The topic of the fourth session was “What Went Wrong, What Went Right, and the Way Forward… Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned”.
Speakers were former Ambassador Walt Cutler, Dr. Mohammed Al-Qunaibet, Usamah Al-Kurdi (both members of the Al-Shoura Council), and former Ambassador Wyche Fowler. All were pretty much in accord that US over-reaction on some issues post 9/11 has played into Al-Qaeda hands. Al-Qaeda wants a “clash of civilizations” and many in the US, including some in government, seem willing to accommodate.
The issue of the great difficulty in Saudis’ ability to get timely visas is a great irritant. Examples of Saudis seeking medical care in the US, but dying before the visas could be issued months after application were cited. Senior Saudi businessmen—who hold great respect within the country—are insulted (and the pain of the insult shared by all Saudis) when they are treated shabbily by US governmental employees or entities. Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib have both done great damage to the reputation of the US across the Arab world.
Al-Kurdi did note some positive moves, however, beginning with the US-Saudi Strategic Dialogue, which started last year. Amb. Fowler asked that critics of Saudi Arabia hold off on their skepticism over Saudi reforms. They are happening.
The two Saudi participants were ready to toll a list of mistakes the US has made. They were not quite so ready to acknowledge that the KSA might have made any mistakes since (or before) 9/11. In response to a question from the floor about Saudi mistakes, they tap danced around the issue, noting that “American mistakes were bigger”. I’ll grant that as members of the Al-Shoura Council, they are in a difficult position from which to criticize the Saudi government. But I had hoped they would be more forthcoming. It’s not a secret that senior Saudi officials were in deep denial about the culpability—even the presence—of some Saudis in the 9/11 atrocities, and remained so for years afterward. It may be embarrassing to admit that, but if we’re discussing “mistakes made and lessons learned”, a little honesty here would have gone a long way.
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November:02:2006 - 13:49
Reminiscent of Gorbachev’s story about freedom in the U. S. and the Soviet Union. Just as anyone could go the White House and yell “Reagan is a jerk!” so could anyone in the Soviet Union go to the Kremlin and yell “Reagan is a jerk!”
Did the idea that there might be a relationship between the time needed for Saudis to get visas to the U. S. and that many of the 9/11 attackers were Saudis occur to anyone?
November:02:2006 - 15:40
Yes, the nationalities of the 9/11 hijackers is common knowledge, to most anyway. Some draw a fine line to distinguish the Saudis used as “muscle”, arguably unaware of the scope of the 9/11 plans, and the planners.
I am saddened by the lack of candor, however, particularly from some who, in private, are far more outspoken.