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Arabs lavish jewels on US Secretary of State Rice (Saudis Generous with "Condi Candy")
Jerusalem Post/AP ^ | 12/22/2008 | Unattributed

Posted on 12/23/2008 9:25:36 AM PST by mojito

US President George W. Bush's foreign policies may be unpopular in the Middle East, but Arab leaders showered his top diplomat with jewelry worth far more than a quarter of a million dollars last year.

While Bush himself didn't fare nearly as well, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice raked in at least $316,000 in gem-encrusted baubles from the kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia alone, making her one of top recipients among US officials of gifts from foreign heads of state and government and their aides in 2007.

In January, Jordan's King Abdullah II gave Rice an emerald and diamond necklace, ring, bracelet and earrings estimated to be worth $147,000....

The king and his wife, Queen Rania, also gave Rice a less expensive necklace and earrings along with a jewelry box valued at $4,630, the document shows.

Not to be outdone, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia presented Rice with a ruby and diamond necklace with matching earrings, bracelet and ring worth $165,000 in July. The inventory also includes a $170,000 flower petal motif necklace the Saudi monarch gave to Rice in 2005, which the department says was not previously disclosed.

From the same Arab leaders, Bush received just over $100,000 in gifts in 2007, the list shows.

Other gifts include an $85,000 sapphire and diamond jewelry set and $10,000 piece of artwork depicting a desert scene of bedouins, camels and a tent made of gold given to first lady Laura Bush by Saudi King Abdullah.

Unfortunately for the Bushes, Rice and other recipients, they won't be able to enjoy the gifts as they have been turned over to the General Services Administration and government archives in accordance with federal law, which bars officials from accepting personal presents in almost all circumstances.

(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: condirice; condoleezarice; gifts; saudiarabia
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No one ever told the Saudis that you cant buy real friends.
1 posted on 12/23/2008 9:25:36 AM PST by mojito
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To: mojito

It’s enough to make you sick.


2 posted on 12/23/2008 9:28:42 AM PST by IbJensen (MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Next year: famine and communism!)
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To: mojito

Just wait until the payoffs start rolling in for Hillary! when she’s SOS.

Of course, that’ll all be kept hush-hush. *Rolleyes*


3 posted on 12/23/2008 9:29:00 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin ('Taking the moderate path of appeasement leads to abysmal defeat.' - Rush on 11/05/08)
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Jewel-encrusted pants suits for Her Thighness? ;)


4 posted on 12/23/2008 9:29:33 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin ('Taking the moderate path of appeasement leads to abysmal defeat.' - Rush on 11/05/08)
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To: IbJensen

Why would it bother you if it’s the American taxpayer who is going to gain from this? (the recepients can’t keep the gifts per law).


5 posted on 12/23/2008 9:29:54 AM PST by MyTwoCopperCoins
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To: mojito

what happens with the gifts?


6 posted on 12/23/2008 9:31:26 AM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget (July 4, 2009 see you there))
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To: mojito

Condi will be working for the Saudis in some way shape or form in the near future. You can bet on that.....That’s when the Saudis pay her in real bling for past services rendered


7 posted on 12/23/2008 9:31:57 AM PST by dennisw ("I’ve abandoned free-market principles to save the free market system” -President George W. Bush)
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To: mojito

There used to be a word for someone who took treasure from foreign leaders in exchange for “past or future considerations” that may or may not be to the benefit of their home country. I can’t come up with it at the moment, though.


8 posted on 12/23/2008 9:32:05 AM PST by Antoninus (America didn't turn away from conservatism, they turned away from many who faked it. - Mark Sanford)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

So what happens to all that stuff I wonder.


9 posted on 12/23/2008 9:32:26 AM PST by villagerjoel (1984 was not supposed to be an instruction manual!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Jewel-encrusted pants suits for Her Thighness? ;)

Like they aren't crusty enough?

10 posted on 12/23/2008 9:32:30 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel
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To: paul51

That was my question. Do they get returned, or do they disappear into a bureaucratic black hole?


11 posted on 12/23/2008 9:32:42 AM PST by rightwingintelligentsia
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To: paul51

IIRC the recipients can’t keep the gifts. I don’t know if they go to a museum, or to charity, or sold and the money given to the US government.


12 posted on 12/23/2008 9:33:06 AM PST by gieriscm (07 FFL / 02 SOT - www.extremefirepower.com)
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To: mojito

“While Bush himself didn’t fare nearly as well...”

Didn’t he get a nice pair of shoes?


13 posted on 12/23/2008 9:35:46 AM PST by DPMD (~)
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To: DPMD

LOL, nice!


14 posted on 12/23/2008 9:37:56 AM PST by agere_contra (So ... where's the birth certificate?)
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To: Antoninus

” I can’t come up with it at the moment, though.”

Democrat?;)


15 posted on 12/23/2008 9:43:33 AM PST by Frank_2001
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To: mojito
Duplicate post from yesterday
16 posted on 12/23/2008 9:49:00 AM PST by GalaxieFiveHundred
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To: GalaxieFiveHundred

Cool name, nice car.


17 posted on 12/23/2008 9:55:20 AM PST by Blue Highway
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To: mojito

I have always said Rice acts like an agent of the Saudis. Now we see the proof. they can’t pay her outright, so they pay her in jewels.


18 posted on 12/23/2008 9:56:11 AM PST by montag813 (www.FreepShop.com)
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To: DPMD

LOL!


19 posted on 12/23/2008 10:03:13 AM PST by Allegra
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To: mojito

That’s prety much how it has been in that part of the country for a long time. Not really suprising, just business as usual for a large part of the world, it’s done in some form or another everywhere.


20 posted on 12/23/2008 10:03:18 AM PST by stuartcr (If the end doesn't justify the means...why have different means?)
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