Bush picks oil man as Saudi ambassador

Times of India ^ | NOVEMBER 18, 2003 | Reuters

[yonif]

But as you say, the Saudi gov't loves and funds al Qaeda, why would al Qaeda hate them?

I am not sure about them funding Al Queda, however, I am sure they do nothing to stop them when they target Jews or Christians. Money they send to terror groups fighting Israel, most likely finds its way to Al Queda, in some part anyways.

[yonif]

Well, for one, we are still at war with North Korea. The Korean war is still not over. Our troops stationed there get a combat patch to wear on their uniform for the rest of their careers (although they don't get a CIB). Officially, South Korea and North Korea are still at war. That would be the major difference there.

True, we are at war with North Korea. But look at Libya and Iran. We do not have relations with them because they promote, support, harbor and fund terrorism. What message does this tell terror regimes, that some of them are off the hook? We must stick to principle, especially after 9/11 and not talk to any of these terror regimes until they change their practices.

[yonif]

Then, by your own reasoning, doesn't it make sense that the US is playing nice with the Saudis?

Which reasoning are you referring to? My reasoning is that we should not play nice with the Saudis, just as we should not have played nice with the Taliban before 9/11.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

What is it that North Korea is or does, that does not warrent us having relations with it?

There's a struggle within Saudi Arabia, between the moderates who profit from their relations with the United States or hope to, and the Islamists who'd vaporize both of our lands without hesitation if they had the means. That struggle runs through the general population all the way up to the Royal Family. It what leads to the striking contradictions in the Saudis tone and actions.

In North Korea, there is no struggle. There's a brutal communist dictatorship with its foot on the throats of a starving people. We won't know the full extent of Kim Jong Il's brutality until he's gone, but it's safe to say, the death toll is going to be staggering.

There is no moral distinction between the murdering communists in North Korea and the Wahabbists in Saudi Arabia. The communists in NK just have a much firmer hold on power than the Wahabbists have. That's the difference.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

We must stick to principle, especially after 9/11 and not talk to any of these terror regimes until they change their practices.

Pakistan has terrorism issues very similar to those of Saudi Arabia. They've also been a valuable ally in this fight, from the War in Afghanistan to the capture of Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

[yonif]

Pakistan has terrorism issues very similar to those of Saudi Arabia

Pakistan's government is less of a funder of international terror. Most of the terrorists Pakistan funds are in Kashmir, not to say we should condmen Pakistan for these practices. Saudi Arabia funds terrorists which have murdered both Americans and other non-Muslims. They are the main bank for terrorists around the world. We must realize it, cut relations with it, and condemn it.

My concern is that we are worrying too much about Al Queda, as being the sole terrorist group, and we are quick to befriend terror states who are against Al Queda, not because this group kills Americans and others, but because Al Queda is a threat to their dictatorial rule.

This is a war on terrorism, which includes Al QUeda, Hamas and the rest of these. By principle, he who harbors a terrorist, funds a terrorist, supports a terrorist or incites a terrorist, is a terrorist himself.