Caption Bush and Abdullah holding hands

[Kozak]

"The Love That Dares Not Speak it's Name"

[Musket]

I know it's custom but it creeps me out. President Bush doesn't look too happy about it either. Why must we always accomodate them? Why don't they accomodate us? After all, we RULE!

[Iron Matron]

Bush: Keep being this friendly, and I'll give you the Norther half of the United States!

Prince: Why just the Northern Half? I am a very good man.

Bush: Because I already gave the SOuthwest to Vicente Fox.

[SheLion]

Forgive my cultural ignorance, but I thought in some Middle-Eastern countries the left hand was also considered the "toilet hand" and therefore touching someone with it was a no-no. Obviously I am misinformed.

That's correct.  My husband spent 6 months in Egypt and that is their custom in the ME. The President is holding the right hand of the Prince.

[Horatio Gates]

Oh yes I'll, tell you something,
I think you'll understand.
When I'll say that something
I wanna hold your hand,...

Abdullah, we're gonna drill ANWR. Any thoughts?

[BufordP]

It'll take WHAT for you drop the price of oil?! How 'bout we start by holding hands?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Gad.

[cvq3842]

But Bush is using HIS left hand to do it! And the man doesn't seem to mind. Oh well.

Thanks for clarifying though.

[WoofDog123]

"Why don't they accomodate us?"

In all fairness, the US will never have a more pro-US government in saudi arabia. many of their people simply do not like us, or despise us. The saudi government, including abdullah, weaken themselves domestically every time they do anything friendly in public with the US. We need them, they need us, and their people hate them as well. Not an enviable situation. No doubt this is part of why we accomodate SA on many public issues.

Some on FR talk about attacking or punishing SA, but that is completely unrealistic unless ones wants to see the house of saud fall, a theocracy take power, and presumably the US start a MAJOR international incident when it moves to secure the saudi fields. The saudi government of today, imperfect as it is, is far better than any of the realistic alternatives.

[RAY]

I frequently saw teenage boys holding hands while in Saudi, but do not recall seeing older men holding hands. However, wouldn't have been surprised to see close friends holding hands. (?)

Many things in Saudi seemed strange to me. However, that would probably be true for me in many countries. For that matter, people North of the Mason Dixon line and those living in the blue states seem strange to me.

[Sacajaweau]

It almost looks like the Abdullah is holding Bush's wrist for stability. Maybe he's secretly taking Bush's pulse to see if he's lying when he says: "Abdullah, you're the best!"

[somniferum]

Shhh.. don't be introducing any of that realpolitik talk here. Some folks dont take kindly too it :P

[Obadiah]

What happens in Crawford, stays in Crawford.

D'Oh! Bwhahaha!

[ChicksforConservatives]

Actually it shows how much the Prince respects the President.

[radicalliberty]

Good grief. They look like a couple of pansies. Why would our president do this?

[GretchenM]

I've seen W and Arab leaders holding hands numerous times.

Bush is a very tactile man, in a nonclintonian way (i.e., appropriately).

[WoofDog123]

sorry i lose myself sometimes, sometimes I cannot keep from responding the obvious failure to understand what options the house of saud domestically has and what the options will be if they are pressured or removed, or a major internal political shift in the monarchy occurs. They will never be more pro-US than they are now, which I assume is much more in private than in public.

Maybe a good analogy of the 15 hijackers being from saudi arabia meaning the saudi government should 'do something' would be our fedgov's position if a dozen gang-bangers from some urban heckhole did something particularly bad in another country. What is fedgov really going to do about the various gangs in all our cities?

[kAcknor]

Good grief. They look like a couple of pansies. Why would our president do this?

To be a gracious and welcoming host. This is normal and customary in many Middle East and Asian countries. I seriously doubt that the President initiated the hand holding, but to refuse when it was would have been rude and childish.

All this shows is a man secure enough in his own view of himself to allow this small gesture of familiarity to a guest.

[SheLion]

But Bush is using HIS left hand to do it! And the man doesn't seem to mind. Oh well.

But President Bush is American. We don't have those traditions. But I guess the Saudi's don't hold each other's hands. That would be interesting. Wonder how they would walk each holding the right hand of the other?

[WoofDog123]

"Why would our president do this?"

Because it is an arab custom and his relationship with that man is one of the more important strategic relationships the US has. apparently his family has ties to house of saud as well.