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Wikipedia

Saudi Arabia lobby in the United States

January 01, 1970

The Saudi Arabia lobby in the United States is a collection of lawyers, public relation firms and professional lobbyists paid directly by the government of Saudi Arabia to lobby the public and government of the United States on behalf of the interests of the government of Saudi Arabia.

In January 2023, DAWN reported that the accounts of 16 Saudi citizens were used to exclude several pro-Saudi influencing editors from Wikipedia, affecting a diverse range of articles.[1] However, Wikipedia's operator has denied such allegations.[2]

Power of the lobby edit

An article by journalist John R. MacArthur in Harper's Magazine details "The Vast Power of the Saudi Lobby".[3] According to MacArthur,

The long and corrupt history of American-Saudi relations centers around the kingdom's vast reserves of easily extractable oil, of course. Ever since President Franklin D. Roosevelt met aboard ship in 1945 with King Ibn Saud, the special relationship with the desert kingdom has only grown stronger. The House of Saud is usually happy to sell us oil at a consistent and reasonable price and then increase production if unseemly market forces drive the world price of a barrel too high for U.S. consumers. In exchange we arm the Saudis to the teeth and turn a blind eye to their medieval approach to crime and punishment.[3]

According to Seymour Hersh the power of Prince Bandar and the Saudi lobby was so great that Bandar effectively joined the Bush administration as a virtual member of the cabinet.[3]

George Washington University Professor Hossein Askari blames the "power of the Saudi lobby in Washington" for the failure of the American government to defend the democracy protesters in Bahrain in 2011. According to Askari, "our marriage to the Al-Sauds threatens our (American) national security."[4]

Role of Bandar bin Sultan edit

In the assessment of The Economist, "No Arab ambassador—perhaps no ambassador—has come close to matching Prince Bandar's influence in the American capital. At the height of his powers he was indispensable to both sides: in Mr Ottaway's words, "at once the king's exclusive messenger and the White House's errand boy".[5] The Prince's "feats" of lobbying legerdemain included securing the purchase of AWACS surveillance aircraft in the teeth of fierce Israeli and congressional opposition, and augmenting his influence with the Reagan administration by quietly supplying $32m to the Contras in Nicaragua and $10m to anti-communist politicians in Italy.[5]

Atlantic Council and The Centre for Strategic and International Studies

The Atlantic Council received $2 million in 2015 from the United Arab Emirates and benefactors close to Saudi Arabia.

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) received $600,000 in 2015 from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. [6]

Lobbying firms edit

In the first decade of the 21st century, the Saudis paid approximately $100 million to American firms to lobby the American government.[7]

Major lobbying firms that work as lobbyists in the pay of the Saudi government include Hill & Knowlton, which has been employed to lobby for Saudi Arabia since 1982.[7] Qorvis Communications has worked for Saudi Arabia since the 9/11 attacks, receiving over $60.3 million over the course of a decade.[8][9] Hogan Lovells U.S., L.L.P., formerly Hogan & Harston, worked for Saudi Arabia in 2009.[7] The Loeffler Group, LLP, headed by former Congressman Tom Loeffler of Texas, was paid $10.5 million by the Saudi government during the first decade of the century, and gave Sandler Innocenzi, Inc. $8.9 million.[7] Patton Boggs, LLP, earned over $3 million from Saudi Arabia for lobbying in the first decade of the century.[7]

The Middle East Policy Council has received large payments from Saudi Arabia to lobby for the Kingdom, including $1 million in 2007.[10][11]

A partial list of firms that have been paid by Saudi Arabia to lobby the American government includes:[7]

  • Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP: $220,770
  • Boland & Madigan, Inc: $420,000
  • Burson-Marsteller: $3,619,286.85
  • Cambridge Associates, Ltd.: $8,505
  • Cassidy & Associates, Inc: $720,000
  • DNX Partners, LLC: $225,000
  • Dutton & Dutton, PC: $3,694,350
  • Fleishman-Hillard: $6,400,000
  • Gallagher Group, LLC: $612,337.37
  • Iler Interests, LP: $388,231.14
  • Loeffler Tuggey Pauerstein Rosenthal, LLP: $2,350,457.12
  • Loeffler, Jonas & Tuggey, LLP: $1,260,000
  • MPD Consultants, LLP: $1,447,267.13
  • Powell Tate, Inc: $900,732.77

Since 2015, Saudi Arabia paid $18 million to 145 registered lobbyists to influence the U.S. government.[12]

