Imperial Majesty (Arab News makes demands of America in return for Saudi 'help'.)

Arab News ^ | November 30, 2003 | Amr Mohammed Al-Faisal

[Kashei64]

Imperial Majesty

I watched, as I am sure did most of you, the little skit set up for President Bush this Thanksgiving in Baghdad.

Gen. Sanchez and Ambassador Bremer hammed it up on stage like they do on late night talk shows, but instead of a dainty starlet trotting in to entertain the troops, accompanied by the inevitable baying and wolf whistles, lo and behold: It was George Bush who trotted in.

He had slunk in under heavy secrecy lest some enterprising Iraqi insurgents lob some donkey-borne rockets freedom’s way and thereby spoil the photo-op.

Then, after two and half “whole” hours, the president slunk back out of Iraq.

We are told that this shabby little sketch was meant to raise the morale of US troops in Iraq. If that is so, then their morale must really have hit rock bottom.

Now, dear readers, you mustn’t laugh at the Americans; remember they are our friends and allies.

Whoever came up with this lame idea (Ms. Condoleezza Rice will know who I mean) should be ashamed of themselves.

Be that as it may (I’ve always wanted to say that), watching this little farce got me thinking that the Americans are really in serious trouble in Iraq.

This may make the idea of tucking their tails between their legs and getting out of Iraq increasingly attractive to them. But that would have terrible consequences for all of us here in this part of the world.

Iraq, having had its physical and political infrastructures destroyed by the Americans, will then be left in a state of total chaos, with civil war as a natural outcome. These civil wars could then drag us all into a series of regional wars for years to come.

Of course the US will not escape unscathed, for the resultant loss of prestige especially to their armed forces will trigger a general emboldening of their global rivals.

The threat of US military action will have lost much of its deterrent effect, seeing as how Iraq is stretching the US military and economy to breaking point.

The Americans must fix the mess they have made of Iraq before they even think of getting out. In this we in Saudi Arabia should help. We must find a way of allowing the Americans a face-saving exit out of Iraq that leaves that country with a stable and representative government and with the necessary funds to begin its economic recovery.

Of course, we must not do anything before the Americas meet certain conditions in advance. “In advance” is the key word here. This US administration is world famous for its mendacity, and generally speaking cold are the shoulders and thin the bellies of those who relied on American appreciation and gratefulness.

The conditions that must be met before we lift a finger to help the Americans get out of Iraq honorably are the following:

• The adoption by the US of Crown Prince Abdullah’s peace plan as the center piece of US policy in the Middle East.

• The halt to the vicious campaign of hatred and lies propagated in the US against Saudi Arabia. Administration officials starting with President Bush himself must spare no occasion to praise Saudi Arabia and inform the American people how lucky they are to have us as allies.

• The release of all Saudis detained in the US or in Guantanmo Bay into Saudi custody.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and other things may be added. Once these conditions are met, we should spare no effort to help the Americans get out of the Iraqi quagmire.

We should do this for our own and the region’s interest, capitalizing on the current administration’s weakness.

[Bobby777]

Congratulations for being someone who "gets it" ... the Saudis must be paying off a lot of spin-doctors in the USA ... like CAIR, etc.

[trek]

Are you blind to my post??? What does the death count in the 9/11 attack have to do with developing a strategy to win the war with the perps? Let me try one more time.

THERE ARE SAUDI ARABS WHO ARE OUR FRIENDS AND THERE ARE SAUDI ARABS WHO ARE OUR ENEMIES

Encouraging our friends and attacking our enemies is essential to winning the war.

EOM

[Bobby777]

I can see right through your post. Nobody says there aren't Saudis who don't support such. But you act as if the House of Saud knew nothing of 9/11 ... puhleeze ...

you don't work for the House of Saud do you?

[Bobby777]

let me try one more time ... do you think all Iraqis supported Saddam? ... did you support removing Saddam?

