US: Saudi Prince Abdullah to cancel visit

UPI ^ | 4/14/2002 6:45 PM | RICHARD SALE

[Nachum]

Administration officials have told United Press International that Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah has effectively canceled his scheduled visit on April 22 to President Bush's ranch because of the continuing Israeli attacks on the Palestinian Authority.

"That's our information," said a State Dept. official. "In the circumstances, it hardly comes as a surprise."

The White House, behind the scenes, is urging Abdullah to come, saying his absence will embarrass President George Bush.

"Abdullah cannot appear to be supporting a U.S. policy that isn't resulting in a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians, and there won't be a cease-fire," said Judith Kipper, Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

A former senior diplomat to the region, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said Abdullah's cancellation would be "a major error." But he faulted the administration: "We have a group in the White House that appears to have very little Middle East expertise."

According to State Dept. officials, Abdullah condemned Israel's massive offensive called "Operation Defensive Wall," a "savage act far from any human logic."

The Israeli government said the purpose of Operation Defensive Shield was to root out militants, citing the continued suicide bombings that have devastated Israel, especially the March 27 Passover suicide bombing that killed 28 people and injured 140 in a hotel in Netanya.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed since in the fierce offensive began, and much of the infrastructure of the West Bank destroyed.

Sunday, Abdel al Jubeir, foreign policy adviser to Abdullah, told CNN that Sharon's proposal for an international conference -- which the Israelis said, would move forward along the lines of the Saudi peace plan -- "would be a positive step if the Israelis were serious about a total withdrawal from the territories."

"I believe that the Palestinian Authority has made it very clear that they would support such an effort," he said. "Anything that can lead to a reduction in violence and to an end to the senseless killings would be welcomed by the international community.

The proposed conference would include Egypt, Jordan, Morocco -- and Saudi Arabia.

"The important thing here is deeds rather than words. We need a commitment from Israel to implement U.N. Resolution 1402, which is an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal from the territories," al Jubeir emphasized. "We have that commitment from the Palestinians, but we don't have it from Mr. Sharon."

Prior to Secretary of State Colin Powell's trip to Tel Aviv and Ramallah, Abdullah last week cautioned him that Israel's continuing military operations would endanger U.S. interests in the Arab world, according to U.S. officials.

When the Arab League summit met in Beirut March 27-28, Abdullah gave a keynote address that offered Israel "normal relations" in exchange for "full Israeli withdrawal" from Arab territories occupied in the 1967 Six Day War and "recognition of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of Palestinian refugees."

Abdullah then made a direct appeal to the Israeli people, pledging that if Israel gave up "the policy of force and suppression and accepts peace, we will not hesitate to accept the Israeli people's right to live in security with the rest of the region."

His speech won wide applause, and the Arab League adopted Abdullah's land-for-peace formulation unanimously and also approved a reconciliation between Iraq and Kuwait, which Abdullah, along with Egypt, helped to engineer.

Sharon began his full-scale assault to destroy the Palestinian Authority on March 29.

"Abdullah is hurt and humiliated," said a State Dept. official. "He made what he felt was a generous offer, only to see it entirely ignored, not just by Israel, but seemingly by the United States."

The former senior diplomat said: "The Abdullah Plan was the best thing to come out of Arabia in recent times. It's the best for the Arabs, best for Israel, and the best for the U.S."

According to former CIA Middle East operative, Bob Baer, Abdullah is a key player in U.S. Middle East policy. "He's our only hope for Saudi Arabia," he said. "He's the only guy willing to take on the corruption in the kingdom and fight the war on terror."

Baer said that it is corruption derived from huge military expenditures and grandiose developmental projects, and not land reform or women's rights or participatory democracy that is a key issue in Saudi Arabia. Ever since the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks disclosed that 15 of the 19 hijackers involved were Saudis, relations between the United States and the kingdom have been rocky.

"This is not a good development," Kipper said of the cancellation.

[Nachum]

Things are looking up.

[sinkspur]

To hell with Abdullah.

Isn't this the clown who tried to embarrass Guiliani with a check and then a lecture about America's foreign policy?

He also, if I observed correctly, was helping raise blood money for the terrorists.

[okie01]

A former senior diplomat [from the since discredited Clinton administration?] to the region, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said Abdullah's cancellation would be "a major error." But he faulted the administration: "We have a group in the White House that appears to have very little Middle East expertise."

No. We had a group in the White House that seemingly did all it could to help get the Middle East FUBAR.

[Sungirl]

Why are we dealing with Saudi Arabia anyway?? They're terrorists in my opinion who treat women like dirt.