A partial list of lobbyists that have been paid by Saudi Arabia to lobby for the Kingdom: the Podesta Group, founded by John Podesta and Tony Podesta, the Glover Park Group, former Senator Norm Coleman, H.P. Goldfield, vice chair of Madeleine Albright's Albright Stonebridge Group, the BGR Group, the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, the Squire Patton Boggs, the DLA Piper, the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and the Qorvis/MSLGroup.[12][13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ DAWN (2023-01-16). "Saudi Arabia: Government Agents Infiltrate Wikipedia, Sentence Independent Wikipedia Administrators to Prison". DAWN. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  2. ^ "Wikipedia operator denies Saudi infiltration claim". BBC News. 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  3. ^ a b c John MacArthur [1] "The Vast Power of the Saudi Lobby", April 2007, Harper's Magazine
  4. ^ Hossein Sakari [2] " A Marriage Made in Hell," march 18, 2011, The National Interest.
  5. ^ a b "Prince Bandar bin Sultan: Larger-than-life diplomacy", The Economist, 6 November 2008, retrieved 5 December 2010
  6. ^ "Saudi's formidable influence in Washington – Intellectual Observer". Retrieved 2019-05-05.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Jeffrey Goldberg, [3] Fact-Checking Stephen Walt, December 8, 2010, The Atlantic
  8. ^ Kurlantzick, Joshua (2007-05-07). "Putting Lipstick on a Dictator". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  9. ^ Lichtblau, Eric (1 March 2011). "Arab Uprisings Put U.S. Lobbyists in Uneasy Spot". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Michael Goldfarb, [4] Weekly Standard, Schumer Calls Rahm, Concern Grows About Saudi Lobby Feb 27, 2009
  11. ^ Eli Lake [5] Obama's Intelligence Pick Linked to Saudi Arabia, Feb. 27, 2009, Washington Times.
  12. ^ a b Lee Fang, "As Trump Travels to Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s D.C. Lobbying Surge Is Paying Off". The Intercept. May 19, 2017.
  13. ^ "Saudi Arabia Continues Hiring Spree of Lobbyists, Retains Former Washington Post Reporter". The Intercept. March 21, 2016.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
saudi, arabia, lobby, united, states, collection, lawyers, public, relation, firms, professional, lobbyists, paid, directly, government, saudi, arabia, lobby, public, government, united, states, behalf, interests, government, saudi, arabia, january, 2023, dawn. The Saudi Arabia lobby in the United States is a collection of lawyers public relation firms and professional lobbyists paid directly by the government of Saudi Arabia to lobby the public and government of the United States on behalf of the interests of the government of Saudi Arabia In January 2023 DAWN reported that the accounts of 16 Saudi citizens were used to exclude several pro Saudi influencing editors from Wikipedia affecting a diverse range of articles 1 However Wikipedia s operator has denied such allegations 2 Contents 1 Power of the lobby 1 1 Role of Bandar bin Sultan 2 Lobbying firms 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksPower of the lobby editAn article by journalist John R MacArthur in Harper s Magazine details The Vast Power of the Saudi Lobby 3 According to MacArthur The long and corrupt history of American Saudi relations centers around the kingdom s vast reserves of easily extractable oil of course Ever since President Franklin D Roosevelt met aboard ship in 1945 with King Ibn Saud the special relationship with the desert kingdom has only grown stronger The House of Saud is usually happy to sell us oil at a consistent and reasonable price and then increase production if unseemly market forces drive the world price of a barrel too high for U S consumers In exchange we arm the Saudis to the teeth and turn a blind eye to their medieval approach to crime and punishment 3 According to Seymour Hersh the power of Prince Bandar and the Saudi lobby was so great that Bandar effectively joined the Bush administration as a virtual member of the cabinet 3 George Washington University Professor Hossein Askari blames the power of the Saudi lobby in Washington for the failure of the American government to defend the democracy protesters in Bahrain in 2011 According to Askari our marriage to the Al Sauds threatens our American national security 4 Role of Bandar bin Sultan edit In the assessment of The Economist No Arab ambassador perhaps no ambassador has come close to matching Prince Bandar s influence in the American capital At the height of his powers he was indispensable to both sides in Mr