Hillary Clinton Speaks in Dar Al-Hikma College

Mrs. Clinton’s opening remarks were directed to her delight and honor to be speaking at Dar Al-Hikma. She thanked Princess Lulwa Al-Faisal, and all those who were involved in the effort in planning her visit. She recognized the pioneering work of Dar Al-Hikma under its progressive director Dr. Saleha Abideen in creating relationships with other international colleges, and providing world class education for women from Saudi and beyond. Dar Al-Hikma provides social, physical, spiritual and intellectual development. She also praised the energy and dedication of its students, and mentioned her familial bond, as one of Dr. Saleha’s daughters is one of Mrs. Clinton’s two deputies of staff who began as an intern from George Washington University and became a trusted aid.

She reminded us that in many parts of the world education is not occurring, especially for females, and they aren’t able to live up to their God given potential, with leaders not realizing the importance that education deserves. Education is the most important investment a society can make and a moral right for its citizens. An Egyptian poet said, “A mother is a school. Empower her and you empower a great nation.”

Education with its skills and knowledge gives its citizens a responsibility. In other places education does not flourish and women aren’t given respect. As we improve and advance our own society we must look beyond to help other countries achieve education for their people also. She applauded King Abdullah’s strong commitment to education which sends a powerful signal to other countries.

She came from a 3 ½ hour audience with the King and they discussed how they can enhance more educational opportunities and exchanges. Saudi students studying abroad dropped after 9/11, and now have picked up enrollment once again. Hikma College is encouraging more two way exchanges of students where American students could also study in Saudi Arabia, and have women’s forums on social entrepreneurships.

She pointed out that the world is getting younger, with half the population under 25 years old. Many youth however are not educated, with no health care and no basic tools for a productive future. She reminded us to consider that for every college Saudi Arabia builds, another is not built somewhere else.

To help facilitate more communication in the Muslim world, President Obama is hosting a two day summit with 5 countries participating at the white house. Included are 5 females students from Jeddah, with 4 being from Dar Al-Hikma. The competition to choose these students was based wholly on merit- reflecting on the excellence of the college. To show the importance that the United States places on this summit, she said they will pursue exchanges for students, because communication starts with the people, not just the government. The Secretary of State stressed the importance of learning to listen well and not just talking at people, but how to exchange ideas well and learn from each other.

She explained that she was asked if she could do anything about the media’s portrayal of Saudi women. She answered that we have to get to know each other beyond images. She said that people also have stereotypes of American women as well, that we have to go beyond.

She was asked how her job as a senator differs from that of Secretary of State. She answered that as a senator of New York most of her time was spent on two major issues: trying to help people affected by the 9/11 tragedy that needed assistance, and also spending time trying to help people that she represented work on issues that were important to them such as farm issues, children’s health care, improving education and finding ways to create jobs. She was focused on New York issues. Now as Secretary of State she represents her country and President Obama and travels the world to make clear that the US wants to change its relationship with countries, in particular the Muslim world. I work to find common ground with countries on a range of issues such a non-nuclear proliferation. We also try to prevent terrorists from getting weapons. We partner with other countries to help minorities and others who don’t have opportunities for things like education. We work to advance causes of peace, prosperity and opportunity, and partnering with other countries in these goals.

I was asked about the new airlines regulations and I realized that they’re hurtful to many people. I hope we will revise them over the next few months. My goal is to have better understanding and cooperation between people.

A question was asked about the Doha meeting. Iran was discussed and we wished for peaceful relations with Iran. The United States is the only country who has actually used nuclear weapons. Why hasn’t the US asked Israel to get rid of their weapons? Mrs. Clinton answered that the world needs to move toward zero nuclear weapons. In the last 60years the world has tried to manage the nuclear weapons in a couple of ways. First, the entire period of the cold war the US and Soviet Union reduced arms control agreements. The world was also presented with the non-proliferation treaty that a majority of countries signed, including Iran. In the treaty, the countries that had nuclear weapons agreed to be very careful in safeguarding and non-proliferation. And the countries that did not have them like Iran, agreed not to pursue them. We have double assurance that the countries that have nuclear weapons are safeguarding them, and making sure they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Everyone she spoke with in the Gulf expressed deep concerns over Iran, she said. Iran has launched terrorist’s attacks in other countries, including the Kingdom; it supports political turmoil, and is the largest supporter of heroin production in the world today. The US has joined with China, Russia, Germany, France and the United Kingdom to try to work with Iran. Iran, as any country, is entitled to peaceful nuclear power for energy production. They do not have the right to pursue nuclear weapons, and they use enriched radium now at low levels for isotopes but the international community is concerned because initially Iran agreed to send it abroad for refining, but has now refused. (They agreed to send several small increments; however, they don’t agree to send all of it at one time.) She stated that they want a Middle east free of nuclear weapons, but she didn’t mention at all any pressure on Israel to rid themselves of their weapons, although the US could easily threaten to cut the 7 million dollars daily aid to Israel as an incentive to give up nuclear weapons or make peace with a two state solution.

She was asked how she planned to collaborate with the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference. She replied that the secretary general of the OIC Rashid Husseini is a trusted advisor to Obama. She herself was the first secretary of State to visit them. They discussed specific issues such as health. Polio was eradicated but it has returned in Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. There was misinformation that said told their people that if they accepted the shot for their children their children would be sterilized and be unable to bear children. The OIC is also concerned with the role of religion in conflict, as well as the importance of election monitoring in Iraq, and how to bring faith communities together. As for the Arab League, King Abdullah’s peace initiative is a very important effort to move Middle East peace, to try to get Palestinians and Israel back to peace negotiations.

She was asked about how academies plan to use smart power to educate others. She explained that diplomacy started the program, and that smart power sends several messages. It teaches people to convene, convince and persuade, and think through issues and look for ways of common ground and how we relate and connect. We must find common cause in as many ways as possible to solve problems. One also learns to empathize, and it changes people’s perceptions and helps to understand the others point of view.

On the question of health care in the United States, she explained that she had tried to do what President Obama is now attempting. It is an intensely political issue and complicated. The US has the best health care system in the world she claims, if you can afford it and get to it in time. There is the highest technology and a large amount of people in the US have insurance, although more people are finding that it is becoming too expensive and difficult to afford. Obama is trying to change the system so that insurance is cheaper and if you don’t have it you can afford to get it. She admitted that she and her husband were not successful when they tried to reform the system; however they made improvements in children’s healthcare and maintaining ones insurance coverage under the same policy if one leaves his job. She confided that a lot of insurance companies are making a large profit and don’t want the system to change.

Mrs. Clinton was asked about US government claims that they would pressure Israel to change its policy. Mrs. Clinton replied that her conviction is that they recognize goals and the 1967 borders, while Israel has security. George Mitchell was appointed as an experienced negotiator, as he worked in negotiations for 2 ½ years in Ireland, and even after the final agreement it has taken 10 years to implement the agreement. She said that the US goal is to work patiently and consistently with both parties. She realizes that the issues of borders, security, refugees, and the right of all religions to have equal access to Jerusalem are crucial issues and key points.

The final question asked if there would be any opportunities of exchange for nursing students. The secretary of State claimed that she is a strong advocate of nursing care. The quality of the nursing care greatly influences the outcome of patient recovery.

It was good to have an opportunity to hear main points of concerns and explanations of current American policy. However, several students that I spoke with thought that Iran was needed as a balance to the nuclear power of Israel, and Israel is just as dangerous, if not more so than Iran.

ENDS

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