Al Gore's speech

Brian in Mesa · February 13th, 2006, 04:16 PM

Gore decries treatment of Arabs post 9-11

By JIM KRANE
Monday, February 13, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- Former Vice President Al Gore told a mainly Saudi audience on Sunday that the U.S. government committed "terrible abuses" against Arabs after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and that most Americans did not support such treatment.

Gore said Arabs had been "indiscriminately rounded up" and held in "unforgivable" conditions. The former vice president said the Bush administration was playing into al-Qaida's hands by routinely blocking Saudi visa applications.

"The thoughtless way in which visas are now handled, that is a mistake," Gore said during the Jiddah Economic Forum. "The worst thing we can possibly do is to cut off the channels of friendship and mutual understanding between Saudi Arabia and the United States."

Gore told the largely Saudi audience, many of them educated at U.S. universities, that Arabs in the United States had been "indiscriminately rounded up, often on minor charges of overstaying a visa or not having a green card in proper order, and held in conditions that were just unforgivable."

"Unfortunately there have been terrible abuses and it's wrong," Gore said. "I do want you to know that it does not represent the desires or wishes or feelings of the majority of the citizens of my country."

On Iran, Gore complained of "endemic hyper-corruption" among Tehran's religious and political elite and asked Arabs to take a stand against Iran's nuclear program.

Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes but the United States and other Western countries suspect Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

"Is it only for the West to say this is dangerous?" Gore asked. "We should have more people in this region saying this is dangerous."

Several audience members criticized the United States for what they described as "unconditional" U.S. support for Israel, saying U.S. diplomats helped Israel flout U.N. resolutions that they enforced when the measures targeted Arabs.

Gore refused to be drawn into questions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We can't solve that long conflict in exchanges here," Gore said.

Also at the forum, the vice chairman of Chevron Corp., Peter Robertson, said President Bush's desire to cut U.S. dependence on Mideast oil shows a "misunderstanding" of global energy supply and the critical role of Saudi Arabia.

In his State of the Union address this month, Bush pledged to cut U.S. dependence on Middle East oil by 75 percent by 2025.

"This notion of being energy independent is completely unreasonable," Robertson said at the economic forum, which opened Saturday.

"I believe Middle Eastern oil can and must play a certain role in the system," Robertson said. "Saudi Arabia's massive resources will continue to promote international energy security and serve as a moderating force in balancing supply and demand."

Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, made a plea at the forum for women's rights, telling Saudi leaders that the dearth of women in the work force was "undermining economic potential" of the kingdom.

Irish President Mary McAleese urged Saudi Arabia to learn from Ireland's economic transformation, which hinged on opening the country to the outside world and ushering women into the workplace.

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I love how he says they were indiscriminantly rounded up.

They broke the law!

AZZenny · February 13th, 2006, 04:40 PM

Oh, stick that nose a little deeper, Gore! And Chevron, there's a good source of information about future energy policy.

Hell, SAUDIs routinely and indiscriminately round up other Arabs. Saudis round up and imprison Arab Christians for praying inside the nation's borders -- privately, in their own homes! Saudis discriminate terribly against Shi'ite Muslim Arabs as government policy. Gnostics. Druze. Jews -- that goes without saying.

This kind of paid Arab ass-kissing makes me

jenna2891 · February 14th, 2006, 12:41 PM

i wonder how much he got paid...

Quote:

JEF Starting From Today to Feature Global Leaders
Khalil Hanware & K.S. Ramkumar, Arab news
JEDDAH, 11 February 2006 — The three-day 7th annual Jeddah Economic Forum, which kicks off at the Hilton Hotel today with an inaugural address by Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, will feature some of the world’s heads of state, international decision makers, economists, speakers, delegates and guests. Nine plenary and four selective sessions will mark the opening day from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

The formal opening ceremony by Prince Abdul Majeed will include remarks by Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Abdullah Al-Muallimi and JEF Chairman Amr Enany, and recognition of dignitaries and sponsors.
This year’s forum explores the theme “Seeding potentials for economic growth: Honoring identity and celebrating common grounds.”

Delegates will acknowledge the wide variety of national cultures and address the need to identify common grounds as building blocks for sustainable economic growth.
With an ambitious vision to set the standards for national, regional and international economic events aimed at job creation, economic development and prosperity by addressing key economic challenges and opportunities, the JEF aspires to design a blueprint for the economic future for the Kingdom and the region.

Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani is the speaker and Minister of State Abdullah Zainal Alireza the moderator of the opening plenary session entitled “Saudi Arabia — Vision 2020.”

The other plenary sessions of the day are on “Saudi Arabia in the global village,” “Recognizing diversity in the globalized world,” “Greenfields for the future — the King Abdullah Economic City,” “Public private partnerships: Financing infrastructure,” “The Gulf economy in a global context” and “Political adversity and the art of diplomacy.”