Ottaway s words at once the king s exclusive messenger and the White House s errand boy 5 The Prince s feats of lobbying legerdemain included securing the purchase of AWACS surveillance aircraft in the teeth of fierce Israeli and congressional opposition and augmenting his influence with the Reagan administration by quietly supplying 32m to the Contras in Nicaragua and 10m to anti communist politicians in Italy 5 Atlantic Council and The Centre for Strategic and International StudiesThe Atlantic Council received 2 million in 2015 from the United Arab Emirates and benefactors close to Saudi Arabia The Centre for Strategic and International Studies CSIS received 600 000 in 2015 from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi 6 Lobbying firms editIn the first decade of the 21st century the Saudis paid approximately 100 million to American firms to lobby the American government 7 Major lobbying firms that work as lobbyists in the pay of the Saudi government include Hill amp Knowlton which has been employed to lobby for Saudi Arabia since 1982 7 Qorvis Communications has worked for Saudi Arabia since the 9 11 attacks receiving over 60 3 million over the course of a decade 8 9 Hogan Lovells U S L L P formerly Hogan amp Harston worked for Saudi Arabia in 2009 7 The Loeffler Group LLP headed by former Congressman Tom Loeffler of Texas was paid 10 5 million by the Saudi government during the first decade of the century and gave Sandler Innocenzi Inc 8 9 million 7 Patton Boggs LLP earned over 3 million from Saudi Arabia for lobbying in the first decade of the century 7 The Middle East Policy Council has received large payments from Saudi Arabia to lobby for the Kingdom including 1 million in 2007 10 11 A partial list of firms that have been paid by Saudi Arabia to lobby the American government includes 7 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer amp Feld LLP 220 770 Boland amp Madigan Inc 420 000 Burson Marsteller 3 619 286 85 Cambridge Associates Ltd 8 505 Cassidy amp Associates Inc 720 000 DNX Partners LLC 225 000 Dutton amp Dutton PC 3 694 350 Fleishman Hillard 6 400 000 Gallagher Group LLC 612 337 37 Iler Interests LP 388 231 14 Loeffler Tuggey Pauerstein Rosenthal LLP 2 350 457 12 Loeffler Jonas amp Tuggey LLP 1 260 000 MPD Consultants LLP 1 447 267 13 Powell Tate Inc 900 732 77 Since 2015 Saudi Arabia paid 18 million to 145 registered lobbyists to influence the U S government 12 A partial list of lobbyists that have been paid by Saudi Arabia to lobby for the Kingdom the Podesta Group founded by John Podesta and Tony Podesta the Glover Park Group former Senator Norm Coleman H P Goldfield vice chair of Madeleine Albright s Albright Stonebridge Group the BGR Group the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck the Squire Patton Boggs the DLA Piper the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and the Qorvis MSLGroup 12 13 See also editSaudi Arabia United States relations Arab lobby in the United StatesReferences edit DAWN 2023 01 16 Saudi Arabia Government Agents Infiltrate Wikipedia Sentence Independent Wikipedia Administrators to Prison DAWN Retrieved 2023 04 21 Wikipedia operator denies Saudi infiltration claim BBC News 2023 01 07 Retrieved 2023 04 21 a b c John MacArthur 1 The Vast Power of the Saudi Lobby April 2007 Harper s Magazine Hossein Sakari 2 A Marriage Made in Hell march 18 2011 The National Interest a b Prince Bandar bin Sultan Larger than life diplomacy The Economist 6 November 2008 retrieved 5 December 2010 Saudi s formidable influence in Washington Intellectual Observer Retrieved 2019 05 05 a b c d e f Jeffrey Goldberg 3 Fact Checking Stephen Walt December 8 2010 The Atlantic Kurlantzick Joshua 2007 05 07 Putting Lipstick on a Dictator Mother Jones Retrieved 2007 08 22 Lichtblau Eric 1 March 2011 Arab Uprisings Put U S Lobbyists in Uneasy Spot The New York Times Michael Goldfarb 4 Weekly Standard Schumer Calls Rahm Concern Grows About Saudi Lobby Feb 27 2009 Eli Lake 5 Obama s Intelligence Pick Linked to Saudi Arabia Feb 27 2009 Washington Times a b Lee Fang As Trump Travels to Saudi Arabia the Kingdom s D C Lobbying Surge Is Paying Off The Intercept May 19 2017 Saudi Arabia Continues Hiring Spree of Lobbyists Retains Former Washington Post Reporter The Intercept March 21 2016 External links editThe Sauidi Lobby How the Kingdom Wins in Washington Center for International Policy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saudi Arabia lobby in the United States amp oldid 1194281838, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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