Gulf allies turn their backs on Bush

[bemildred]

Source: Asia Times

---

Saudis spurn anti-Iran coalition

Reactions coming from Saudi Arabia, which has been projected by Washington in recent months as the linchpin of the Bush administration's efforts to put together an anti-Iran coalition, have been even more revealing. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said on Wednesday Riyadh's national interests came first when dealing with Tehran. "We have relations with Iran and we talk with them, and if we felt any danger we have links ... that allow us to talk about. So we welcome any issue the president raises and we will discuss them from our point of view," he said. Such bluntness is unprecedented in US-Saudi relations.

Again, on the eve of Bush's arrival in Riyadh on Monday, the leading pro-government newspaper, al-Riyadh, which reflects the views of the Saudi authorities, said Saudi Arabia refused to be drawn into wars or tensions with Iran and the Iran nuclear issue should be solved through diplomatic means and dialogue. It advised Bush that he was "welcome as a man of peace, but not as a man of war" and that if he sought Arab solidarity, then "he must focus rationally on the most important issue which is the question of peace".

Al-Riyadh urged Bush "not to preoccupy himself with a danger which the US intelligence has qualified as non-existent in the short term", a reference to the NIE report that said Iran had abandoned its nuclear weapons program years ago.

Similarly, influential Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said on Sunday, "Iran and Saudi Arabia can turn into a proper model for the rest of the Islamic world through mutual cooperation and with the help of other regional states." He said recent developments such as the Saudi invitation to the Iranian president to participate in the hajj were "clear indications of a deepening of Riyadh's relations with Tehran".



Read more: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JA16Ak02.html

[rodeodance]

1. As they lavished him with personal gifts. Bush will not see that they do not agree with him as

that would require multitasking.

[bemildred]

2. "Never wise up a chump" -- W. C. Fields

They will always smile and shake his hand.

[Miss Chybil]

3. Interesting article. K & R. nt

[gateley]

4. Bush has made the U.S. impotent -- which is a good thing since all he wants

to promote is war.

How dare he go to the Saudis and tell them how to deal with another country? Does he actually think he has any power left?

[rockybelt]

5. Yes he does

Psychopaths are like that. Just ask Freud.

[leveymg]

8. Just as he's made the oil-exporting countries rich beyond their dreams

Crude oil prices are 250% of what they were when he entered office, and the risk premium attached to Bush's wars and talk of war is responsible for a big chunk of that increase in prices.

They should be throwing kisses and chocolate-covered virgins at him.

As for us, Americans should throw him in federal prison, where he'll be treated as he's treated others.

[leveymg]

9. Just as he's made the oil-exporting countries rich beyond their dreams

Crude oil prices are 250% of what they were when he entered office, and the risk premium attached to Bush's wars and talk of war is responsible for a big chunk of that increase in prices.

They should be throwing kisses and chocolate-covered virgins at him.

As for us, Americans should throw him in federal prison, where he'll be treated as he's treated others.

[Robbien]

6. No one should turn their backs towards Bush

Safer just not to be home when Georgie comes a'callin.

Good article. Even though the Royal Saudi family is despicable, at least they see the benefits of diplomacy rather than bombs.

[louis-t]

7. He also went there to create the illusion

that he wuz tellin' them Ay-rabbs teh open the spigot. The legend will have it that he did that and thass why gas prices 're goin' down.

[damntexdem]

10. Well, they shouldn't do that.

At least not without checking for knives.

[hatrack]

11. Well the Littlest President got his bling necklace and got to see the air-conditioned horsies . . .

That's all he really cared about anyway.

[lonestarnot]

12. Pathetic!

[rockybelt]

13. Pretty well snubbed his little ass didn't they? nt

[Ian David]

14. Building a consensus is hard work. But we're making progress. Stay the course. n/t

[DLnyc]

16. Too bad the progress is all in the wrong direction, though. nt

[Ghost Dog]

17. But this is progress in the right direction

for peace and prosperity at the heart of the Islamic World. Which has to be a good thing for the whole world.

[Ian David]

19. No, it's progress toward The Apocalypse. Which is what Bush WANTS. n/t

[Ian David]

15. Saudis tell Shrub he's "welcome as a man of peace, but not a man of war."

Guess the Saudis won't be needing those smartbombs, then?

[MasonJar]

18. I think W just got a not so subtle reminder that the reason he is not

in debtors' prison is because of Saudi Arabia.

[MidwestTransplant]

20. Wow even the Saudis are telling him to F Off. Better make a call to Poppy or Uncle Dick.

[Toots]

21. Bush* is just plain "pathetic"

And that is America's new image abroad...