The term "Arabian Gulf" is standard amongst the English language speaking embassies in the Gulf region and is used as standard in reporting home (unless some in-house reporting manual dictates otherwise). Its standard because it is the usage when talking to Arab interlocutors (and many Arab speaking westerners tend to think it is more accurate). The desks at home also appeared to use the convention. The "Arabian Gulf" convention was one of the first things I learnt on posting to Riyadh, "Its just one of the things we do, old chap".

So what does the new Chairman of the New American Foundation Board -- Google CEO Eric Schmidt say?

I find it odd that you seek answers from the State Department instead, as they were not the ones capable of making that change.

Why not take a nice neutral position and call it the Arbanian Gulf. Me, during the Falklands war, being in Uruguay, I used to speak of the Falkvinas

It is not a standard, not in international business. The official international standard name is "Persian Gulf", like Indian Ocean or Gulf of Mexico!!!

It is not a standard, not in international business. The official international standard name is "Persian Gulf", like Indian Ocean or Gulf of Mexico!!!

i just want to say shame on google, google shows that arabs can change the historical facts by giving money to unethical corporations like Google

It has never been called Arabian Gulf, have you ever called India as France or USA as UAE? Persian Gulf is the same, why should we use the wrong term for it? Arabs think that they can achieve their aims by having stakes at Google and Reuters