How Should the US Respond to Mohammed Bin Salman's Role In
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Mohammed Bin Salman Doesn't Want to Talk About Jerusalem by Robert Satloff
MENU Policy Analysis / Articles & Op-Eds Mohammed bin Salman Doesn't Want to Talk About Jerusalem by Robert Satloff Dec 14, 2017 Also available in Arabic ABOUT THE AUTHORS Robert Satloff Robert Satloff is executive director of The Washington Institute, a post he assumed in January 1993. Articles & Testimony Saudi Arabia's rulers have lots of worries, but Trump's announcement about the holy city isn't one of them. audi Arabia, the protector of Islam and home to its two holiest sites, is a good place to judge the impact of S President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on U.S. interests in the region. Set aside the reaction of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and their state sponsors in Tehran and Damascus. And the angry responses from the Palestinian Authority and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with its large and boisterous Palestinian population, were certainly to be expected. The real question is how America’s friends one step removed from the circle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would react. If there were a place one might reasonably expect to hear Muslims expressing thunderous outrage at the handing of Jerusalem to the Jews, it would be in the corridors of power in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. It didn’t happen. Last week, I was in Riyadh leading a delegation of more than 50 supporters and fellows of the Middle East think tank I direct. On Wednesday, just hours before the president made his Jerusalem announcement, we spent five hours in meetings with three different Saudi ministers, discussing everything from crises with Yemen, Qatar, and Lebanon, to the kingdom’s ambitious “Vision 2030” reform program, to the possible public offering of the state oil company Aramco. -
A Conversation with Raghida Dergham
TM: Welcome everybody to this sixth installment in the Harvard Kennedy School American University in Cairo series of conversations with Arab thought leaders on the 2020 U.S. election and America's changing role in the Middle East. I’m going to turn this over to my co-pilot Karim Haggag to introduce our distinguished guest for today but let me Just remind everybody what it is we are doing here. Each weeK we've been meeting with leading Arabs from the worlds of policy practice and ideas to explore their perceptions of the current season of politics in the United States and to get their sense of where they thinK the United States, the world's sole superpower, is heading, and particularly, what all of this means for the Middle East. So far in this series, we've interviewed some really interesting and extraordinary people, including prime minister Ayad Allawi, the Emirati intellectual AbdulKhaleq Abdulla, the Iraqi-Emirati Journalist Mina al-Oraibi, and these conversations will soon be available on our website and on podcast streaming services. We also have one more conversation. This is the penultimate conversation before we break for the winter, one more conversation next weeK with the Saudi editor of the al-Arabiya English, Mohammed Alyahya, and we hope that you'll Join us for that. Let me now turn it over to my co-pilot in this endeavor, Karim Haggag of the American University in Cairo School of Global affairs and Public Policy. Karim. KH: ThanK you, TareK, and thanK you everyone for Joining us for this afternoon's discussion. -
Saudi Arabia Reportedly Paid Twitter Employees to Spy on Users
11/8/2019 Cybersecurity experts say insider spying is an issue beyond Twitter - Business Insider Subscribe Saudi Arabia reportedly paid Twitter employees to spy on users. Cybersecurity experts say insider spying is an issue that goes beyond Twitter. Aaron Holmes 21 hours ago Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right. Reuters US federal prosecutors have charged two former Twitter employees with spying on users on behalf of Saudi Arabia's government — and experts warn that it could happen again. https://www.businessinsider.com/cybersecurity-experts-say-insider-spying-is-an-issue-beyond-twitter-2019-11 1/5 11/8/2019 Cybersecurity experts say insider spying is an issue beyond Twitter - Business Insider Three cybersecurity experts told Business Insider about broader "insider threats," or the risk of surveillance and data breaches carried out by people employed by tech companies. The experts warned that tech companies should implement safeguards by addressing workplace culture, setting up ways to detect unusual behavior by employees, and more robustly protecting user data across the board. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Federal charges unsealed Wednesday allege that Saudi Arabia carried out a massive online spying operation, snooping on the accounts of more than 6,000 Twitter users — and prosecutors say the country did it with the help of two Twitter employees. Now, cybersecurity experts warn that similar "insider threats" could surface again if tech companies don't make a concerted eort to ward them o. Twitter responded to the federal charges Wednesday, saying the company was thankful for the investigation and would cooperate with future investigations. -
