SAUDI ARABIA: WITH ALLIES LIKE THESE...

SAUDI ARABIA: WITH ALLIES LIKE THESE...

By Mumia Abu-Jamal

[Col. Writ. 9/26/04]

For generations, Americans have been assured that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an indispensable American ally, necessary for America's national security.

That hasn't changed in over half a century.

Even in the grim aftermath of 9/11, Saudi Arabia, at least to American leaders, is on quite good terms. George W. Bush, an oilman from the door, thinks of Saudi Arabia like a little bit of heaven.

But, surely, to the people of Saudi Arabia, life ain't no 'crystal stair.'

The government is the royal House of Saud, from which all government ministers are drawn. They are among the most conservative and repressive governments on earth.

And while George and Exxon and Halliburton may adore the House of Saud, most Americans do not share that lofty opinion. According to public opinion polls taken in 1994, some 63% of Americans view Saudi Arabia in a 'very negative' light.

By 2002, that number soared to 81%.

Saudi practices torture. American political leaders knew this. They conveniently look the other way, or publish obscure reports that get read by equally obscure academics, who file it away in dusty tomes, or State Dept. reports.

One political scientist who is pointing a critical finger at Saudi Arabia is As'ad AbuKhalil, who, in his new book, paints a nasty picture of the history and present of the kingdom. In *The Battle for Saudi Arabia: Royalty, Fundamentalism, and Global Power* (New York: Seven Stories Press, 2004), the California State University professor gives us some picture of Saudi torture:

Torture is commonplace in Saudi Arabia... Torture can range from flogging (even of children) to lashes and bodily mutilation. Of course, with torture comes coerced confessions; when suspects refuse to confess to crimes, they are "intimidated, harassed, and repeatedly tortured, and may be held without trial indefinitely until they confess." In sum, *Saudi Arabia remains one of the worst violators of human rights worldwide*... [pp. 178-79]

AbuKhalil tells of a society where 'torture is widespread', and women are treated as a race of juveniles, who can't leave the house without their husband's permission, and where it is illegal for them to drive a car.

In 2002, after the events of 9-11, US President George W. Bush placed a phone call to the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Did he call to criticize the country for unleashing Usama bin Laden? Did he call to complain about human rights abuses?

No. He called to "reassure him of the countries' 'eternal friendship'." [p. 28]

AbuKhalil is especially critical of the country's religious establishment, which promotes the doctrine of Wahhabiyyah, or the doctrines taught by the Saudi teacher Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahab (1702-92). Wahab provided the doctrinal support for the House of Saud when it took power over the region then known as Jazirat Al-Arab, or the Peninsula of the Arab. With the clerics behind them the House of Saud waged war against other clans for domination of the region. They were supported by the arms and the money of the British (who wanted oil and influence).

AbuKhalil reads like a headline from the Iraqi Occupation and subsequent resistance when he concludes that the war has changed the region, to be sure, but for the worst. Indeed, he argues that the Invasion has seriously weakened the hands of the Saudis by the one thing the ancient House has feared above all: instability.