It's an invitation you don't decline: 'Saudi Arabia's ruler wants to meet you' By Tim Marshall (Filed: 25/07/2004) Saudi television homed in for a close-up on Crown Prince Abdullah's honoured guest. It was me, sitting in the royal palace in Jeddah just three seats from the Saudi Arabian ruler - a deliberate act of protocol that sent a clear message to the 22 million subjects he rules with absolute authority: 'The westerners are our friends. Stop killing them.' In the evening, I watched the main news bulletin. There I was, sipping on a tiny cup of coffee - and there...