O 011320Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0024

UNCLAS RIYADH 000212 
 
 
TO SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON FROM AMBASSADOR FORD M. 
FRAKER 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/FO FOR JEFFREY FELTMAN AND DAVID HALE; 
P FOR WILLIAM BURNS 
 
 
E.O. 12958; N/A 
TAGS: PREL SA
SUBJECT: Why the Muslim World is Best Addressed from Saudi Arabia 
 
REF:  RIYADH 00211 
 
 
¶1. Madam Secretary, In my transition paper for the President, I 
suggested that he visit Saudi Arabia in the first one hundred days 
of his administration.  I would like to repeat that advice and also 
suggest that his address to the Muslim World be made from Saudi 
Arabia.  Speaking from Saudi Arabia would be to speak from the 
historic and geographic center of the Muslim World.  Moreover, Saudi 
Arabia is the most politically and economically influential Muslim 
state in the world today and speaking here would give King Abdullah 
a further stake in supporting the Obama Administration's regional 
and domestic agenda. 
 
¶2. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam.  Five times a day, a 
billion Muslims face the Kingdom to pray.  The Hajj brings millions 
of pilgrims here each year and the King prefers the title Custodian 
of the Two Holy Mosques.  A speech delivered here would resonate 
with the entire Muslim world. 
 
¶3. More than any other Muslim leader, King Abdullah has reached out 
to the non-Muslim world.  With personal courage he began the 
Interfaith Dialogue Initiative.   With personal commitment he pursed 
it in Madrid, Rome and New York.  His trip to the Vatican was an 
historic event comparable to a presidential speech to the Muslim 
World.  A speech delivered here would recognize the important steps 
King Abdullah has taken to avoid a clash of civilizations. 
 
¶4. King Abdullah is popular at home and respected abroad.  His peace 
plan has been adopted by the Arab League.  His mediation has been 
sought out in Lebanon, Somalia, Afghanistan and Palestine.  He is 
the most influential Arab leader since Nasser. 
 
¶5. King Abdullah is an aid donor, not a recipient.  He is on no 
one's payroll.  This augments his stature as an independent, 
genuinely Islamic leader.  Moreover, he is in the position to use 
his wealth to advance policy goals.  No other Muslim leader could 
have donated five hundred million dollars to the U.N.'s World Food 
Program or committed one billion dollars to the rebuilding of Gaza. 
 
¶6. Saudi Arabia is the only Muslim state seriously engaged with us 
in all three of our major, regional, diplomatic objectives: 
resolving the Arab Israeli dispute, containing and if possible 
improving relations with Iran and supporting stability in Pakistan. 
An address putting forth our views on these issues would be more 
compelling if it were delivered from a capital already working with 
us on these issues. 
 
¶7. Saudi Arabia is the largest Muslim player in global financial 
markets.  It is the only Muslim member of the G-20.  It resisted 
recent calls to depeg the Riyal from the dollar, reduce its very 
large holdings of US Treasury assets and begin trading oil in 
currencies other than the dollar.  Saudi Arabia is an important 
partner in our efforts to repair the global economy.  A speech 
touching on these issues would be more noteworthy if it were 
delivered from the only Muslim state with an individual 
representative on the IMF Executive Board. 
 
¶8. Energy supplies are, for better or worse, one of our principal 
links to the Muslim World.  Saudi Oil Minister Naimi has stated that 
lower crude oil prices are an "important stimulus to economic 
recovery" and "a welcome injection of liquidity into consumer's 
pockets."  While the Saudis will naturally seek to maximize their 
long term oil revenues, they are mindful of the dangers to the world 
economy if oil prices are too high.  A speech that touched on this 
would be better delivered from a capital that understands the 
interdependence of energy consumers and producers. 
 
¶9. The United States does not oppose nuclear energy programs in the 
Muslim World provided these programs apply internationally accepted 
safeguards.  Saudi Arabia has signed the Global Initiative to Combat 
Nuclear Terrorism and the Nuclear Proliferation Security Initiative. 
 Saudi Arabia has deposited Nuclear Safeguards Agreements with the 
IAEA and we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to assist 
Saudi Arabia develop peaceful nuclear energy.   Saudi Arabia is thus 
an ideal place to point out that our opposition to nuclear energy 
programs in some Muslim states is based solely on their failure to 
apply international safeguards. 
 
¶10. Finally, the Global War on Terror has often been perceived as 
the Global War on Islam.  Yet no nation has done more to help us 
defeat Al Qaeda and Saudi Arabia is the only Muslim country that has 
fought and defeated al Qaeda in its own home.  Speaking to the 
Muslim World from Saudi Arabia would recognize the Saudi 
contribution and make it crystal clear that we hold individuals, not 
a religion, responsible for the events of September 11. 
 
¶11. Saudi Arabia offers a wide range of attractive venues for a 
ground breaking speech.  The King Abdul-Aziz International 
Conference Center is a new, large and very beautiful setting which 
has been used for numerous major international events.  The Saudi 
Majlis Al Shura is an emerging parliament that has hosted other 
heads of state in its large, modern chambers.  Finally, the 
Organization of the Islamic Conference in Jeddah could provide a 
pan-Islamic venue where representatives of all Muslim states could 
attend. 
 
¶12. The Saudi security and protocol apparatus are highly 
professional.  In the past 18 months they have successfully hosted 
two presidential visits, two vice presidential visits and a visit by 
the former First Lady to promote breast cancer awareness.  They 
would do an exceptional job handling the complex logistics of a 
major presidential address. 
 
¶13. A speech to the Muslim World should be made from the heart of 
the Muslim World.  The speech will be most effective if it is 
delivered from a Muslim capital with significant political, economic 
and religious importance.   The speech will be more successful if it 
is introduced by a popular and internationally respected Muslim 
leader.  The President will advance our own objectives if he speaks 
from a country that shares our goals and has both the capacity and 
intention to meaningfully support them. 
 
¶14. I hope to meet you soon in Washington to discuss a possible 
presidential visit to Saudi Arabia and our transition paper for 
Saudi Arabia.  A copy of the paper is Reftel. 
 
FRAKER