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### Viewing cable 06RIYADH6520, ANTI-BUSH POEM EPITOMIZES CURRENT SAUDI PUBLIC MOOD

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06RIYADH6520 | 2006-08-16 12:29 | 2011-03-15 18:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Riyadh
Appears in these articles: not yet set

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHRH #6520/01 2281229
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 161229Z AUG 06
    FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0655
    INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 7579

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 006520

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
    TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SCUL SA
    SUBJECT: ANTI-BUSH POEM EPITOMIZES CURRENT SAUDI PUBLIC MOOD

    Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller
    for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

    ¶1. (C) BACKGROUND: Poetry runs in the blood of the Saudi
    people. They have historically utilized poetry to express
    public opinion over social, political, and cultural issues.
    They also use poetry to curry favor with their rulers, local
    and regional, as well as share their criticisms in an open
    forum. Throughout the history of Saudi Arabia, there have
    typically been two categories of poets: (1) al-Madih, poets
    specializing in tributes and praise, and (2) al-Hija, poets
    specializing in satire and critique. In light of recent
    events, more poets from the al-Hija than the al-Madih
    category are publishing their work, airing their grievances
    about regional events. Saudi culture and custom allow poets
    greater latitude and frankness than that accorded to
    political commentators or critics, due to poets' greater
    prestige and traditional status as spokesmen for popular
    opinion and speakers of "truth" to the elite. END BACKGROUND.

    ¶2. (C) On August 13, columnist Saad Al Bawardi published a
    poem entitled "Letter to Bush" in Al-Jazeerah newspaper,
    which condemns the U.S. President and U.S. foreign policy
    regarding Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq. Using strong
    rhetoric and metaphor, he expressed the anger and frustration
    currently felt by many Saudis toward the Bush administration.
    Al-Jazeera journalists told Riyadh contacts that their
    newspaper is receiving many angry letters voicing opposition
    to the U.S., but due to space constraints, they are able to
    publish very few. This poem is noteworthy as it was the
    first one of its kind published in a mainstream newspaper
    since the start of the Lebanon crisis.

    ¶3. (C) COMMENT: In classical Arabic poetry, there are fixed
    rules for couplets and rhyme. This poem, however, is written
    in a more modern style influenced by western free verse,
    although it is still filled with much sophisticated rhyming
    and alliteration. While the poem is not violent in tone, its
    message is harsh and reflects the increasing criticism by the
    Saudi people of U.S. policies in the region. Due to the
    inherent constraints encountered in translating literary
    verse from Arabic to English, the following translation is an
    approximation of the original text. END COMMENT.

    ¶4. (U) BEGIN TRANSLATED TEXT OF POEM:

    Sorry if I have exceeded my limits
    And asked you for a response
    Is the one who asks for a "right" a "terrorist?"
    Does Palestine-- the occupied land
    Have no people or freedom?
    Do those who immigrated to it from Poland, Russia or America
    Have the legitimate right to the land?
    The legitimate right to expel the inhabitants of the land
    As if they were red Indians?
    Chased and driven out with malignity and fiery clusters of
    anger
    From their land
    Torn apart and divided
    To dilute the case of having a "right?"

    ***

    You promised the people of the Middle East of freedom
    What freedom? And for Whom?
    Freedom of the herdsman? Or the right of the herd?
    A creative freedom of chaos?
    Bush, Is there a code of ethics for chaos?
    Or is chaos but oppression and coffins?
    Ask the Statue of Liberty in New York
    If it would answer you
    It would have answered in anger and wailing
    (Freedom is not built by injustice and skulls
    Freedom would never be justly served by a tyrant)

    ***

    Bush
    Weapons of mass destruction that never existed
    Was your excuse for invading the land of Iraq
    To destroy Iraq
    You left in it thousands of corpses, pain and divisions
    Bodies torn by white phosphorous
    If not plagued by cancerous diseases...
    Tens of deaths every day
    And your soldiers around the dead smiling
    And your soldiers torturing
    What freedom do you speak of?

    ***

    In Lebanon your stupid dummy (Israel)
    Took over the matter while you are the actor
    Thousands upon thousands of missiles
    Of bombs
    Thrown by Israel with the hatred of killers
    Leaving no stones no trees
    No people or animals
    Even the roads for those who want to run for safety
    Were destroyed and were not saved
    From the tyranny of the occupier...nor longer
    There are any roads
    Those who want to flee would only die

    ***

    You did not do justice to a free and democratic Lebanon
    You didn't have mercy on Lebanon of the varied denomination
    and religions
    You left the summer wind of death blowing in Lebanon
    You were the one who gave the orders
    But not the one who ordered the killing to stop
    What did you give since you came?
    Our big world is oppressed...scared
    You said big exaggerated words:
    "If you are not with us you are against us"
    Which terrorist should be crushed?
    Is the whole world a terrorist but you?
    Bush, you are not an infallible prophet?
    You have money, you have influence and you have power
    But you don't have the Rightness
    You don't follow the Truth
    Let the other live without your guardianship
    We know that the UN has become American
    Rice is hers
    Bolton orders and he gets answered
    Bush, things will not stay the same
    There isn't in the dictionary of freedom
    A herdsman and a herd!

    END TRANSLATED TEXT.
    OBERWETTER

`