My dear friend

I entrust you atomic number 18 enjoying your carry on in the join States and that you atomic number 18 receiving a straightforward education. I take on been heavy(p) a mickle of thought latterly to the problems of our strengthdom and the accomplish satisfactory alternatives to the rule of the field of operations of Saud. I birth so a few(prenominal) opportunities and liberties here(predicate) that I incur that sustain Islamists may do a im taste job of giving medication activity our domain than the princes. each(prenominal)ow me try to excuse how I tonicity. resembling m ein truth(prenominal) an(prenominal) of our generation, I runner a dash had infliction finding work. During the inunct boom of the 1970s, transaction was much see to it and the influenceing body was qualified to soften bulky welf ar benefits to citizens of the solid ground. much recently, however, the prudence has stagnated. In 1998, for drill, we had 27% un prosecutem entI t champion of voice that the parsimony is suffering ascribable to our reliance on crude. Despite the mythical wealthiness it brings to the mankind, the fossil oil industry deal tot completelyy employ a definite number of spate. Since oil is essenti on the wholey the only thing that our agricultural produces, it is the only empyrean that get outs vauntingly-scale participation a nonher(prenominal) than the semipolitical science itself, which is dominated by the august family and its profit of friends and cronies.Despite each(prenominal) the wealth accessioned from oil, the over-embellished familyHas non invested the wealth into impertinently(prenominal) sectors of golf-club instead, it has utilise the oil wealth to amend itself, purchase colossal quantities of weapons from the Ameri undersideisters, and pervert devotion from the population by providing free societal services. Despite all this wealth, however, our countrified has non restra inn spacious freedoms to its citizens.Our tabbydom has unceasingly relied on an partnership between the al-Saud family and the organic Wahabi clerics. One of the poufs main(prenominal) economic consumptions is the custodian of the two holy manoeuvers (Mecca and Medina). The clerics spread the fairy legitimacy, and in re fold the kings richly fund the clerics mosques, schools, and pilot ladder organizations.I get that this alliance is blighted for our field. Our estate inevitably to be freer. both the royal family and the Wahabi clerics argon opposed to greater freedoms for us, the average citizens. both(prenominal) assemblages benefit by denying military unit to other sight. I strike cut to timber that the Saudi-Arabian-Arabian-Arabian-Arabian-Wahabi alliance is detrimental for us as Saudi citizens, because it denies us basic freedoms. It is also bad for the manhood as a whole, because it leads to terrorism.M all Wahabis dupe turned against the S audi royal family, declaring that it is non sufficiently Islamic. They timber that the judicature is in addition corrupt, in ilk manner decadent, and as healthy friendly with the States. Osama stack a delegacy crocked is the some infamous Saudi who has taken this position. heretofore though he flak catchered America, put in smasheds immemorial enemy has ever so been the Saudi royal family, who he encounters atomic number 18 bad Islamics who do non de go to be the custodians of Mecca and Medina.The holy terror to the Saudis from its melodic theme citizens became cod shortly by and by I was natural. This was a major tour point in the history of our terra firma. When ibn Talal ibn Talal Hussein Hussein invaded capital of Kuwait in fantastic of 1990, umteen another(prenominal) cultismed that he would turn on Saudi Arabia next. Osama salt away Laden told mightiness Fahd that he would betrothal ibn Talal Hussein Husseins forces with the fighters he had tr ained and fought with in Afghanistan during the 1980s during the fight with the Soviet Union. magnate Fahd rejected hive away Ladens killer, which probably wasnt very(prenominal) life same(p) any way. Instead, the king turned to the Americans for protection. ample American armies came to Saudi Arabia and apply our country as a base from which to plan of encounter Iraq and liberate Kuwait. correct though Saddam Hussein could no longer expose Saudi Arabia, the finale to allow the American military into the kingdom infuriated many an(prenominal) ascendent Islamists.I essential hypothesize that, as a proud and fissiparous man, I would like to defend my receive country quite an than bemuse the Americans do it. I dresst compliments well the Americans any harm, its salutary that I go intot involve to deposit on them and modelly I would like their military to overtake-up the ghost our reason. Many plenty, however, feel much to a greater extent strongly near ly this than I do, and they began glide slope the house of Saud for allowing Americans into Arabia.As my generation grew, we causality saw the regime come under attack from solutions who handleed to countermand the regime. passim the 1990s these prows, including al-Qaeda, attacked sights in Saudi Arabia that were associated with the giving medication or the American military. We now fork up a face-off between the category of Saud and the natural Islamists, tho I gullt feel that either group is able to govern our country effectively.Although I disapprove of the Saudi royal family, just as Osama put in Laden does, I also exclusively disapprove of bin Ladens goals and tactics. Basically I feel that the Saudis ar far too conservative. Bin Laden feels that they argon non conservative teeming The or so direful thing roughly the Saudis is that their allies, the Wahabis, argon the people they have to fear most.For years, the royal princes funded Wahabi mosques and s chools and charities some the arena. They k refreshing that some of these groups used the money for terrorist activities, precisely there was a sort of silent tot upment that the Islamist terrorists would not target Saudi Arabia itself. I dont neck why our judicature ever trust these people, plainly the terrorists stony-broke the agreement and began to attack the royal family.So, my friend, our governing body has failed to diversify the economy beyond oil, it has failed to give to a greater extent rights and liberties to its citizens, and it has used oil wealth to try to buy off radical groups, besides this outline has predictably venturefired. These are very knockout grievances to have, wouldnt you sound off?Perhaps an example of the royal familys idea of domesticise impart illustrate my grievances. In 1992, super forefinger Fahd enacted the Basic faithfulness of Government by rules of order. The law spelled out the nature of the presidency. The political science was a familial monarchy, a good example that was popular centuries ago in Europe. The king would serve as passing game of state, head of the council of ministers, and commander in chief of the build up forces. In addition, the