But whether we like it or not our region and the whole world have entered the new century under the military and economic hegemony of the US, which replaces its political and cultural dominance of the past. We do not wish and cannot be enemies of the United States. At the same time, we don’t like Washington treating us as an enemy.

We are with America, but not with its unjust policies — be they directed against Palestine or us. If you can solve the first problem through the road map, let us hope that you do not create a new problem under the pretext of fighting terrorism.

We have suffered the most by terrorism, which is not something special to the Saudis but is a phenomenon of every society, like poverty, disease and unemployment, and it emerges from injustice.

America itself has suffered terrorism by its own people before Sept. 11, 2001. Saudi Arabia tasted its bitterness in the world’s holiest place during the occupation of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

For the past two weeks our country — the government and people — has been tracking down 19 terrorist suspects who are not so different from the 19 who shook the United States except in one particular: The fact that our security agencies detected them, while US agencies failed in 2001.

I would like to emphasize that the Western-style democracy you market in the region would not receive majority support if a referendum was held, because there is a clear alternative.

Arabs are a weak people who need strong but clean and just governments. I underline the words clean and just.

Political and social stability are of immeasurable value, and more reforms are in the offing, promising good. If Washington were to support these initiatives it would become their first beneficiary.

Americans often wonder why others hate them. Did you do anything today to make us like you?