S3422 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 25, 2002 Carrie Lehman, and Jerry Ritter. They peace taken by the Crown Prince and would the Saudis expect us to say, have done a magnificent job. his nation and the contradictory be- though, were the roles reversed? What If I left anybody off the payroll, I havior that is prevalent in Saudi Ara- action would they demand of the Presi- apologize. bia and its policies. For example, in dent if in fact such vile lies were print- I congratulate my good friend, Sen- March the Saudi newspaper, Al-, ed about Muslims and Saudis in an ator BINGAMAN, and Senator REID for carried a vile, anti-Semitic article by American paper? And what would the making this possible. someone claiming to be a professor. rest of the world have us say about The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The article resurrected the centuries- such slander, in a country where there ator from Nevada. old blood libel that civilized people is freedom of the press, the United f would have thought was a thing of the States? past. This Saudi professor, in a leading Another example of this disconnect MORNING BUSINESS Saudi newspaper, wrote for the Jewish that baffles me is the recent telethon, Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask holidays: ‘‘Blood must be taken from a ordered by King Fahd, which, accord- unanimous consent the Senate proceed non-Jew, dried, and mixed with dough ing to press reports, raised over $85 to a period of morning business, with to make pastries.’’ It goes on to say million for families of so-called Pales- Senators allowed to speak for a period that using human blood in pastries was tinian martyrs. According to the Saudi not to exceed 5 minutes each, with the a ‘‘well-established fact historically Government, these people are defined exception of Senator BIDEN, who wishes and legally throughout the history of as people ‘‘victimized by Israeli terror to speak for 20 minutes. mankind and that this was one of the and violence.’’ But in the common par- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without main reasons for the persecution of lance of the region, this term often re- objection, it is so ordered. Jews and the exile of Jews in Europe fers to suicide bombers. The Senator from Delaware. and Asia at different times.’’ In the aftermath of September 11, in f Finally, the article says: ‘‘The nee- which 15 Saudis engaged in the most deadly suicide attacks in history, one dles enter the body extremely slowly causing immense pain that gives the would hope the Saudi Government Mr. BIDEN. Madam President, today Jewish vampires extreme pleasure and might think twice before offering fi- the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they closely monitor this bloodletting nancial incentives for so-called mar- Prince Abdullah, met with President in detail with pleasure and enjoyment tyrdom. Bush in Crawford, TX. Based on the re- that is beyond comprehension.’’ Imagine if the President of the ports from that meeting, there were That is printed in a leading Saudi United States and the Members of the several items on the agenda, one of newspaper. The editor of that paper Congress contributed to a telethon for which was the conflict between the says that he was out of town when this someone who walked into a hotel in Ri- Israelis and , and the other article appeared, and later wrote that yadh and killed 100 Muslims. What was the nature of the Saudi-U.S. bilat- it was unworthy of publication. would we say? What would we be ex- eral relationship. Forgive me if I have a hard time be- pected to say? What would we think? A report this morning in the New lieving that the article simply slipped What would happen if the President of York Times said that the Crown Prince through the cracks and that it was a the United States said: We condemn it, intended to deliver a ‘‘blunt message’’ fluke. I can believe many things about but we understand the frustration of to President Bush. Apparently, a Saudi Saudi Arabia, but freedom of the press the Saudi people, in having no democ- official indicated after that meeting is not one of them. This article was racy? We understand the frustration of that oil would not be used as a weapon. published because no one who saw it the Jewish people, being victims of sui- Earlier, an unnamed Saudi official said believed that it contained anything of- cide bombing? It would be an outrage, that we, the United States, may face a fensive or untrue. an outrage. And the whole world would ‘‘strategic debacle’’ unless we alter our Imagine the outrage in Riyadh, in say: Where is the moral leadership of relationship with . , in Amman, in the United Na- the United States? There is nothing wrong with blunt tions, and elsewhere if a Jewish pro- But the Saudi support for the cult of messages and blunt talk between fessor published an article in an Amer- martyrdom is not restricted to offering friends. I am confident the President of ican paper saying that Muslim holiday financial incentives. Recently the the United States was equally blunt in feasts were prepared with the blood of Saudi Ambassador to the United King- the message he delivered. No doubt the ritualistically sacrificed Jews? Can dom wrote a poem entitled ‘‘The Mar- Crown Prince discussed ways to ad- anyone imagine what the Saudis would tyrs.’’ The poem appeared in vance his initiative with regard to expect of the President of the United language newspapers and praised Pales- Israel, a breakthrough that I publicly States, what the Saudis and the rest of tinian suicide bombers, particularly a stated several times in recent weeks the civilized world would rightly ex- young deranged Palestinian woman has not been fully appreciated by the pect of all United States Senators who from a refugee camp who killed herself world. had nothing to do with it being pub- and two Israelis on March 29. The Am- The Saudis had endorsed unani- lished, but saw it published? The civ- bassador refers to her as ‘‘the bride of mously at the meeting ilized world would demand of us, as loftiness.’’ last month in a plan that holds they would have a right to, that we, This is written by the Saudi Ambas- out hope for normal peaceful relations the leaders of this country, stand up sador to the United Kingdom. between Arab States and Israel. How- one at a time and disavow these vile, She embraces death with a smile ever, laying down that plan is not vile, vile diatribes. while the leaders are running away from enough. It is time for more mature What did people expect of us, and death . . . leadership. what did our President do, when a He goes on to say: We have been asked by the rest of the group of mostly Saudi citizens killed We complained to the idols of a white house world and the Crown Prince to take an thousands of Americans on the 11th? whose heart is filled with darkness. active role in supporting this plan. The President did the right thing. He Given the opportunity to renounce That is fine. However, I add, I hope the stood up and he said: This is not about this poem, a Saudi spokesman said on President discussed what active role Saudi Arabia, this is not about Mus- United States television: the Saudis should take in dealing with lims. He did the right thing. The ambassador is a very well known poet peace in the Middle East. When the I wonder what would have happened . . . he was expressing the anger and frustra- Crown Prince goes home, what con- had it been the reverse. I wonder what tion people feel. crete steps will he take to move the would happen. Give me a break. That is not good process forward, to create a new envi- It is time for some mature leadership enough. I personally met with this ronment that builds trust and hope for here. It is not enough just to lay down spokesman, who is a fine man. I ex- a political settlement? a good plan—and it is a good plan the pected more from a man as educated I am troubled by the apparent dis- Saudi Crown Prince laid down and and sophisticated as Mr. Al-Jubeir. If connect between the initiatives for which was adopted in Beirut. What an American diplomat wrote a poem—

VerDate 11-MAY-2000 05:14 Apr 26, 2002 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25AP6.140 pfrm12 PsN: S25PT1 April 25, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3423 if the Ambassador from the United East. We all want for it to end imme- As the birthplace of Islam and the States to England wrote a poem extol- diately. All of us would like to see a land of the holiest Muslim sites, Saudi ling terrorism and attacking the leader peaceful settlement. To make it hap- Arabia has a critical role to play in re- of an ally, the President of the United pen, everyone—everyone—must shoul- solving one of the most intractable States would have his or her head on a der responsibility. conflicts of our time. platter the next day. They would be It is time for big nations and serious This is an opportunity for the Saudi fired. leaders to stand up, to stand up and Royal Family to make a real contribu- What would happen if an ambassador speak the truth. It is time for nations tion to peace. They have taken the of the United States to another great with the ability to directly influence first steps with bold action that holds country wrote a poem that extolled the events to exercise simply mature lead- out hope for peace as they presented virtues of some Saudi citizen who—like ership. their peace plan. bin Laden—attempted to assassinate or I am not expecting the Saudis to all Now let them take the next step of was engaged in a plot to do harm to the of a sudden take a pro-Israeli position. mature, consistent leadership. Let royal family? What would the Saudis But I am expecting, I do demand of them denounce the Palestinian leader- expect of us? What would the Saudis, them as a civilized nation and a ma- ship that uses terror to gain political or any civilized nation, expect the ture country, to do the right thing. leverage. Let them denounce hateful United States President to do? They The United States must do its part, language. Let them denounce the in- would expect him to do exactly what too. I have urged the administration to citement to violence in textbooks and he would do: Fire the person on the increase its involvement, not only in in the media. spot, and vocally, in more than one resolving the current crisis but also I hope they will take the next step so language, disavow the poetry. convening an international peace con- the Saudi initiative will not become Since September 11, we have become ference that would move the parties just another missed opportunity—an all too familiar with the term quickly to a political solution or at interesting footnote in history. ‘‘madrassa,’’ a term probably few had least provide a political horizon. I hope our relationship with the The Arab world must demonstrate ever heard of in the United States. We Saudis can improve. I hope the Saudi mature leadership as well. It cannot have learned that madrassas are reli- Arabian citizens can begin to enjoy the simply demand that the United States gious schools. We have learned the ex- freedom they deserve. abandon Israel, something we will tent to which funds from Saudi Arabia But these things can only occur with never do. farsighted, mature leadership. have supported madrassas, over 7,000 of Let me say that again: Something we There has never been a time when we them in Pakistan and in Afghanistan. will never do. Over my dead physical have needed such leadership more than We have learned that many madrassas political body will we ever abandon it is needed now. I hope that kind of indoctrinate children with distorted Israel. But that does not mean we be- leadership will enable our two coun- and hateful ideas. lieve everything Israel does is right. It tries to move forward together to But now we have learned that the does mean, though, we will fight for achieve progress and peace—not just problem with education is not simply Israel’s right to exist within secure for the Israelis and Palestinians but for outside of Saudi Arabian borders, but borders. within the kingdom itself. According Mature leadership means taking all the people of the Middle East. to an article in last October’s New risks and confronting those forces that I urge the administration to increase York Times, 10th grade textbooks in hinder progress—not abetting those its involvement—not only in the Saudi Arabia warn students to ‘‘con- forces. present circumstance but beyond. sider the infidel their enemy.’’ Mature leadership means con- Let us be honest. This is a historic Saudis claim such quotes are taken demning terrorism—not extolling the opportunity. The Saudis have made a out of context, but in what context is virtues of ‘‘martyrdom.’’ significant proposal. I beg them, do not religious prejudice acceptable? Mature leadership means halting the squander the opportunity to be remem- Of course, hateful diatribes and flow of funds to terrorists—not pro- bered for the century as the party and words of incitement also are found in viding financial incentives for more the force that was the catalyst for Palestinian textbooks. terror. bringing an end to the suffering of the While Arafat is talking about peace Mature leadership means creating an people in the Palestinian-Israeli con- in Oslo, the textbooks in the West educational system that provides the flict. Bank talk about ‘‘the hated Jew.’’ And foundation for future progress—not I yield the floor. they have long been accompanied by text and textbooks that promote reli- f schoolroom maps in the Middle East gious bigotry. that pointedly do not show, even on a TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL Mature leadership means being re- DAN L. LOCKER, COMMANDER, map, Israel as a state. When our Saudi sponsive to the legitimate demands of friends argue their support and funding 81ST MEDICAL GROUP AND LEAD one’s citizen for political openness and AGENT, TRICARE REGION IV for Palestinian causes is for humani- transparency—not stifling dissent and tarian and educational purposes, I exporting your problems elsewhere. Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would think it is fair to ask why they con- Mature leadership means sitting like to take a moment today to recog- tinue to turn a blind eye toward this down with the Israelis and talking nize one of the finest officers in the fomenting of hate that exists in their peace—not treating them as pariahs. U.S. Air Force, Brigadier General Dan region and their country. I find it fascinating that the Presi- L. Locker. On July 31, 2002, General I mention these examples to illus- dent was criticized for authorizing and Locker will retire from the Air Force trate why there is a disconnect when directing the Secretary of State to sit and his positions as Commander of the we hear Saudi leaders talk of making down with the person who many 81st Medical Group, Keesler Medical peace with Israel. Israelis consider a pariah and who Center, Keesler Air Force Base, MS, Peace will not happen by itself. It many of us consider a pariah—Yasser and Lead Agent for Department of De- has to be nurtured. Certainly those Arafat. The Saudis thought that was fense TRICARE Region IV. During his Arab nations we put in the moderate essential. Why will they not sit down? time at Keesler Air Force Base, Gen- camp ought to prepare their people for Why will they not sit down with a man eral Locker has exemplified the Air the ‘‘normal, peaceful relations’’ they who is the elected leader of Israel, re- Force core values of integrity, service espoused in Beirut. If the Crown Prince gardless of whether or not they think before self, and excellence in all en- means what he says about normal, on the West Bank he is a pariah as deavors. Many Members and staff have peaceful relations with Israel—and I many Israelis and Americans think is enjoyed the opportunity to meet with believe he does—then it is time for his the case with Mr. Arafat? him on a variety of Department of De- government to prepare Saudi Arabia The President has shown mature fense health care issues and have come and the rest of the Arab world for this leadership. I may disagree with his ap- to appreciate his many talents. Today new day. No responsible leaders want proach, but why is it expected of us and it is my privilege to recognize some of to see bloodshed continue in the Middle not of them? Dan’s many accomplishments since he

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