The Changing Geopolitics in the Arab World: Implications of the 2017 Gulf Crisis for Business Jamal Bouoiyour, Refk Selmi
The Changing Geopolitics in the Arab World: Implications of the 2017 Gulf Crisis for Business Jamal Bouoiyour, Refk Selmi To cite this version: Jamal Bouoiyour, Refk Selmi. The Changing Geopolitics in the Arab World: Implications of the 2017 Gulf Crisis for Business. ERF 25th Annual Conference, Mar 2019, Kuwait City, Kuwait. hal- 02071921 HAL Id: hal-02071921 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02071921 Submitted on 18 Mar 2019 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. The Changing Geopolitics in the Arab World: Implications of the 2017 Gulf Crisis for Business Jamal Bouoiyour IRMAPE, ESC Pau Business school, France. CATT, University of Pau, France. E-mail: [email protected] Refk Selmi IRMAPE, ESC Pau Business school, France. CATT, University of Pau, France. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: The international community was caught by surprise on 5 June 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilizing the region. More than one year after this diplomatic rift, several questions remain unaddressed. This study focuses on the regional business costs of the year-long blockade on Qatar. -
Russia and Saudi Arabia: Old Disenchantments, New Challenges by John W
STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES 35 Russia and Saudi Arabia: Old Disenchantments, New Challenges by John W. Parker and Thomas F. Lynch III Center for Strategic Research Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is National Defense University’s (NDU’s) dedicated research arm. INSS includes the Center for Strategic Research, Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs, and Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The military and civilian analysts and staff who comprise INSS and its subcomponents execute their mission by conducting research and analysis, publishing, and participating in conferences, policy support, and outreach. The mission of INSS is to conduct strategic studies for the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the unified combatant commands in support of the academic programs at NDU and to perform outreach to other U.S. Government agencies and the broader national security community. Cover: Vladimir Putin presented an artifact made of mammoth tusk to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud in Riyadh, October 14–15, 2019 (President of Russia Web site) Russia and Saudi Arabia Russia and Saudia Arabia: Old Disenchantments, New Challenges By John W. Parker and Thomas F. Lynch III Institute for National Strategic Studies Strategic Perspectives, No. 35 Series Editor: Denise Natali National Defense University Press Washington, D.C. June 2021 Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Defense Department or any other agency of the Federal Government. -
Imperatives of Transformation: Changing Character of Conflict in the Emerging World Order
Imperatives of Transformation: Changing Character of Conflict in the Emerging World Order V K Ahluwalia The character of war in the 21st century has changed, and if we fail to keep pace with the speed of war, we will lose the ability to compete. — General Joe Dunford, 19th Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, 20171 Introduction It is extremely difficult to crystal-gaze and predict the future with certainty. In hindsight, one can say that the rapid changes in the geo-political, economic, social, cultural and technological domains have had a profound impact on the emerging geo-strategic environment. With a plethora of disruptive technologies, the unknown effects of emerging technologies, asymmetric threats and the revolution in autonomous systems and communications, the global environment has been in a state of continuous change and flux. Resultantly, the envisaged threats and challenges to national security, both traditional and non-traditional, have also undergone significant change. The complexities of which need to be analysed in order to formulate the future course of action. Factors such as external security threats, religious and ethnic extremism, population growth and unemployment, societal tensions, severe competition for natural resources, climate change and environmental degradation are likely to ensure that Lieutenant General (Dr) VK Ahluwalia (Retd) is the Director of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies. CLAWS Journal l Summer 2019 21 V K AHLUWALIA armed conflicts will persist, perhaps with greater intensity. To say so, in a large number of cases, trans-national neighbouring forces and non-state actors have been indulging in abetting insurgencies, terrorism, violence and organised crime, thus, perpetuating instability and conflicts. -
Congressional Enforcement of International Human Rights
