I am really not quite sure about why this year's
Abu Dhabi Summit did not get as much coverage in the local press, bar the odd
press release as it did overseas, especially considering its success last year. Although 2005 (under different management) brought the biggest name possible and one of the most influential on the planet, namely Clinton, this years line up was equal to the previous billing in many respects. For girl power alone, Sheikha Lubna, is one of those role models, (in addition to Queen Rania of Jordan), who is an excellent speaker and sends out a positive message about the Arab world.
This are the main points:
Schroder called on the world leaders to focus on providing job opportunities and developing free global trade to achieve global security and stability. He cited GCC countries as a good example for security and stability, adding that monetary union, scheduled for 2010, will further push the region to the forefront of global economy.
Sheikha Lubna attributed the respectable status attained by UAE women to the support given by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and efforts of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. She urged UAE women to "make the change without fearing failure." Sheikha Lubna affirmed that Islam does not object to woman taking work, noting that some try to "politicize Islam" to prevent her from work.
George Bush said that the voices of extremism will not derail peoples' aspirations for tolerance, peace and progress. He added that building savvy and wise leaders is the best way to stamp out chaos, extremism and conflicts in the world.
But this Summit was memorable for other things:
Former Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew said"You have a system that is producing suicide bombers. They say 'Yes I want to die and I want you to die,'" Lee told the World Leadership Summit in the Emirates capital Abu Dhabi. "You have a system that is producing suicide bombers. They say 'Yes I want to die and I want you to die,'" Lee told the World Leadership Summit in the Emirates capital Abu Dhabi. "You'll have a cloud of dust and a desert."But even more shocking was
how Bush Sr got mocked about his support for his son, dubya:
"My son is an honest man," Bush told Gulf Arabs attending a leadership conference here. "He is working hard for peace. It takes a lot of guts to get up and tell a father about his son in those terms when I just told you the thing that matters in my heart is my family." Bush added: "How come everybody wants to come to the United States if the United States is so bad?"
The oil-rich Persian Gulf used to be safe territory for former president Bush, an oil man who brought Arab leaders together in a coalition that drove Saddam Hussein's troops out of Kuwait in 1991. But gratitude for the elder Bush, who served as president from 1989-93, was overshadowed by the foreign policy of his son, whose invasion of Iraq and support for Israel are deeply unpopular here.
"We do not respect your son. We do not respect what he's doing all over the world," a woman audience member bluntly told Bush after his keynote speech.
Bush appeared stunned as the audience of young business leaders whooped and whistled in approval.Amusing. I'm looking forward to next year already. Hopefully, they'll have Kofi Annan, Tony Blair and Barack Obama as the speakers.
(btw, if you haven't seen Obama speaking, whether or not you agree with his policies, he is truly impressive. Check out his 2004 DNC speech [
Part 1], [
Part 2]. Inspiring Stuff. Levitt (freakonomics)
agrees also. The first black president?)
