Wednesday, June 24, 2015

To be a Saudi liberal

"Saudi foreign policy over the decades was a liberal one based on the premise of “noninterference” in the affairs of others.

The country was a founding member of the United Nations. King Abdul Aziz surrounded himself with advisers of high caliber from all over the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia’s first ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations was a Christian Catholic, Jamil Baroody.

He was chosen by King Faisal for his deep understanding of global politics and oratory. The Muslim kings of Spain and India had men in their courts who did not subscribe to their faiths but were useful in keeping the Muslim flag flying high."