Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JEDDAH447
2008-10-26 13:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

US CONSULATE JEDDAH HOSTS DEBATE WATCHING EVENTS

Tags:  KISL KMPI KPAO OPRC PHUM SA SCUL SOCI XF 
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VZCZCXRO5086
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV
DE RUEHJI #0447/01 3001344
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 261344Z OCT 08
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0967
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 8086
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000447 

SIPDIS

RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN,

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2013
TAGS: KISL KMPI KPAO OPRC PHUM SA SCUL SOCI XF
SUBJECT: US CONSULATE JEDDAH HOSTS DEBATE WATCHING EVENTS
AND HELPS INITIATE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS

Classified By: ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CB TONEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000447

SIPDIS

RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN,

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2013
TAGS: KISL KMPI KPAO OPRC PHUM SA SCUL SOCI XF
SUBJECT: US CONSULATE JEDDAH HOSTS DEBATE WATCHING EVENTS
AND HELPS INITIATE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS

Classified By: ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CB TONEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Consulate Jeddah has hosted two US
Presidential debate-watching events to encourage
participation and engagement within the Saudi Arabian
community. Both events brought together professors, media,
and members of Jeddawi civil society and spurned lively and
nuanced conversations related to the US electoral process.
The events also served to network Saudis working on similar
issues and to raise discussion on important domestic matters.
END SUMMARY.

Two Debate Screenings Demonstrate the Importance
-------------- ---
of the Election to Saudis
--------------


2. (U) The consulate organized two events to watch the first
and the third Presidential debates on the day following their
live-airing in the US. The events took place at the Consulate
General residence. More than a dozen Saudi participants
including members of the media, university faculty, and
businessmen with an interest in civil society joined Foreign
Service Officers and local consulate staff to watch the
debate and participate in a discussion.


3. (C) The interest among the participants in the debate and
the electoral process was notably high with some of the
individuals having already watched the debate live when it
aired at 4 AM the same day. A great deal of discussion took
place both during and after the screening of the debate with
the participants showing nuance and thoughtful analysis in
their commentary. There were also moments of laughter by the
crowd, particularly at points during the third debate when
the infamous "Joe the Plumber" had been referenced by either
candidate.


4. (C) Several comments centered on the racial implications
of the current election and the impact that an Obama
presidency might have on changing the face of America. Most
of the participants showed support for Obama and one

expressed the idea that his victory might help to bring
America back to the world and would be better for Middle
Eastern countries. After the first debate, one local
professor expressed his support for McCain believing that he
has more foreign policy experience than Obama. After the
third debate, there was commentary by some that McCain seemed
angry and out of touch with reality. Another comment
suggested that McCain seemed obsessed with becoming
President. One participant, Maha Akeel, a managing editor at
a local news outlet felt there is not a much point in the
debate in the first place since most people are already
decided regardless of the outcome.


5. (C) Local Jedawi architect, intellectual and civil society
member, Sami Angawi, noted the importance of the election to
the rest of the world. He suggested that there should be a
system to allow the entire world to vote on the US Presidency
in which every million votes would count for one vote in the
actual race.

Thoughts on Meetings and US Engagement with
--------------
Civil Society
--------------


6. (C) Officers noticed that some of the attendees had not
previously met and were exchanging business cards for the
first time. This led to a discussion in which several of the
attendees admitted the difficulty in meeting and the
opportunity that the US consulate can make in creating a safe
space for such gatherings to take place.


7. (C) A discussion emerged regarding the many high-ranking
US individuals who had been taken to meet Sami Angawi. One
individual commented that America frequently talks about
issues, but does not follow through on suggestions. Angawi
noted that he had met with many people from the US and
nothing has changed. Adel Abdou of the Middle East Center for
Strategic and Legal studies contrasted this with Saudi
Arabia, where he claims the leadership makes incremental
changes instead of just putting ideas in the air. Angawi
spoke about his ideas of creating more people-to-people
connections and his strong support for cultural exchanges. He
said that he would be happy to keep talking about all his
ideas, but that he really would like to see some action as a

JEDDAH 00000447 002 OF 002


result. Abdou had a slightly different take, suggesting the
US increase aid globally in order to restore its global
footing. He suggests that, the "US take 10-20% of the money
in destroying Afghanistan and Iraq and supporting Israel" to
be used for assistance purposes.


8. (C) There was a debate between Sami Angawi and Abdullah
Hamidaddin, a young intellectual involved with ethical and
social reform, regarding whether change in Saudi Arabia
should take place from the top down or at the grass roots
level. While both individuals see a place for lower level
change, Hamidaddin supports a mixture in which the state is
still an active player in reform.


9. (C) There was a discussion of the recent inter-faith
dialogue in Madrid and other similar initiatives. One
well-respected participant, Hussein Shobokshi, commented
that, "the interfaith dialogue is like blind-dating for
religions." His comment reflected a belief that it is
critical for a broader cross-cultural understanding to be the
underpinning of any venture that seeks to bring together
people of different faiths.


10. (C) COMMENT. The attendance and conversation at the
debate watching events reflects a high-level of interest in
this particular election by Saudi citizens and in particular
the intellectuals. The fact that some important members of
Jeddah's civil society have not previously met suggests the
difficulty and infrequency of holding regular meetings. It
also reinforces the need for the mission to support
programming and arrange meetings and roundtables that allow
for civil society members and practitioners to meet and share
best practices. END COMMENT.
TONEY