RIYADH GOVERNOR ON ISLAMIC EXTREMISM AND REGIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 005821


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2013
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL MEPP KPAL SA IZ
SUBJECT: RIYADH GOVERNOR ON ISLAMIC EXTREMISM AND REGIONAL
CONFLICTS

Classified By: Ambassador Robert W. Jordan for
reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: An exceptionally cordial and frank Riyadh
Governor Prince Salman told the Ambassador on September 16
that Muslim fanatics were damaging the image of Islam and
Saudi Arabia and engendering hatred amongst peoples. He
acknowledged that preachers who taught hatred of others bore
some responsibility for terrorist acts, but said there were
other sources of hatred infecting the minds of people in the
region, most notably unjust treatment of Palestinians.
Prince Salman affirmed commitment to the U.S.-Saudi
relationship, saying that stability and prosperity of the
region depended on successful U.S. policies. End Summary.


2. (C) During a farewell call on senior ruling family member
and Governor of Riyadh Province Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz
Al Saud, the Governor told the Ambassador that he and senior
Saudi officials were aware of the problem of misuse of
Islamic charitable funds well before September 11, 2001. His
remarks were prompted by the Ambassador's opening observation
on the good progress our governments are making on the issue
of terrorism financing. Prince Salman said that he and other
senior princes worked in the 90's to bring all the charitable
organizations under one umbrella because they knew there was
nothing to ensure that money given in good faith for
charitable projects went to deserving causes. While he
believed that much good was being done by the charities, he
also had concerns that some money was going to terrorists and
"maybe even to casinos".


3. (C) Prince Salman condemned those whose "deformed
actions" had first and foremost damaged Muslims and Arabs.
The image of Islam and its "beautiful values" had been
tarnished and feelings of hatred between those of different
religions were being fanned. The Governor described how he
had personally opened a number of Islamic Centers in the
West, including in the strongly Catholic cities of Rome and
Madrid, with the participation of Christian and Jewish
leaders as well as the political leadership of those
countries. Such efforts to promote cooperation and
understanding were being reversed. Extremists seemed to be
setting the agenda.


4. (C) The Muslim extremists, called fundamentalists in the
West, were not fundamentalists but in fact were a phenomenon
seen before in Islam and in other religions. Calling the
extremists "Kharijites", Prince Salman said they were hurting
the cause of Islam. (Note: Kharijites is a loaded
historical term that can be translated literally as "outlaws"
but refers directly to the earliest schismatics in Islamic
history whose principal role in the historical record is the
fomenting of turmoil and insurrections. End Note.) Salman
said that the followers of Usama bin Ladin were kin to the
assassins of Rabin and Ghandi and individuals who had
assassinated American leaders. The true religious men of
Saudi Arabia were known for their abhorrence of violence and
for their refusal to ever lay hands on a weapon.


5. (C) The Ambassador commented that those whose religious
teachings encouraged hatred of others bore some
responsibility for encouraging terrorists. Salman agreed and
said Crown Prince Abdullah was making sure that all religious
teachers understood that. There were many other sources of
hatred as well though he commented. The current situation in
the Palestinian territories was causing hatred. Everyone
condemned UBL, but wasn't Israeli PM Sharon also sheltering
and giving encouragement to extremists and hatemongers?
Salman said he was one of Americans biggest admirers and
supporters in the Kingdom, but he despaired at the impact
U.S. actions towards the Palestinian cause was having on the
U.S. image. Abu Mazen had resigned as PA Prime Minister when
it became clear that he was being failed by Israel, by the
Palestinian Authority, and by the U.S. Prince Salman said he
hoped he was wrong but he thought that Abu Ala'a would also
fail as PM and the U.S. and Israel would have to back to
Yasser Arafat. With evident disgust, Salman said that recent
Israeli and U.S. policies towards Arafat had made him a
bigger hero than ever.


6. (C) Prince Salman said that U.S. actions in Iraq were also
short-sighted. He hated Saddam Hussein with a passion, "but
there was no need for this war". U.S. actions in
Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine were all melding the public
perception and the U.S. was being sucked into insoluble
issues that would damage its interests and the interests of
its friends in the region. The Palestinian issue was the
core issue, Salman argued. Tackling it would begin to
extricate the U.S. from the problems it faced in the region.
He concluded by saying that he sincerely wished for the
success of President Bush who had inherited difficult
problems and then been called upon to respond to the events
of 9/11. Saudi interests were aligned with U.S. interests
and success and prosperity for the U.S. meant the same for
Saudi Arabia.


7. (U) Septel reports discussion of child custody cases.


Jordan