[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 88 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1166-E1167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MEETING WITH CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 2002

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, this week I will travel to the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Abdullah and other Saudi 
officials for the third time since the horrific terrorist attacks of 
September 11. As a result of my previous visits, I have become 
convinced that it is in the best interest of the United States to 
remain actively engaged in a constructive dialogue and working 
partnership with Saudi officials and their leader Crown Prince 
Abdullah.
  My initial reaction to traveling thousands of miles to the Saudi 
Kingdom, in early October 2001, where 15 out of 19 hijackers as well as 
Osama bin Laden hailed from, was negative. I saw little value in 
traveling to a region where even in the wake of over 3,000 American 
deaths, there remained an undeniable hatred of America, continued 
financial support for fervent extremism, and ties to terrorist 
organizations that threaten our nation's interest and security. 
However, I have changed my initial reluctance to engage Saudi Arabia, 
though not my objection to many of its policies, because Saudi Arabia 
lies not only at the heart of the problem facing the United States in 
the Middle East and the Islamic world, but they are also our best hope 
for resolving these same problems.
  My meetings with Crown Prince Abdullah in Riyadh and Jeddah have been 
candid and frank discussions regarding many aspects of U.S.-Saudi 
bilateral relations. No subject has been taboo. The Crown Prince and I 
both voiced criticism of each others country's policies, but we also 
reiterated the longstanding friendship and alliance between America and 
Saudi Arabia and our many common interests and goals.
  The Crown Prince impresses me as a man with a vision of peace and 
coexistence between Israelis and Arabs; moreover, he is willing to risk 
his personal prestige for a quest for peace. The Crown Prince is a 
practical and logical man. He is tested and knows the value of 
leadership. I am convinced that the Crown Prince senses an historic 
opportunity to build confidence and seek peace from the extraordinary 
tragedies of the last 20 months and appreciates this opportunity to 
lead the Arab world away from extreme radicalism and toward normalizing 
relations with Israel.
  My optimism is checked, however, by a recurrent fundamental failure 
by Saudi Arabia to appreciate the history of the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict from an Israeli perspective and to recognize the sense of 
vulnerability of the Israeli people. In fact, the Crown Prince often 
suggests that American policy in the Middle East is unbalanced and too 
favorable to Israel. Ironically, it is the Saudi policy toward Israel 
that too often lacks objectivity.
  Since September 11, there has been much criticism of the Saudi 
government in our country and internationally. Much of the criticism is 
justified, and I have joined my colleagues in Congress in voicing my 
concerns and objections when I deemed it necessary and in the best 
interest of the nation. I have been a vocal critic of harmful policies 
carried out by the Saudi government or Saudi nationals, including their 
lack of democracy, freedom of the press and abominable treatment of 
women. I have also strongly condemned Saudi connections to the 
financing and support of international terrorist organizations, 
unwillingness to unequivocally condemn suicide bombings perpetrated by 
Palestinian terrorists, financial payoffs to the families of 
Palestinian suicide bombers, and their financial backing of extremist 
schools in Pakistan and around the world that preach intolerance and 
hate. Like many Americans, I am also angered and disturbed by the 
virulent anti-American and anti-Semitic rhetoric that is published in 
the government-run press and echoed repeatedly by Saudis throughout the 
kingdom. The Saudi government cannot have it both ways; if they are 
truly committed to peaceful coexistence with Israel, they cannot feed 
the fires of those who hate and are bent on the destruction of the 
peace process and the State of Israel itself.
  Faced with growing American and international criticism, Crown Prince 
Abdullah has reevaluated the effect of Saudi policies and is seeking to 
make fundamental changes in the Saudi Kingdom. Since assuming 
leadership in 1995, Crown Prince Abdullah has taken initial steps to 
reform Saudi Arabia's economic and political structure and is making 
serious attempts to root out corruption. The Crown Prince is also the 
leading advocate for Saudi Arabia's obtaining membership in the World 
Trade Organization, WTO. I strongly support this effort and believe 
that WTO membership would lead to greater accountability and 
transparency in the Saudi Kingdom and, more importantly, would connect 
Saudis to the global economy.
  Most important of all, Crown Prince Abdullah brought Saudi Arabia 
into the international spotlight last February by initiating a proposal 
that offers Arab normalization of relations with the State of Israel, 
if Israel returns to the pre-1967 borders. While the Saudi plan maybe 
viewed by some as a non-starter, an initial position for negotiations, 
or even worse a public relations ploy, it should not be altogether 
ignored or minimized. This initiative is a significant signal that 
Crown Prince Abdullah will be an active participant in the elusive 
peace process and may be the most progressive step toward Arab-Israeli 
reconciliation taken by any Arab leader since Egyptian President Anwar 
al-Sadat traveled to Jerusalem and King Hussein of Jordan signed a 
peace treaty with Israel in 1994. Unfortunately, during Camp David II 
in 2000, too many Arab leaders remained on the sidelines while a 
comprehensive peace proposal was being circulated. Crown Prince 
Abdullah seems to recognize the lost opportunity that occurred during 
Camp David II, and in a promising sign he clearly stated to me his 
intention to be actively involved in any new effort for a comprehensive 
peace agreement.
  The United States would be ill-advised to disengage from Saudi Arabia 
or its leader. As the heart and soul of the Muslim world, Saudi Arabia 
is home to Islam's two holiest places, Mecca and Medina. It is the 
Muslim world and, in particular, Arab states that the United States 
must actively engage in dialogue to promote educational reform, greater 
religious freedom, democracy, freedom of the press and expanded rights 
for women. We need to press the Saudi government, especially Crown 
Prince Abdullah who has significant weight in the Arab and Islamic 
world, to address religious freedom and human rights. At the same time, 
we must seek the advice and assistance of prominent Saudis to help 
America strengthen and improve our standing in the Muslim world. It 
would be short-sighted to ignore the perceptions and beliefs of more 
than one billion people.
  Saudi Arabia is also integral to our policy of containing and 
eventually removing Saddam Hussein from power. Saudi cooperation with 
the U.S. and other allies in enforcing Operation Southern Watch over 
Southern Iraq has been considerable. During my visit to Saudi Arabia 
this week, I will reiterate that Iraq repeatedly fails to comply with 
United Nations (UN) resolutions, continues to block unfettered UN 
weapons inspections, is stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, 
harbors and supports terrorists, and poses a grave threat to the 
security of the United States and every nation in the region. It is 
critical to the United States that Crown Prince Abdullah and Saudi 
Arabia assist the Bush Administration in building a coalition of 
support to remove the threat of Saddam Hussein to the region.
  My visit to Saudi Arabia is also another opportunity to send a 
message from the American people to the Saudi government and its 
citizens that the United States intends on continuing our engagement 
and partnership with their country; however, I would be remiss if I 
ignored the continued presence and activity of dangerous extremists in 
the Saudi Kingdom and the danger they pose to America and our allies. 
Ultimately, the future of U.S.-Saudi relations hinge on the efforts of 
Saudi leaders to root out extremist elements within the kingdom and 
choke off all financial support emanating from the kingdom to terrorist 
organizations around the world.
  As for Saudi Arabia's leading role in the Middle East, it is 
incumbent on Crown Prince