[Little Ray]

No offense, but why do they (Saudi Arabia in general and the Royal Family specifically) keep funding the Wahabbi clerics who turn Islam into a religion of hate and spawn creatures like bin Laden and fifteen of the nineteen hijackers? Why do they build mosques around the world which server as fund raising and recruiting centers for the Jihadis?
They have made their bed, let 'em be buried in it.

[Bobby777]

thank YOU!!!

[Bobby777]

and why to they fund and support Palestinian terrorists? ... the Saudi support of Palestinian terrorists no doubt gave encouragement to the 9/11 terrorists ...

[Bobby777]

Saudi Columnist: 'We Have Bred Monsters ... We Are the Problem and Not America'

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1031222/posts

[ImpBill]

Thanks. I have gotten "it" long before 911. What concerns me is that there are so many Americans, especially around here that don't get "it". I wonder after we take our next "hit", that makes even 911 look like a Sunday school picnic, and when a once again a majority of the thugs involved are members of the Saudi privilaged class, if enough people will finally "get it". I don't hold my breath.

[Coroner]

There were japanese who didnt support Pearl Harbor. Its the 95% of Saudis that make the other 5% of Saudis look bad. I remember polls that showed better than 90% of Saudis and Pals that wanted Saddam to beat america. They also want Osama to be their leader. FRY EM ALL!!!

[Bobby777]

I am in 100% agreement with you ... I too "got it" before 9/11 ... I was surprised how much wreckage they did on that day but it didn't surprise me that they did it ...

however, I must admit I was surprised at the *number* of Palestinians who celebrated that day ... and it other countries ... it just shows what we are up against ... I expected a few ... behold the beast ...

[Little Ray]

I suspect most Saudis are indifferent to "jihad," jealous and resentful of the opulent lifestyle the Saudi Royal family funds for itself out of oil revenues and annoyed by the by the Islamic police. However, they have no legitimate means of expressing their dissatisfaction. Since the US State Department (representing the rest of us, like it or not...) is bosom buddies with the Saudi royals, it would be understandable if they resented us as well.

I believe that President Bush is trying to undermine all of the uncivilized realms of the Middle East by creating a civilized democracy in Iraq. He has a heck of a job on his hands, and not much to work with, but, heck, look at what sort of raw materials DIs turn into soldiers or marines!

[Radix]

"We must find a way of allowing the Americans a face-saving exit...?"

Face? The Saudis are in a seriously delusional state if they believe that America is interested in saving "face."

America, and Americans, are interestesed in stopping the terrorist threat. The Saudis are compliant in many of the hostile activities against us. It is time, (and Americans everywhere are seeing it) to put these people to bed.

Get ready Saudi terrorist sympathizers, your day is done.

[Bobby777]

I suspect most Saudis are indifferent to "jihad," jealous and resentful of the opulent lifestyle the Saudi Royal family funds for itself out of oil revenues and annoyed by the by the Islamic police. However, they have no legitimate means of expressing their dissatisfaction. Since the US State Department (representing the rest of us, like it or not...) is bosom buddies with the Saudi royals, it would be understandable if they resented us as well.

good analysis ... while I don't think all Saudis are compliant, the House of Saud has built the beast and funded it ...

[Radix]

There are dangerous factions in Saudi. For goodness sake. We don't want a repeat of the Carter disaster in Iran. We should be doing everything we can to help the Saudi Arabs avoid catastrophe. This is in everybody's best interest.

Who are you talking to?

[Bobby777]

well-said.

[Bobby777]

Colin Powell, I think ... LOL

[pierrem15]

insulting article

If they think Bush is going to be amused by this piece of s---, they are very sadly mistaken.

I have a much better bargain for them:

Clean up your own house, or we'll help the Shiite majority in the oil-fields seize control and you can go back to carnal relations with the goats in your harem, assuming they don't lift your head first.

[Centurion2000]

I've got a better idea after hearing this tripe .....

Bomb Riyadh ... the true source of terrorism

[AmericanVictory]

Truth is a Western concept.