A SAUDI'S VIEWS ON THE U.S. AND RULE OF LAW IN KSA

S E C R E T RIYADH 008900

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (SHUKAN),INL, DRL (OZKAN, LURIE),PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KISL EPET SA IZ
SUBJECT: A SAUDI'S VIEWS ON THE U.S. AND RULE OF LAW IN KSA

REF: 2005 RIYADH 009303

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (S) Echoing several other commentators and analyses,
Saudi commercial lawyer and diplomat Dr. Waleed Nasser
Al-Nuwaiser (strictly protect) told PolOff on November 8 that
the heart of most problems in Saudi Arabia is the absence of
rule of law. He stressed that the USG should emphasize the
need for rule of law because no one, including men, in the
KSA has rights. He said that the credibility of the U.S. is
undermined by its support for the Al-Saud royal family.
Al-Nuwaiser said that Saudis think the USG supports the
Al-Saud royal family in return for access to petroleum at
reasonable prices, but that this happens at the expense of
democracy and human rights. USG policies raise doubts about
U.S. commitment to democracy in the Middle East, including
those relating to Iraq and Afghanistan. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Dr. Waleed Nasser Al-Nuwaiser (strictly protect) of
the MFA Diplomatic Studies Institute, Assistant Professor of
International Public Law, and a petroleum and commercial
lawyer, voiced his opinions in a private conversation with
PolOff during a November 8 luncheon hosted by the DCM for
visiting Center for Strategic and International Studies
(CSIS) Middle East Program director Jon Alterman.
Al-Nuwaiser has traveled extensively in the U.S., speaks
excellent English, has two masters degrees (one from the
University of Southern California and the other from Harvard)
and a doctorate (from Harvard),and is the son of the former
head of the Saudi Supreme Court. Al-Nuwaiser complained that
the USG and Americans focus on denial of rights for women
while ignoring the fact that men are also denied rights. He
argued that the USG and Americans should focus on the need
for rule of law, which would be applicable to everyone,
instead of placing so much emphasis and attention on
restrictions on women driving, freedom of movement (women
must be accompanied by a male guardian),and freedom of
expression or speech (the requirement that their hair and
bodies must be covered in public).


3. (S) Al-Nuwaiser said that the KSA is hurt by the lack of
written laws and legal rulings, as well as inconsistency in
the application of laws and principles. The royal family can
decide at any moment and for any reason to deny anyone,
including men, the right to travel, conduct business, etc.
His comments on the importance of the rule of law -- not men
-- echoes comments made by Human Rights First President
(HRFS) Ibrahim Al-Mugaiteeb (strictly protect) and political
scientist, author, and commentator Turki Al-Hamad (strictly
protect) (reftel).


4. (S) Al-Nuwaiser emphasized that people do not believe
the USG when it advocates reforms (e.g., democracy, human
rights) in Saudi Arabia because everyone knows there would be
no royal family if the USG did not support it. He said the
reason the USG supports the royal family is to gain access to
oil at reasonable prices. He said the USG has the choice of
either the royal family and oil at a reasonable price or
democracy and human rights with oil at higher prices. He
said that if there were democracy in the KSA, the new
government and the people would not want to sell oil to the
U.S. Saudis no longer trust or like the U.S., he claimed,
therefore, the USG chooses the royal family and oil at a
reasonable price.

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COMMENT
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5. (S) Al-Nuwaiser can be considered one of the young,
dynamic, well-educated, elite Saudis who also happens to have
studied in the U.S. His comments suggest that the USG cannot
take for granted the support of this elite. Al-Nuwaiser's
message was very clear: the arbitrary application of laws
reinforces dependency on the existing patriarchal order,
tribal leaders and the royal family, and connections and
influence (wasta) in society -- and this elite is growing
tired of it. With its nascent focus on judicial reform, it
appears that the SAG, always attuned to the Kingdom's social
dynamic, is paying at least some attention to concerns such
as those expressed by Al-Nuwaiser. END COMMENT.
OBERWETTER