Why is it America's "allies" in the Middle East never support our policies? According to this New York Times article,
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia told Arab leaders on Wednesday that the American occupation of Iraq is “illegal,” and he warned that unless Arab governments settle their differences, foreign powers like the United States would continue to dictate the region’s politics.
The king’s speech, at the opening of the Arab League summit meeting here, underscored growing differences between Saudi Arabia and the Bush administration as the Saudis take on a greater regional leadership role, partly at American urging. The Saudis seem to be emphasizing that they will not be beholden to the policies of their longtime ally...
Mustapha Hamarneh, director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, said the Saudis are sending Washington a message. "They are telling the U.S. they need to listen to their allies rather than imposing decisions on them and always taking Israel’s side."
Always taking Israel's side? I guess giving the Palestinians $20 million is taking Israel's side. So is condemning Israel for an attack on Gaza. Or condemning Israel for its settlement plan. Or maybe condemning Israel for an attack on Hamas is a way of "always taking Israel's side."
I don't know about other people, but I have a real problem with America's so-called Arab allies, especially when at least 15 of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi, and the Saudi government funds radical mosques in the U.S.
It's funny that the Saudis were gung ho for America to have a greater presence in the Middle East when they felt threatened by Saddam Hussein. Now, I guess, it's ok to smack America around again.
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