U.S. concerned for Saudi blogger

CNN ^ | 1/4/2008 | CNN

[Red in Blue PA]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration has brought its concerns about the detention of a well-known blogger to the Saudi Arabian government at "a relatively senior level," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday.

McCormack, speaking at his regular midday briefing, said the message delivered "was pretty clear."

"The U.S. stands for freedom of expression," he said. "It is an important element of any thriving society. It's a cornerstone of any democratic society. Wherever people are seeking to express themselves, via the Internet or via other areas, whether in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere in the world, we stand with that freedom of expression and that was our message to the Saudi government."

Fouad al-Farhan, 32, was arrested December 10 "because he violated the regulations of the kingdom," a spokesman for the Interior Ministry told CNN Wednesday.

In an e-mail posted on his Web site since his arrest, however, al-Farhan told friends that he faced arrest for his support of 10 reform advocates the Saudi government accuses of supporting terrorism.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

He’ll be freed any day, without a head or hands, but freed, nonetheless.

[Sunshine Sister]

Funny that the White House can stand behind a Saudi blogger but not it’s own border guards who are rotting in prison for doing their job.