By Dr. Ali Alyami

The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations conducted a hearing on March 22, 2007 concerning the nomination of Mr. Ford Fraker to the post of U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. One of the observers at the hearing described the event as not much more than a cordial reception.

Instead of asking tough questions of Mr. Fraker on his past relationships with members of the Saudi royal family and challenging him to explain how he is going to make sure the Saudi ruling dynasty eradicates the real causes of extremism and reported financing of terrorism, the only three Senators present, out of twenty one members of the Committee, bathed Mr. Fraker with praise and portrayed the Saudi ruling dynasty as a true ally of the US who is playing a positive role in finding solutions to the destabilizing conflicts in the Middle East.

Missing from the discussion were the Saudi government's gross violations of basic human rights, links to financing and promoting extremist ideology through religious edicts, (Fatwas), where Saudi government's clerics encourage Muslims to kill infidels in Iraq and elsewhere. There was no mention of how Saudi policies marginalize Saudi women, religious minorities and treat seven million expatriate laborers with utter unfairness.   There was no mention of establishing much needed accountability and transparency in the Saudi system, or of introducing an inclusive school curriculum that discusses human rights, women's issues, and other religions in an open and fair environment. There was no mention of the partial Saudi judicial system that forcibly divorces married couples based on family members' accusations of tribal incompatibility. There was also no mention of the Saudi religious judges who sentence citizens to public corporal punishment for interacting with unrelated citizens of the opposite sex.

Mr. Fraker comes to the diplomatic arena from a thirty year tenure in the banking sector. During his career, Mr. Fraker served as Head of Banking for Saudi International Bank as well as Managing Director of MeesPierson Investment Finance (UK) Limited. (1) Mr. Fraker's pension is in a UK based bank, 40% of which is owned by the Saudi government.  This raises questions about Mr. Fraker's ability to carry out his duties independently and act in the best interests of the American and Saudi peoples.  When Senator Lugar asked Mr. Fraker if he has a "current relationship with the royal family," Mr. Fraker was quick to circumvent the question by saying that while he has met some princes, he has tried to stay away from the royal family while working in the banking sector.

US and international security demands that choosing the U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia be of the utmost concern and given a great deal of scrutiny. It is certainly worth of the attendance of all 21 members of the Committee on Foreign Relations. CDHR believes that U.S. senators and other officials must make it clear that they will closely monitor the activities of American representatives in Saudi Arabia, whether privately or publicly, to ensure their commitment to serve the American people's democratic values and encourage the empowerment of the Saudi people so that they may determine the future and safety of their country.  Essential questions and deep concern about the Saudi government's role in 9/11 and continued hostility toward the U.S. in their schools, mosques and Media were left out in lieu of a warm reception for a man who is about to assume one of the most important and challenging foreign service positions in the Middle East.

The US government must not go back to its pre 9/11 policy toward the Saudi monarchy. This would be a big mistake, as it would empower extremists. Supporting the Saudi autocratic dynasty and its exclusionary policies is what allowed Bin Laden to mobilize his movement, Al-Qaeda, against the US and other democratic societies. He used US support for the Saudi dynasty as a tool to persuade many young Saudis to carry out a war against the "infidels" to liberate the holy land from corruption, decadence and exploitation. Contrary to popular belief in the US, many Saudi citizens' anger at the US is the result of its support for the autocratic Saudi ruling dynasty, as opposed to its role in the conflicts in Palestine and Iraq. It is in the best interest of the US that American officials reach out to the many courageous Saudi men and women who risk their lives to promote a constitutional political structure in Saudi Arabia. Most if not all Saudis are ready for an alternative to Saudi autocratic rule, rampant corruption and stifling control over their lives.

(1) - http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/articles/2007/ioi/070213-Frakernamed.html ,  US-Saudi Relations Information Service

For a full video of the hearing please click here: http://www.senate.gov/%7Eforeign/hearings/2007/hrg070322a.html

In the News

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Known for his adamant opposition to any reform in Saudi Arabia, Interior Minister Prince Naif recently made surprising comments to an audience in Riyadh favoring gender desegregation. As the man most responsible for the enforcement of gender segregation, Prince Naif can introduce measures to limit the power of the religious police.  Read more about this story and take part in the discussion on CDHR's blog at: www.cdhrsa.blogspot.com

Saudis Distancing Themselves from the Bush Administration

The Saudi ruling princes are distancing themselves from their ally, President Bush, after contributing to his failures in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and in negotiations with Iran. Despite calls for a peaceful reconciliation among the different groups in Iraq under a united democratic central government, the Saudi dynasty, directly and indirectly, worked relentlessly to make sure that Iraq remains in turmoil until their minority Sunni allies in Iraq are in a position to ensure Saudi influence in that beleaguered country.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/27/AR2007032701761_pf.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/28/AR2006112801277.html


Saudi government uses "War on Terror" to stifle reformers

The Saudi ruling dynasty evokes the "war on terror" and national security reasons to silence democratic activists, critics of the government's discriminatory policies, and those who promote the rights of women, religious minorities and the humane treatment of expatriates.

http://www.upi.com/inc/view.php?StoryID=20070322-044244-4436r

Empowerment of Women Key to Future Prosperity

By Samar Fatany

"Until the extremists' manipulation of our youth in schools is curbed, their inappropriate obstruction of government regulations to integrate women into the work force is checked, and society realizes that women are equal contributing members of society, the reform movement in Saudi Arabia will continue to slog at a very slow pace, compromising the Kingdom's regional leadership and its vital influence on the Muslim world while damning our children to a future of ignorance and poverty."

http://www.arabnews.com/services/print/print.asp?artid=94273&d=28&m=3&y=2007&hl=Empowerment

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