U.S Congress To Blame For Anti-Saudi Hostilities
Speaking at a symposium yesterday in Riyadh, former Saudi ambassador to the United States Prince Turki Al-Faisal blamed the U.S Congress for being the "center of hostility" towards the Gulf state.
“The reasons for (hostility towards Saudi Arabia) are many, the first of which is the Zionist lobby in the United States,” Prince Turki said at a symposium entitled “The Role of Diplomacy in Political Crises,” organized by the Saudi Association for Media and Communications here yesterday.
He said that the lobby was powerful and had a direct impact on the decisions taken by members of Congress. “The lobby supports and encourages Congress members to take hostile stances toward Saudi Arabia,” he said.
It's the Jews! Not us, look at them, they did it! The Prince also mentioned the other obvious reason for anti-Saudi sentiments:
Prince Turki said that before Sept. 11, 2001, public surveys showed that 45 percent of Americans believed that the Kingdom was a friendly nation. “After it was announced that 15 of the 19 hijackers who took part in the attacks were Saudi, public surveys showed that 60 percent believed that Saudi Arabia was a hostile country,” he said.
The former ambassador said he believed the best way to reach the American people was through mainstream America. Sept. 11, according to the prince, will continue to have a negative impact on relations between the two countries for years to come.
“It has left an imprint on relations between the two countries...On the government level, much has been done. But on the people-to-people level, there is much doubt, caution, and fear between the nations,” he said.
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