[[Page E1167]]

Abdullah and other Arab leaders to help reform the Palestinian 
leadership, as outlined by President Bush on June 24, 2002, from one 
based on corruption, incitement, terror and suicide bombings to one 
based on democracy, peace and constructive dialogue. This will be the 
major thrust of my conversations with the Crown Prince this Sunday in 
Jeddah. It is important to note that Crown Prince Abdullah and other 
Saudi officials have already played a constructive role in the reform 
effort by assisting the Palestinians in writing a new constitution. 
Without concerted international pressure, there will be no genuine 
reform of the Palestinian leadership and, I fear, no end to suicide 
bombings. These terrorist acts must end if we are to reach a 
comprehensive and lasting regional peace based on security, recognition 
for Israel, and statehood for the Palestinians. Indeed, the legitimate 
aspirations of the Palestinian people to have a nation of their own 
will be destroyed unless there is a change of attitude among those in 
the Arab and Muslim worlds who encourage and provide moral, financial 
and material support to so-called martyrs who commit these heinous, 
inhuman and immoral terrorist acts.
  As a strong supporter of an unbreakable bond between the United 
States and Israel, I care deeply about the future security and 
prosperity of the Jewish homeland. In meetings with Saudi leaders, I 
will remind them of the unprecedented terrorism the Israeli people have 
faced over the past 20 months and the tragic toll that suicide bombers 
have inflicted on innocent Israelis. It is also imperative they 
understand that like America, Israel has the right to defend herself 
against these barbaric attacks and that the United States will stand in 
solidarity with Israel during this difficult time.
  Mr. Speaker, if we are to avert another tragedy like September 11 and 
defeat the scourge of terrorism, America needs allies--we cannot do it 
alone. I am going to Saudi Arabia because more effective cooperation 
and understanding between our two countries is fundamental to winning 
the international war on terrorism, and members of Congress must play 
more than just a consenting role in that effort.

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