St. John's University School of Law St. John's Law Scholarship Repository Faculty Publications 2020 Congressional Enforcement of International Human Rights Margaret E. McGuiness Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/faculty_publications Part of the International Law Commons ARTICLE CONGRESSIONAL ENFORCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS Margaret E. McGuinness* I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 9 II. HUMAN RIGHTS MANDATES AS ALTERNATIVES TO HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES ................................................... 15 III. CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MANDATES IN THE COURTS .......................................................................................... 29 IV. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................... 36 I. INTRODUCTION On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist based in the United States, walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, where he was brutally murdered and dismembered by Saudi government agents.1 It was a brazen violation of the most fundamental, internationally recognized human rights, carried out by one close US ally in the territory of another close ally.2 The US intelligence community quickly determined that the Saudi government and its Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, were responsible for the killing.3 Members of Congress briefed by the * Professor of Law, Co-Director, Center for International and Comparative Law, St. John's University School of Law. Thank you to Samantha Ragonesi, Michael Campbell, Kelsey Halloran, the editors of the Fordham International Law Journal, and the participants of the February 2020 Symposium on the Global Judiciary. 1. Agnes Callamard, Khashoggi Killing: UN Human Rights Expert Says Saudi Arabia is Responsible for “Premeditated Execution”, OHCHR, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24713 [https://perma.cc/LVT8-FFHC] (last visited Oct. 21, 2019). 2. Id. -
Saudi Arabia-China Relations: a Brave Friendship Or Useful Leverage? Yoel Guzansky and Galia Lavi
ResearchPolicy Analysis Forum Reuters / Lintao Zhang / POOL Saudi Arabia-China Relations: A Brave Friendship or Useful Leverage? Yoel Guzansky and Galia Lavi “China is not necessarily a better friend than the US, but it is a less complicated friend.” Prince Turki al-Faisal Riyadh and Beijing are deepening their economic ties and expanding them in other areas as well. Overall, Saudi-Chinese relations enjoy relative stability but remain limited, inter alia due to China’s lack of interest in deeper involvement in the Middle East at the present time. Aware of Washington’s sensitivities, Riyadh and Beijing do not want to invite pressure from the United States. Saudi Arabia understands that there is no good alternative to the US security guarantees at the present time, but doubts about the credibility of Washington’s political commitment in the long term persist. Moreover, in Riyadh’s view, relations with China can complement its relations with Washington in certain respects, and may even serve as potential leverage over Washington. Keywords: Saudi Arabia, China, United States, Iran, Israel, Pakistan Yoel Guzansky and Galia Lavi | Saudi Arabia-China Relations: A Brave Friendship or Useful Leverage? 109 Introduction Geopolitical Interests With the exception of energy security, the Middle In China’s view, relations with the Gulf states East has long been mostly peripheral to China’s serve diverse interests, first and foremost overall map of interests. However, under the energy security and economic growth. China leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, a has publicly expressed its concern about the greater emphasis has been placed on the region friction between the Gulf states and Iran, and in general and the Gulf in particular, an emphasis among the Gulf states themselves, given that that goes beyond purely economic interests. -
Khashoggi's Death and Its Repercussions on the Saudi Position with Turkey
ORSAM Analysis No: 224 / January 2019 KHASHOGGI’S DEATH AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS ON THE SAUDI POSITION WITH TURKEY IHAB OMAR ORSAM Copyright Ankara - TURKEY ORSAM © 2019 Content of this publication is copyrighted to ORSAM. Except reasonable and partial quotation and use under the Act No. 5846, Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, via proper citation, the content may not be used or re-published without prior permission by ORSAM. The views ex- pressed in this publication reflect only the opinions of its authors and do not represent the institu- tional opinion of ORSAM. ISBN:978-605-80419-3-6 Center for Middle Eastern Studies Adress : Mustafa Kemal Mah. 2128 Sk. No: 3 Çankaya, ANKARA Phone: +90 (312) 430 26 09 Faks: +90 (312) 430 39 48 Email: [email protected] Photos: Associated Press Analiz No:224 ORSAM ANALYSIS KHASHOGGI 'S DEATH AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS ON THE SAUDI POSITION WITH TURKEY About the Author Ihab Omar Ihab Omar is an Egyptian journalist and researcher specializing in Arab affairs. He holds a Bachelor of Media degree and General Diploma in Education. He covered the Arab events of many Arab newspapers and international sites. He covered closely the events of the Arab Spring in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. January 2019 orsam.org.tr 2 Khashoggi's Death and its Repercussions on the Saudi Position With Turkey Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................3 Who was Jamal Khashoggi? ..........................................................................................................3 -
Human Rights on Capitol Hill
