In This Issue

News - Region

US TO ADD 2,000 EXTRA IRAQ TROOPS
"The United States says it is sending about 2,000 extra troops to Iraq and asking 3,500 more to stay on longer. Pentagon officials said the moves were designed to maintain capabilities over the next few months. The US military is to begin a massive rotation of forces at the start of next year that will see all 123,000 troops now in Iraq replaced by fresh units.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
US TO END IRAQ OCCUPATION BY JUNE - GWD Nov 17, 2003

US ARRESTS MORE IRAQIS; SABOTEURS TARGET OIL
"US troops intensified a crackdown on anti-American guerrillas across volatile central Iraq [Dec 21] as saboteurs attacked fuel tanks and a pipeline, heightening an already acute oil crisis. Saboteurs, who have wreaked havoc on US efforts to restore the country's devastated infrastructure after Saddam Hussein's fall, set the fuel storage tanks ablaze in Baghdad and ruptured the pipeline feeding oil products to refineries in the capital.." Complete report..

U.S. TO HIRE SCIENTISTS IN IRAQ TO AID REBUILDING
"The United States announced a new program [Dec 18] to hire Iraqi scientists once involved in developing weapons of mass destruction, putting them to work on reconstruction projects as a way of preventing their defection to other countries.. ..The project is modeled on a program to prevent Russian and other scientists from selling their talents to other nations after the Soviet Union's demise. That larger effort has had mixed results over the past dozen years, experts said.." Complete report.. 

BREMER SURVIVES AMBUSH
"US administrator Paul Bremer escaped a rebel ambush on his convoy two weeks ago, authorities said [Dec 19]. An explosion, meanwhile, struck the office of a major Shiite party, killing an Iraqi woman.. ..Bremer was riding in an armored car near the Baghdad airport when a roadside bomb exploded and guerrillas attacked with small arms fire, but his convoy sped away, said Dan Senor, a spokesman for the US-led coalition.." Complete report..

MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN IRAQI ASSETS FOUND IN FOREIGN BANKS
"U.S. authorities have identified more than a billion dollars in Iraqi assets in banks in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan and are pursuing hundreds of leads in the United States concerning possible illicit financial transactions with the former Iraqi government.. ..Officials are pressing the hunt for many billions more Hussein is believed to have moved out of Iraq, worried that those funds are going to terrorist groups or are financing Hussein loyalists' attacks on U.S. troops.." Complete report..

IRAN SIGNS UP TO NUCLEAR CHECKS
"Iran has signed an agreement with the United Nations, which will allow tougher inspections of its nuclear industry. The Iranians have consented to the measure amid concern that they are trying to produce nuclear bombs - an allegation the Islamic republic denies.. ..The UN's nuclear watchdog will receive more access to data and greater powers, although snap inspections - such as those in pre-war Iraq - are ruled out.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
U.S. WARNS IRAN OVER NUKE PLANS - GWD Dec 8, 2003

FREEH LINKS IRAN TO KHOBAR BOMBING
"Former FBI director Louis Freeh testified [Dec 18] that he believed there was 'overwhelming evidence' that senior Iranian government officials financed and directed the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia.. ..The former director took particular interest in the investigation into the bombing, traveling to Saudi Arabia soon after the June 25, 1996 explosion.. ..Freeh said in a brief interview that he rejects recent theories that al Qaeda may have had a role in the Khobar Towers attack.." Complete report..

DON'T BOW TO U.S. ON REFORM, TOP ISLAMIST TELLS GULF
"A leading Kuwaiti Islamist parliamentarian on [Dec 20] urged six Gulf Arab states with close ties to Washington not to enact educational reforms on U.S. orders as part of a drive to fight terror. Lawmaker Waleed al-Tabtabae called on Gulf governments not to bow to pressure from the West on education reform, an issue high on the agenda of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit meeting in Kuwait.." Complete report..

US 'SEIZES AL-QAEDA DRUGS SHIP'
"A boat containing drugs possibly linked to al-Qaeda has been seized in the Gulf, the US military says.. ..Twelve people on board were detained after it was found to be carrying almost two tons of hashish valued at up to $10M, a CENTCOM statement said. There were 'clear ties' between the shipment and al-Qaeda.." Complete report..

ARABS PUSH FOR ISRAEL TO DISARM
"Arab states have responded to Libya's pledge to abandon its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs by demanding that Israel do the same. Egypt said Israel should eliminate all its weapons of mass destruction, while Iran said Israel should be forced to follow Libya's example. Israel has never confirmed that it has nuclear weapons, but is widely believed to possess dozens of nuclear warheads.." Complete report..

SHARON THREAT SEEN AS MAJOR PROBLEM
"Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's threat this week to unilaterally separate Israelis and Palestinians, if negotiations falter, poses a new and significant challenge to U.S. diplomacy in the region.. ..While Sharon professed that he is committed to the U.S.-backed peace plan known as the road map -- which he has disdained for months -- the long-stalled peace initiative could well be buried by the steps he outlined in the speech, analysts said. In fact, Sharon significantly shortened the timetable for action -- "a few months" -- on a plan that is supposed to take effect over three years.." Complete report..

CALL TO ROOT OUT CAUSES OF TERRORISM
"Members of the Islamic Fiqh Academy, who concluded their seven-day deliberations in Makkah [Dec 17], emphasized the need to remove the conditions that breed terrorism and extremism by implementing Shariah. The academy, an affiliate of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, called for a meeting of scholars in the Muslim world to streamline fatwas (religious edicts) on contemporary issues.." Complete report.. 

GULF COUNTRIES SET TO GET COMMON INDUSTRIAL LAW
"The six GCC states are soon to have a common industrial law including industrial licensing, a move that would give a further fillip to regional unification. A senior government official involved with industry said it will come up for ratification at the summit in Kuwait next week.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
IN THEORY: GCC COOPERATION REACHES A CRUCIAL JUNCTURE - GWD Nov 24, 2003

U.S. SURVEYS RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS WORLDWIDE
"A number of Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan, show little tolerance for religions not sanctioned by the government, a State Department study said [Dec 18].. ..The report covered the status of international religious freedom worldwide.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
U.S. 'DECIDES NOT TO BLACKLIST KINGDOM OVER RELIGIONS' - GWD Mar 10, 2003

SAUDI 'TO RELEASE DETAINED BAHRAINIS'
"A Bahraini, who was arrested by Saudi public security at the King Fahad Causeway border check-post in July, is expected to be released by the Saudi authorities.." Complete report..

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News - Bahrain

BAHRAIN-YEMEN TO FORM SOCIETY
"A Bahraini-Yemeni Parliamentary Society will soon be formed in Manama and Sana'a after the chairmen of both Parliaments signed a mutual agreement [Dec 20]. Based on the agreement, both countries could exchange legislation, announce joint decisions in areas which interest to both nations and develop and bolster bilateral ties between them.." Complete report..

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News - Kuwait

AMERICANS IN KUWAIT URGED TO BE ALERT
"The U.S. embassy in Kuwait has urged Americans in the Gulf Arab state to be vigilant following gun attacks on U.S. military vehicles earlier this week..  ..While Kuwait authorities and the U.S. military investigate the attacks, the embassy said U.S. citizens should avoid unnecessary travel to installations used by U.S. forces.." Complete report..

KUWAIT BOOSTS SECURITY FOR GCC SUMMIT
"Kuwait [Dec 18] boosted security measures to the highest level ahead of [Dec. 21-22] GCC Summit.. ..Interior Minister Shaikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah told parliament' interior and defense panel that a comprehensive security plan was in place for the summit and the Gulf Cup soccer tournament the country will host from December 24 to January 11.." Complete report..

KUWAIT MAN IDENTIFIED AS SHOOTER IN ATTACKS
"Kuwaiti authorities have arrested four people suspected of involvement in separate gun attacks on two U.S. convoys and a bus carrying expatriate Asian and Arab workers in Kuwait.. ..police arrested a suspected gunman, a 29-year-old Kuwaiti, and three alleged accomplices.. ..police believed he was the gunman who fired on U.S. military convoys outside Kuwait City [Dec 14].." Complete report.. 
~~GulfWire Link~~
US ARMY TRUCKS ATTACKED IN KUWAIT - GWD Dec 15, 2003

U.N. OKS $1.4B FOR IRAQ KUWAIT VICTIMS
"A United Nations panel has approved paying an additional $1.4 billion in damages to the victims of Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.. ..About $1 billion will go to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to pay for environmental cleanup resulting from oil-well fires, oil spills and other pollution caused by Iraq, said Joe Sills, a spokesman for the U.N. Compensation Commission. Approval has been given for claims payments of $48 billion. The money used for the payments comes from Iraqi oil sales, and $18 billion has been handed out so far.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
KUWAIT SNUBS $150M IRAQI OFFER - GWD Oct 20, 2003

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News - Oman

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News - Qatar

BUSH LIBRARY RECEIVES ROYAL GIFT FROM QATAR 
"..Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned of Qatar at the George Bush Presidential Library.. the speaker at [Dec. 19] 2 p.m. graduation at Texas A&M University and will also receive an honorary degree from the university. A&M officials did not reveal the amount of the donation.." Complete report..

