US embassy cable - 05JEDDAH2495

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 002495 
 
SIPDIS 
 
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR 
TSOU 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2015 
TAGS: KISL, PGOV, PTER, SOCI 
SUBJECT: UNDERGRADS FRET ABOUT JOBS AND DISCUSS TERROR 
DURING YOUTH CHALLENGE 
 
REF: JEDDAH 02181 
 
Classified By: ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CAROL KALIN 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT.  Conoff participated in an 
outdoor "Youth Challenge" competition on July 21 sponsored by 
the College of Business Administration (CBA) Youth Business 
Club and "Yalla Ya Shabbab" (roughly "Let's Go Guys"), a 
youth-oriented television program.  On June 30, Conoff 
visited Hada Mountain, located between Mecca and Taif, with a 
group of CBA undergraduates who explored the mountain as part 
of a youth club (Reftel).  Accompanying a larger group of 
undergraduate students from CBA and other Jeddah colleges on 
July 21, Conoff observed students race up the base of the 
mountain to complete the challenge.  During the event, 
students fretted about their job prospects in Saudi Arabia, 
discussed the causes of terrorism, and advocated for greater 
political freedom in the Kingdom.  The students' comments 
mirrored growing frustration with the employment picture in 
Saudi Arabia often expressed by young men their age.  Their 
discussion of the causes of terrorism also highlights a rift 
between the Hejaz region and Saudis from other parts of the 
country, particularly the bedouin.  END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. 
 
JEDDAH UNDERGRADS WORRY ABOUT GETTING A JOB AFTER GRADUATION 
 
2.  (C) Conoff accompanied a group of Jeddah undergraduates 
on a "Youth Challenge" on July 21 sponsored by the CBA Youth 
Business Club and the youth-oriented MBC television program 
"Yalla Ya Shabbab."  The young men raced up the base of Hada 
Mountain encountering snakes, wild monkeys, and thunderstorms 
in the hopes of receiving prizes for those who completed the 
challenge in the shortest amount of time.  The participants, 
who were mostly between 18 and 24 years old, were largely 
Saudi, though some were citizens of Syria, Yemen, and other 
Arab countries.  Almost all were born and raised in Saudi 
Arabia.  The organizers of the event hoped to instill 
confidence and bolster the self-esteem of participants.  A 
CBA student advisor stated he hoped to promote moral values 
through motivational speeches during the event.  The student 
advisor reminded students to take breaks throughout the day 
at prayer times.  Most of the students heeded his advice, 
praying together on the bare ground even when a mosque was 
not available. 
 
3.  (C) Throughout the day, the students expressed concerns 
about their employment prospects after graduation.  "I will 
do anything.  Give me anything--typing, secretary stuff-- to 
keep me busy," said one student who wished to work in the 
computer industry.  "I don't know if I will get a job.  The 
situation here is very hard and if you are not from the right 
family, it is hard to get a good job," another lamented. 
One Palestinian student worried about "Saudization," the 
SAG's attempts to bolster employment for Saudi citizens, 
stating "all the jobs I like are only for Saudis.  It doesn't 
matter if you are born here." 
 
STUDENTS BLAME BEDOUINS AND "AMERICAN AGENTS" FOR TERROR IN 
KINGDOM 
 
4.  (C) The young men were anxious to share their viewpoints 
on political issues with Conoff, with many focusing on 
terrorism in Saudi Arabia.  Several students blamed 
"bedouins" for violence in the Kingdom.  Indeed, the students 
were vocal in exhibiting prejudice against the bedouin. 
Several students used slurs they normally reserve for 
homosexuals in discussing them.  Others blamed the bedouin 
for the country's problems and for discrimination against 
residents of the Hejaz who trace their roots from outside the 
Arabian Peninsula.  "They think they are the original Saudis, 
and they hate everybody else," one student said. 
Generalizing, another student remarked, "Bedouins are stupid 
people.  They are not educated, but somehow they have learned 
to make bombs."  When Conoff mentioned that the bedouin are 
reputed for their generosity and hospitality, the students 
shook their heads.  "I lived in the south (Asir Province) for 
five years.  The bedouin there are really bad, and they want 
everyone else out of Saudi Arabia," one young man declared. 
"Riyadh is also full of these stupid people," another added. 
 
5.  (C) One student stated that he had read online statements 
that terrorists would not kill Muslims, and he criticized 
them for nevertheless killing Saudi police officers and 
Muslim LES during the December 6, 2004 attack on the 
Consulate.  "We never had these problems in our country 
before.  It all started with September 11.  Sometimes we 
think American agents are doing this to us to punish us for 
Bin Laden," he said.  His friend nodded in agreement. 
 
6.  (C) Another young man commented,  "Sometimes, I wish I 
could send a message to President Bush with all that is in my 
heart."   When told that he could send President Bush an 
e-mail on the White House website, he replied, "They would 
kill me here if I did that."  Later the young man approached 
Conoff and stated, "I need to tell you the one thing we hate 
about our government is that they never let us speak our 
mind.  This is the message I want you to tell President 
Bush." 
 
7.  (C) Another student criticized the lack of entertainment 
venues for young men given that many amusement parks and 
public venues attempt to restrict access to families and 
prevent young men from entering.  "If they don't give us 
things to do, we will do bad things," he added. 
 
UNDERGRADS EXPRESS HOPE FOR GREATER POLITICAL FREEDOM 
 
8.  (C) At the end of the day, the students ate dinner 
together in a private home in the town of al-Hada, located at 
the top of the mountain on the road to Taif.  Sitting in a 
circle, the participants discussed the lessons learned on the 
challenge.  They concluded the day by performing the evening 
"isha" prayer together.  On the drive back to Jeddah, one 
group of students sang Arabic songs to the beat of rhythmic 
clapping and a traditional Yemeni drum.  They took breaks 
from their singing to talk about the political situation in 
Saudi Arabia.  "This government will never listen to anyone 
else.  The Al Saud will never listen to us," the driver of 
the car stated.  "We want a government like in America, where 
the government changes every four or five years," he said. 
"Yes, this will make sure that the leader works for the 
people because he will be scared he will lose his job," 
another student added. 
KALIN