Chinu, I suggest you read the piece again, slowly this time. The whole piece was an excercise in Saudi sarcasm and insult. They weren't calling for Arafat to go -- just the opposite. Like the bit where they complained that Bush told Arafat to go, but Israeli leaders are allowed to be any age because they want to resemble biblical patriarchs. Israeli leaders don't die in office because they get voted out, but then Saudis aren't familiar with the concept, are they?
The Saudi's wanted to buy the Palestenians and wanted to wean them away from the PLO
The Saudis made the PLO, and have paid for it, except when Arafat incautiously backed Saddam Hussein. The Saudis don't want the Palestinians to be sensible -- they derive too much benefit from the conflict.
And it is their stand that gave Bush the green signal to come out against Arafat.
Say what? Bush's speech was a slap in the face to them, and to their whole sham peace offer. They've been playing their old game, paying the terrorists on one hand, and sounding reasonable to America on the other, in the hopes that America will force some more concessions from Israel -- concessions that will not be repaid, of course. The Saudis are pissed as hell, make no mistake about it. |