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News - Saudi Arabia

SAUDI MINISTRY ORDERS POLLS IN TRIBAL REGION
"..After the announcements that at least one-third of the municipal bodies members' would be elected through ballot and indications that some members of the Majlis-e-Shura (the Consultative body) could also be elected through a popular voting process, it seems that even the remotest corner of the otherwise tribal Saudi Arabia are also opening up to the idea of polls to elect their leaders.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
ELECTIONS IN A YEAR - GWD Oct 20, 2003

NATIONAL DIALOGUE
"The second round of intellectual dialogue will be held in Makkah from Dec. 28 to Jan. 1, according to Faisal Muammar, secretary-general of King Abdul Aziz National Dialogue Center. He said local media would be allowed to report on the dialogue, which would cover 15 working papers.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
FIRST NATIONAL DIALOGUE CENTER ESTABLISHED - GWD Aug 11, 2003

UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC FERMENT AMONG ONCE-SILENT SAUDIS
"The capital is abuzz. Everywhere, it seems, from sidewalk cafes to women's salons behind closed doors, Saudis are talking about societal changes. 
Religious extremism and democratic and educational reforms, as well as women's issues, are paraded for public discussion in what has long been one of the most tight-lipped and tightly controlled lands in the Middle East. While actual political reform may be moving at a snail's pace by Western standards, the new degree of openness is earthshaking here.." Complete report..

PRINCE DIES IN ACCIDENT
"Prince Muhammad ibn Khaled ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahman died yesterday at the age of 36 following a road accident, the Royal Court said. Funeral prayers for the late prince will be held at the Imam Turki ibn Abdullah Mosque here Dec 20]."
Complete report..

JAMEEL WINS LIBEL CASE AGAINST WSJ EUROPE
"In a landmark decision in the London High Court on [Dec 19], Mohammed Jameel, president of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, won a libel case against the Wall Street Journal Europe.. ..The proceedings related to an article headed "Saudi Officials Monitor Certain Bank Accounts" that was published in the Wall Street Journal Europe on Feb. 6, 2002. The article alleged that the ALJ Group was "one of a number of prominent Saudi businesses which were being monitored by the Saudi banking regulators" at the request of US law enforcement agencies.." Complete report..

KINGDOM TO LAUNCH NEWS TV CHANNEL
"Saudi Arabia will launch its own satellite news TV channel early next year, it was announced [Dec 16]. Culture and Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said the new channel would offer continuous coverage of international news and current affairs.. ..A portion of programs would be devoted to covering events in the Kingdom, he added. Al-Farsy said the channel would air live talk shows about topical issues in addition to recorded programs on the Kingdom and other countries.." Complete report..

SAUDI ARABIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL TO CLOSE
"The Saudi Arabian International School (SAIS) is to close. Saudi Arabian Airlines, the school sponsor, has decided that the school is redundant and will cease to function at the end of the 2003/04 school year.. ..Known as the American School, it has been in existence for 52 years, is fully accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and has 717 pupils.." Complete report..

BUDGET FOCUSES ON EDUCATION
"Education and training got the lion's share in Saudi Arabia's 2004 national budget, which projected revenue at SR200 billion ($53.3 billion) and expenditure at SR230 billion ($61.3 billion). The deficit budget, which was endorsed by the Council of Ministers chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd in Riyadh [Dec 15], earmarked SR63.65 billion ($16.97 billion) for general education, higher education and manpower training.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
SAUDI EDUCATION SYSTEM - GWD Feb 3, 2003

FINANCE MINISTRY OUTLINES BUDGET PRIORITIES
"To coincide with the announcement of the new budget, the Ministry of Finance [Dec 15] published a review of government revenues and expenditure for 2003 and 2004.." Complete report..
Also:
REPORT RAISES CONCERN AT HIGH LEVEL OF RECURRENT GOVERNMENT SPENDING

GERMAN LANGUAGE CENTER SET UP
"A new German language center has been established under the auspices of the recently formed Saudi German Business Group and the German Consulate. It began offering courses in November.. ..The consul general believes the language courses will prove useful for Saudis because there are business opportunities and educational opportunities in learning German.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
SULTAN TO OPEN SAUDI-GERMAN HOSPITAL IN MADINAH - GWD Nov 10, 2003

KINGDOM, SRI LANKA SIGN LANDMARK DEAL
"Dr. Nizar Obaid Madani, the Kingdom's assistant minister of foreign affairs, wrapped up his three-day visit to Sri Lanka [Dec 18] by signing a landmark accord to boost relations in the commerce, science, culture and youth affairs.. ..A joint economic commission set up under the agreement will hold its maiden meeting sometime next year.." Complete report..

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News - UAE

DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC PRIZE MONEY REACHES $2 MILLION
"Prize money for next year's Dubai Desert Classic will reach $2 million for the first time in the tournament's history, organizers of the event said [Dec 21]. World number one Tiger Woods said earlier this month he would compete in the event scheduled for March 4-7 after opting out this year due to the Iraq crisis.." Complete report..

