DIPLOMATICA|letter to <strong>the</strong> editor Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah seeks ‘a <strong>new</strong>, modern society’ As an avid and loyal reader of <strong>Diplomat</strong> & International Canada, I was surprised to see a photo of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia included in “The Dirty Dozen” on <strong>the</strong> cover of your Summer 2011 issue. After reading what seemed to be an amateurish item about Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, I thought ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> editor inadvertently approved <strong>the</strong> cover, or did not really review <strong>the</strong> article about <strong>the</strong> king. A seasoned editor would certainly have objected to <strong>the</strong> inclusion in The Dirty Dozen of a monarch whose foes and friends alike admit he is doing all that is feasible to modernize <strong>the</strong> kingdom without incurring <strong>the</strong> wrath of <strong>the</strong> solidly entrenched religious dogma in <strong>the</strong> society. Despite <strong>the</strong> incoherence and shallowness, <strong>the</strong> article reveals encouraging information about <strong>the</strong> emerging modern Saudi Arabia, thanks to a king whose wisdom and determination are quintessential to moving Saudi Arabia into <strong>the</strong> 21st Century. But giving <strong>the</strong> writer <strong>the</strong> benefit of <strong>the</strong> doubt, I turned to reference books, to grasp a better understanding of <strong>the</strong> word “tyrant” and see how it is applicable to a king who, as <strong>the</strong> article summarizes: “... initiated several minor reforms...” and is “... spending $36 billion on public services and reform.” Among <strong>the</strong> many definitions of <strong>the</strong> word “tyrant” or “dictator,” I did not find a single one that even slightly describes King Abdullah or his rule: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah is nei<strong>the</strong>r “a cruel and oppressive ruler” nor “a person exercising <strong>power</strong> or control in a cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary way,” as tyrant and dictator are defined. The King and members of his extended family are strictly bound by Islamic Shari’a (law) and <strong>the</strong> constitution of <strong>the</strong> country. One may or may not approve of <strong>the</strong> constitution but that which does not conform to one’s belief and behaviour is not necessarily wrong or evil. The King and his government do not rule by force or violence. On <strong>the</strong> contrary, Saudi Arabia and its government have been more often than not <strong>the</strong> target of terrorists who conceal <strong>the</strong>mselves behind a thin veil of Islam. The awakening of <strong>the</strong> Arab masses, or <strong>the</strong> “Arab Spring,” is hopefully <strong>the</strong> beginning of a <strong>new</strong> era for <strong>the</strong> Arab World that 10 Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, shown here with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, didn’t deserve to be listed as one of <strong>the</strong> world’s worst despots, writes reader A. Eed Murad. will eventually bring <strong>the</strong> 21st Century dawn to <strong>the</strong> many Arab states. Yes, <strong>the</strong> price for such a fundamental undertaking may be astronomical without a sure guarantee for <strong>the</strong> immediate future. It is not, as <strong>the</strong> article’s author states, “<strong>the</strong> level of fear in Saudi Arabia” that keeps Saudis from getting aboard, but <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> King and <strong>the</strong> government have mutually realized that, for orderly, beneficial, positive and substantial change to take effect, it has to be gradual and steady. This is what differentiates Saudis, and to a certain extent o<strong>the</strong>r Gulf Arabians, from <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong>ir brethren. What is happening in Yemen and Libya is a lesson not to be missed. Change will eventually and certainly take place in Saudi Arabia, not only because of a change of <strong>the</strong> times and mentality, digital technology, and dissemination of information, but because of a wise and true understanding by <strong>the</strong> King and his government, who are preparing <strong>the</strong> young Saudi generation to lead <strong>the</strong> future kingdom. Change, as some may claim, is very slow, granted, but one must not dismiss <strong>the</strong> entrenched traditions and culture when judging <strong>the</strong> pace of progress. The King and his government’s quest to build a <strong>new</strong> modern society is best witnessed by <strong>the</strong> scope of free education at all levels. Per capita, Saudi Arabians may enjoy a world peak in higher education, in <strong>the</strong> distribution of wealth and in security. Including King Abdullah in your pack of “Dirty Dozen” is a distortion of facts, or perhaps an intentional twisting of <strong>the</strong> truth. If accidental, this is regrettable and requires unequivocal retraction and correction. A. Eed Murad Scholarship Committee Chair, The National Press Club of Canada Foundation Inc. Ottawa FALL 2011 | OCT-NOV-DEC un photo
verbatim|DIPLOMATICA Political cartoons: Commentary around <strong>the</strong> world "Happiest people of <strong>the</strong> world" by Arend van Dam, Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands OECD Better Life Index "US/China Co-dependency" by R.J. Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch, U.S. "U.S. economy" by Manny Francisco, The Philippines "USA and self-esteem" by Dave Granlund, U.S. diplomat and international canada 11
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