R 251348Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9598
INFO AMCONSUL JEDDAH 
GCC COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS RIYADH 001755 
 
 
DEPT FOR R, NEA/PPD(BENZE), NEA/ARP(HARRIS), and IIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KPAO PGOV OEXC SCUL ASEC PTER KWMN KISL SA
SUBJECT: U/S GLASSMAN ENGAGES SAUDI PRINCES AND PROFESSORS ON 
LONG-TERM COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGIES 
 
¶1.  Summary and comment:  Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and 
Public Affairs James K. Glassman engaged Saudi Princes Salman Ibn 
Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh, and Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of 
Interior, and university professors in deliberations about 
counterterrorism strategies and U.S and Saudi public images - 
perceptions and misconceptions.  During his November 18-20, 2008 
visit, U/S Glassman stressed the value of long-term initiatives like 
exchanges and dialogue to counter extremist views, particularly 
among young people. Wide local media coverage further amplified the 
message to Saudi and regional audiences. The timeliness of the 
visit, following the recent initiatives by King Abdullah to further 
interfaith dialogue and provide additional funding for educational 
exchanges, and the high-level attention given the visit by the Saudi 
government, further heightened media interest and increased public 
awareness of shared bilateral interests. End summary and comment. 
 
PRINCES SALMAN AND NAIF SUPPORT FUTURE COLLABORATION 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2.  With the Governor of Riyadh Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, U/S 
Glassman discussed Al-Hurra programming, historical bilateral 
relations, and common perceptions about Americans and Saudis. In a 
meeting with Minister of Interior Naif bin Abdulaziz, U/S Glassman 
reaffirmed U.S. interest in combating extremist ideology and 
highlighted long-term strategies to engage youth.  Prince Naif 
expressed interest in future collaborative efforts, noting progress 
in Saudi government support for educational opportunities for young 
women. 
 
ALUMNI SHARE NETWORKING ASPIRATIONS TO PROMOTE EXCHANGES 
 
¶3.  Ambassador Fraker hosted USG alumni and embassy contacts at a 
representational event in honor of U/S Glassman.  Guests shared 
their aspirations for a strong network of Saudis capable of building 
on King Abdullah's efforts to promote dialogue and cultural and 
educational exchanges.  Guests cited personal fulfillment derived 
from their own US cross-cultural experiences.  They noted the major 
obstacles to reform, bureaucratic and otherwise, but they stressed 
bilateral business and security interests as justification to 
further strengthen relations. 
 
CANDID DIALOGUE WITH PROFESSORS HEIGHTENS UNDERSTANDING 
 
¶4.  Saudi foreign policy advisors and professors at the Institute 
for Diplomatic Studies deliberated over a multi-pronged approach to 
countering extremism.  At a roundtable discussion, U/S Glassman 
fielded commentary addressing new ways to engage youth, the 
promotion of educational and cultural exchanges, the value of 
interfaith dialogue, the image of the U.S. in the Middle East, the 
U.S. role in the international economy, foreign policy initiatives, 
citizen involvement in public diplomacy efforts, and the need for 
governments to mirror messages with actions.  In this latter regard, 
several speakers, as was to be expected, brought up the Israeli-Arab 
conflict as a key factor undermining U.S. credibility.  U/S Glassman 
stressed U.S. commitment to settling the conflict, noting President 
Bush's steadfast support for the two-state solution and Secretary 
Rice's seventeen visits to the region. 
 
¶5. In a roundtable discussion with professors representing the 
Association for Media and Communication and the Saudi Social 
Society, U/S Glassman engaged in a frank discussion of U.S. public 
diplomacy efforts.  Distinguished mass communication professionals 
from King Saud University and Imam Mohamed Islamic University voiced 
appreciation for U/S Glassman's candor on a range of topics from Al 
Hurra's effectiveness to the frequent turnover of Undersecretaries 
in his position.  The energetic participants particularly noted U/S 
Glassman's description of the region's media sector as highly 
developed and competitive. 
 
 
IMPRESSIONABLE STUDENTS AWED BY U/S'S ATTENTION 
 
¶6.  U/S Glassman visited a classroom of 15 English Access 
Microscholarship students in the working class Riyadh neighborhood 
of Suaidi, the neighborhood which served as the presumed setting for 
much of the violence in the recent film, "The Kingdom."  Students, 
never before in the presence of a visiting U.S. dignitary and 
somewhat intimidated, posed questions about U.S. higher education, 
the presidential elections and the city of Las Vegas.  Teachers and 
administrators thanked the U/S for his visit and assured him that 
such Embassy engagement strongly motivates the bashful but 
nevertheless talented students. 
 
 
MESSAGE AMPLIFIED VIA LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE 
 
¶7.  Saudi Channel II featured an interview on November 21 in which 
U/S Glassman emphasized long-term public outreach goals that 
encourage listening, explaining and exchanging information to 
achieve stability and prosperity in the region. Saudi Press Agency 
reported that Governor of Riyadh Prince Salman and Interior Minister 
Prince Naif met separately with U/S Glassman and discussed issues of 
mutual concern.  Al-Riyadh reported on U/S Glassman's roundtable 
discussion about the "War of Ideas" with professors at the Institute 
for Diplomatic Studies.  Al-Riyadh also highlighted group discussion 
about King Abdullah's Interfaith Dialogue Initiative.  Al-Madina 
columnist and Imam Mohammed Islamic University Professor Abdullah 
Al-Tayer referenced U/S Glassman's comments to criticize the 
Al-Qa'eda ideology and leadership, writing: "A number of colleagues 
and I gathered in an off-the-record discussion with a senior 
American official who recently visited the Kingdom.  The American 
official noted that the King's interfaith initiative has been 
positively received in the US.  What draws my attention in the 
comment of the official was his observation that this initiative 
came from a religious Arab ruler.  Therefore, it gained credibility 
and was taken seriously by American officials and ordinary 
citizens."  He continued, "I ask myself, what would be the fate of 
our (Islamic) nation and of the world if Al-Zawahiri and bin Laden 
were able to gain power in a country?"  Al-Tayer concluded: "Today 
in the West, the Holy Qur'an is associated with terrorism, and the 
Azan (prayer call) is associated with the murder of innocent 
Westerners.  How can we expect them to respect our religion and 
principles?  Instead of this destructive model ... King Abdullah, by 
his leadership, is representing Islam to the world and restoring the 
image of the Kingdom." 
 
FRAKER