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Bush picks oil man as Saudi ambassador
Washington, Nov 18: US President George W Bush has picked Texas oil lobbyist James Oberwetter to be US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the White House has said.
Washington, Nov 18: US President George W Bush has picked Texas oil lobbyist James Oberwetter to be US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the White House has said.
The intention to nominate Oberwetter comes as a battle against terrorism is gaining importance in US relations with the Arab petroleum giant and Bush is urging Saudi Arabia to implement democratic reforms.
Oberwetter is vice president for governmental and public affairs at hunt consolidated inc., and former head of the American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobby group.
He was a press secretary to bush's father, former President George Bush, when the elder bush served as a US representative. He also worked on the current president's transition.
Oberwetter gave 2,000 dollars to Bush's 2004 re-election campaign in June, according to a campaign finance database maintained by the center for responsive politics. He gave 1,000 in 1999 to Bush's presidential campaign.
US-Saudi relations soured over the summer after a Congressional report suggested a link between individuals in the Saudi government and some of the hijackers who took part in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudis.
Saudi Arabia has denied any connection and sought in vain for the report's classified section on Saudi Arabia to be made public.
Attacks this year in Saudi Arabia that have been blamed on the al Qaeda network of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, whom Washington also accuses in the Sept. 11 attacks, have led Washington to pledge solidarity with Riyadh against terrorism.
Bush earlier this month urged Saudi Arabia to give the Saudi people ''a greater role in their own society.''
Oberwetter's nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Bureau Report
Oberwetter is vice president for governmental and public affairs at hunt consolidated inc., and former head of the American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobby group.
He was a press secretary to bush's father, former President George Bush, when the elder bush served as a US representative. He also worked on the current president's transition.
Oberwetter gave 2,000 dollars to Bush's 2004 re-election campaign in June, according to a campaign finance database maintained by the center for responsive politics. He gave 1,000 in 1999 to Bush's presidential campaign.
US-Saudi relations soured over the summer after a Congressional report suggested a link between individuals in the Saudi government and some of the hijackers who took part in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudis.
Saudi Arabia has denied any connection and sought in vain for the report's classified section on Saudi Arabia to be made public.
Attacks this year in Saudi Arabia that have been blamed on the al Qaeda network of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, whom Washington also accuses in the Sept. 11 attacks, have led Washington to pledge solidarity with Riyadh against terrorism.
Bush earlier this month urged Saudi Arabia to give the Saudi people ''a greater role in their own society.''
Oberwetter's nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Bureau Report