Press Roundtable
Karen Hughes, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
February 20, 2006
Under Secretary Hughes: We've had a great visit and one of the things I've tried to do as I travel around the world is
to reach out and listen, because I view public diplomacy as very much a conversation, which means that I'm not just
coming into talk with people but I'm coming to listen to people and to take that opinion back to the United States and
to share that with Secretary Rice and President Bush and other policy makers in my country. And so we've had a very good
discussion last night with a group of very articulate women. I was delighted to see people expressing themselves very
openly and freely and speaking out and speaking up here um both with the women last night and with the students this
morning. In conjunction with my visit, we're announcing a couple of initiatives that the Embassy here is going to be
doing. The UAE has been selected to host a business women's summit that will take place later this year. I think this is
a great place to host that summit because you have a group of women here who are very dynamic and involved in the
business community and so I know our Embassy is very much looking forward to that. We are also announcing a new program
through our Middle East Partnership Initiative, a technology training program that will help train 800-1,000 women with
cutting edge business and technology tools. The Embassy has more details on all those programs and I'm delighted to be
able to announce those here today in conjunction with my visit. With that I'll be glad to answer your questions.
Question: Hi, welcome to the UAE.
Under Secretary Hughes: Thank you.
Question: There's been some trouble with the Dubai Ports World and the P purchase, I'm sure you've heard about it. I'm not sure you've spoken on it yet. There was an editorial and op-ed today
in one of the papers that said that it smacked of Islamaphobia. That there was little other reason that the U.S.
lawmakers are urging President Bush to oppose it, or investigate it deeper, other than a fear of Arabs running American
posts. They said they had no problem with British running the posts but as soon as the idea comes there is going to be
some Arabs perhaps involved in running the ports, all of a sudden there is a hue and cry and that there is some talk of
it sounding more like Islamaphobia than anything else. I was wondering if you could talk about that?
Under Secretary Hughes: Well I certainly hope that's not the case and I don't believe that's the case. What I've seen in
quotes from our lawmakers are questions about security and concerns in light of the fact that a couple of the September
11th hijackers did come from the UAE. Now, as Secretary Rice has said, our government has conducted a thorough security
review and determined that the sale can go forward and go forward safely. I think perhaps you have to understand in my
country there is a very open environment for debate and so members of Congress are questioning and debating and
discussing and Secretary Rice has said that the Administration will be happy to share with them additional information
about the very thorough interagency security review that was done which did determine that the sale could go forward
safely. We have a longstanding friendship and alliance with the UAE. We are partners in the War Against Terror and the
Administration has concluded that this sale can in fact go forward, and will be very safe and secure. And so I hope that
the people of the UAE and the government here will understand that in a democracy there is a process of debate.
Secretary Rice said perhaps we need to go to Capitol Hill as the Administration does and explain a little more fully the
thorough review that was done and we will be glad to do that and the administration will be doing that I'm sure in the
days ahead.
Question: The idea was that there was an objection that there wouldn't have been, there wouldn't have been, there was no
objection if the Brits were running it, if the British company was running it, but when it gets transferred to an Arab
company there is a, there is a sort of double standard, that there is an objection to Arabs but not to Brits. As you are
probably well aware, there have been some suicide bombers and terrorists that were of British nationality and this never
came up in the discussion. That is one of the things that the papers were mentioning.
Under Secretary Hughes: Well again, as I said, I hope that is not the case and I don't believe that it is. What I saw
quoted was several representatives that represent families who have lost loved ones in September 11th and who were
expressing concerns based on the fact that a couple of the September 11th hijackers did in fact come from the UAE. And
again, since that time and over the period of a number of years the UAE has been a long standing good friend and ally.
The government has been a strong partner in the War Against Terror and we have conducted, the Bush Administration
conducted a very thorough interagency review, led by Secretary Snow, Secretary of the Treasury, that concluded that this
sale could go forward safely. And so one of the things that I believe is important in my role, and I said this in Doha
at a speech at the U.S. Islamic World Conference, is that we need to work very hard to foster greater understanding
between America and the Arab world and the wider Islamic world. And that's one of the things that I'm working to do. I
met with a group of students this morning, who told me how well received they were in America. As you know, many Muslims
live and work and worship freely in my country. Arab Americans are very much a part of life in America and are very
respected in America and so I would just hope that that's not the case.
Question: Lots of people are calling you adept at repairing the image of the United States in the region. You are doing
this very well.
Under Secretary Hughes: It speaks of friendship and respect.
Question: I was just wondering. The U.S. Islamic Forum in Doha. Did you manage to meet any Islamic leaders, for example
Hamas or from the Brotherhood in Egypt or any leaders that are taking a position back to Arabic countries?
Under Secretary Hughes: Well I met with a number of different leaders; I don't believe I met anyone from Hamas or the
Muslim Brotherhood. Of course, as you know, my government does not recognize terrorist organizations. But I did meet a
number of leaders. I thought it was a very constructive conference; I enjoyed the dialogue with people there very much.
I think that's what we need more of. We need dialogue, bringing people from different countries and different cultures
and different faiths together to talk about how we can..
