Posted on 01/14/2008 10:29:17 PM PST by canuck_conservative
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — President Bush on Sunday described Iran as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and called on Arab allies to help his administration curb the threat "before it's too late."
In a speech at an opulent, palace-style resort here Sunday, Bush accused Iran's militant Shiite Muslim government of spending hundreds of millions of dollars to foment instability in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, while ordinary Iranians face economic hardships and political repression.
"Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere," Bush said. "So the United States is strengthening our longstanding security commitments with our friends in the Gulf, and rallying friends around the world to confront this danger before it's too late."
But Bush appears unlikely, based on the regional reaction to his address, to find many Arabs to heed his alarms against Iran, a powerful neighbor and trading partner. Nor did many endorse his speech's other theme — a vision of "free and just society" featuring broad political participation and a voice for moderate Muslims in a region where money and family are common keys to leadership.
Even political analysts here who share Bush's democratic vision said that his speech painted over the daily reality for most inhabitants of the Middle East, an oil-rich region where power is largely inherited and human rights violations abound.
Whether chastising Iran or praising Palestinian elections, analysts said, Bush left out key facts that would have offered a messier — and more true-to-life — portrait of the modern Middle East.
"Iran is a neighbor, we have to deal with that," said Ambassador Ibrahim Mohieldin, director of the Arab League's Americas department. "The U.S. is thousands of miles away from Iran - it's OUR national security that will be affected" if leaders agree to keep ...
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
- Andrew Jackson (1767-1845)
The crowd could have been turning cartwheels and McClatchey would have called it a “cool reception.” McClatchey is worse that the NY Slimes, IMHO.
The same is true of our "friends" the Saudis. Various factions within the House of Saud fund Sunni terrorists in Iraq, and much of the money is used to buy weapons that kill Americans. And of course it's no secret that the Saudis fund radical day schools and mosques in the United States.
The fund our enemies, the foment Islamist ideology in the West. ...they are our enemies.
Just like Iran.
Yes, I think it’s great President Bush gets to show up throughout the Middle East on a sort of Victory Tour for Freedom and Democracy. Importance ignored by Democrat Majority Press.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.