I was very skeptical with him at first but he comes over genuine. He pointed out that his godfather met with Roosevelt and that the relationship between the president and him is very good just like it was with Clinton, Carter and Reagan. He says that the relationship between Saudi Arabia is close and strong, much closer than people know. Why would anybody be surprised of a close relationship after 60 years from Roosevelt to the second Bush? He also said that he did know about the war ahead of time like mentioned in Woodwards book because it was a war that was going to happen right next store and on thier borders. It was also mentioned that Saudi Arabia was more of an allie in the war in Iraq than previously known, we actually used thier air base from day 1 and cruise missiles flew in thier air space. The Prince had a pole done by America in Saudi Arabia 91% of Saudis has no quarrel with the USA 95% believe that Bin Laden's actions are not consistant with the values of the Saudis. 94% of Saudis believes Bin Ladans actions has harmed the Saudis and the kingdom. There are 55,000 Americans living in Saudi Arabia. He said his roots were shaken to the core on 9-11 and watched everything he built krumble that day, 15 Saudis died that day and that it is the same enemy for both countries. Before 9-11 when Saudis called people terrorists the west use to call them Disadents. He said about the bank transactions and his name linked to them. All the sources are unidentified and claims no wrong doing or connection with terrorists. He said the FBI and treasury dept, they've worked close with and no questions have risen from this. He says that someone had a motive for bringing this to the surface. About oil prices, he said that our government has only asked them to be careful with them because they don't want the economy to be harmed by them. When asked who he would like to see as president he said that is up to the American people. What do you think and I hope you enjoyed this, it isn't word for word but in my own words from observing this morning and found it very interesting!
He was on Meet the Press, too. Bandar is a very smart, articulate former fighter pilot who attended American schools. But he is a Saudi prince and he is putting a Saudi spin on his comments which were clearly designed for a American audience. He is a likeable guy, and I respect him. Saudi Arabia has been a dependable ally for many years. The Saudi royal family is certainly a friend of the United States, but I feel that the general population is a lot less friendly. Those poll numbers he gave are very suspicious. I worry about an Iran-like scenario, where we support the friendly authoritarian ruler who eventually gets overthrown by his own anti-American citizenry. It should not be forgotten that while the Saudi royal family's land and oil reserves are in Arabia, their vast fortune is largely invested in the United States. They were educated and spent much time in the US. They have a vested interest in the stable democracy and expanding economy of this country. But the average Arab doesn't.
Red55, you're not following closely enough... The actual numbers are accurate...The problem-as has been the problem for a few decades now-is the problem church/state interelationships in Saudi Arabia. Almost the entirety of the Saudi royal family has been moving for a more democratic, capitalistic society, with relaxed mores, and the people have taken to it like a moth to a flame...What they worry about, and what keeps them from speaking out in the Arab world and using their own voices and money and power and prestige is the religious clerics in their country... The clerics like their place in Saudi Arabian culture. They maintain-via the religious fervency displayed by most in their country-a lofty status in Saudi Arabia. Their edicts, fatwahs, and edicts are still paid close attention to, and they can still grab headlines and curry favor with public opinion through their collective status. Because the clerics have such a continued role of importance via their religious pulpits, the Saudi Royal family has had to implement the Westernization of Saudi Arabia at an almost snail's pace. The clerics over and over issue subtle warnings, and make examples continually about the evils of Western culture and the loss of the traditional way of life and love of religion. A perfect piece of evidence would be the schoolgirls left burned alive when the "religious police" deemed that their rescue might cause social upheavel since they wore skirts, and to be totally frank, they were females being educated in a country and society where educating the female gender is a out of the box-and some would dare say radical-idea. The Saudi Royal family wants nothing more than to lead the Middle East closer to the rest of the world and in particular, to America. Their main roadblocks are Osama and the cult following he currently wields, and the clerics who continually wield considerable influence in direct contravention and opposition to the royal government's wants and desires. The royals are in a precarious position. Appeasing and maintaining the lofty status of the clerics, while slowly turning their populace on to the ideas and values of the Western Culture, is no exact science. I think they're doing admirably...I compare it to a struggle for civil rights or an end to discrimination...But, in this case, religion is not on the side of those who are right...and religion in this case is a MUCH more looming, ominous, and threatening factor than in our country's struggle...
i saw this prince on chris matthews yesterday. i agree with sourdough. he seemed like a very reasonable man. matthews kept asking him incriminating questions and he was very patient. maybe he was lying, and hates america, but he fooled me, because i thought he was geniune and very understanding of our problems.
