with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. While countries without any oil were sanctioned for these violations, the Bush administration spared Saudi Arabia. And the

(11/04/05: Update at the end of the post) Europe and the US seem to be addicted to oil and unable to pursue their security interests and moral values in regard to Saudi Arabia. US government reports indicate Saudi support for terrorism and the lack of counter-terrorism coopertation. The State Department determined the non-existence of religous freedom in Saudi Arabia and the non-compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. While countries without any oil were sanctioned for these violations, the Bush administration spared Saudi Arabia. And the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee canceled unexpectedly a hearing on Saudi incitement in U.S. mosques. Now in more detail:

The United States Government Accountability Office reported about the support for terrorism by Saudi charities:





For example, in July 2005, a Treasury official testified before Congress that Saudi Arabia-based and - funded organizations remain a key source for the promotion of ideologies used by terrorists and violent extremists around the world to justify their agenda. In addition, according to States 2005 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Saudi donors and unregulated charities have been a major source of financing to extremist and terrorist groups over the past 25 years. In July 2003, a former State Department official testified before Congress that a Saudi-based charity, al Haramain Islamic Foundation, had allegedly financed assistance to the Egyptian terrorist group Gamma al Islamia. In May 2004, the same former State official also testified that some half dozen of the most visible charities, including two of Saudi Arabias largest, the International Islamic Relief Organization and the World Muslim League, have been linked to supporting Islamic terrorist organizations globally. In addition, a former Treasury official identified Wael Hamza Julaidan as a senior figure in the Saudi charitable community who provided financial and other support to several terrorist groups affiliated with al Qaeda operating primarily in the Balkans. Moreover, the 9/11 Commission report states that al Qaeda raised money in Saudi Arabia directly from individuals and through charities.









According to Rachel Ehrenfeld's Front Page Magazine article:





Former U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director James Woolsey testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform in April this year that Some $85-90 billion has been spent from sources in Saudi Arabia in the last 30 years, spreading Wahhabi beliefs throughout the world. The U.S. National Intelligence Reform Act of December 2004 requires development of a Presidential strategy to confront Islamic extremism, in collaboration with Saudi Arabia. So far, says a September Government Accounting Office (GAO) report, U.S. agencies have been unable to determine the extent of Saudi Arabias domestic and international cooperation . (...)

Under U.S. pressure, Saudi Arabia declared repeatedly that it would close some charities identified as spreading Wahhabism and funding terrorism. However, the GAO report notes that in May 2005, ...it was unclear whether the government of Saudi Arabia had implemented its plans. Despite Saudi promises to establish a new National Commission for Relief and Charity Work Abroad, the GAO said: as of July 2005, this commission was not yet fully operational. At least two members of the Saudi government, Riyadh Governor Prince Salman and Minister of Defense Prince Sultan, are sponsors of the Saudi High Commission, which evidence in the 9/11 victims lawsuits shows has long acted as a fully integrated component of al-Qaedas logistical and financial support infrastructure. Moreover, the lawsuits detail that the Sept. 11 attacks were a direct, intended and foreseeable product of [the High Commissions] participation in al-Qaedas jihadist campaign.





Law.com reports that this "charity"





cannot be sued for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks because of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, a federal judge has ruled. Southern District of New York Judge Richard Conway Casey found that the Saudi High Commission was shielded from suit under the act because it presented a prima facie case that it is a foreign sovereign . Because the Saudi High Commission "was formed by order of the Kingdom's governing body, it provides the Kingdom's aid to Bosnia, it is governed by a Saudi official and its employees are civil servants, it is an organ of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Casey wrote in three of the several cases connected to the Sept. 11 attacks that have been consolidated before him by the Panel on Multi-District Litigation under 03 MDL 1570. The court also found that the Saudi High Commission has not waived its sovereign immunity. "







American Future refers to a Freedom House report, that





provides voluminous documentary evidence that dozens of mosques in major cities across America are distributing documents, bearing the seal of the government of Saudi Arabia, that incite Muslims to acts of violence and promote hatred of Jews and Christians.





A hearing by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Saudi incitement in U.S. mosques scheduled for October 25th was cancelled unexpectedly . Israpundit believes:





This hearing would have exposed Saudi support for the wrathful dogma of Wahhabism, the rejection of the co-existence of different religions and condemnation of Christians, Jews, and all other non Muslims. It would have revealed their attempts to instill contempt for America and its non Wahhabi-style of government.







According to the State Department, religious freedom is non-existent in Saudi Arabia . While Eritrea was punished for lack of religious freedom under the Religious Freedom of Information Act, Saudi Arabia got another waiver for half a year. The San Antonio Express-News editorilized on October 17th:





Late last month, the State Department informed Congress it was placing commercial sanctions on the tiny East African nation of Eritrea for violations of religious freedom. The export of certain defense items to Eritrea is now banned, marking the first sanctions enacted under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.Under the terms of that act, the State Department is to issue an annual survey of religious freedom. In its report to Congress one year ago, the State Department cited Eritrea, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia as nations lacking religious freedom. In Saudi Arabia, in fact, the report said religious freedom is nonexistent.