ISLAMIC FINANCE'S BIGGEST EVENT RETURNS TO DUBAI
"The most important international networking event in the calendar of the multi-billion dollar global Islamic finance sector is set to return to the United Arab Emirates early next year. Close to 1,000 of the world's top Islamic finance practitioners from more than 40 countries attended the two International Islamic Finance Forum events in Dubai and Istanbul during 2003. The first Forum of 2004 will take place from 6 to 9 March in Dubai and the organizers predict that it will be the biggest and most successful yet.." Complete report..

HALF OF UAE CITIZENS HAVE THALASSAEMIA
"Nearly half of all citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have thalassaemia, a hereditary genetic condition that causes abnormal red blood cells and possibly severe anemia.." Complete report..

UAE UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS WIN US ARCHITECTURAL JOURNAL AWARD
"A research paper by two UAE University (UAEU) professors on Mashrabiy'ya, a Middle Eastern architectural device, has won an 'Outstanding Article of the Year 2004' award in the US. The paper presents Mashrabiy'ya - the partition or screen through which women can look outside while being hidden from the gaze of others due to the design of the partition - from a non-conventional standpoint. While Mashrabiy'ya is promoted as a typical motif of the East, making it a mark of subjugation and confinement, the authors held it otherwise.." Complete report..

UAE RECEIVES BRUNEI'S DECISION ON FREE-ENTRY OF UAE CITIZENS
"The UAE has received Brunei's decision to allow UAE citizens enter its territory and stay for 30 days without requirements of visa. In March Brunei joined the list of countries, which have agreed to the UAE's proposal of exempting UAE citizens of pre-entry visa requirements. Brunei's move was in response to a UAE decision to give citizens of Brunei free entry along with other 33 nationalities.." Complete report..

UAE TRANSPORTS IRAQI REFUGEES IN PAKISTAN TO IRAQ
"Iraqi refugees stranded in Pakistan for over seven years for their political opposition to former Iraqi regime were at last went home thanks to UAE President H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who ordered the repatriation operation in response to an international appeal to the UAE for help.. ..The Iraqis were forced to stay in Pakistan after the ex-Iraqi regime refused to renew their passports.." Complete report..

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Link of the Week / GulfWire Flashback - Four Years of GW

LINK OF THE WEEK

Saudi-American Forum

The Saudi-American Forum is an information service designed to provide timely information -- background and current issues -- impacting the Saudi-U.S. relationship. 

The Forum is a resource for Americans who value the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia and who want to act in response to erroneous and misleading depictions of the relationship in the media and elsewhere.  The Forum is a vehicle for stakeholders in the Saudi-U.S. relationship to contribute their experiences and their ideas and opinions on the issues of the day.     [more]

                     <<ONE YEAR AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#176) WEEK OF DEC 23, 2002

DOWNGRADED GULF SUMMIT CONVENES TO THE BEAT OF US WAR DRUMS
"The annual year-end summit of the six Gulf Arab monarchies is to open here Saturday without most of the heads of state from the oil-rich bloc, despite mounting prospects of a US-led war against Iraq. Only outgoing Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) chairman Oman and host Qatar will be represented at head of state level during the two-day meeting, whose agenda will be topped by the Iraqi crisis, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and an imminent GCC customs union.." 

<<TWO YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#127) WEEK OF DEC 23, 2001

GCC SUMMIT TO TAKE FIRM ANTI-TERROR STAND
"GCC leaders holding their 21st summit in Oman next week are expected to issue a strong statement condemning terrorism, diplomats said yesterday. "According to my information, the GCC leaders are going to their summit with terrorism high on their agenda," a UAE-based Arab diplomat said. "I expect a strong statement against terrorism and a pledge to do their best to support anti-terror efforts... but they will also emphasize the need to deal with terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism.."

<<THREE YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#77) WEEK OF DEC 25, 2000

GCC MINISTERS MEET IN BAHRAIN TO COMPLETE SUMMIT AGENDA
"The six GCC foreign ministers will meet [in Bahrain] again on December 28 to put the final touches to the agenda of the upcoming two-day Gulf Cooperation Council summit which is expected to focus on creating a strong joint economy and breathing life into unimplemented laws. The GCC leaders are to meet in Manama December 30-31.." 

 <<FOUR YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#24) WEEK OF DEC 20, 1999

POLITICAL REFORM IN BAHRAIN
"On the occasion of Bahrain's National Day on Thursday, Emir Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said he would revive the municipal election system as the 'correct start of popular representation,' according to Friday's Khaleej Times.  Shaikh Hamad said, "We want a renewal of Bahrain's renaissance in public administration, the economy and trade, and also in fields of education, thought, social life, and the progress of women, and all the systems and institutions in which Bahrain has been a leader.." 

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