The Center for Saudi Studies, Incorporated (CSSI) a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization in Washington, D.C., condemns in the strongest terms the heinous crime perpetrated by terrorists against innocent civilians living in Riyadh on Monday, May 12th, 2003.

This terrorist act emphasizes the urgent importance of continuous and full cooperation amongst all nations. It underscores the imperative that the United States and Saudi Arabia strengthen further the ongoing coordination of their efforts to detect and destroy terrorist organizations wherever they may be found. CSSI sends its condolences to the bereaved families and its prayers for the recovery of the injured victims.

Through joint endeavors by the leaders of governments, international organizations, and concerned citizens the world over, this war can and will be won. Too many nations, but the United States and Saudi Arabia in particular, have experienced terrorism first hand for the international community not to do everything possible to stop these horrendous crimes.

Since 1979, when terrorists attacked the Holy Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly been a favorite target of terrorism. Many of these attacks have occurred during the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Owing to the fact that the phenomenon brings so many millions of people together in one place, any act of violence aimed at the pilgrims enhances the prospects of swelling the number of those killed and maimed.

Accordingly, the Saudi Arabian government has always worked diligently to protect the pilgrims and the country's inhabitants, even at the risk of being criticized for its protective measures. The Kingdom is well known for its security measures and, as a consequence, is recognized as one of the most peaceful, secure, and well-ordered countries in the world.

America, too, has introduced radical measures to strengthen the security of its borders and key infrastructural facilities that were hitherto vulnerable to attack or sabotage. Yet the perpetrators of global terrorism continue to find America and Saudi Arabia attractive targets. The long and mutually beneficial relationship between them remains an especially tempting allure upon which not only terrorists but others who are opposed to the relationship have fixed their sights.

Placement of this relationship in the crosshairs of would-be assassins and saboteurs is irresistible and can be viewed as the assault that keeps on killing and maiming. But damaging the American-Saudi Arabian relationship does more than deal a blow to the multifaceted web of common and complementary interests that link the two people's destinies. It seeks to tarnish the image of what has long been a model of interdependence to which many other countries aspire.

The recent announcement that Saudi Arabia and the United States have agreed to reduce the number of American troops in the Kingdom, as had been their stated, mutual intent when the presence began, was well received and applauded by both countries' citizens. Some will say that because the withdrawal of the troops has been a stated objective of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups, the reduction smacks of appeasement of terrorism. Nothing could be further from the truth. From the inception of the American troops' presence in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, it was mutually agreed that the forces would be withdrawn once the threat that occasioned their presence was defeated.

With the ending of the regime of Saddam Hussein, and the end of the threat to the Kingdom, on one hand, and of the threat to the largely Shia Muslim citizens of southern Iraq, on the other, that the perpetuation of his rule represented, it was not appeasement, but, rather, implementation of a longstanding joint commitment by Riyadh and Washington that the troops would withdraw. In this context, the Monday night barbaric bombings, beyond having no justification whatsoever, reveal the true, satanic nature of the terrorists who carried out the attacks.

CSSI believes both countries need to redouble their efforts to eliminate terrorism and, to that end, to increase their efforts to enhance public awareness of the terrorists' motivations and, simultaneously, to address the root causes that have spawned and sustained their rage. In so doing, Washington officialdom cannot avoid making every effort to demonstrate effectively that the United States government is not an enemy of the Muslim world.

Now, more than ever, the Bush administration, no less than the governments of other countries, must provide convincing evidence that the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan has nothing to do with a religious war or sectarian fundamentalism, lest this area become the theater for what some believe to be an inevitable clash of cultures or, misleadingly, "civilizations," from which there would be no winners, only losers.

For starters, American leaders in Washington, D.C. need to be exceptionally sensitive to the deep-seated and region-wide doubts as to whether Israel's national leadership will move to hinder more than help in the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state. Of related importance, American leadership in Iraq has no choice but to be as unbiased, fair, and impartial as possible in its efforts to resolve Iraq's problems and to resist the temptation to use Iraq as an experiment in social and political engineering or in an effort to leverage the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

The Palestinian Authority has accepted the "Roadmap" unconditionally. What is needed is for the U.S. to do whatever it can to produce Israeli acceptance as well. The U.S. must demonstrate not only to the Arab countries, the Middle East, and the Islamic world that it is committed to the promises it made upon the outbreak of war on Iraq. It must also demonstrate its sincerity in this regard to the American people. Without this credibility, impartiality and fairness, further acts of terrorism can only be expected and may even become routine.

Saudi Arabia also faces formidable economic, political, and social challenges that need to be tackled with comparable resolve and steadfastness. CSSI believes that Riyadh can overcome Monday night's tragedy provided it and the international community work even harder and more diligently than they have to fight terrorism and provided it displays an equally dedicated effort to improve the quality of life of its citizens and residents in every possible way.

A step guaranteed to produce positive results is continuance and expansion of the increasingly close and constructive communication currently underway with the people and that it is characterized by a healthy respect for their views regarding their future. By continuously strengthening this dual front strategy, not only can the war on terrorism be won but all its victims can also be vindicated. As a consequence, Saudi Arabia and the United States will enhance considerably the prospects for their people to live the extraordinarily rich values that both peoples believe in.