Saudi Public Relations campaign

public television

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Just saw a commercial featuring Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. It show him (or his predecessor) meeting with all the Presidents of the U.S. going back as far as Eisenhower. Has any one else seen this gem?

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

I guess that the Saudi government has decided that their public relations image has been slightly tarnished by Sept. 11.

[SpottedBeaver]

I saw the commercial you are referring to, this morning.

It's hard to understand, but it seems that they don't feel that we think they are peaceful. </sarcasm>

[AmericanInTokyo]

Any foreign power that has something to hide from the American people usually contracts some boot licking lap dog PR types in the US to smooth their image. More often than not, they pay big bucks and find themselves spending inordinate amounts of time on Madison Ave or on K Street. They will interface, also more likely than not, with some lobbyist on the take who had previous US government experience or otherwise can trade in on his political connections.

Going to a FARA (registered foreign agents) site at Dept. of Justice and typing in "Saudi Arabia" might net, oh, who knows how many Washington bigwigs in the system. Some may say it is legal, but my bet is these retained traitors probably would not take too well to the truth of these countries being relayed to the US people with their own faces and names then connected.

Best to keep these matters quiet, you know.

[JDGreen123]

I posted this on another thread. Neil Bush went to Saudi Arabia in January to suggest the ad campaign. You just never know what side the Bushes will come down on.

Neil Bush says Arab P.R. machine not as good as Israel's

In a controversial speech, the president's younger brother tells Saudi audience Arabs must play U.S. media game better.

By Jake Tapper

Jan. 24, 2002 | Presidential brother Neil Bush, while giving a speech Monday in Saudi Arabia, condemned the American media for stereotyping the Arab world and urged Arab leaders to hire lobbyists and public relations representatives to combat these negative images as well as to sway public opinion to a more sympathetic view of Arabs in the Arab-Israeli conflict, according to reports in foreign media outlets. Bush implied that Israel has done a better job of getting its message across in the American media.

"The U.S. media campaign against the interests of Arabs and Muslims, and the American public opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, could be influenced through a sustained lobbying and P.R. effort," said the younger Bush, according to the Arab News, Saudi Arabia's first English-language daily. "Public opinion shapes public policy dramatically. It's true in the U.S., in this part of the world and elsewhere."

White House spokesman Scott McClellan declined to comment. Bush, chairman and CEO of Ignite! Inc., an education software supplier, could not be reached for comment. Louise Thacker, the marketing manager for Ignite!, said that he was out of the country and unreachable; she said she could not provide a copy of his speech, nor could she comment on press accounts of his speech. She also said she had "no idea" who paid for the trip. State Department spokesman Greg Sullivan told Salon, "I can't say that we were contacted by Neil Bush's people" regarding his trip to the Gulf or the contents of his speech.

LINK: Neil Bush says Arab P.R. machine not as good as Israel's

[JRandomFreeper]

One of the Dallas radio stations just played a commercial that was very pro-Saudi propoganda. Most Texans aren't buying it.

/john

[NativeNewYorker]

Our alliance with the House of Saud was formed in a very famous meeting between FDR and ibn-Saud. Was a photo of that meeting in the commercial?

[NativeNewYorker]

I grow increasingly weary of Americans brazenly working for folks who want to kill us.

Tho it is far over the horizon, the era of pitchforks and torches may be approaching.

[Dog Gone]

Neil Bush in no way speaks for the President. Even within the Bush family, Neil has a reputation for being an idiot. He'd be lucky if he is even on the White House Christmas card list.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

I glanced up when the voice over mentioned the word Saudi. The first image I saw was Eisenhower with this Prince Abdullah or one of his comrads. So I don't know what images they had prior. Perhaps someone else can fill you in. I haven't seen the commericial again.

[Sender]

The Saudi radio ads have been playing in Atlanta all day yesterday. They have a neutral-voiced American with no accent reading a script about how the US and Saudi are "allies in the fight against terrorism" and best buddies for life. I didn't know at first if it was a comic parody (as local radio often does) or a real Saudi commercial. But it was real alright, as I later heard the comic parody. Note to House of Saud: good luck on the PR campaign, you'll need it around here!

[SpottedBeaver]

I'm sure not buyin' it.

I wonder how the rest of the country views this commercial. I'm sure it's not only running in Dallas. They must be running it all over the US.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

If you have seen the commercial please list your location so we can tell where it is being broadcasted in the U.S. I'm from the Central Valley of California.

[Shermy]

The commercial was on "public television?"

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

I erred in my statement. Not public television like the Sesame Street channel, but commercial television like ABC, NBC.

[Sender]

I haven't seen the TV commercial but heard a lot of buzz about it on Fox and MSNBC. It probably played in numerous markets.

Just for fun, here is a RealPlayer link to live Saudi government TV...of course, I can't understand it :)

[JDGreen123]

Don't get me wrong. I support President Bush. I like GW better than his Dad or brothers. It just concerns me that they have all these Saudi ties. If I were Israel, I certainly would take all of that into consideration. I also realize that anyone in the oil business (like the Bushes) has to do business with Saudi Arabia due to their reserves.

Some more Bush/Saudi links: (Much may not be true, read and decide for yourselves):

Bush-Saudi Connections

"Former President George Bush met with King Fahd, right, on a trip to Saudi Arabia last year as part of his work for the Carlyle Group." (NYT, 3/5/01)

[ltlflwr]

Chiming in from the VA/DC/MD area, saw it air on ABC this afternoon.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

If the Saudis have been using a PR firm them they need to fire them as the one they have sucks.

[hgro]

If Bill Clinton lived in Saudia Arabia, he would have no hands, feet or eyes. Say, come to think of it, lets buy him a one way ticket to Mecca.

[SpottedBeaver]

Sorry, I didn't really give my location in my original post. It did air here in Dallas. I saw it on the local FOX affiliate and others at work have said that it is running on all of the stations.