Stardate 20011122.2341 (On Screen via long range sensors): This article discusses the (fully justified) fear in Bagdad that after we take out the Taliban, that we're going to go after Iraq next. They're making "concessions" (i.e. demands) regarding weapons inspections (lift the sanctions and you can put in inspectors -- wrong answer). Then the article has the following amazing statement:
A senior Saudi prince, the former intelligence chief, Turki bin Faisal, has issued a strong warning that it would be a mistake to make Iraq the next military target.
Speaking to the New York Times, he said that bombing Iraq would damage relations between Arabs and the West.
I've got a hot flash for Prince Faisal: having a bunch of Saudis bomb American cities damages relations between the Arabs and the West. Financing schools throughout the Arab nations which teach their Arab students to hate America damages relations. Paying danegeld to al Qaeda damages relations. Using state-controlled press to denounce the US damages relations. Refusing to cooperate with the criminal investigation after the attack damages relations. Refusing to help in the war damages relations. Telling your people that Israel was actually behind the attack on New York damages relations. An unwillingness to admit your complicity in the crimes damages relations: Saudi Arabia is involved up to its neck.
"Relations" is a two way street, and Saudi Arabia has been screwing up its side of it for years. And since the war began it's only gotten worse. If Prince Faisal wants us to be concerned that what we do may offend his tender sensibilities, then he'd better start working on cleaning up his own act first. (And that means a lot more is required than just issuing orders to Muslim preachers telling them to stop slandering the US in their sermons.) A heck of a lot of Americans are fed up with the corrupt and incompetent regime in Saudi Arabia and would be quite happy to see it toppled. And why should we worry about damaging a relationship which is nearly dead anyway because of Saudi misbehavior? (discussion in progress)
