抖阴短视频

DUBAI: Terrorism, extremism and radicalism will decline as long as 抖阴短视频鈥檚 drive toward reform succeeds. If it does not, the West will suffer.

Who says so? Norman T. Roule says so 鈥� and he should know.

A 34-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, Roule is now one of the world鈥檚 most respected analysts of Middle East affairs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 in our interest (for the Kingdom to succeed) because of terrorism and extremism, but not just because of that,鈥� he said.

鈥淭here are millions in the region, in the states of Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, who require assistance and a better life. This is something the region has to lead with Western support.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not America鈥檚 job to come over and rebuild these countries. It鈥檚 the region鈥檚 job, with American and international support, andthe Saudi and Emirati leadership, working with friends in Kuwait, for example, or Bahrain. This is the path forward.

鈥淭he consequences of not doing that would be terrible for the people who live in these countries, and who so desperately need a better future.鈥�

Roule, chief executive of Pharos Strategic Consulting LLC, which focuses on the Arab Gulf states and Iran, thinks the significance of the changes he has witnessed in 抖阴短视频 in the course of his many visits to the region cannot be overstated.

鈥淚 see the same strong hearts and good aspirations that I鈥檝e seen for 35 years 鈥� the family environment within the Kingdom and the desire to have a better future,鈥� he told Arab News on the sidelines of this week鈥檚 SALT conference in Abu Dhabi.

抖阴短视频 has a generation with access to social media, and an engagement with the world that makes all things possible.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 different now is that you have such a large young population, and the population is eager to transform the country to make it more effective in a very new world,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the same new world Americans will be facing in the coming decades. It鈥檚 no different for a 30-year-old in Ohio than it is for a 30-year-old in Riyadh or Abha.鈥�

Talking about the opportunities that he thinks young Saudis, especially women, sense in their home country, he said: 鈥淚 find that not only very heart- ening, but it underscores my point: What we need most from the Middle East is not oil and not a market for weapons. We need its people鈥檚 ideas, friend- ship and assistance in developing new technologies, and there鈥檚 no reason we can鈥檛 build a better world together.鈥�

He added: 鈥淲hen you talk to the people on the streets in 抖阴短视频 or elsewhere in the region, you see this is possible. And our entrepreneurs, our academics and the growing tourist population who come to the Kingdom are all seeing this underway.鈥�

He attributed these developments to the decisions taken by the Saudi leadership. Although the king and crown prince are the country鈥檚 decision-makers, Roule described the Cabinet they are assisted by as extraordinarily able.

鈥淭his is probably one of the finest, most experienced and best educated cabinets any country could aspire to,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he Saudi people also have a generation (that has) access to social media, and an engagement with the world that makes all these things possible. Many components are making this work.鈥�

During his latest visit to the Kingdom for the Formula E Championship, he attended the much-acclaimed Riyadh Season, where he came across the coffee shop Toqa, owned by a Saudi entrepreneur.

鈥淭his entrepreneur, who has relations with the West, has had discussions with American and European businessmen. She has a product to offer that鈥檚 enjoyable, it鈥檚 fascinating, and it shows Saudi culture,鈥� Roule said.

鈥淏ecause of 抖阴短视频鈥檚 special role in Islam, and because of its geographic position, they have a historic responsibility to lead the region in a new direction.鈥� 

鈥淚t鈥檚 exactly the type of thing that symbolizes what 抖阴短视频 can bring to the West: Culture, enjoyment, people and business.鈥�

He said over the years, publicity regarding 抖阴短视频 in the US has been dominated by the 9/11 attacks and the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Yet, Roule added, every American he knows who has been to the Kingdom recently has witnessed the many 鈥渦nknown鈥� parts that had not been opened (to the public) until recently.

These include the governorate of AlUla, one of 抖阴短视频鈥檚 archaeological gems that is home to Madain Saleh, the country鈥檚 first UNESCO World Heritage site.

鈥淎lUla is an amazing place. I鈥檝e had the pleasure of seeing it, and the world should come to AlUla,鈥� Roule said, adding that the governorate is a testament to the extraordinary work done by the Ministry of Culture.

Visitors 鈥渃ome away saying, 鈥榯his is a lovely place that I wish I could come back to more often鈥�,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he potential for tourism and the potential to become a source of regional entertainment is vast.鈥�

Looking at the bigger Middle East picture, Roule said 抖阴短视频 and the UAE have a crucial role to play due to the size of their economies, and their interest and experience in working to improve regional stability.

鈥淏ecause of 抖阴短视频鈥檚 special role in Islam, and because of its geographic position, they have a historic responsibility to lead the region in a new direction,鈥� he added.

鈥淚 believe success in 抖阴短视频, by promoting a moderate Islam, can not only push back extremism but also improve dialogue between different civilizations of the world,鈥� he said.

鈥淚鈥檝e met, on a number of occasions, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa of the Muslim World League. He鈥檚 an extraordinary man, and his vision of Islam and of interfaith dialogue is something that can not only transform the region, but also have an impact on global society.鈥�

But will the West change its stance vis-a-vis the Kingdom in the near future? Roule is optimistic about business people and tourists, saying social media will propel some of this change, while governments move slowly.

On the subject of Yemen, Roule cited the Masam demining program to point out the billions of dollars that the Saudis, Emiratis and Kuwaitis have spent in that country, something that is 鈥渞arely seen or talked about鈥� in the West.

鈥淚t tells a lot about the Saudi people and the Emiratis that they鈥檙e participating in this program as well as the Yemenis,鈥� he said.

鈥淏ut the international community should be behind the demining program, to rebuild Yemen once the conflict ends,鈥� he added.

鈥淪o I encourage greater international partnership with the Kingdom and the UAE to solve the region鈥檚 problems, because it鈥檚 in the global interest to do so.鈥�

A new era for the Middle East could be in the works due to such changes and transformations, Roule said.

鈥淭he speed with which it will achieve all of its goals is something I can鈥檛 predict, and I鈥檓 not sure anyone else can,鈥� he added.

鈥淏ut I do know that the intent of the Saudi and Emirati leaderships is honorable, and it鈥檚 something that benefits the international community. It will make the world safer, more prosperous and more interesting.鈥