Charlie Rose Science Series
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The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals
by Jane Mayer
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by Jane Mayer
Buy it
09/25/2007
Saud al-Faisal
A conversation with foreign minister of Saudi Arabia Saud al-Faisal
Keywords:
A conversation with Saud al-Faisal, foreign minister of Saudi Arabia.
DVD
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Audio
Audio available through Audible.com.
Audio available through Audible.com.
Transcripts
Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
What was Bush thinking when he invaded Iraq? Why did he try so hard to tie Iraq & Al-Qaida? Who are America's real friends? IRANIANS FLEW PLANES ON 9/11 = 0 IRAQI'S FLEW PLANES ON 9/11 = 0 SAUDI'S FLEW PLANES ON 9/11 = 15 OUT OF 19 September 11, 2001: Evacuation of Saudi Nationals In the days immediately following Sept. 11, 2001, while the airways were still closed to all other flights, Americans couldn't fly into the country but relatives of bin Laden and hundreds of other Saudi's were able to fly out. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/09/30/who_let_saudis_flee_after_911/ http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=September_11%2C_2001:_Evacuation_of_Saudi_Nationals SAUDI'S ARE FUNDING THE SUNNI'S IN IRAQ TO KILL AMERICANS!! Private Saudi citizens are giving millions of dollars to Sunni insurgents in Iraq and much of the money is used to buy weapons, including shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles, according to key Iraqi officials and others familiar with the flow of cash.
THE SAUDI'S ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS!
Perhaps, being successful in US news means taking the side of the public and the management, developing a rapport with those who matter most to the business. This could be intentional or felt, and it may be necessary fo r the program survival--too bad. Back before the Iraq war, when the opinions might or might not have made a difference, those we side with most, as expressed by the war enthusiast Tom Friedman, the propagandist Wm. Safire, and at least one noted Israeli leader, advised us to initiate the war. We keep more at a distance the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia who all advised against the war, and even predicted the mess we are in. We obviously listen only to those who tell us what we want to hear. At least one can find some diversity of opinion on the Rose show and we do get to listen to the very bright leadership in the three countries mentioned above. Where are the American politicians who can hold their own in discussions with them on the mideast? Are our future presidents those who ignored them the first time around?
this wont just be the reason
Mr. Rose, Thank You for having Price Faisel on your show. Any open minded, intelligent person could not walk away from this interview in ignornace of the truth concerning the Middle-East disasters. Israel does NOT want peace, never wanted peace, and frankly doesn't deserve peace if you consider the genocide they gradually committ on the West Bank and Gaze. Israel has cost the U.S. some much in many ways over the past 50 years. The U.S. has given Israel one TRILLION U.S. DOLLARS during this time. This includes the nukes and other miliary weapons that make Israel about the sixth nuclear power in the world and enough weapons to destroy all its Arabs neighbors. As an American I am glad to see so many Americans are finally waking up to the Israeli lobby and this country's one-sided policies which ultimately lead to 9/11.
i like the fact that Mr rose concern about democracy. But i can not see my x-comment posted.
Yes it would be nice to see your Highness releasing the facts and appearing in good health. However, it would have been nicer to see you in a larry king show where a sufficient interviewer could notes your position and develop a upper level of discussion. your highness, you were smart enouh to represent us "the saudi" as wel as you put your effort wasted within hopeless ground.
Saud al-Faisal is a smart man..I love his comparison of Arabs going to Iraq to fight with the Americans that went to the Spanish Civil War in Spain..It was a good comparison in the sense that both were linked to a romantic ideal in each society. I think Mr. Rose did an excellent job of interviewing the Prince in this complex situation.