Question: Only on the level of society? No political leaders?
Under Secretary Hughes: Oh no, these were political leaders at the conference. There were a number of different leaders
I met with. I sat next to numerous foreign ministers from, I saw Foreign Minister Abdullah from Afghanistan, I sat next
to the Foreign Minister from Bahrain. I spoke with a minister from Malaysia. I met numerous leaders. I sat next to the
Grand Mufti from Bosnia. I had a wonderful conversation with him, talking about how we need to work to respect one
another. We were talking in the context of freedom of speech and I explained to him how in America, we have freedom of
speech, but we also understand that with that comes responsibility. "Ma..", let me see if I remember this. (In Arabic:
Mahuriyya masolia). With freedom comes responsibility. I'm trying to learn a little Arabic, not doing so well, but I'm
trying. So, I get an A for effort, right? We had a wonderful conversation, where he talked about, he said something that
really stuck with me. He talked about, there's no law in the books, but there is a law on the heart to treat each other
with respect and civility. And so we had some wonderful conversations with various leaders there at the forum.
Question: What about Secretary Rice coming to the region? What about Hamas?
Under Secretary Hughes: Secretary Rice is coming to consult with leaders throughout the region. To listen, to share
ideas, to talk about broad regional issues. This is an important time in the region. There is a great deal happening.
Iraq is forming a new government. It is a very important time in Iraq's transition to democracy. No matter how
individuals in the region felt about our decision to go into Iraq, I think we all can agree now that it is in the
region's best interests, as well as the Iraqi people's best interests, that Iraq emerge as a stable and unified and
democratic nation. She'll be consulting with leaders throughout the region as to how countries in the region might help
with this process. She will be consulting on the future of the peace process and next steps, particularly in light of
the elections in the Palestinian Territories. She will be consulting on Iran and about the concerns of the international
community. And I want to underline the international community, because there is broad concern throughout the
international community about the situation in Iraq and the concern that Iraq is further isolating itself. That Iraq
moving forward and attempting to gain a nuclear weapon would be very destabilizing to the region. I'm sorry Iran. Did I
misspeak? Iran. I'm tired. Jet lagged. Iran gaining a nuclear weapon would be very destabilizing to the region, you all
know that certainly in the UAE, which is very close in the neighborhood, and a threat to the world. And so she will be
consulting about a broad range of issues and this is frankly in response to what we're hearing. One of the things I hear
as I travel is that countries in this region want the United States to consult with them. They don't want the United
States to come in and say here is what we're doing, come along or not. They want the United States to consult, and to
engage in dialogue and to listen to their points of view. I hear that as I travel. I've communicated that back to
Washington, and the Secretary is very committed to doing that. That's why she's coming.
Question: [Question in Arabic] Question is about the U.S. double standard in this part of the world. Two issues, one
with Iran - The U.S. is trying hard to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but at the same time, what about
Israel? And again the U.S. tried to pursue democracy in this part of the world, but the Palestinian people chose Hamas.
The U.S. is not talking to Hamas and not giving Hamas a chance.
Under Secretary Hughes: I'm going to make a couple of points about that. First of all, we congratulate the Palestinian
people on a free and fair and open election. The Palestinian people clearly want change. They want an end to corruption
and we certainly understand that. And the Palestinian people voted for change; they voted for an end to corruption and
as I said, we are concerned about the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people want a better future, and we want them
to have a better future. We want them to be able to live in peace, side by side with the state of Israel. The
international community, and I notice you said American, this is a matter again on which there is broad consensus
throughout the international community. The Quartet, which is the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the
United States, all agree that in order for the government, the Hamas government to live up to its promises and
obligations to the Palestinian people, that Hamas has to reject terror, recognize Israel's right to exist and recognize
the commitments the Palestinians have made in the peace process, to the peace process including the roadmap. We are, the
United States and many nations of the world community, are democracies too, and we have laws and rules that we have to
abide by too. And one of those is that we cannot fund terrorist organizations. And so we believe, it is very important.
Hamas has a choice. It is Hamas' choice. Hamas can choose not to respond to the apple. We believe that the best path for
the Palestinian people, that Hamas wants to represent, the path to, the only path to a better future is a two state
solution. The Palestinians have recognized that and the Israelis have recognized that, and the world community supports
that. So we feel that it is very important that Hamas, we believe, as an international community, that Hamas, in order
to fulfill its responsibilities to the people that elected it, needs to take those steps.
Question: Why is the U.S. opposed to Iran developing nuclear capabilities?
Under Secretary Hughes: Again, going forward, the international community. You know, my country for many years was
involved in an arms race with the Soviet Union, where everyone tried, we tried to match each other. The international
community has decided that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is not a good thing. And we need to work very
hard to, going forward, prevent other states from gaining a nuclear weapon. And the international community feels very
strongly, for Iran to gain a nuclear weapon would be very destabilizing to the region, and a threat to the world.
Question: What is the opposition?
Under Secretary Hughes: I just explained the opposition.
Question: [Questions in Arabic] 1) It seems like the U.S. military hijacked U.S. policy in dealing with this part of the
world. Especially when they are interfering in the internal affairs in this part of the world. 2) Will the U.S. stop
being addicted to foreign oil? Where will this part of the world market their oil?
