Obama created great hope in the Muslim world: Saudi King

This was communicated personally by the King, to John Brennan, Obama's counter terrorism advisor, when the latter went to meet him in March 2009 and delivered a personal letter of the US President to the Saudi King.

"Thank God for bringing Obama to the Presidency," the King answered, which has created "great hope" in the Muslim world.

"May God grant him strength and patience, Abdullah continued, May God protect him. I'm concerned about his personal safety. America and the world need such a President," the Saudi King said according to the State Department cable.

Abdullah said his one piece of advice was that restoring US credibility in the world was critically important. Brennan responded that this was an important issue for Obama as well.

"Brennan said that under President Obama we will restore our credibility," the cable said.
During the meeting, Abdullah said "as a friend" that "it was a mistake" to limit access of Saudi citizens to the US, since "this damages bilateral relations and the image of the US in Saudi Arabia."

The King noted there were 60,000 Saudi students abroad, about one third of whom were in the US, and "others would have gone" but for the difficulties in gaining access to the US.

According to the cable, the King expressed hope the US would review its Iran policy and "come to the right conclusion."

Brennan responded that Obama was personally reviewing US Iran policy and wanted to hear the King's thoughts.

"Abdullah asserted that Iran is trying to set up Hizbollah-like organisations in African countries, observing that the Iranians don't think they are doing anything wrong and don't recognize their mistakes.

"I said (to Mottaki) that's your problem," recounted the King, the cable said.
"Abdullah said he would favor Rafsanjani in an Iranian election, were he to run.
He described Iran not as "a neighbor one wants to see," but as "a neighbour one wants to avoid."

He said the Iranians "launch missiles with the hope of putting fear in people and the world."

A solution to the Arab/Israeli conflict would be a great achievement, the King said, but Iran would find other ways to cause trouble," it said.

"Iran's goal is to cause problems," he continued, "There is no doubt something unstable about them.

He described Iran as "adventurous in the negative sense," and declared "May God prevent us from falling victim to their evil."

Mottaki had tendered an invitation to visit Iran, but Abdullah said he replied "All I want is for you to spare us your evil."

Summarising his history with Iran, Abdullah concluded: "We have had correct relations over the  years, but the bottom line is that they cannot be trusted", the cable said.