Read the Letter: What We Want President Obama to Do in Saudi Arabia this Friday

This Friday, President Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia, a country whose government is highly repressive.   But instead of raising human rights, Obama’s trip has been described by The New York Times as focused on “fence-mending.”

This is the wrong approach.

As we say in our Amnesty International letter to President Obama:

For too long, the U.S. has put geopolitics and access to energy over support for human rights in its relationship with Saudi Arabia. As an ally of the United States, Saudi Arabia has been spared the blunt criticisms that U.S. officials make of other governments that commit serious human rights violations.

Want to read the full letter?  Scroll down, or download the PDF.

Continue reading “Read the Letter: What We Want President Obama to Do in Saudi Arabia this Friday”

Full text: Obama’s interview with Al-Arabiya

Hisham Melhem’s interview with President Obama on Al Arabiya TV:

Tuesday, 27 January 2009
President gives first interview since taking office to Arab TV
AlArabiya.net

obama1_al-arabiya1

Q: Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity, we really appreciate it.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much….

TRANSCRIPT

 

Video: Obama’s interview with Al-Arabiya

Hisham Melhem’s interview with President Obama on Al Arabiya TV:

Tuesday, 27 January 2009
President gives first interview since taking office to Arab TV
AlArabiya.net

Video part 1: 

Video part 2: