Liveblogging U.S./Saudi Relations Void Equilibrium
27 April 2009 9:03 am by Taylor Marsh
*This is a live Twitter feed.*
–updated – more here –
9:03:14 AM: Chuck Hagel just arrived, gttng ready to speak. Traffic was murder this morning.
9:06:51 AM: Dr. Zbig just walked by w/ Clemons, who stopped, introdced me: “one of the great blogs.” Z nto blogs.
9:22:07 AM: Hagel: BO n office less than 100 days, but effort n MidEast is n place, seen thru who’s in region today.
9:26:20 AM: Hagel: region “more dangerous today.” Need “new set of 21st alliances.” US “needs to be far wiser.”
9:28:32 AM: Hagel: “Need to b far wiser in our alliances. US/SA have commn interests, East Asia. Boggged down, Iraq.
9:28:32 AM: Hagel: “Need to b far wiser in our alliances. US/SA have commn interests, East Asia. Boggged down, Iraq.
9:31:58 AM: Hagel: Picking sides, Israelis or Palestinians is a false choice.
9:33:10 AM: Zbig: We need a real US/SA alliance for peace. –applause in the room–
9:35:43 AM: Zbig: two parties can’t solve MidEast peace; US needs to frame, w/ SA, who can help. Window is closing.
9:38:16 AM: Zbig: War cannot solve Iran issue. If we want to deal w these problems..it’s together. SA must step up.
9:40:03 AM: Turki Al-Faisal: since 2001, too few in Congress not engagd w SA. Pleads for help, influnce.
9:41:38 AM: Al-Faisal: We don’t need more plans from Obama. “We need implementation.”
9:44:05 AM: Al-Faisal: AfPak strtgy “correct,” if implemented correctly. Kill terrorists, “declare victory,” get out.
9:46:14 AM: Al-Faisal: Afghn, don’t do nation building, forget democrcy. Pak drone attacks must stop.
9:47:49 AM: Rita Hauser: not sufficient to hve US prez; must have EU, Arabs.
9:49:50 AM: Hauser: Hamas is a player, period. Must get Fatah-Hamas wrkng, so SA must engage; Egypt conflicts w H.
9:52:21 AM: Hauser: Leb-Syria; election wll have Hezbollah win in gov. Results Hariri assas; Syrian invlvmnt. Hw hi up?
9:54:37 AM: Hauser: demography in MidEast favors Palestinians.
9:59:53 AM: Alireza: BO’s values welcm n SA. Renewal, collaboration, stability depends on BO-KngAbdlah
10:12:01 AM: Zbig: no real “right of return fr Palestinians, more symbolically, w sm nods; Jrusalem mst be shared.
10:15:31 AM: Hauser: skeptic a partner in Israel/Palestinians. Knw end gme, they won’t accept. Focs on Pal, “total dysfunction”
10:18:35 AM: Al-Faisal: pop of Hamas n West Bnk skyrocketed aftr Gaza. Israel destryd Abbas legitimacy. H must be engaged.
10:21:39 AM: TurkiAF and Hauser: Hezb is dealt w, so why not Hamas?
10:30:22 AM: Alireza: don’t make mistake made on Iraq; MidEast peace doesn’t go thru Iran. SA wd be the 1st casualty.
10:39:29 AM: Question re SA xeno, hating women, medevl state: “we have differences” on cultural (Hagel); issues. Turki ignored it.
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The conference was sponsored by New America Foundation and Committee for International Trade (Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce & Industry).
