From arab news (www.arabnews.com)
'Bush apologises for press reports criticising S. Arabia' |
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| RIYADH (AP) — US President George W. Bush has apologised to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah for US press reports that Washington was dissatisfied with Saudi cooperation in the “war on terrorism,” Saudi newspapers reported Monday. The newspapers were quoting comments Abdullah made Sunday evening to a meeting of Saudi education officials. Abdullah, who has managed the daily affairs of the kingdom since his half brother King Fahd suffered a stroke in 1995, said that Bush called him and the first thing he said was that he was sorry. “I said `For what Mr President?' He replied, `For what is carried by the newspapers which are trying to drive a wedge between the kingdom and America,” the English-language Arab News reported. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer had announced Oct. 25 that Bush had spoken with Abdullah and told him news articles citing differences between the United States and Saudi Arabia were “simply incorrect.” Fleischer also said Bush was satisfied with the country's support in the US “war against terrorism,” though administration officials have privately expressed frustration with the Saudis. Abdullah said he told Bush that US newspapers attributed criticism to administration officials. Bush replied, “This I know. I am now looking for them and when I find them things will be straightened out,” Abdullah said. Abdullah said in his comments to the educators that he was providing details of the conversation to “inform you about what happened between your government and the American administration, so that you are aware that your government is alert to the situation,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. With ordinary Saudis expressing admiration for terror suspect Osama Ben Laden and suspicion of US motives, Saudi Arabia has been a reluctant partner in the US-led war on Afghanistan. The kingdom has made no arrests related to the Sept. 11 attack, though at least half the suicide hijackers are believed to be Saudi. As well, Saudi Arabia has refused to allow strikes on Afghanistan, Ben Laden's haven, to be launched from a US base located in the kingdom. |
At this point, we would have NO OPTION but to 'liberate' the Arabian peninsula, Iraq, Kuwait, and Jordan. The ranking Hashemite noble to survive the ground war could be installed as the figurehead of a constitutional monarchy on the British model, with the countr(ies) to be administered under a McArthur-style regency until such time as they show they can behave in civilized fashion.
Yes, it's surely a pipe dream. But it's a good one.
A wedge? I thought that House Saud's do-nothing policy towards bin Laden was doing that.