Under Secretary Hughes: Well, what the President has said, is that as the world's largest energy consumer, the United
States has a responsibility to use energy resources more wisely. There is a large market throughout the world for energy
and there will continue to be a market. The President is showing leadership in showing saying that the United States
needs to use energy more responsively. As to the actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, I would urge you to look at what the
people of Afghanistan say. I saw a recent poll where more than 80 percent of the people of Afghanistan, now that is a
stunning number, more that 80 percent of the people of Afghanistan feel that they are better off without the Taliban,
and that they welcome the presence of international forces in their country to help them achieve peace and security.
I've been to Afghanistan a number of times, and what people there say to me universally, women have said to me numerous
times, they say 'thank you' and please help us live in peace. Afghanistan is very hungry for peace. They've had 30 years
of war. They had a brutal tyranny under the Taliban. And I will remind you that we went into Afghanistan because, from
Afghanistan, Al-Qaida launched a massive, unprovoked terrorist attack on my country that killed thousands, of not only
Americans, but citizens from throughout the world. When the Taliban regime refused to turn over the leaders of
Afghanistan we went into Afghanistan, and the people of Afghanistan feel overwhelmingly that, according to this recent
poll.. I like to point out that the people of Afghanistan, are the people who know the agenda of the violent extremists
best, because they were forced to endure it. And remember what life was life in Afghanistan under the Taliban. Little
girls weren't allowed to go to school or learn to read. Women weren't allowed to leave their homes to go to the market
freely. Music was banned. Watching television was banned. Laughing out loud was banned. Kite flying banned. Cultural
icons were destroyed. I don't believe the vast majority of people in the world, in the Islamic world, in Europe, in
America, want to live like that, and that is the type of society that the violent extremists that we are up against want
to impose. I feel that our actions in Afghanistan were again to go in to remove a government that was harboring and
supporting the people who launched attacks on my country.
Question: I wonder if you could help us understand American policy towards Syria. Five million dollars to promote
democracy in Syria. That is not much. We are not sure what the United States is up to. Are you interested in a change of
regime?
Under Secretary Hughes: Our policy towards Syria has been actually quite clear. And our policy has been that the Syrian
regime needs to change its behavior. The Syrian regime needs to stop interfering in Lebanon. It needs to control its
borders and it needs to stop exporting terror. That's our policy on Syria. I think again, it's very clear.
Question: Not to change regimes?
Under Secretary Hughes: We believe the Syrian regime needs to change its behavior and that's our policy.
Question: Do you plan a visit to Syria?
Under Secretary Hughes: I have no visit plans. Not at this time.
Question: We are wondering about the consultations in the region, is this persuasion? Will you meet with Al-Jazeera?
Under Secretary Hughes: I met with Al-Jazeera while I was in Doha. And I met with Al-Arabiya here. I meet with
journalists around the world, just like I'm meeting with you. Part of that is they ask me questions and I try to respond
to the best of my ability. Part of that is discussion. In the case of Al-Jazeera, as I met with them, I talked with them
about their coverage and in all cases I talk about coverage. First of all, I'm a former journalist myself. And I believe
very strongly in the role of a free press. And I believe that it's important that people hear a variety of perspectives
from a press that is objective and professional and covers a full range of opinions, and offers a full range of
opinions, and doesn't only offer one perspective. Because that's not the role of the press. The role of the press is to
offer a variety of perspectives. I believe that that's very important to what I'm trying to achieve, because, I want, we
want, people's minds to be opened. We want people to be able to decide for themselves. We want people to be informed
about a variety of point of views so they can make their own judgments and make up their own minds. I happen to believe
that when people listen to a variety of points of view and have the ability to make decisions for themselves, that they
will chose freedom over tyranny. And they will choose the rule of law over the secret police, and they will chose
tolerance over intolerance and diversity over rigid conformity. My goal is to foster the kind of environment throughout
the world in which people have an opportunity to hear a variety of perspectives and a variety of different points of
view.
Question: Do you have any words for countries in Europe in the middle of this cartoon row, and various arguments over
freedom of expression and freedom of the press?
Under Secretary Hughes: Well first of all, let me say that the cartoons are offensive and I can understand why Muslims
are offended by them. We believe, America believes very strongly in free speech, and with freedom comes responsibility.
I said at the conference the other night, that in my county, there are certain words that we choose not to use. Most
civil people choose not to use, because in a large, diverse, multicultural country, we have to respect one another. We
don't use racial epithets in America. We don't use ethnic slurs. We choose not to. Not because any law tells us not to;
we have freedom of speech, but because we respect one another. People's faith convictions are very precious to them. So
I think we are a diverse and tolerant society. I think that can be a model. There is no law that says you can't use
certain words. And there is certainly no law that prohibits newspapers from doing so. But as a tolerant society, as a
civil society, we try to treat each other with civility and respect. I said the other night that in a free society we
have a right to say whatever we want to and a responsibility to try our best not to offend one another.
Released on February 27, 2006
ENDS