab world.
?If the aim of your visit to the region is to prepare an attack on Iraq because of considerations dating from the time of George Bush 10 years ago,? writes the Saudi Majlis member, ?we believe that many things have happened and changed in the intervening years.? Making a direct link between the possible US offensive against Iraq and its relationship with Israel, al-Shubaili writes, ?[T]here have been 10 years of peace talks under the Madrid process, which failed to relieve the Palestinians of occupation and oppression, or to realize any of the promises made by the sponsor of the peace process.? Furthermore, and more directly related to the Cheney mission, the al-Hayat article states, ?[T]he embargo on Iraq has been hurting the Iraqi people without damaging the regime.? The linkage between the two? ?[A]ny forthcoming military measure against Iraq this time will only benefit Israel?? writes al-Shubaili. He does not write that he objects to the American offensive against Saddam Hussein of Iraq, rather, ?there is no doubt that we differ over methods, priorities and timing.? According to al-Shubaili, the Saudis only object to American initiatives insofar as they are beneficial for Israel.
The open letter then provides an explanation for the linkage between Israel and Iraq by saying, ?If the US administration, backed by the British government, considers the Iraqi regime to pose a continuing threat to the region a viewpoint which holds much truth it is truer to say that Israel poses a bigger threat?? Speaking in the name of Saudi Arabia itself, the Majlis member writes, ?the message from this nation is that this region has spawned someone who surpasses Saddam Hussein in his brutality, terrorism and oppression? The premier terrorist is Sharon, then Sharon, then Sharon, then Saddam.?