Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05JEDDAH2181
2005-07-02 13:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

SNAPSHOT OF STUDENT OPINION: UNDERGRADS FROM

Tags:  PGOV SCUL SOCI KISL 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 002181 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP; RIYADH PLEASE PASS TO
DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2015
TAGS: PGOV SCUL SOCI KISL
SUBJECT: SNAPSHOT OF STUDENT OPINION: UNDERGRADS FROM
JEDDAH COLLEGE CRITICIZE SAG/USG

Classified By: ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CAROL KALIN
FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 002181

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP; RIYADH PLEASE PASS TO
DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2015
TAGS: PGOV SCUL SOCI KISL
SUBJECT: SNAPSHOT OF STUDENT OPINION: UNDERGRADS FROM
JEDDAH COLLEGE CRITICIZE SAG/USG

Classified By: ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CAROL KALIN
FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Following the June 28 opening of the first
American Corner in Saudi Arabia at the College of Business
Administration (CBA) in Jeddah, Conoff accompanied a group of
CBA undergraduates and their student advisor on a June 30
hiking trip to the mountains near Mecca. In discussions
during the trip, the young men were critical of the SAG. The
students, who had little or no direct exposure to the U.S.,
also criticized U.S. involvement in Iraq and the state of
moral values in the U.S. END SUMMARY.

STUDENTS CRITICIZE SAUDI AND ARAB LEADERS


2. (C) On June 30, Conoff accompanied a group of CBA
students and their student advisor on a hiking trip to Hada
Mountain, located between Mecca and Taif. According to the
student advisor, the trips are designed to teach the young
men values that will assist them in life after graduation.
The theme of a recent trip to the beaches north of Jeddah was
"Resisting the temptations of women." This trip was designed
to teach the young men leadership values in completing the
challenge of exploring Hada Mountain as a team.


3. (C) In discussions throughout the day, the students
criticized the SAG and other Arab governments. The students
mocked Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and stated that
"animals live better than people in Syria." When asked to
affirm that the situation in Saudi Arabia was better than
Syria, a young man originally from the Nejd (Riyadh) region
shook his head and replied, "so, so- The situation here is
medium."


4. (C) Criticizing corruption among Saudi princes, one
student described a telemarketing fraud scheme selling fake
calling cards which allegedly involved a son of King Fahd.
Another repeated the widely-held belief that the popular
Jeddah "Al Baik" restaurant chain was prevented from opening
in Riyadh due to a prince's concern that the restaurant would
compete with his franchises. While driving past a poster in
Taif with pictures of members of the royal family welcoming
visitors to the city, the student advisor sarcastically
stated that the king and princes "do not even come here.
They spend all their time in Europe, like in Geneva."
Referring to the royal family, he stated, "When you have a
lot, you want even more; you cannot see the limit."

STUDENTS QUESTION U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQ, MORAL VALUES IN
U.S.


5. (C) The students, who had little or no direct exposure to
the U.S., consistently praised the American people.
"Whenever I meet an American guy, he is very nice," one
student stated. The students also asked questions about
prominent Arab-Americans, such as General John Abizaid, and
played American popular and rap music on the drive to the
mountain.


6. (C) When the discussion turned to politics, however, the
students were critical of U.S. involvement in Iraq and the
allegations of torture at the Abu Ghraib prison. When
reminded that the U.S. military investigated and prosecuted
members of the military involved in events at Abu Ghraib, one
student stated his approval and observed "that (prosecution
of those involved in torture) would never happen in Saudi
Arabia." However, he added that the prosecutions would not
help America's image in the Arab world because "the damage is
done." Pointing to his friend, one student said, "tell him
(Conoff) what you said about America yesterday." The young
man replied, "I prefer not to talk about politics or Iraq."


7. (C) The students reserved much of their discussion on the
U.S. for the subject of moral values. During the drive to
the mountain, the young men stopped at a local mosque at
afternoon prayer time, and later found a mountainside mosque
to perform the evening "isha" prayers. Following prayers,
one student mentioned the subject of gay marriage and
criticized the U.S. for even considering the matter. Citing
the cool mountain weather, another young man asked if
Americans in the northern U.S. stayed warm because "they
drink alcohol all day." Several criticized abuse of alcohol
and drugs as the major factors behind perceived high crime
rates in Western countries.


8. (C) At the end of the day, the student advisor spoke to
the group and reminded them to think about the teamwork and
leadership they had exhibited in exploring the mountain.
"Even from wrong decisions, you can still make the right
decisions," he said. Speaking with Conoff, he concluded "I
want these guys to think for themselves, take care of each
other, and remember that anything is possible in any country."
KALIN