Don't worry George....at least Ozzy Osbourne is coming for dinner...so as far as the US people are concerend...you are tops!

[Jolly Green]

Let's see now. We have:

1) A majority of WTC attackers were Saudi;
2) Saudis were found to have contributed huge sums to terrorist front organizations operating in U.S.;
3) Saudis raised $100 million to benefit Palistinean homicide bomber families;
4) Saudi Prince cancels U.S. visit;

Conclusion: Looks like we need a regime change.

[Sungirl]

That last part about Ozzy was sarcasm.

[browardchad]

The White House, behind the scenes, is urging Abdullah to come, saying his absence will embarrass President George Bush.

Somehow, I don't think so.

[Sungirl]

You know.....I wonder who's idea it was to invite Ozzy...or ask Oprah to Afghanistan???? WAS IT MARY MATALINS???? What blunders....This smells of that snake Carvil.

[VA Advogado]

That last part about Ozzy was sarcasm.

What is it about women diggin that Ozzy show? I better see what's up.

[veronica]

What? Doesn't he want to come here and explain the 'Saudi peace plan'? :) He's gonna miss some mighty fine barbeque. Sigh sigh sigh. No matter what you offer the Arabs they want more more more.

[VA Advogado]

Someone needs to start a movement to bring democratic elections to these arab countries.

[VA Advogado]

What? Doesn't he want to come here and explain the 'Saudi peace plan'? :) He's gonna miss some mighty fine barbeque. Sigh sigh sigh. No matter what you offer the Arabs they want more more more.

The minute we find a substitute for oil, those arab countries are going to go back to being third world rug bizzares.

[olliemb]

Looks like George W. Bush should have cancelled the King's visit to his ranch first. I have a hard time with the Clinton or any prior administration criticizing the sitting president especially during such sensitive times. They should just keep quiet. I don't remember GHWBush criticizing Clinton and Clinton had such young staffers--I am sure they as well as Clinton did not have any Middle EAst experience.

[sinkspur]

Someone needs to start a movement to bring democratic elections to these arab countries.

I'm not so sure we ought to encourage that.

These stupid Muslies would elect binLaden or someone like him.

[linn37]

Well boo de damn hoo

[Sungirl]

The show is VERY funny....it's something you wouldn't expect.

Did you read this?

Ozzy says No Thanks to Rusty Yates

[aBootes]

Someone needs to start a movement to bring democratic elections to these arab countries.

Getting rid of Arafat and Saddam Hussein ought to qualify as a start!

[Drew68]

The White House, behind the scenes, is urging Abdullah to come, saying his absence will embarrass President George Bush.

If anything should embarrass Bush it is his constant attempts at pandering and appeasing these Saudi terrorism supporters. The Saudis are not are friends and the sooner our benevolent leader figures this out the better off we all shall be.

C'mon GW, knock of this Islam Is Peace® and The Saudis Are Our Allies® crap. No one's buying it anymore.

[kezekiel]

Administration officials have told United Press International that Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah has effectively canceled his scheduled visit on April 22 to President Bush's ranch because of the continuing Israeli attacks on the Palestinian Authority.

Buh-BYE!

[PhilDragoo]

Abdullah condemned Israel's offensive "Operation Defensive Wall" as a "savage act far from any human logic."

Wrong-o. For a "savage act far from any human logic" Abdullah needs the embrace of the Bomb Girl.

[Lanza]

Seems to me the Saudis are more outraged over the Palestinian mess, than what happened to the innocents in the US on 9-11.

[Reagan Man]

Forget about it, Mister President. The hell with Crown Prince Abdullah. Instead, invite Charlie Daniels. Charlie would be more fun and he's American, through and through. Charlie would bring his fiddle and play a few favorites. Sounds like a good time for all.

[Lanza]

Yes. Saddam was elected.

[Baytoh]

"Abdullah is hurt and humiliated," said a State Dept. official. "He made what he felt was a generous offer, only to see it entirely ignored, not just by Israel, but seemingly by the United States."

Why do I have the impression that the US State Dept is part of the problem and not the solution? Too many Arabists there, maybe?

[jwalsh07]

So what, we shouldn't be rolling out the carpet for these guys anyway, we should be rolling them up in a carpet and dumping them in the Meadowlands.

[dighton]

The White House, behind the scenes, is urging Abdullah to come, saying his absence will embarrass President George Bush.

IMHO, the reporter is making things up. Who gives a **** if Abdullah comes or stays home?

[VA Advogado]

Ozzy says No Thanks to Rusty Yates

'Ill burn his eyes out with a poker,' roared Osborne. 'He's profiting directly from the demise of his own children and that, to me, is all wrong. I couldn't stand in the same room with the guy. I'd throw up!'

