Kesher Talk

9-11 all just a big misunderstanding: The Saudi ambassador to the U.S. writes an op-ed in the USA Today (Feb. 18), claiming that "while there may not be an urgent U.S.-Saudi political crisis, surely there is a communications crisis — and it is not at the level of government officials so much as it is within the public. Unless we get a better understanding of each other's culture and thinking, the attitudes of our citizens toward one another will continue to be misunderstood and only cause further mistrust and even hatred."

Obviously, we just don't "get" the Saudis, eh?

Meanwhile, John O'Sullivan advocates working for gradual change in Saudi Arabia. He fears that the fall of the Saudi regime would bring a terrorist government to power. "Reforming the House of Saud will be a formidable and subtle task. But it offers a great deal more hope for everyone than blithely burning it down."

Saudi Trade Minister Osama bin Jafar Faqih claimed earlier that "not only do the threats of (US President George W.) Bush against Iran not damage relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, but they strengthen ties between the two countries." (AFP)

But Tim Gross thinks differently: "it has been clear since September 11 — and actually since well before then — that if America wants to prevent a major terrorist onslaught, there is one government above all others that must be reformed or replaced. And it is not that of Saddam, but the House of Saud."

posted by Howard @ 2/22/2002 12:53:55 PM