Resting on Laurels--and Being Inspired By Them To Take the Lead Once More

Don't look now, but the Arabs may be getting set to give Israel (that upstart Start-Up Nation) some, er, competition. From Arab News:

BEIRUT: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation (ATF), has urged Arabs to play an effective role in the making of human civilization.
Addressing ATF’s annual conference here, he commended the innovative initiatives made by Arabs in various fields that include modern technology.

Prince Khaled also emphasized the importance of interfaith and cultural dialogue initiated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman opened the conference in the presence of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Speaker Nabih Berri and other senior officials.

“We have decided to hold this conference in Lebanon to express our solidarity with the country and with the hope that Lebanon would be able to overcome its present difficulties and achieve national unity,” Prince Khaled said.

Speaking about Arabs’ role in civilization, the prince said: “Arabs have an important role to play in planning the world’s future in the light of its role in the past.” Different nations play leading roles in civilization in different phases of history.

President Suleiman thanked Prince Khaled for selecting Beirut to be the headquarters of ATF. “It reflects Lebanon’s efforts in the service of Arab culture,” he said. Prince Khaled also presented a memento to the president.

The Fikr 9 conference is held under the main theme “Shaping the future… Arabs’ role.” It brings together entrepreneurs, decision-makers, academics and intellectuals to discuss new ways of ‘making sense’ and ‘taking action’ to shape the Arab future throughout the region. New possibilities are emerging from a variety of countries, people, technologies and methods that contain early seeds of potential for significant transformation throughout the region. “These early seeds are the seeds of new capacities and communities enabled by: creativity, community, entrepreneurship and education,” said an official statement issued by the foundation...

Whatever the heck that's supposed to mean. To my ears, it, along with the "interfaith" blather, sounds like a high-falutin' but essentially meaningless way to cover up the Saudis' true intentions: the furtherance of Islam's civilizational law.