Conference: US-Saudi Dilemma: A Challenge for the next Administration
Subject:
Conference: US-Saudi Dilemma: A Challenge for the next Administration
Date:
June 5th 2008
An accident of history put vast oil wealth under an inhospitable desert kingdom ruled by a feudal nomadic family. That family’s domestic and foreign polices are based on one family interest -- security and control of national wealth. In the last century, oil demand and wealth have increased the global engagement and power of the Saudi Kingdom. The rulers of the Saudi society have coexisted and can coexist with the West in commercial terms. But their rule rests on coercive means of governance and uses of religion profoundly and perilously different from and in important respects hostile to the systems of democratic societies.
The Saudi Royal Family, adept in maintaining its feudal rule this far, takes steps toward modernizing commercial undertakings -- the allowance of a ‘private sector’, and engagement with the world trading system in terms perceived to be compatible with the World Trade Organization. But the underlying institutions of governance are little if any changed. New wine is filling old wineskins, with attendant dangers to the well being of the wine and the integrity of its container.
In a policy statement (being refined and upgraded) CDHR has proposed means of peaceful, incremental institutional change in Saudi Arabia which could allow its current rulers peaceful, non-violent accommodation to the liberation of the energies and intellects of its people, to better use of its resources, and to paths of sustainable progress throughout the coming century.
We will soon see a new Administration in Washington, which will be forced to deal with a time of increasing global economic tensions. The American-Saudi Arabian relationship needs serious, future-oriented, far sighted, constructive attention. We need to be serious about modernizing and upgrading this relationship, and supporting the Saudi people to find ways to gain power, more stable footings for their country, and a future of stability, prosperity and respect for the full rights and freedom of the individual regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnicity.
CDHR invites you to a conference on June 18 to discuss impediments to political, economic, social, religious, educational and democratic reforms necessary for a new Saudi Arabia that could play a positive role in leading Arabs and Muslims to transform their institutions to serve their citizens’ interests, furthering global harmony and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Mr. James Woolsey Former Director Central Intelligence Agency
The Saudi Royal Family, adept in maintaining its feudal rule this far, takes steps toward modernizing commercial undertakings -- the allowance of a ‘private sector’, and engagement with the world trading system in terms perceived to be compatible with the World Trade Organization. But the underlying institutions of governance are little if any changed. New wine is filling old wineskins, with attendant dangers to the well being of the wine and the integrity of its container.
In a policy statement (being refined and upgraded) CDHR has proposed means of peaceful, incremental institutional change in Saudi Arabia which could allow its current rulers peaceful, non-violent accommodation to the liberation of the energies and intellects of its people, to better use of its resources, and to paths of sustainable progress throughout the coming century.
We will soon see a new Administration in Washington, which will be forced to deal with a time of increasing global economic tensions. The American-Saudi Arabian relationship needs serious, future-oriented, far sighted, constructive attention. We need to be serious about modernizing and upgrading this relationship, and supporting the Saudi people to find ways to gain power, more stable footings for their country, and a future of stability, prosperity and respect for the full rights and freedom of the individual regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnicity.
CDHR invites you to a conference on June 18 to discuss impediments to political, economic, social, religious, educational and democratic reforms necessary for a new Saudi Arabia that could play a positive role in leading Arabs and Muslims to transform their institutions to serve their citizens’ interests, furthering global harmony and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Confirmed Speakers
Mr. James Woolsey Former Director Central Intelligence Agency
Dr. Ahmed Mansour Founder, President Ahl-Al-Quran Center
Dr. Wafa Sultan Human rights activist and religious informer
Dr. Paul Marshal Senior fellow at the Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute
Dr. Joshua Muravchik Research scholar and author, American Enterprise Institute
Dr. Alex Petersen Research scholar, Henry Jackson Society Cambridge, England
Invited Members of Congress: Senators: Obama, McCain; Representatives: Franks, Wolf, Burton, Myricks, Wamp
Sponsor: The Center for Democracy and Human rights in Saudi Arabia
Co-sponsors, partial list:
Henry Jackson Society, Cambridge, England
Institute on Religion and Public Policy, Washington DC
Ahl Al-Quran Center, Egypt and Washington DC
Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute, Washington DC
For More Information
Dr. Ali Alyami, Andrew Burick, Christine Murphy
The Center for Democracy & Human Rights in Saudi Arabia
1050 17th Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington DC, 20036-USA
Phone: (202) 558-5552, (202) 413-0084
Fax: (202) 536-5210
Email: cdhr@PROTECTED
Website: www.cdhr.info
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