Posted on 10/23/2005 10:25:49 AM PDT by Mount Athos
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- More than 10,000 Saudi students will travel to the US to attend university as part of a government-sponsored program following the adoption of new measures by the Ministry of Higher Education aimed at facilitating travel procedures for Saudis. In total, 21,000 Saudis are expected to take part in the program in the next four years.
Prospective students can submit their applications to the Ministry of Higher Education through a Ministry special office or its website for nine different specializations and will be able to benefit from assistance with their visa applications at the US embassy and its diplomatic missions throughout the country.
Fahd al Manur, a student who decided to enroll in the program told Asharq al Awsat, “I do not fear traveling to the US since Americans are a friendly people. Relations between our two countries have greatly improved recently and travel procedures are easier nowadays after being almost impossible following September 11th 2001.” Studying in the US would be a dream come true, he added, despite recent events. King Abdullah’s visit earlier this year strengthened bilateral relations and “reassured Saudis.”
Currently studying in the U.S., Mohammad al Mateeri described the initiative as an important step and described how in eight years of living in the US, “I have never been hassled, save for an increase in security checks to which a country is entitled to when protecting its citizens.”
His wife, Afaf, also a Saudi national, confirmed that Americans have been very friendly to the couple and treated them with respect. Once, however, she was detained for 24hours at a Washington D.C airport after a short visit to Saudi Arabia because of a mix up in names but was treated with respect and courtesy.
In the wake of the September 11 attacks on US cities, several Saudi students were detained around the U.S. Bandar al Qowaifal, who left home at 18 to attend university in America recalled his arrest. “After al Qaeda’s attacks, I was arrested for one whole month and extradited to Saudi Arabia . They didn’t have anything against me except some minor irregularities in my visa I hadn’t paid attention to. I am waiting for the right to time to go back to the US and resume my studies.” After applying to the exchange program and benefiting from relaxed visa procedures, Bandar is now back in the US studying at his own expense.
A PhD student, Saad al Sowaylim told Asharq al Awsat he was eagerly awaiting his return to the US to complete his degree, despite living through a difficult time while studying at John Hopkins University , three years ago. He felt it was important to correct the wrong impression some Americans had of Arab students in their country.
The Minister of Higher Education assist those already accepted in US universities by providing them with bank guaranteed and a recommendation to facilitate US embassy visa procedures.
Sources at the Ministry told Asharq al Awsat that the number of applicants who hope to attend US universities has reached 15,000 thousand, with the majority studying for B.A degrees.
Half of the prospective students will be sponsored by Saudi businesses to further their knowledge in a given field making use of bilateral treaties offering Saudis a number of opportunities in U.S. universities across the country.
Our politicians are opening the flood gates for all the atrocity-loving muslim terrorists wishing to mass murder as many of us as possible. How many of us will now die as a direct result of this?
You fill up your SUV. Saudi princes get filthy rich from the profits of your purchase. Saudi princes then fund terrorist atrocities to murder as many of us as possible and demolish our country. We invite them in on an expedited basis in especially large numbers. We are idiots deserving of a darwin award.
Alert the Coasties and the National Guard!
Suicide.
Duck & Cover!!
Great. More good news.
These visitors should be banned from religious activities as are Christians in the Kingdom.
This absolutely is wrong as can be. WTF is going on in D.C. anyway?
How many of these are graduates of the Wahabi Madrassa's?
This is so wrong. I just am speechless without #%$@#%$^&&$@#$@.
Agree.
Conditions to living here for Saudi students/potential terrorists: 1.) none of that constant praying five times a day because we find it offensive/annoying; 2.) must agree to consume either a 12 pack of beer or a fifth of hard stuff; and 3.) must agree to divert their eyes from any American women not clad in burkhas.
And our police can `roust' you any time we feel like it.
When these students unify with the Wing-nut liberals on our campuses, you can bet that the word" America is Weak" will be spread across the Muslim world. This is a vast mistake.
We're taking it to the terrorists in Iraq, and have basicly surrendered our own territory to anyone who wishes to come.
I NEVER thought I'd see such self-destructive leadership. I spent my whole life trying to get conservatives (read that Republicans - oui vey) elected to office. Now we have a clear majority in Congress, we have the White House and have the opportunity to place another conservative on the SCOTUS.
If these immigrant border policies fail, who will we have to blame but those who professed to be conservative?
I see very dark times ahead.
Meanhile, how many American students were denied admission to higher ed, so those universities could take the Saudis?
Politicians, Bill Gates and other CEOs complain about the declining enrollment of Americans in science, math, and engineering programs, while at the same time supporting programs like this. I work for an American-owned/based Fortune 500 company that is financially supporting universities in India!
And foreign students pretty much have diplomatic immunity once they get here.
Don't worry, our "trust me" President has declared Islam to be a Religion of Peace:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1507642/posts
How completely stupid!
This is insane. Lets say 20% will jihad or lead sleeper cells of 5-10. Thats 4,000-40,000 killers.
I just don't get the death wish.
Follow the money. Where does it lead?
Who first proposed this #$%#$#^%
I just don't know, but I'm not happy with this at all.
They have their own universities, but all they teach about is Mohammedanism.
Arabs are the least educated, least literate people on earth.
A liberal arts education would serve them quite well...over there.
Sort of like Clancy's reciprocal trade agreement with Japan in Debt of Honor?
As long as they are forced to take gender equality and womens studies courses every semester, I don't have a problem with it (and yes, no flying lessons!)
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