http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1679036/posts?page=6#6
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1679036/posts
Saudis Send Their Views to US President
Arab News ^ | 8-7-06 | Huda Al-Shayeb
Posted on 08/07/2006 1:56:41 AM PDT by MAD-AS-HELL
Saudis Send Their Views to US President
Huda Al-Shayeb, Arab News
DAMMAM, 7 August 2006 — Over 10,000 Saudi men and women from the Eastern Province have signed a heavily worded letter addressed to President George W. Bush condemning the United States for its unequivocal support of Israel in its attack on Lebanon.
Signatories of the letter include leading and influential academics, journalists, religious leaders and artists. The message, together with the signatures, was handed by a group of Saudis to the US Consul General in Dhahran, John Kincannon.
Describing the Israeli attack as “barbaric and unjustified” and highlighting Israel’s “targeting” of “unarmed civilians, women, children and the infirm” through a “continuous, systemized and destructive campaign”, the letter said the US support of Israel was shocking.
The letter further stated that the US’s “continuous justification” of “Israeli crimes” was deplorable and held Washington guilty of providing “military and political support” to Israel.
Having referred to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s rejection of a cease-fire in the Rome conference, the letter held the US “responsible for the continuous destruction and killing in Lebanon and Palestine” and ended with a call on the US to compensate Lebanon financially and to work “hard for an immediate cease-fire.”
Included in the group that handed the letter to the US consul were Saudi writers Zaki Ali Saleh and Ali Ahmed Al-Bahrani as well as Muklif Daham Al-Shimari, the president and founder of the Shimar Council.
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http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Mon Aug 07 2006 02:14:28 GMT-0700.
Worldwide Caution
June 06, 2006
This Public Announcement updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests overseas. This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated December 12, 2005 and expires on December 6, 2006.
The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas. Americans are reminded that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning. The publication in the international press of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed, for example, led to widespread demonstrations and riots in several countries.
The March 2006 bombing near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, illustrates the continuing desire of al-Qa’ida to strike official American targets. Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics to include assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings.
Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target private interests or “soft targets” with a reduced security posture. Examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, clubs, restaurants, hotels, places of worship, schools, public areas and locales where Americans gather in large numbers, including during holidays. Financial or economic targets of value may also be considered as possible venues; the failed attack on the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia in late February 2006 is one such example.
In the wake of the July 2005 London bombings and the March 2004 train attacks in Madrid, Americans are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems. In addition, extremists may also select aviation and maritime services as possible targets.
U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov.
U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Americans abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular Information Program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3287632,00.html
Breaking News
Reports: Arab leaders may hold summit on Lebanon in Saudi Arabia later this week
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said Monday that Arab foreign ministers meeting in Beirut would discuss the possibility of holding an emergency summit on Lebanon later this week.
Local media outlets had quoted Saudi sources as saying Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal was expected to make the call for a summit during Monday's ministerial meeting in Beirut. Lebanon's As-Safir newspaper also said contacts were under way among Arab states to hold the summit in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, later this week. (AP)
(08.07.06, 13:15)