Amnesty International USA November edition HUMAN RIGHTS ON CAPITOL HILL November 13, 2018 In this edition: 1) President Trump’s Proclamation Violates the Rights of Asylum Seekers 2) Saudi Arabia - Amnesty International USA Protests Murder of Jamal Khashoggi and U.S. Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia 3) India - Indian Government Raids Amnesty India Office in Attempt to Halt Human Rights Work 4) Hungary - State Department Should Reinstate Program to Promote Independent Media 5) Amnesty International USA Urges Congress to Adopt Human Rights Defenders’ Cases 6) Myanmar - Amnesty International Withdraws the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Aung San Suu Kyi 1) President Trump’s Proclamation Violates the Rights of Asylum Seekers In November 2018 President Trump issued a proclamation, along with a joint interim DOJ and DHS rule, that seeks to radically restrict the rights of asylum seekers arriving from the southern border. For the first time the U.S. government is inventing a new rule that requires asylum seekers to pres- ent themselves at official ports of entry. This new rule violates asylum seekers’ rights under U.S. and international law to seek asylum whether or not they are at an official port of entry. In October 2018 Amnesty International researchers traveled with the Honduran caravan as it migrated towards Northern Mexico. Mexican shelters are overflowing with thousands of families in children without proper food, medical care or protection. While some have chosen to seek asylum in Mexico, Mexico cannot be con- sidered a uniformly safe country for all asylum seekers. In addition to the Trump administration’s new rule, DHS moves to detain families indefinitely. -
Corporate and Foreign Interests Behind White House Push to Transfer U.S
Corporate and Foreign Interests Behind White House Push to Transfer U.S. Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia Prepared for Chairman Elijah E. Cummings Second Interim Staff Report Committee on Oversight and Reform U.S. House of Representatives July 2019 oversight.house.gov EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On February 19, 2019, the Committee on Oversight and Reform issued an interim staff report prepared for Chairman Elijah E. Cummings after multiple whistleblowers came forward to warn about efforts inside the White House to rush the transfer of U.S. nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. As explained in the first interim staff report, under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act, the United States may not transfer nuclear technology to a foreign country without the approval of Congress in order to ensure that the agreement meets nine nonproliferation requirements to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. These agreements, commonly known as “123 Agreements,” are typically negotiated with career experts at the National Security Council (NSC) and the Departments of State, Defense, and Energy. The “Gold Standard” for 123 Agreements is a commitment by the foreign country not to enrich or re-process nuclear fuel and not to engage in activities linked to the risk of nuclear proliferation. During the Obama Administration, Saudi Arabia refused to agree to the Gold Standard. During the Trump Administration, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) went further, proclaiming: “Without a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible.” There is strong bipartisan opposition to abandoning the “Gold Standard” for Saudi Arabia in any future 123 Agreement. -
2020 Annual Report
The George Washington University Phone: 202/994-7000 Gelman Library, Suite 701 Fax: 202/994-7005 2130 H Street, N.W. www. nsarchive.org Washington, D.C. 20037 [email protected] The National Security Archive in 2020 The following statistics provide a performance index of the Archive’s work: • Freedom of Information and declassification requests filed – 1,181 • Freedom of Information and declassification appeals filed – 85 • Pages of U.S. government documents released as the result of Archive requests – 348,200 including headline-making documents that shed light on Operation Glowing Symphony—the complex military campaign to hack ISIS; the decades long U.S. Intelligence community monitoring of Operation Condor nations through encryption machines supplied by a Swiss company secretly owned by the CIA and the German BND; new details about the false warnings of missile attacks during the Carter administration that led to efforts to ensure that computer misinformation could not trigger nuclear war; the house at Bacabay clandestine torture center used by the Argentine military to interrogate and disappear victims after the March 1976 military coup; the West German and Italian compliance to the U.S. nuclear presence in Western Europe in the 1950s; former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe’s suspected ties to paramilitary groups and narcotraffickers; Clinton-Putin conversations about the transition of power in Russia; and the U.S. failure to vet officials and build “trustworthy institutions” in its Merida Initiative aid program to fight organized crime and narcotrafficking in Mexico. • Pages of declassified documents delivered to publisher – 49,271 in two reference collections: The President’s Daily Brief: Nixon, Ford, and the CIA, 1969-1977; Donald Rumsfeld’s Snowflakes, Part I: The Pentagon and U.S.