[mojito]

No one ever told the Saudis that you cant buy real friends.

[IbJensen]

It’s enough to make you sick.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

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

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

[paul51]

what happens with the gifts?

[dennisw]

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

[Antoninus]

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.

[DPMD]

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

Didn’t he get a nice pair of shoes?

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

Duplicate post from yesterday

[montag813]

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.

[stuartcr]

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.

[GVnana]

Any photos? I’d love to see those trinkets!

[ZULU]

The “Recognition of the Palestinian State Award”

The Obamamessiah will probably get a live full sized riding elephant with jeweled harness and saddle and his own mahout.

[rmlew]

Bad form and breech of standard operating proceedure. Such bribery of State Department officials is supposed to happen quietly after the retire.

[SENTINEL]

I remember when the King of Saudi Arabia tried to give each service member $10,000. I remember I went to war for $254 every two weeks. I remember being told that we were "ambassadors" of the US, and that we would not be allowed to accept the gift by bush 41.

Imagine the impact that would have had on the auto industry in the US.

Elitism is alive and well in the US.

[plenipotentiary]

The Saudis know, as do others, that US Politicians from both right and left can, and have been bought.

[piytar]

See lots of comments about Ms. Rice being “bought” or a “whore” for accepting these gifts. Sheesh, don’t you freepers even read the posted excerpt? From that:

“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.”

In other words, SHE DOESN’T GET TO KEEP THEM.

Sheesh.

[Dixie Yooper]

She has to turn all gifts over to the government. Maybe we can see them at the Smithsonian someday.

[mysterio]

Energy independence now.

[Masti]

It makes her totally untrustworthy!

[bamahead]

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.

Then how's about the Gov't put these on the block at Sotheby's and recoup some of the bailout bonanza money. Oh yeah, that'd make too much sense, and worse, it'd insult the Saudi's...good heavens!

[VideoDoctor]

I saw this story on FOX and the female reporter was explaining that Rice by law could not accept the gifts. The reporter, however, DID NOT say WHAT would happen to the $300,000 dollars worth of "free stuff"

WHAT DOES BECOME of this BLING? Someone must benefit from it.