He predicted exactly what happend in Iraq
I think both interviews were informative and enjoyable. Charlie Rose . . thank you for giving us this opportunity . . I wish if more people abandon Fox News and see more of Mr Rose's Shows. The ISraeli minister did not mentioning the fact that Israel created this mess by invading a region and capturing land by force. She also lied about the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza . . It was not a signal of peace as she said, it was dumping and sealing off one and half million palestinians in few square miles. The Saudi prince was very sincere and experinced. He spoke with a great wisdom and with an open mind. As for Ahmadinejade. He is a solid and brave man with strong beleives . . some are right and some are wrong. He does not apear like he mean any harm to anyone even to Israel. My question to him would be . . Why say it if you are not going to do it?
There is something about Prince Saud al-Faisal that draws me to him each time I've seen him on tv over the years. There is such a ring of sincerity and honesty about him. He comes across to me as a humanitarian world leader. I'd even speculate that there's a sadness about him for the state of the world and the hopelessness of the way things are. Thanks for having him on the program.
Mr. Rose, I thoroughly enjoy watching your program because of the surplus of important guests you have the privilege of speaking to. I appreciate how many interviews you conduct with key individuals responsible to finding peace in the most combustible region in the world, the Middle East. What I have observed however, when it comes to the topic of the Middle East, is how your body language, tone, and line of questioning differs substantially depending on who you are speaking with. Yesterday was a prime example you featured two guests in the same hour, Tzipi Livni (Israeli Foreign Minister) and Prince Saud al-Faisal (Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia.) When asking the Saudi guest (and other Arab leaders) about a potential solution to the problem, your tone, your questions, and comments seem to be unreserved and at times suggestive. i.e. "what's wrong with what Tom Friedman suggested" or "Where do we go from here?" or "but....suicide bombings continue" etc. (as if the onus is on the Arabs to find peace alone.) In contrast your interviews with Israeli leaders are very cordial, painless and light hearted. For example you nonchalantly ask "any meetings happening?" or "is something going on with Syria?" Why aren't you more demanding of your Israeli guests and ask them tough and unambiguous questions? Here...I'll recommend a couple....a) Why does the state of Israel continue to violate international law? b) Why does the state of Israel continue to develop illegal settlements in the west bank? c) Why does the state of Israel continue to perpetrate crimes against humanity in dealing with average Palestinian citizens? d) Does the state of Israel think they can achieve peace with the Palestinians and continue the occupation at the same time? e) Does the state of Israel think it is fair that it receives more foreign aid annually from the United States than all other countries receive from the U.S. combined? You should be a little more balanced with your interviews. The state of Israel doesn't want peace....what it wants are infinite negotiations, all of the west bank and the annihilation of the Palestinian race. The Israelis spend so much of uncle Sam's money on PR it's ridiculous. They enjoy a squeaky clean image while they dehumanize the Palestinians in the media, and you are not helping the situation you are just maintaining the status quo. I suspect I know why, if you ever find the gumption to ask even one of these questions, Bloomberg will pull the plug on your show faster than you can say apartheid.
[Comment #2\ I would strongly urge the persons who commented who effusively praised the Saudi Prince &/or castigating the Israeli foreign minister. Are they ignorant of history? Israel was formed as a result of the collapse of the Ottaman Emprire; then the U. K. with the help of the United Nations sliced up the Middle East into so-called countries. Thus, the creation of Israel. Even permanent member of the Security Council, the Soviet Union acquiesed. "Those who do not know history are bound to repeat it." This quote can also apply to the present catastrophe in Iraq. Don't blame Israel for the long and present manifestations of colonialism and imperialism visited by Turkey, Great Britain, Spain, The Netherlands, Poertugal, Belgium and... Just as Washington and Jefferson owned slaves, we cannot apply present values to the past. And, yes, Mr. Rose, you do interupt your guest far too frequently and some of your one minute questions could be shortened to 20 seconds. Sorry to say this to the host of the presently best interview program on the air.
