Well, it's easy to pound on, say, Bush's easy treatment of the Saudis if - and here's the necessary condition - you don't have to recommend a better course of action.
We need the Saudi oil. They have a lot of it, and a whip hand over most of the rest of it. No amount of conservation would make us free of dependence on imported oil.
Likewise, the Saudi Royal House needs us. Their position is none too firm. Most of the them are against Al Qaeda, very much so, as Al Qaeda is gunning for them. However, they bred Al Qaeda, wittingly or unwittingly, and some of them support it and sympathize with it.
Furthermore, any policy needs to deal one way or another with the US State Dept, full of (soon to be paid) admirers of the Saudis.
So, given all these factors, just what approach did you want Bush to take? He has chosen one of public shows of harmony (however strained) and quiet pressure. I don't know how much pressure and how it's working, precisely becuase it's quiet.
But I don't know what else Bush could have done that wouldn't be worse. He's trying to work with what Saudi allies he can find.
Similar comments apply to Musharref and Pakistan. |