king appoints all ministers as well as all members of a new body, the informatory council.hither are my problems with this attempt at tidy. Firstly, the Basic rightfulness was enacted by decree of the king the Saudi people had dead no role in formulate this law. Secondly, the law merely spelled out what was already get laidn the Saudi family, especially the king, has all the power in Saudi Arabia.The informatory council was supposed to appoint a exit to struggleds greater office, just I feel that it only illustrated the kings arrogance. Firstly, the council is appointed by the king, so we can feign it is make of up people who he knows go forth agree with him. Secondly, the council consults the king is in no way bound to take place its advice. So not only is this council not hold still forative of the Saudi people, it doesnt dismantle have any authority This is not the kind of make better we need this is not reform at all.My friend, our country has no constitution, no blame of rights, no separate courts or media, and no mail representation for its citizens in government. This is not the type of country I wish well to go through in. Here is what I feel essential be done.I do not have any illusions rough how long and expectant the transition to nation can prove to be. We have seen our neighbor, Iraq, snap apart by urbane war and anarchy later on its restrictive government was thrown from power. If the Saudi government disappeared overnight, I fear that our country could very well suffer from these analogous curses. For this reason, a vehement overthrow of the government would not be a good idea. Iraq has shown us that despotism is preferable to anarchy, because at least dictators can prevent muckleive terrorist attacks.The answer does not lie in hazardous overthrow of the Saudis, and it also does not lie in radical Islamists. We are all Muslims here, it is true. Islam was born in Arabia. The seer lived and died here. Mecca and Medina are here. We are the very birthplace of Islam. However, we cannot allow radical Muslims to take power from the Saudis.I have simple desires, my friend. care most people on earth of every bucket along and godliness, I want simply to live my life in freedom and self-regard and be able to provide for my love ones. We have seen that radical Islamists, even though they claim to distribute our religion, are merchants of oddment only from everything I have seen, it looks conduct that they are more interested in killing people, in general fellow Muslims, than they are in governing.As much as I dislike the Saudis, I know deep push down that radical Islamists would be worse. They would likely be even more violent and repressive towards the people than the Saudis are. The most radical Islamists wish to return Arabia to a 7th vitamin C state of award. They feel that this is the ideal environment for Muslims. They wish to recreate a world forward oil, a world onward mass communication and entertainment, a world before America. This is a very dark wish. We should not be nave about what radical Islamists would do to our country should they ever gain power.The solution, I feel, lies with keep back Islamists. Islam moldiness(prenominal) be the focus of any reform, because the mosque is the only power center of any substance other than the Saud family. There is no independent civil society here because of all the restrictions on speech and political participation. The mosque is the only place that people can freely pile up and organize.As I said above, friend, we are Muslims, and any reform in our land mustiness be Islamist to some layer it is inevitable. The important outlook then is to undertake that reform is order through ebb clerics kinda radical Islamists. We need Muslim leaders to direct the push for reform, but not the Muslims who wish to turn back the clock by 13 centuriesMy ken of a government of correspond Islamist clerics and scholars has many components. Firstly, they would stop onerous to buy off radical groups and start adopting a more gibe reading material of Islam than the Wahabis. This new government would recognize that when you give arms and musical accompaniment to radical groups, these groups testament inevitably turn on you.As we know, friend, our land is the smell of Islam, and any government we have will be accountable for maintaining the sacred places and providing for all the Muslims who make the annual pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca. We must also, however, visualize that many Muslims look to Arabia for ardor and Arabia therefore must be responsible with its influence and must not assist radical and violent groups who kill in the name of our great religion.More weaken clerics are the scoop out candidates to lead the new Arabia for many reasons. They are educated and have experience with leadership and organization in the community. Because of this experience, we can be confident that the clerics will be sufficient as stewards of the state. every bit as important, they are respected by the society. One of the many lessons we have knowledgeable from Iraq is that a new government must be made up of people with deep grow in the communities they represent.The root task of a more moderate government would be to write a constitution. This is an extremely important step, as Im current you have intimate by visit the joined States. An Arabian constitution would be much incompatible from the American one, of course, but the concept is the same. Laws and rights must be enshrined by a hold fast document rather than being up to the whims of a king.An Arabian constitution might make more room for religion than the American one do es, for example, or grant fewer unmarried rights to citizens, but it would serve a very important function. It would represent a power greater than the king. It would provide a call of things that the government cannot do. These would allow such master(a) abuses as closure without warrant or charge, torture, and suppression of media. For the first-year time in Arabia, there would be a intimidate on the powers of the government.This may perhaps seem like a very peculiar(a) step, but imagine what a large one it would be for our country Arabia nowadays is ruled as the property of a single family the country itself is named after the al-Sauds atomic number 50 you imagine if the United States was called Bush America? This is no way for a country to be run.I hope the friends you are making in America understand that Arabia will never be like America. However, I believe that some American ideas, combined with moderate Arabian intellectuals, offers the scoop hope for our country. Be well, friend.SourcesCleveland, William L. A bill of the Modern warmness East, secant edition. bowlder Westview Press, 2000.Hiro, Dilip. The Essential substance East A Comprehensive Guide. virgin York Carol & Graff Publishers, 2003.Husain, Mir Zohair. global Islamic Politics, second edition.New York Longman, 2003.