Secret leak opens Pandora's box

The recent leaking of a document that is being circulated in Washington's senior official circles has stirred reactions from several corners. The report submitted by the Rand Corporation Research Centre described Saudi Arabia as the most dangerous enemy of the U.S. in the Middle East. The American administration quickly distanced itself from the report saying that it did not reflect the official policy, implying that Saudi Arabia continues to be an old friend and ally.

The following is a review of the Arab press' discussion of the latest developments between Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

The report published by the Washington Post representing Saudi Arabia as a U.S. foe and a supporter of terrorism raised a controversy in Saudi Arabia among politicians, intellectuals and scholars, writes Asharq Al Awsat (UK-based) in its editorial comment.

Not official stand

Although the report was prepared for the Pentagon by an advisory board, the Pentagon spokesperson, Victoria Clark, declared that both the report and the statements do not reflect the Pentagon's official stand.

She added that a deep friendship has always linked the U.S. and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has played a significant role in the international coalition against terrorism, adds Asharq Al Awsat.

The report was submitted by Laurent Murawiec, a former consultant at the French ministry of defence and a partisan member of the "hawkish" wing in the Bush administration.

Thus, there is a new trend within the American administration to disown past relations among friends, reducing the ties with other countries to their support or rejection of the war on terror promoted by Washington, says Asharq Al Awsat.

Indeed, the U.S. should consider its relationship with Saudi Arabia as privileged for two reasons, firstly because Saudi Arabia is a prominent regional actor in both the Arab and Islamic world. Secondly, Washington cannot afford to increase the number of its enemies in a region already under great tension.

On the contrary, mutual confidence and respect are the only means of ensuring the region's stability. That is why allies and friends should prioritise dialogue to resolve their differences rather than denouncing each other's policies, concludes Asharq Al Awsat.

The September 11 attacks will certainly remain in the American memory for a long time, probably as traumatic an experience as the war of Vietnam, writes Al Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) in its editorial comment.

Apart from its social and psychological effects, this event has brought to the surface the hidden intentions and the hatred that a number of politicians and leaders feel towards Saudi Arabia.

In fact, some of these politicians called for the atomic bombing of the holy Ka'aba, while others spoke about the division of the Kingdom. However, the latest manifestation of such feelings is the report presented by an advisory board to the Pentagon accusing Saudi Arabia of supporting and financing what it labelled as Islamic terrorism, adds Al Riyadh.

Strategic support

Nevertheless, despite the financial and moral losses Saudi Arabia has endured due to its strategic support of the U.S. through the years, some Americans make false allegations against the Kingdom. They forget that international relations are based on mutual exchange and not imposed conditions, says Al Riyadh.

At the official level, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. is still strong. However, such irresponsible statements can only worsen relations between the two countries. The imminent strike against Iraq could be an explanation for this frenetic campaign by a certain number of U.S policy-makers in order to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia to change its position and to halt its rapprochement with Iran and other Arab countries which are against the attack on Iraq, adds Al Riyadh.

Terrorism has not only affected the U.S. Saudi Arabia, too, has suffered from a series of terrorist attacks which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people. Yet it was determined to stop any attempt to destabilise its internal security, and condemned the killing of innocent people, concludes Al Riyadh.

It is simplistic to interpret the report as the official American view. Whoever says this does not know much about the mechanisms that govern the different institutions within the U.S., writes Mohammed Al Rumeihi in Al Bayan (UAE).

In fact, the American society is a society that accepts differences in views and opinions. If it weren't like that, it would never have become so powerful economically and militarily. So it would be a mistake to consider the report a reflection of the views of the American administration, adds Al Rumeihi.

But some policy-making circles within the U.S. were hostile to Saudi Arabia even before the events of September 11. They are the ones who blocked several missile and combat planes transactions to Saudi Arabia, forcing it to purchase these arms from China. These circles have been using the September 11 events as a pretext to unveil their hostility and hatred for Saudi Arabia, says Al Rumeihi.

Furthermore, the increasing hostility against Saudi Arabia within the U.S. can be explained by the factor of religious fundamentalism. In fact, some political analysts blame Saudi Arabia for being the financial supporter of such groups in the world.

Yet they forget that the U.S. was the one to support and train these factions in its war against the former Soviet Union in Afghanistan during the 1980s. All these facts have contributed to the recent tension between Saudi Arabia and some inner circles within the American administration, concludes Al Rumeihi.

The publication of the report classifying Saudi Arabia as an enemy and calling for the targeting of its oil wells and investments in the U.S. represents a flagrant defiance of all rules of friendship, writes Abdullah Al Qaq in Al Watan (Oman).

Indeed, the report is pure allegation and comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is making efforts to reach a just and fair settlement of the Arab–Israeli conflict, stipulating the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital.

This report also coincides with the Kingdom's firm rejection of any strike against Iraq, because such an attack could constitute a threat to the integrity of Iraq and to the stability of the region as a whole. It is important to note that all Arab and Islamic countries have denounced the American accusation against Saudi Arabia which is known for its firm stand with regard to Arab rights, adds Al Qaq.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia will accept neither the replacement of the Palestinian leadership legally elected by the Palestinians nor the overthrow of the Iraqi president or any other leadership in any Arab country.

Justice and equality

Saudi Arabia is known for its attachment to the principles of justice and equity. That is why it has refused to use the oil card, as it does not consider this the most appropriate means of exerting pressure on the U.S.

In contrast, the Saudi leadership is convinced that dialogue must prevail over any economic pressure. Such a stand should have been highly praised by the American admi