While Eritrea is now facing sanctions and Vietnam made commitments to improve religious freedom earlier this year, the Bush administration has given Saudi Arabia another 180-day waiver from sanctions. Moreover, the Pentagon has informed Congress of its intention to sell more than $2 billion worth of military equipment to the desert kingdom.





By failing to confront Saudi Arabia about its religious intolerance, the Bush administration isn't just violating the spirit  if not the letter  of the International Religious Freedom Act. It is also hindering efforts to deal with the ideological sources of terrorism. Religious extremism that originates in Saudi Arabia provides theological and financial sustenance for terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida. Punishing religious intolerance in Eritrea while ignoring the much greater problem in Saudi Arabia makes a travesty of the International Religious Freedom Act.





State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli told the Voice of America that





American diplomats intend to engage Saudi authorities in the coming months with the hope of developing a plan of action to deal with U.S. concerns, including allowing other religious groups to hold public worship sessions, and giving them the right to possess their respective holy books and other religious documents.









Saudi Arabia is a destination for men and women from South and East Asia and East Africa trafficked for the purpose of labor exploitation, and for children from Yemen, Afghanistan, and Africa trafficking for forced begging. Hundreds of thousands of low-skilled workers from India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Kenya migrate voluntarily to Saudi Arabia; some fall into conditions of involuntary servitude, suffering from physical and sexual abuse, non-payment or delayed payment of wages, the withholding of travel documents, restrictions on their freedom of movement and non-consensual contract alterations.

The Government of Saudi Arabia does not comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. Saudi Arabia has moved from Tier 2 to Tier 3 because of its lack of progress in anti-trafficking efforts, particularly its failure to protect victims and prosecute those guilty of involuntary servitude.

Criminal cases are adjudicated under Sharia law, and there is no evidence trafficking victims are accorded legal assistance before and during Sharia legal proceedings. The government should consider adopting comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation that would punish traffickers, provide for the protection of victims, and facilitate prevention programs. It should also collect and disseminate data on prosecution and mediation efforts, prosecute aggressively cases of physical and sexual abuse using available criminal laws, and increase its efforts to prevent and investigate the trafficking of children for forced begging.



Saudi Arabia is one 14 countries failing to do enough to stop the modern-day slave trade in prostitutes, child sex workers and forced laborers, wrote The Boston Globe on June 3, 2005:



Three other U.S. allies in the Middle East -- Kuwait , the United Arab Emirates and Qatar -- were newly listed this year as nations that are failing to adequately address trafficking problems. The State Department said the 14 countries could be subject to sanctions if they do not crack down.





Did Saudi Arabia implement the US recommendations in the meantime? The SF Chronicle wrote about the US administration's conclusions three months after the publication of the State Department survey:



Of those 14, Bush concluded that Bolivia , Jamaica , Qatar , Sudan , Togo and the United Arab Emirates had made enough improvements to avoid any cut in U.S. aid or, in the case of countries that get no American financial assistance, the barring of their officials from cultural and educational events, said Darla Jordan, a State Department spokeswoman.

Cambodia and Venezuela were not considered to have made similar adequate improvements. But Bush cleared them nonetheless to receive limited assistance, for such things as combatting trafficking. In the case of Venezuela  which has had a tense relationship with the United States under the leadership of President Hugo Chavez, one of Latin America's most outspoken critics of U.S. foreign policy  Bush also allowed funding for strengthening the political party system and supporting electoral observation.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Ecuador and Kuwait  another U.S. ally in the Middle East  were given a complete pass on any sanctions, Jordan said. Despite periodic differences, oil-rich Saudi Arabia and the United States have a tight alliance built on economic and military cooperation.

That left Myanmar, Cuba and North Korea as the only nations in the list of 14 barred completely from receiving certain kinds of foreign aid.





Perhaps the Bush administration did not sanction anti-American Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, because the US imports so much oil from these countries. According to the Department of Energy:





During the first five months of 2005, Saudi Arabia exported 1.57 million bbl/d of oil (of which 1.51 million bbl/d was crude) to the United States. For this time period, Saudi Arabia ranked fourth (after Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela) as a source of total (crude plus refined products) U.S. oil imports , and third for crude only. Saudi Arabia is eager to maintain and even expand its market share in the United States for a variety of economic and strategic reasons. During the first five months of 2005, Saudi Arabia's share of U.S. crude oil imports was 14.9 percent, up from 13.9 percent during the first five months of 2004.





The Department of Energy believes





Oil is the lifeblood of Americas economy. Currently, it supplies more than 40% of our total energy demands and more than 99% of the fuel we use in our cars and trucks.





Oil, however, fuels the United States and Europe's foes as well. In August The Atlantic Review wrote that SUV drivers undermine US foreign policy by strengthenening anti-American and anti-democratic forces in oil rich countries. Europe and the US seem to be addicted to oil and unable to pursue their national interests and moral principles in regard to oil-rich countries.