Guardian Unlimited: Saudis polish their image in US ads

Saudis polish their image in US ads: "Saudi Arabia has begun an advertising campaign in 19 American cities to counter scepticism of its commitment to fighting terrorism.
The advertisements, which will run until September 6, quote from the September 11 commission's report as a way of challenging the allegations made in the Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.

One ad quotes the commission's finding that Saudi Arabia did not fund al-Qaida. Another rebuts claims that the Bush administration helped members of Osama bin Laden's family flee the US after the September 11 attacks.

Allegations of collusion between the Bush administration and prominent Saudis feature in Moore's documentary, which the Saudi ambassador to Britain, Prince Turki al-Faisal, has described as "grossly unfair".

In a newspaper interview earlier this month he suggested that Moore should have waited for the commission's report before making his film.

Fahrenheit 9/11 is not being shown in Saudi Arabia, because the kingdom has no cinemas.

It has been banned in Kuwait for being critical of Saudi Arabia, though pirate videos are reportedly selling well."

Brian Whitaker
The Guardian