Saud al-Faisal seemed to be so 'sour' in his demeaner. I also found him to be defensive and evasive. However, his many of his comments were encouraging -- quite a change from the Royal family decades ago. The Israeli foreign minister was far more relaxed. She seemed to be 'realistically' hopeful. With such a difficult position, she was suprisingly in good cheer! Other comments left on this page, criticized you for bias. Having seen the whole of both intereviews, I have no idea why negative remarks such as these were made against you, Mr. Rose. When you venture into the realm of geopolitics, I guess you can't win -- whatever you do.
Israel does not want peace. The foreign minister was right on target: theatrics. How I laughed at his cogent wording. I am getting to see Israel wants to build its empire from the Euphrates to the Atlantic, via, the United States. It is a darn shame the US populace are falling into this trap like flies.
I totally agree with Nancy Firlik, it was like a slap in the face a person as intellect as you can be so biased!
I turned off early once it was obvious the Israeli interview was going to be fluff. I did enjoy watching Prince Saud and earlier Ahmadinejad, though I often winced at the questions and classic Charlie interuptions. Mr Rose is leagues above all other talk shows but in these interviews he seemed to argue too many of the Wests tired talking points, yet it clearly highlighted the ongoing difficulty of speaking to the west's intelligensia.
wonderful show with Prince Saud. I wish more Americans would begin to listen. I have been involved in learning about and knowing many people from the mideast for 27 years. Please have the Prince on again, for the hour. He has no accent and is very good at explaining thing in a manner that American's can understand. Thank You for having him and the others from the mideast area. Ordinary people need to have a way to get unbaised information to foster more understanding.
I must say with disappointment, "You are no Bill Moyer". You seem to all too often recite or take the current administration's position on the middle east. There is no light between your position on Iran issues and the administration's. Your interview with the Israeli Foreign Minister was disgraceful with its joviality and laughter concerning the invasion of Syria. You need to get more real. Clarence Witt
I must say with disappointment, "You are no Bill Moyer". You seem to all too often recite or take the current administration's position on the middle east. There is no light between your position on Iran issues and the administration's. Your interview with the Israeli Foreign Minister was disgraceful with its joviality and laughter concerning the invasion of Syria. You need to get more real. Clarence Witt
Why are people posting about Ahmadinejad in a thread about the Saudi Foreign Minister? Charlie, it was a good interview. I have a special affection for the prince even though I'm pretty sure it will not be reciprocated. He is a very experienced statesman, and one suspects, has internalized the best of Arab intellectual traditions while utilizing them in a Western way. By which I mean, that he appears to be open and thoughtful and caring. When he is interviewed in his homeland, he wears the traditional arab garb. When in the US, he wears a Western suit. And does not eschew the tie, as some sort of defiance against Western dress code. He once told Barbra Walters that he supports women's rights in Saudi Arabia and as a father to four daughters he would like them to be able to drive themselves and be independent. This is a person you can respect and trust.
Charlie - Take another look at your interview tonight with foreign minister Al-Faisal. You had a terrible scowl on your face. You kept walking all over his comments. You made a stupid suggestion that Saudia Arabia consider Tom Friedman's ideas for mideast peace. Come on!! Al-Faisal was correct in calling it "theater." Then take another look at your interview with Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni. It was cordial. You smiled and laughed over Livni's skirting the news reports on Israel and the Syrian plane. Let's get some impartiality in this issue, Charlie. I'm tired of your biased interviews when it comes to the mideast. I was pretty disgusted over wasting my time with your show tonight.
Thanks very to the foreign minister for appearing on the program but it's was insulting the way Charlie wasted half the interview with questions about Israel. The problem with Rose's pro-Israel ideology is that the Middle East does not revolve around Israel with their population of 7+ million people and $billions annually in free US military aid. The Middle East press is filled with many other issues besides Israel, and in particular there seems to be a lot of interest in Iraqi politics. That's probably what the foreign minister wanted to talk more about plus the Saudi's just purchased British jet fights. Overall I would call it one of Rose's worst foreign policy interviews.