- Ozzy's all class. LOL

[Lazamataz]

Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah has effectively canceled his scheduled visit

Well thank G-d.

May this Islamic Wahabbe freak have his bones picked clean by scorpions.

[mass55th]

Seems to me the Arab community should be embarrassed for failing to keep the likes of Arafat and the rest of the terrorists in line. Their failure to police their own kind only shows that they have no respect for themselves or any true desire to ease the mideast tensions. Their silence on this subject is deafening.

[mass55th]

"Isn't this the clown who tried to embarrass Guiliani with a check and then a lecture about America's foreign policy?"

Yes, this is Rep. Cynthia McKinney's (D-Ga) friend. After begging Abdullah to give the 9/11 check to the black community, I'm wondering where she found the audacity to claim that the Bush family was profiteering from the terrorist attacks. What a hypocrite!

[RamsNo1]

I would think that Abdullah coming here would embarass Bush not the other way around.

[RamsNo1]

What is a Wahabbe?

[ValerieUSA]

The White House, behind the scenes, is urging Abdullah to come, saying his absence will embarrass President George Bush.

Here I've been thinking his presence would be an embarassment to the President, to Texas, to all of America.

[section9]

Okay, how about this. Now that we know that Abdullah thinks that his sh*t doesn't stink, and that he can stand up the President of the United States without consequence, let's return the favor by doing the following.

Inform the media that in the absence of the presence of the Crown Prince, President Bush is inviting shock rocker Ozzy Osbourne, his wife, and three children to spend the weekend at the Ranch with the President and the First Lady.

Lots of pictures over the weekend of Ozzy chasing Barnie around with his walking stick, of Sharon, Laura, and Condi exchanging beauty secrets, and of Ozzy accidentally lighting himself on fire with the charcoal lighter fluid at the barbecue.

Wouldn't it be grand?

The the Saudis to go pound sand. It's what they're good at.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[rintense]

Ditto, sinkspur.

[Dog Gone]

Isn't this the clown who tried to embarrass Guiliani with a check and then a lecture about America's foreign policy?

No, that was some other princeling, who isn't actually in a government role.

This would be a major setback, and the Saudis would pay a huge diplomatic price if Abdullah cancels this trip. But UPI is prone to run flaky stories, and I don't consider them particularly trustworthy. It might be an early warning flag, though, and worth watching to see what really happens.

[Lazamataz]

What is Wahabbism?Here's some information.

[Dark Wing]

A saudi prince says home ping.

[Surrounded in Calif!]

Arafat is a mass-murderer!

Official Israeli Defense Force Website, Highly Informative click here

[happygrl]

Isn't this the clown who tried to embarrass Guiliani with a check and then a lecture about America's foreign policy?

No, that was a different clown.

But then, they have a lot of them.

[Sabramerican]

What you need to know of that particular clown is that he was going to give NY- for propaganda purposes- $10,000,000.

This past week in the Saudi telethon for suicide bombers he donated $25,000,000.

[mgstarr]

...so long will they be a little people, a silly people, greedy, barbarous, and cruel...

[RAY]

His not visiting the Bush ranch should embarrass no one. I hope he and the rest of his “suspected” terrorist supporters like the taste of their oil.

[happygrl]

third world rug bizzares.

I think you might mean Bazaars.

But then again, Bizzares, Bazaars To-MA-to, to-MAH-to, let's call the whole thing off !!!

[history_matters]

I just wonder ... does there have to be a Saudi Arabia?

A follow on to "Does there really need to be a Mecca...."

[Revolting cat!]

Well, there are, what, 20,000 princes in Saudi Arabia, and we really, really want to have one visit Bush why not invite another one, I bet half of them are named Abdullah anyhow!

[BunnySlippers]

Isn't this the clown who tried to embarrass Guiliani with a check and then a lecture about America's foreign policy?

No it isn't. You're thinking of Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal who is a large investor in the U.S. stock market. Prince Abdullah is different.

[mgstarr]

All those countries are arbitrary carvings the British made after WW1. We also found and developed the oil they use to blackmail us with now.

Rather than Nevada, Saudi Arabia is looking like a better spot to store our nuclear waste. Remember that wayward garbage barge from New York from years ago? How about parking that in Jiddah harbor for a while.

What little patience I had for these people is gone.

[BunnySlippers]

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal ...

[history_matters]

Rather than Nevada, Saudi Arabia is looking like a better spot to store our nuclear waste. Remember that wayward garbage barge from New York from years ago? How about parking that in Jiddah harbor for a while. What little patience I had for these people is gone.

I agree with you 100 percent.