There will be four selective sessions in the post-lunch period on “The role of government — leader, follower or arbitrator,” “UN Arab human development report: Facing reality and acting constructively,” “Entrepreneurship in education and the workplace” and “The Middle East in the American media.”
Over the three days, there will be 35 plenary and selective sessions to be addressed by 91 speakers, 38 of them Saudi and the rest from the United States, the UK, Russia, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Brazil, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Malaysia, Singapore, Ireland, Yemen, Ghana, Congo-Brazzaville, Kuwait, Jordan and the UAE.

Speakers include Irish President Mary McAleese, Gambia President Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, former Ghana President Jerry Rawlings, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, former US Vice President Al Gore, Congo-Brazzaville Forestry and Environment Minister Henri Djombo, Cherie Booth, lawyer and the Queen’s Counsel and wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Forbes Inc. CEO and Forbes Magazine Editor in Chief Steve Forbes, Chevron Corporation Vice Chairman Peter Robertson, former Jordan Prime Minister Dr. Abdul Salam Majali, Mohamed Al-Abbar, director general of the Dubai government’s department of economic development and chairman of Emaar Properties, Bahia Hariri, member of the Lebanese Parliament and sister of the late former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Andre Azoulay, counselor to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and UN Population Fund Executive Director Thoraya Obaid.

This year’s conference calls for the honor and recognition of culture, identity and diversity as the building blocks for a world of “common grounds” rather than a global economy of “one size fits all.” The conference will further seek to underscore stories of success and actionable solutions both within and outside the context of Saudi Arabia.

“Whether locally, regionally or globally, we seek to highlight and celebrate achievements that are special and inspirational about the human quest for inclusion and participation in the building of one world: our world, our tomorrow,” JEF Chairman Enany said.

Today, the JEF, which was conceived in 2000, and the Jeddah International Exhibition & Convention Center are units of the Jeddah Marketing Board, which was established in 1999 and is presently headed by businessman and former JCCI Chairman Ghassan Al-Sulaiman.

The JEF 2006 sponsors include Emaar Properties as lead sponsor; Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saudi Binladin Group, Al-Khayala (NAS), Al Hilal Group, National Commercial Bank and Xenel as diamond sponsors; Gulf One Investment Bank, Enany Group, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), Citigroup, Aal Taher Group, EFG-Hermes, Budget Car Rental and the Prince Sultan Foundation (Medunet) as gold sponsors; and Riyad Bank, Credit Suisse, Saudi Electricity Company, Savola Group, General Motors, Khaled Juffali and Sumitomo Chemical Asia as silver sponsors. Media sponsors include Saudi Research and Publishing Company, Al-Madina newspaper, Sky News and Al Arabiya.

The forum is organized by the Jeddah Marketing Board, which operates under the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

mattyboy · February 14th, 2006, 01:31 PM

why would it matter how much he got paid?

jenna2891 · February 14th, 2006, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyboy

why would it matter how much he got paid?

house of gore, house of saud...

UncleChris · February 14th, 2006, 01:32 PM

AzCards21 · February 14th, 2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyboy

why would it matter how much he got paid?

If he gets paid enough I hear the release of this really cool invention he's working on will be very soon. I think he calls it the internet or something catchy like that.

jenna2891 · February 14th, 2006, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleChris

if karl rove gave a speech that was funded by the bin laden family we would hear your cries of "scoundrel!" from a mile away. why is al gore exempt?

UncleChris · February 14th, 2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenna2891

if karl rove gave a speech that was funded by the bin laden family we would hear your cries of "scoundrel!" from a mile away. why is al gore exempt?

...only if al gore worked for the government. al is a private citizen. if he chooses to run for public office in the future, then that might hurt him politically.

AzCards21 · February 14th, 2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleChris

...only if al gore worked for the government. al is a private citizen. if he chooses to run for public office in the future, then that might hurt him politically.

If he was invited as a private citizen why is he being announced as 'Former US Vice President".

UncleChris · February 14th, 2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzCards21

If he was invited as a private citizen why is he being announced as 'Former US Vice President".

What???? That doesn't even deserve and answer..... You're smarter than that to ask a "question" like that.....

:

Kolo · February 14th, 2006, 01:43 PM

Do any of the liberals on the board disagree that Gore's speech (by its content) was far more newsworthy than Cheney accidentally peppering a guy while hunting?

UncleChris · February 14th, 2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolobotomy

Do any of the liberals on the board disagree that Gore's speech (by its content) was far more newsworthy than Cheney accidentally peppering a guy while hunting?

The shooting was definitely a lesser news story..... The delay in reporting it and Cheney's refusal to be interviewed by local police is easily the bigger story.

DjaugheOld · February 14th, 2006, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzCards21

If he was invited as a private citizen why is he being announced as 'Former US Vice President".

You never lose the tag name - even while outta office.

There where also other speakers there like Gerhard Schroeder and Steve Forbes...kinda like a modge podge of people that don't relate....

krepitch · February 14th, 2006, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolobotomy

Do any of the liberals on the board disagree that Gore's speech (by its content) was far more newsworthy than Cheney accidentally peppering a guy while hunting?

Hmm. I'd say it's probably more important (at least at this point), but that's not going to be on the news when the Vice President shoots someone.

What is so controversial about what Gore said?