The title is meant to suggest that we have a few things to learn about
others (in this case Arabs and countries in the Middle East); but also,
I mean to remind us how much we can learn about ourselves too, in
contradistinction to them. When I took foreign language in school (it was
German), it taught me a lot about construction of the English
language-by reference to things that were similar, as well as to things that were
different. Likewise, Arab culture is very different from ours-and not
simply a negative reference either; its study makes plain certain
characteristics of our own. If one will approach this study with an
objective and open mind, one generally leaves it with a sense of greater
appreciation for both cultures, for the relative strengths, weaknesses, and
"goodness" inherent in each.

Will Rogers said, "I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and
report the facts." I recall addressing various groups in 2003, when the
main topic back then was war with Iraq. I have to tell you that I
would not have believed then that 5 years later we would still be tied down
there, and not because of what the enemy has done to us necessarily,
but because of what we have done to ourselves. Nor would I have
anticipated from a purely political standpoint-staring now at the eve of an
upcoming presidential election-the abysmal prospect the Republican Party
now has for the fall; and its virtual abandonment of conservative policy
in Congress as well as by the president, at least the kind of
conservative policies Ronald Reagan championed.

On the other hand, in 2003, I would not have imagined the one bright
spot abroad I shall hasten to mention (not that it will make much
difference in November). At any rate, it is the more surprising because of the
way we hear our leaders, especially so-called conservative leaders
today talking about it-the place I mean is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
And of all the places in the Middle East where there's a mess of things,
the place where much of it started in those years leading up to 9/11,
has turned (and is turning around) almost completely.

In the Jan/Feb 2008 issue of ASSEMBLY (West Point's Alumni Magazine), I
wrote about this unlikely place of American and Saudi success-and
referenced the previous U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, James Oberwetter
saying, that helping the Saudis address their security concerns with Al
Qaeda constitutes one of the most significant strategic successes of
the Bush Administration. Much of the cooperative effort has been
classified, but there is no doubt our biggest strategic ally in the Middle
East, except for Israel is Saudi Arabia. According to Ambassador Ford
Fraker, the current Ambassador, Riyadh's level of intelligence sharing with
the U.S. in fighting the global War on Terror is second only to
London's. From a security standpoint, western businesspeople are no longer in
danger traveling or conducting business there.

At the same time, perceptions in this country have lagged terribly.
Newt Gingrich was speaking February 2008 to the Jewish National Fund
Meeting at the Selig Center, where he castigated nearly everything about
Saudi Arabia-pronouncing it evil, because there isn't the same freedom of
religion there as in the United States, and women aren't equal in that
society. I had to wonder, when did Americans became so intolerant,
particularly about other countries and cultures? Of course, he was right
about a few things too. Certainly it is imperative that we reduce
dependence on foreign oil; we do in fact need better strategy in the global
War on Terror; and Iran is clearly an emerging threat to the United
States and Israel-albeit, made bolder and more powerful for having been able
to successfully exploit the conditions in Iraq.

But give the devil his due (figuratively speaking of course). King
Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (Abdullah for short) took over on 1 August
2005, and although he is in his eighties he has led Saudi Arabia
inexorably towards a more liberal future. He is systematically reducing the
public authority of religious police, separating them from routine law
enforcement and the operation of the courts; and reining in much of the
radical speech and teaching inside mosques and madrassas. He is
modernizing Saudi Arabia and using American and other international expertise
to catch up to the twenty-first century, in terms of controlling his
borders and reducing funds going from individuals or religious concerns
to the global terrorists.

One wonders when the United States will catch up too, by doing half as
much to control its borders, as King Abdullah is doing now to control
more difficult borders with Iraq and with Yemen. One wonders whether
Americans have forgotten also, that "free" people send money all the time
to all sorts of causes all over the world, and this is never altogether
controllable by the government, even if you think it should be. We
have a very long history of putting our money where our mouths are, from
communists fighting the Spanish Civil War, to Contras fighting
communists inside Nicaragua.

King Abdullah has embarked on unprecedented development of Saudi Arabia
patterned after Dubai and Qatar-investing billions in the
transformation of desert landscape along the Red Sea to create an international
"Mecca" if you will, of trade, industries, tourism and education. Saudi
Arabia is investing billions of dollars in a half dozen mega-projects,
the scale of which is nearly unprecedented, much of it financed and owned
by the private sector. For instance, the tallest building in the world
is planned for Jeddah-one mile high. From the top you'll be able to
see Africa.
_____________________

Wesley Allen Riddle is a retired military officer with degrees and
honors from West Point and Oxford. Widely published in the academic and
opinion press, he ran for U.S. Congress (TX-District 31) in the 2004
Republican Primary. Article based on remarks to Salado Lions Club (Noon
Group) at the Civic Center in Salado, Texas (11 June 2008). Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Comments (0)

Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment